Kyle Whittingham, Urban Meyer talk QB Bryce Underwood’s development

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The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a huge win over the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners last weekend, reigniting national attention to a team that severely disappointed in Week 1, despite earning a win over Western Michigan. Sentiment from fans and the media are mixed: Who are the real Michigan Wolverines: The team that needed a Hail Mary to beat a MAC opponent, or one good enough to beat an SEC opponent that made the College Football Playoff last season?

We evaluate some of the most interesting comments from the week about Bryce Underwood, Kyle Whittingham, and the Wolverines ahead of Saturday’s matchup with UTEP:

From the coaches: Whittingham, Meyer talk Underwood’s legs and future development

One of the most interesting dynamics between the media and coaches in college football today is between former Ohio State coach turned Fox Analyst Urban Meyer and current Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham took over as head coach at Utah when Meyer left for Florida following the 2004 season, and the two have remained friends since. What that creates today is a former Buckeye with inside access to the Michigan Football program, with reason to speak highly of the Wolverines. Surely, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes are rolling over in their graves because of it.

Whittingham joined Meyer’s podcast, the Triple Option with Mark Ingram and Rob Stone, and spoke about the big win over Oklahoma on Saturday, particularly praising the willingness and demeanor of quarterback Bryce Underwood:

The Michigan head coach said Underwood understood Jason Beck’s game plan of leveraging his legs against the Sooners’ stout defense; he called it “a big ask and going to be a big part of the plan. And, to his credit, he was absolutely receptive to that.” Whittingham continued, “He had no pushback. He said, ‘Coach, whatever it takes to win this game. What you need me to do is what I’m willing to do’. That was probably the biggest X-factor in the game is the rush yardage that he provided us.”

Meyer then broke down Underwood’s touchdown run:

The former Ohio State head coach sang the praises of the Michigan quarterback.

“I paused the film with Gerry DiNardo (a Big Ten Network Analyst and former collegiate player and coach), and I said, ‘How many men in the game can do this?’ and I answered it: ‘(One).’ That’s a big ass guy running. He outran an SEC secondary for a touchdown. So, every investment that you put into this cat, it’s gotta be (worth it).”

“He is such a willing football player,” Whittingham responded, referring to Underwood. “Like I said, whatever we need him to do, he’s willing to do. His work habits are terrific. He’s a leader at practice. You know, we run our 2020s before practice to warm up, and he’s first in every single rep. I mean, he does things the right way, and you’re right. He’s still very young in the big scheme of things. You know, he just turned 19 years old a month ago and I think the best days are ahead for Bryce, and he wants to be great.”

A QB’s take: Week 1 lied about Michigan

Fox Sports Lead Analyst Joel Klatt spoke about the Week 1 results that told lies about the sport for the remainder of the season, and he mentioned the Wolverines’ near loss to Western Michigan as an indicator of it:

The Skeptic: Josh Pate, “I don’t know if all of my questions have been answered about Michigan.”

Michigan alum Rich Eisen hosted college football analyst Josh Pate on his show. Prior to the season, Pate said he was “quietly buying stock” in the Wolverines on his show. Now that sentiment has changed and remains after the Western Michigan game in Week 1. He did provide the caveat he has not been around Whittingham’s teams around contests like this:

“The vibe at Michigan (before the game vs. Oklahoma) was not that of a ton of confidence… So, when Michigan came out and just took the fight to them… Was it six OU drives that had to start inside their own 20? Two of them started at the 1-yard line? (Michigan) dominated in special teams. They forced Mateer into making a mistake that they could benefit from. They ran Underwood… So, huge amounts of credit, but I don’t think anyone leaves that game saying, ‘Welp. All of my questions have been answered about Michigan.” But, they’re 2-0. That’s what we know. Full season ahead, and that game we saw (against Oklahoma), that’s a foundation game. I can build on that. I can stand on that.”

Mega Fan Dave Portnoy asks Whittingham about Ohio State’s loss to Texas

Call it a gimmick, call it fandom; it’s somewhere in between, but Dave Portnoy is overly fanatical about Michigan and is typically on the extreme end of the voice of the fanbase. He had Whittingham on Wake Up Barstool on Monday and asked him about the Buckeyes blowing a three-touchdown fourth-quarter lead. The Michigan head coach kept things classy:

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