Doing his best Aretha Franklin, Carr plays the respect card By T.J. Berka Daily Sports Editor MIAMI - When the Michigan football team walks out of the tunnel and on to a football field, people usually stand up and take notice. Everyone, from the Michigan fans to the opposing team on the other side of the field, has great respect for the Wolverines. So when Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has to motivate his team, he rarely uses the lack of respect theme as a motivational ploy. But when No. 8 Michigan beat No. 5 Alabama, 35-34, in overtime on New Year's night, the Wolverines used a perceived lack of respect as inspiration to pull out the upset over the Crimson Tide. "We wanted to earn some respect around the country," Carr said. "I think this game was important in doing that." When a program has notched 32 victories in three seasons - the highest three-year output in Michigan history - and a national title, it's hard to believe that Michigan could honestly believe it was being taken lightly. But the Wolverines did. "We definitely had the feeling that Alabama didn't want to play us," Michigan safety Tommy Hendricks said. "A lot of people said that we didn't deserve to be here, and I think of lot of the Alabama guys felt the same way." One player who showed he was worthy of being on the Pro Player Stadium field was wide receiver David Terrell. The sophomore abused Alabama cornerbacks Milo Lewis and Gerald Dixon to the tune of 10 receptions for 150 yards and three touchdowns. But like his teammates, Terrell didn't feel like the Alabama players were giving him respect. The Crimson Tide weren't alone among the offenders in his opinion. "Nobody thought that we would win this game," Terrell said. "Everyone was down on us. Even y'all (the media) weren't giving us the chance." But when Terrell was asked if he thought that Lewis and Dixon respected him after the game, the talkative wideout simply said yes. The Great Revelation: Michigan quarterback Tom Brady had arguably one of the better games in Orange Bowl history, completing an Orange Bowl-record 34 passes for a Michigan-bowl record 369 yards and four touchdowns. Brady's historical day didn't start auspiciously though, as Alabama snuffed out Michigan's running and short passing game during the first 25 minutes of the game. But once Brady threw downfield to the likes of Terrell, wide receiver Marquise Walker and tight end Shawn Thompson, Michigan's fortunes turned. "I'm sure you people said that I was an idiot for trying to run the ball - that there was no way that Michigan could run against Alabama," Carr said. "Much slower than the rest of you, I came to the same conclusion." While Carr might have bristled at abandoning his favored running game - which only amassed 37 yards against Alabama's second-ranked rushing defense - other people on offense were thrilled to engage in an aerial display. "I loved it," Brady said about Michigan's wide-open passing attack. "If you are a quarterback, you love having the game rest on your shoulders." Double Trouble: Going into the Orange Bowl, the Michigan defense was wary of Alabama running back Shaun Alexander and wide receiver Freddie Milons. Except for a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, Milons was a non-factor, with only 26 yards of offense. The Wolverines didn't get so lucky with Alexander, as he rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns. So when the Michigan defenders left Pro Player Stadium with a hard-fought victory, they lauded Alexander's efforts. "That guy is a man," Hendricks said. "He's got outstanding size and is an outstanding player. He's tough to bring down." LOUIS BROWN/Daily With the 2000 Orange Bowl trophy over his shoulder, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr doesn't have to worry about respect anymore. Originally on page 4B in the 1-5-2000 issue of the Daily.