When it comes to Michigan football at this point, the first thing a lot of people think about are the scandals that have continually plagued the program in the last three years. From the Connor Stalions sign-stealing and cover-up to Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss' behavioral conduct scandals, Michigan has been a revolving door at times when it comes to breaking news scandals.
Well, when it comes to football, the slate has been wiped clean as new head coach Kyle Whittingham brought in a whole new staff, and even athletic director Warde Manuel, who dealt with all these scandals, will be out of Ann Arbor at the end of the year. It is time to get back to the basics of simply playing football, something Whittingham echoed in his Big Ten Media Days press conference.
"That's one thing about the players at Michigan right now, they're hungry and ready to get back in a season, get some football," Whititngham said. "They've been through a lot in the last four or five years. Hopefully we can put the drama to bed and just get back to being student-athletes and having a great college experience.
Kyle Whittingham on recent slew of scandals in program: "[Michigan has] been through a lot the last four or five years. But hopefully we can put the drama to bed and just get back to being student athletes and and having a great college experience."
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) July 30, 2026
Kyle Whittingham is emphasizing football, not drama, at Michigan
It is hard to play football, or really any sport for that matter, when there is a lot of drama surrounding your program. For the last few years, Michigan has been a constant presence in the news when it comes to drama and scandals. Imagine seeing it all and then having to go out and play an entire game like nothing is happening.
Sure, as athletes, these players need to be able to block out the distractions, but they are human beings, and it's hard to do that sometimes. So, Whittingham is doing his best to really put the drama behind his players and give them a fresh start.
For the last seven months, football has been the main point of emphasis for Whittingham, well, that and making sure his players graduate. School has been just as important, which has to be a breath of fresh air for these players and this Michigan fanbase.
While Manuel might not have always made the best decisions when it comes to football, hiring Whittingham was the perfect palate cleanser this scandal-ridden program needed. With over 20 years of head coaching experience, it's no secret that Whittingham knows what he is doing, which makes this hire even more of a perfect fit.
Even with all the drama last season and seasons before, Michigan has been able to win championships and have successful seasons. Imagine what will happen when the drama is left at the door, and the focus is completely on football. Whititngham could create quite the dynasty at Michigan, something he simply didn't have the resources to do at Utah.
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