Central Michigan University Athletics
Carr Provides Veteran Experience for Young Offense
10/12/2018 10:25:00 AM | Football
Senior Offensive Lineman leads CMU.
Shakir Carr has been the steady one. The show-up-every day, get-after-it guy. The pillar on the Central Michigan football team's offensive line.
He's also the cut up, and the team's best dancer. Just ask him. He'll tell you that.
Carr is a 6-foot-4, 308-pound senior captain who starts at left guard. His start against Ball State on Saturday will be the 24th of his career and his 12th consecutive. He is the lone Chippewa offensive starter with more than 20 career starts.
He isn't all business. In fact, when he arrived at CMU – with a police flashing-lights escort (more on that later) – he needed some counseling from his brothers on the offensive line.
"I was a goofball when I first got here," Carr says, evoking the names of former veteran teammates on the line, such as Nick Beamish and Andy Phillips, who helped indoctrinate him, helped him learn what playing for CMU was all about. "They had to beat me up a little bit. But after they beat me up, they took me under their wing and put things in perspective."
Carr has never lost that perspective as he has improved, become a leader, become a man. As the veteran on the line – and the offense overall – he is looked upon with respect by his teammates.
Respect on the football field isn't necessarily displayed as it is in everyday adult life. It most often comes from teammates in the form of backhanded compliments.
"He's definitely an old man," said junior center Steve Eipper, grinning. "If there is a tough time in the game we'll look up to him to give us some motivation, or some sort of 'What do we do?' We gravitate towards him."
In-game, Carr is, indeed, all business. In practice? Weight-lifting sessions? Meetings?
Well, a good leader knows when to push and when to pull. And, in Carr's case, when to dance. A 6 a.m. lift, and Carr turns up the music and gets his groove on, much to the delight of his teammates.
"I think that's why people picked me to be a captain," he said, "because I bring energy, I like to see people smile at 6 a.m. … bring the juice."
Keeping it light, when the time calls for it, is critical. It's a visceral, instinctive skill.
"We always say there is a time and place for everything," offensive line coach Derek Frazier said. "(Carr) can interject humor into a situation that needs it. He's one of the all-time best in celebrating. My man has some good moves. That's what makes it fun, he brings a great attitude to his work."
He was also brought to the CMU program by the police. On his first visit to campus, traveling with his mother, they had trouble locating the Indoor Athletic Complex, which houses the football team offices.
"When we first pulled up to Mount Pleasant my mom and I were driving around and looking lost," Carr said. "The police officer pulls up by us and was like, 'What's going on?' We said, 'We're looking for the football complex.'
"He flicks the lights on and is like, 'Follow me.' He drove us right up, and I was like this is probably where I want to go. … I knew it was a good place."
A good place to get an education, a good place to play, a good place to grow into a man. And, a good place to dance.
He's also the cut up, and the team's best dancer. Just ask him. He'll tell you that.
Carr is a 6-foot-4, 308-pound senior captain who starts at left guard. His start against Ball State on Saturday will be the 24th of his career and his 12th consecutive. He is the lone Chippewa offensive starter with more than 20 career starts.
He isn't all business. In fact, when he arrived at CMU – with a police flashing-lights escort (more on that later) – he needed some counseling from his brothers on the offensive line.
"I was a goofball when I first got here," Carr says, evoking the names of former veteran teammates on the line, such as Nick Beamish and Andy Phillips, who helped indoctrinate him, helped him learn what playing for CMU was all about. "They had to beat me up a little bit. But after they beat me up, they took me under their wing and put things in perspective."
Carr has never lost that perspective as he has improved, become a leader, become a man. As the veteran on the line – and the offense overall – he is looked upon with respect by his teammates.
Respect on the football field isn't necessarily displayed as it is in everyday adult life. It most often comes from teammates in the form of backhanded compliments.
"He's definitely an old man," said junior center Steve Eipper, grinning. "If there is a tough time in the game we'll look up to him to give us some motivation, or some sort of 'What do we do?' We gravitate towards him."
In-game, Carr is, indeed, all business. In practice? Weight-lifting sessions? Meetings?
Well, a good leader knows when to push and when to pull. And, in Carr's case, when to dance. A 6 a.m. lift, and Carr turns up the music and gets his groove on, much to the delight of his teammates.
"I think that's why people picked me to be a captain," he said, "because I bring energy, I like to see people smile at 6 a.m. … bring the juice."
Keeping it light, when the time calls for it, is critical. It's a visceral, instinctive skill.
"We always say there is a time and place for everything," offensive line coach Derek Frazier said. "(Carr) can interject humor into a situation that needs it. He's one of the all-time best in celebrating. My man has some good moves. That's what makes it fun, he brings a great attitude to his work."
He was also brought to the CMU program by the police. On his first visit to campus, traveling with his mother, they had trouble locating the Indoor Athletic Complex, which houses the football team offices.
"When we first pulled up to Mount Pleasant my mom and I were driving around and looking lost," Carr said. "The police officer pulls up by us and was like, 'What's going on?' We said, 'We're looking for the football complex.'
"He flicks the lights on and is like, 'Follow me.' He drove us right up, and I was like this is probably where I want to go. … I knew it was a good place."
A good place to get an education, a good place to play, a good place to grow into a man. And, a good place to dance.
Players Mentioned
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