On June 11, 1997, Michael Jordan had the flu.
It was Game 5 of the NBA Finals. You probably know what happened next — 44 minutes, 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks and a lifetime of someone mentioning “flu game” every time you walk into an intramural soccer game, exam or presentation with a mildly runny nose.
Which means that when Tommy Carr, freshman quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines, was reported feeling a little under the weather ahead of their bout at Rutgers, the comparisons
were rife. And for his part, he did a pretty solid job at living up to them, as Carr got to finally utilize his downfield passing and mobility in a stellar outing that Michigan rode to a 28-21 win.
“I think we ran the ball at a high level and passed the ball at a high level,” Carr said after the game. “That’s what good offenses have to do. And both clicked today, and that’s why we were able to produce.”
In the air, Carr’s efficiency was especially noteworthy. He went 22-for-27 for 266 yards and one score, but most notable was his actual rhythm and command of the offense. Carr operated the offense with rhythm, pushing the ball downfield without relying purely on slants. He also had an opportunity to uncork his deep ball, as a first-half ball to wide receiver JJ Buchanan showed, and though he wasn’t putting an incredible amount of arm strength onto his throws, his ball placement and touch on longer throws shined.
Most impressively, though, especially considering he is under the weather, was his ability to move his legs. Carr ran 12 times for 54 yards, adding in two vital second-half scores that gave or extended Michigan’s lead. His scrambling and improvisational ability were on display, as he frequently used his legs to extend drives and bail out of collapsing pockets, without needing designed runs to pad his rushing stats.
“I think a lot of it comes down to being young and just playing in the backyard,” Carr said. “Playing flag football, and just making people miss.”
It marks a noted turn away from Carr’s previous two outings. He was competent against Penn State, but mostly managed the game. And against Indiana, he was just as stifled as the rest of the offense. Against the Scarlet Knights, though, he was trusted to actually get the ball down the field, utilize his athleticism and make something out of nothing — and he did.
“That’s what I was kind of telling all my family,” Carr said. “I was like, ‘It’s a flu game opportunity.’ So yeah, I knew a little bit about it, but just happy that the guys just stepped up.”
It wasn’t the NBA Finals, but it was enough to write itself into the annals of flu game history.
