Former TTUN tight end Jake Butt perfectly explained the aspect of "The Game" rivalry that includes "hate," but also includes respect. College football media personality Brooks Austin got the response out of Butt by asking him whether or not he hates the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Butt, a former participant in the rivalry on the bad guy side, who grew up in Central Ohio, believes the Maize and Blue's true hate is reserved for the Michigan State Spartans. Few would understand the issue better than Butt.
"I don’t know if you knew this. I grew up in Columbus. I actually grew up a Buckeye fan, believe it or not. And Urban Meyer didn’t… [offer me] — that’s a story we’ll save... I'll dangle the carrot for another day. My hatred, in terms of pure hatred, that’s Michigan–Michigan State. That’s what that rivalry is about. I hate Ohio State… but I respect them in a way where respect is a word that has to be tied into the hatred of Ohio State," Butt said.
"It’s both those programs — Michigan and Ohio State — are legendary. They’re full of great history, great coaches. You train year-round to compete and win in that game. But I would say there’s gotta be a level of respect for the Buckeyes as much as there is hatred."
Of course, the Wolverines' new head coach, Kyle Whittingham, doesn't believe in hate. Whittingham told reporters at the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days that he simply doesn't hate Ryan Day or his team.
“I’ve learned how intense that rivalry is and how important the game is,” Whittingham said. “Hate is a strong word, but I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor. ... I just think a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don’t think there’s any 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.”
Kyle Whittingham won't last long with TTUN unless he starts to get it
Whittingham isn't in Utah anymore. Not to downplay the Utes-BYU Cougars rivalry, the "Holy War," if you will, but "The Game" is a different beast. M's and O's become cursed symbols that each side must "X" out. Certain colors become unwearable during rivalry week.
This is a level of hate that Whittingham has to understand at some point. He has to respect what his blood rival accomplishes, but he has to hate that it's they who accomplished it. If he doesn't, the intensity will sweep him up like a raging river rapid and leave him behind.
Whittingham was always a questionable choice to lead this program into the future, given his age and how long he spent emotionally invested in a Utah team he led from the BCS era to the NIL era.
There simply may not be much of a future if Whittingham doesn't start to get it, at least as it pertains to "The Game."
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