Michigan football embarrassment exposes major problems despite win
The Wolverines needed a Hail Mary to escape WMU in a performance that looked nothing like Kyle Whittingham's team expected entering the season.
The Michigan football team's performance in their debut game under new head coach Kyle Whittingham has been widely criticized as an embarrassment. Despite Whittingham's assurances of toughness, discipline, and smart play, his team displayed the exact opposite in their game against Western Michigan. The Wolverines were nearly second-worst in loss history, with only 154 yards accumulated all game.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood had a strong start with a 75-yard drive, but the offense quickly faltered, committing numerous mistakes and turning the ball over. The defense, while holding the ball for over 40 minutes, allowed Western to control the game and held onto the ball for an extended period, including a long drive in the fourth quarter.
Whittingham attempted to defend his team, claiming they had improved through fall camp, but admitted they struggled to find rhythm offensively. The team's lack of preparation and execution resulted in a wide range of penalties and poor play, with special teams also struggling. Despite the loss, the Wolverines remained optimistic, with Whittingham attributing the poor performance to a group effort and not to any individual player.
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