TTUN head coach Kyle Whittingham doesn't understand the assignment. The Wolverines' Sherrone Moore replacement believes that there's actual "hate" involved with rivalry games between head coaches. Whittingham doesn't believe that should be the case, even though it's already typically not.
Whittingham shared the laughable quote on Thursday during his media availability at the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago.
“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.”
You could see what Whittingham was going for. Perhaps he was appealing to the "Peace and Love" nature of the modern Big Ten, which, of course, has a presence on the West Coast now. Whittingham played with those teams in the Pac-12 when it was last a Power 5 conference.
Sincerely asking, though. What is he talking about?
Whittingham comes from the Holy War rivalry, one of the most intense in the country. There is no love lost between the Utah Utes and BYU Cougars, whether in the Big 12 or when BYU was an independent. Whittingham should be used to the term "hate" being used as more of a football term than a personal feelings one.
There may be hateful fans, but no coach in most football rivalries really hates his counterpart. To these coaches, they may find themselves in a new rivalry at a moment's notice. Hell, you could end up on your rival's coaching staff the way programs and coaches move these days.
It's not personal. But having animosity for the opposing brand is something he needs to embrace. Ryan Day has called for a red "X" to cover the Wolverines' Maize and Blue "M." Day gets it. Whittingham needs to get with the program.
Well, if you ask Buckeye fans, Whittingham needs to stay where he is.
Kyle Whittingham may not have the stamina to lead TTUN over OSU
Whittingham just spent 32 years with the Utes in various roles. It's okay if he doesn't have it in him to form a new level of hate on a new team. At 66, Whittingham may not be in Ann Arbor for the long haul. Why bother forming hate for an exemplary program in the NIL era? Whittingham could probably take some pointers from Ohio State, if anything.
Buckeyes fans should hear Whittingham's comments and be excited for what comes next. Without the edge that guys like Curt Cignetti have -- can you imagine him giving an answer like this? -- Whittingham may prove to be not cut out for B1G success.
That's okay. TTUN may simply be looking for someone who won't get the program in trouble to cool off its scandalous reputation. In that regard, they hired a high-quality coach with a high-quality character.
Whittingham just may not have the hate in his heart to be mean enough to win in this conference.
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