Kyle Whittingham Just Said the Unthinkable

At the Big Ten media days on Thursday, Kyle Whittingham was asked about the hatred between Ohio State and Michigan. His reaction was stunning for Michigan fans and was not something you’d expect to hear from a Wolverines’ Coach.

“I just think that a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor.” Whittingham said, “I don’t think there’s any place for that, personally…I’ve learned how intense that rivalry is, how important the game is. Hate’s a strong word, but I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor. Like I said early on, what better scenario would there be than if that game came down to the championship in the Big Ten? That would be outstanding, so we’ll see what happens…"

For many in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, no matter which side you’re on, this is a relationship fueled by hate. Whether it be referring to the Buckeyes as just “Ohio” or every M in Columbus being replaced with an X, there’s no love lost between the Maize and Blue and the Scarlet and Gray.

In reality, the only part of Whittingham’s job performance that matters is what happens in that final game of the season. There are worst things that could be said, such as “It’s just another game,” but over the years we’ve become very accustomed to coaches adding to the fire and sometimes even providing ‘bulletin board’ material. 

Perhaps this is a new coach's way of turning the tide in Ann Arbor, especially after recent events, but for myself I see this as a yellow flag. It’s not a deal-breaker and it’s certainly to be expected to some extent with Michigan bringing a guy in who’s a complete stranger to this rivalry, but it’s also not ideal.

Sometimes as a coach brand new to a program's traditions, you need to fake it ‘til you make it, just like Bryan Kelly.