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By Jordan Sigler
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During his time with Utah, new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham led his team in the "Holy War" rivalry against BYU.
While the Utes and Cougars have a strong rivalry, nothing in college football compares to "The Game" played by Michigan and Ohio State on Thanksgiving weekend.
During the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago this week, Whittingham told reporters that he appreciates rivalry, but doesn't feel like he has any "hate" in his heart for Ohio State.
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“I’ve learned how intense that rivalry is, how important the game is,” Whittingham said, via a transcription from On3. “Hate’s a strong word, but I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor. Like I said early on, what better scenario would there be [than] if that game came down to the championship in the Big Ten? That would be outstanding, so we’ll see what happens…
“I thought Ryan (Day) was a pretty good guy when I got to interact with him at the Rose Bowl and based on what Urban (Meyer) has told me. I just think that 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’s a good person. To sit here and say, ‘I hate Ryan Day,’ I’d be making crap up.”
Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, who Whittingham won't allow to visit practice during the week of "The Game", certainly isn't afraid to use the "H" word. During an appearance on "The Script" in May, Meyer said he felt a lot of "hatred" for Michigan.
"When you're the head coach at Ohio State, and you're an Ohio guy, and you grew up in the 10-year war, the 7-0 is something that, please, don't touch that one, man," Meyer said. "I mean, that's something I'll take with me the rest of my life. The hatred I had for that school. And notice I said 'Had'. I'm not in that chair anymore. When you're in that chair, you feel it every day."
Whittingham might not carry the hate, but much of the Michigan fan base will on Nov. 28 when the Wolverines travel to play Ohio State at Ohio Stadium. The last time the two teams played at Ohio Stadium, a fight broke out after the game.
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