Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham met with the media this week ahead of his team’s game against Indiana in Ann Arbor.
The first-year coach of the Wolverines came to Michigan following 21 seasons as Utah’s head coach and 32 years overall with the Utes. He spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach with the program before being elevated to head coach in 2004. He had an all-time record of 177-88 leading the Utah program, including a 26-24 win over Indiana in the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl.
Below is what Whittingham had to say about IU coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers.
No. 6 Indiana (6-1) and Michigan (4-2) kick at Noon ET Saturday at Michigan Stadium (FOX).
GENERAL THOUGHTS ON INDIANA
“Wow. They are a good football team. I will just say they have all my respect. Coach Cignetti has done a phenomenal job there. They are doing so many good things. They are very balanced with their offense, running the ball for over 200 yards a game. In fact, they are very veteran on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They have a ton of fifth-year players on the offensive line as well as the defensive line, and they are doing it exactly how we want to do it.
“They are running the ball for over 210 yards a game, giving up only 75 rushing yards a game with their defense, and taking care of the football. They have an amazing stat: for 31 straight games, they have not lost the turnover margin. That is 31 straight games. I can’t even fathom it. It is the longest streak in 30 years from what I understand.
“You have heard me talk about it ad nauseam—the turnover margin. When you talk about why they have won more games over the last two and a half years than anyone in the country, that turnover margin is a big reason right there.”
ON WHY PLAYING INDIANA ENHANCES NEED TO EXECUTE
“They do not beat themselves. They do a great job of eliminating bad football and playing solid across the board. They have also blocked 10 kicks in the last two and a half years, which leads the country as well. Their special teams are right in line with what they are doing offensively and defensively.
“They have a tremendous punt returner, the big receiver who is so talented. The running backs are the best backs we will have seen this year. One of them returns kickoffs as well. They have a lot going for them. They really do.”
— Here’s Whittingham’s full weekly press conference, via Michigan Athletics:
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