The Big Ten’s season may be unfolding unevenly on the field, but the conference has no shortage of drama away from it. This week, Michigan and Oregon have added a war of words to their Saturday matchup in Eugene.
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham praised Oregon’s Dan Lanning at a news conference, while also pointing to the Ducks’ financial muscle in recruiting. Whittingham said Lanning was an excellent coach and recruiter, but noted that Oregon has more than $50 million available to attract players. In the era of name, image and likeness deals, he said, that kind of spending can make a significant difference.
Whittingham’s comments come amid a difficult first season at Michigan. He arrived after 32 years at Utah, where he was known for steady leadership and a program that regularly outperformed expectations. The fit once seemed promising, especially after Michigan endured several turbulent seasons. So far, though, the results have fallen short.
He also drew criticism early on after playing down the intensity of Michigan’s rivalry with Ohio State. On the field, the Wolverines needed a late comeback to beat Western Michigan, then lost to Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana over the course of several weeks. Their offense has struggled for much of the season.
A 15-6 loss to Michigan State added to the frustration. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, who had been expected to make progress in his second year as a starter, was benched in favor of backup Tommy Carr. The team’s struggles have fueled speculation that donors could try to raise enough money to buy out Whittingham after only one season.
Lanning responded to Whittingham’s remarks on Wednesday. He said he respected the Michigan coach and considered him an outstanding, Hall of Fame-caliber leader. Then he suggested Michigan’s spending on coaches it has let go could be limiting what it can offer players.
Lanning also said Oregon had missed out on some recruits because other schools were willing to make offers the Ducks could not match. He speculated that Michigan’s resources might be tied up elsewhere, but emphasized that he had great respect for Whittingham.
There is some truth to both sides of the exchange. Lanning has helped Oregon recover from losses to UCLA and Illinois, with wins over Northwestern and Ohio State. Still, the Ducks began the season with championship hopes and one of the sport’s more expensive rosters. Quarterback Dante Moore’s injury against USC came after a heavy loss to Oklahoma State, and Oregon has Dylan Raiola, a former Nebraska starter, available as a backup—a depth few programs can afford.
Oregon’s resources give Lanning unusual flexibility in recruiting, while Michigan is dealing with costly coaching decisions, including a reported $10 million buyout owed to Jason Beck after only a few months of a three-year agreement. Whittingham’s record as a coach is also hard to dismiss, even as his first season in Ann Arbor has gone poorly.
The matchup once looked like one of the season’s standout games. Michigan’s struggles and Oregon’s less-than-smooth campaign have dulled some of that anticipation, but the coaches’ pointed exchange has given Saturday’s game a fresh edge.
