Sports

Kyle Whittingham Brutally Bombed His First Major Test As Michigan’s New Head Coach

#College Football
by Last Updated
Kyle Whittingham Michigan Wolverines

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Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks to media after the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 18, 2026.


By all accounts, new Michigan Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham has proven to be a big upgrade on Sherrone Moore in his early months on the job, although that’s a low bar to clear.

Whittingham has crossed off many of the basics that Moore’s staff ignored, like proper weight training and actually hiring a dedicated quarterback coach for big-time prospect Bryce Underwood.

But up until this point, Whittingham really hasn’t had all that many opportunities to prove himself to Michigan fans.

That all changed this week at Big Ten Media Days when he was asked one simple question, and he answered it in the worst way imaginable for Wolverines fans.

Kyle Whittingham Slips Up On Question About Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry

The rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State isn’t just one of, if not the, most storied rivalries in college football; it’s one of the most storied rivalries in all of sports.

The two teams absolutely hate one another, as do their fan bases.

But how does Whittingham feel about the Buckeyes? He was asked just that on Thursday, and his answer didn’t sit with Wolverines fans.

“Hate’s a strong word,” Whittingham said of his feelings toward Ohio State. “But I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor … I just think that a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don’t think there’s a place for that. Personally, I think Ryan Day is a good person.

“To sit here and say I hate Ryan Day, I’d be making crap up because that’s not true.”

Ooof. Nobody asked Whittingham to hate Ryan Day personally, just Ohio State as an institution. It is integral to being a Michigan football coach.

Even former Michigan corner Channing Stribling was floored by the answer.

“This may be very dramatic, but I truly believe that this quote will be the sole reason he doesn’t work at Michigan,” one fan said of Whittingham’s words.

Ultimately, if Whittingham goes out and beats the Buckeyes, Michigan fans will care way less about what he says about them. However, what he said won’t win him many fans in Ann Arbor.