CHICAGO – The Michigan Wolverines are predicted to win the Big Ten, and there has been speculation it could be veteran coach Lloyd Carr’s last season.

Carr is used to hearing the rumblings.

“It’s been ongoing for ‘X’ number of years, so I don’t see why it would change,” Carr said Wednesday at the second day of Big Ten media meetings.

When told that his health is also a source of rumors as it pertains to his future, the 62-year-old Carr acknowledged: “Well, I’m older.”

“It’s been pretty consistent,” he said of the speculation. “I can’t control what’s written. I don’t know what to say anymore than what I’ve said before.”

Carr has been a coach at Michigan since 1980 and was named interim head coach in 1995. He got the full-time job later that year.

He has a 113-36 record in 12 seasons, 75-21 in the Big Ten. Since finishing tied for fifth in 1996, he won a share of the national title the following year, and his teams have only finished as low as a tie for third, two times.

But Carr’s detractors will point out the Wolverines have lost four straight bowl games, and most notoriously, have lost three straight to Ohio State, and five out of six overall. Last season’s 42-39 loss was most painful, as it cost the Wolverines a trip to the BCS national title game.

Carr recently signed a new version of his contract that would allow him to collect a deferred compensation account if he is employed by the school in any capacity until July 1, 2008. Previously he had to be the head football coach until July 1, 2007, to receive the deferred compensation account.

This news led many to believe Carr would move on after this year to a role as an administrator. He didn’t sound ready to go just yet. On Tuesday, he pronounced himself healthy and Wednesday, he said he hasn’t put much thought to a post-whistle existence.

“I don’t see myself being an athletic director,” he said about his eventual retirement, noting he could still see himself in an administrative role. “Hopefully I can do something that I’m passionate about.”

The Wolverines won their first 11 games last season and went into Columbus for a historical No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. Michigan then lost to USC, 32-18, at the Rose Bowl and the Buckeyes were routed by Florida in the Fiesta Bowl. The Wolverines got their top offensive players back and look loaded for a run at the BCS championship.

Running back Mike Hart was voted the preseason offensive player of the year in the conference and left tackle Jake Long might be the best lineman in the country.

If Carr were to step down, this could be a storybook ending.

“If this was his last year and we won the Big Ten and the national championship, that would be a great way” to send Carr out, senior quarterback Chad Henne said.

“I think he knows the kind of players that we are. We’re always going to play hard for him. I don’t think he’s too worried about it and neither are we.”