Michigan’s new strategy of downplaying the Ohio State rivalry is insane

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The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the absolute best in all of sports. No one denies this! At least they haven’t in the past. Currently, it’s a bit unclear what the heck is going on as the Wolverines starting quarterback and head coach are both out there downplaying the significance of The Game.

Kyle Whittingham, about to embark on his first year in Ann Arbor, admitted he doesn’t hate the Buckeyes during Big Ten Media Days. Those comments caused him to clarify his position a bit.

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“Do we have a better chance of winning if I hated them?” Whittingham asked. “I don’t understand. Whatever gives us the best chance to win, I’m all for it. I want to beat them worse than anybody.”

Look, the logical part of our brains should tell us that hating one’s rival is not a prerequisite for success. Coaches on both sides of the Michigan-Ohio State battle have struggled to post victories even though they have carried a healthy hatred for the other side deep in their souls. Players who honestly didn’t care about anything have become legends for their play on the field. Because ultimately, only the wins and losses matter.

Or so Michigan fans can keep telling themselves.

I’m going to be completely transparent here before we dive into what Bryce Underwood said about Ohio State because the reader deserves to know all of my existing biases. I went to Michigan State and root for both teams to lose that game in November. It’s disappointing to me that ties are no longer a thing because it’s not fun to see either school win.

But I legitimately could not believe that Underwood said the following:

“It’s just another game, just with guys in a different color. That’s how I see it.”

This comes from a highly touted prospect that has yet to deliver on his promise with the Wolverines and went 8-for-18 with a meager 63 yards against the Buckeyes in a lopsided loss last season.

The most sober-minded Michigan fans are out there suggesting that these comments don’t matter and that they’ll be forgotten if Underwood plays well in a Wolverines’ win this season. Which is true. But the inverse is also in play. If he struggles again and Ohio State whoops their neighbors to the north, he will never ever live them down. The cost-benefit of such commentary just seems way out of whack.

Credit where it’s due. This is a bold strategy and may prove to be genius. It takes some bravery to put one’s self out there like that but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Playing in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry has always meant taking it as seriously as possible. We’re in a new era of college football and maybe what Underwood is saying represents a sea change.

Or maybe he’ll live to regret it.

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