Kyle Whittingham, Michigan’s head coach, said he doesn’t need “hatred” in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, and former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer is having none of it. This isn’t just some casual disagreement, folks; Meyer went all-in on “The Triple Option” show August 24, essentially telling Whittingham he’s way off base when it comes to “The Game.”
“People Would Lose Their [Expletive]” If a Buckeye Coach Said That
Whittingham first dropped his bombshell at Big Ten media days on July 30, declaring, “A rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don’t think there is any place for that personally.” He even called Ohio State’s Ryan Day “a good person,” stating he’d be “making crap up” if he claimed to hate him. Whittingham tried to clarify on August 11 during a Michigan press conference, asking reporters, “Do we have a better chance to win if I hated them? … Whatever gives us the best chance to win, I’m all for it.” He insists he wants to beat them “worse than anybody around.”
But Meyer? Oh man, Meyer did not mince words. He shot back, “If the Ohio State coach ever said that, that would be a problem. People would lose their [expletive] in Columbus, Ohio. They would. And I got news: You’re not going to change that. So play the game.” While Meyer agreed about not making it personal with opposing coaches, he made it crystal clear where the hatred should be directed. “Did I hate Jim Harbaugh? Did I hate Brady Hoke? Of course not,” Meyer stated, adding, “But do I hate [Michigan]? Of course I hate them. That’s your job to hate them.” He even offered some “common sense” to Coach Whit, explaining, “When you use the word hatred, it’s that maize and blue team across from you. It’s not the person. It’s not the university. … But when you’re a player and you’re getting ready to put your hand in the ground in front of 110,000 people, you better have a dislike and distaste for that person across from you.”
Meyer’s Dominance and a Fiery Prediction for Whittingham
Let’s not forget Meyer’s record against Michigan, because it speaks volumes: a perfect 7-0. Four of those victories were by more than a touchdown. The Wolverines’ closest shot came in 2016, when Ohio State clinched a 30-27 double overtime win thanks to a game-winning touchdown from Curtis Samuel. Meyer knows a thing or two about this rivalry, and he’s predicting a rude awakening for his friend.
Yep, Whittingham was Meyer’s defensive coordinator at Utah for two seasons, so there’s history there. But that didn’t stop Meyer from saying what he felt. He didn’t even call Whittingham after the comments. Instead, Meyer issued a prophecy: “After his visit to Columbus this year, and he gets scarred up a little, and some of the things that are going to be said and thrown at him and seen, he’ll develop a little bit of a hatred.”
Whittingham will get his first taste of the rivalry game against Ohio State on November 28, right there in Columbus. Can he really stick to his “no hatred” philosophy when he’s staring down a hostile crowd and a team Meyer practically built on pure disdain for the opposition? Meyer thinks he’s got another thing coming, and we’re all watching to see if Coach Whit develops that “hatred” after all.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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