Michigan Hc Kyle Whittingham Has Interesting Take On the Rivalry With Buckeyes
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The Ohio State Buckeyes have a new rival, leading the Michigan Wolverines starting next year. Kyle Whittingham is entering his first season as the Michigan head coach, and the shift in character is already on display.
The last two coaches for the team up north were cut from one cloth, while Whittingham is clearly cut from a completely opposite one.
On day three of Big Ten Media Days, Whittingham was asked if he hates Ohio State, yet being that he is now in the biggest rivalry in the world.
His response was perfectly Whittingham. He said, "Hate is a strong word… I just think the rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don't think there is any place for that, personally."
This response has my mind tied in a knot. This is absolutely the response everyone would expect from Whittingham, who is a stand-up guy and one of the globally respected coaches in the entire league.
Now that's all good, but this rivalry is fueled by hatred. It's fueled by Woody Hayes going for two because he "couldn't go for three" and Urban Meyer running up the score. It's Michigan planting their flag at the 50-yard line and starting a fight.
It's all of the things that are stirred up in the rivalry that are released on the football field. That's how literally everyone has looked at this rivalry for all of time, but maybe that is going to change? It definitely won't change on the Ohio State side, but maybe on the Michigan side.
Now, don't get it confused, Whittingham said multiple times on Thursday that the rivalry means a lot to him and he is honored to be a part of it.
All jokes aside, Whittingham is a breath of fresh air even from this side of the rivalry. In the previous two seasons, everything that came out of Michigan was mostly all bad, and it was full of drama every single day.
There were scandals big and small; there was uncharacteristic losing; there was a National Championship mixed in there. There was so much that was happening in that program, and it is truthfully nice to have it back on the rails.
Now, that's where Buckeye fans want the improvement of their program to stop. Michigan will be markedly improved next year, and The Game at the end of the year will be much more competitive going forward.
It will be fascinating to see all of the changes that this program undergoes and maybe by the end of November, they will have some hate in their heart for the Buckeyes.
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