(AP) — SALINE, MI While looking for a bite to eat after school, CJ Carr’s grandfather verbally taunted him across the kitchen island.
With a sly smile, legendary Michigan coach Lloyd Carr questioned his grandson, “You wearing that sweatshirt?”
He smiled and answered his grandfather, “Yeah,” donning a green sweater with white letters spelling out Notre Dame.
On Wednesday, CJ Carr will be one of hundreds of prospects to formally commit to the Fighting Irish by signing a national letter of intent with a college football school.
Nobody’s Signing Day story is exactly the same.
With connections to the Michigan Wolverines, the former standout quarterback from Saline High School is the son of two College Football Hall of Fame grandfathers, Lloyd Carr and Tom Curtis, and a late brother whose fight with brain cancer prompted a foundation that has raised $27 million for research.
When CJ Carr decided to attend Notre Dame last year instead of playing for Michigan, five miles from his home, where his father, Jason, was a backup quarterback and met Tammi, his future wife, it created quite a commotion.
He told The Associated Press, “It was time for me to spread my wings a little bit and get a little further from home,” just before departing for South Bend, Indiana, to join Notre Dame for its Sun Bowl preparations.
Following his last recruiting trip to Notre Dame, CJ Carr felt so at home that he canceled scheduled visits to Alabama, Georgia, and LSU and told his family back home. Carr is currently the nation’s fifth-ranked high school quarterback.
“I said, `C.J., what do you think?,'” Lloyd Carr remembered enquiring. “He then declared, ‘Papa, I’m heading to Notre Dame.'” His father said, “Hey, wait a minute,” as he stood there. There are many topics for you to consider and examine.”
Still, the choice had been made, and those closest to him approved.
Lloyd Carr remarked, “I told everyone that if he’s happy, I’m happy.”
Carr finished his career with a 122-40 record in 2008 after leading the Wolverines to their final national championship in 1997. Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson ranks second with 18 interceptions, behind Curtis, who still owns the career record with 25 interceptions from 1967 to 1969 at Michigan.
Some Michigan supporters were upset that CJ Carr didn’t continue his family’s tradition of wearing maize and blue, particularly those who use social media anonymity.
“Oh, how could he not go to Michigan because his name is Carr?’ people would ask. How treacherous,” Tammi Carr exclaimed. “There is no way out for him. So unjust. And that boy always has his head up high. He pays no attention to what people have to say. He does as he believes is right. And for that, I am incredibly proud of him as his mother.”
Although CJ Carr is a positive person and a strong arm athlete, he has carried a sad heart since his younger brother Chad passed away in 2015 from an uncommon and incurable form of brain cancer.
With the ChadTough Foundation, Tammi and Jason Carr, along with their sons Tommy and CJ, have dedicated their lives to changing the world. The foundation has funded 65 researchers at 35 different universities and provides support to families who have been impacted by diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG.
“We started the ChadTough Foundation to change the future for kids who come next because the chance that Chad got wasn’t the chance that these kids should get,” Tammi stated. “We’re moving the needle, and Chad’s moving the needle.”
Carr notices that Chad has a cross tattooed on the inside of his right wrist every time he shoots a picture at Notre Dame.
But when his grandson plays for one of Michigan’s longstanding opponents, will Lloyd Carr be decked out in Fighting Irish regalia?
He chuckled and said, “What kind of question is that?,” then he paused and said. “Well, when C.J. Carr is playing for Notre Dame, I’ll be rooting for them.
“I’m happy for him. I applaud the decision he made.”
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