There was a sizable turnover between the roster and coaching staff from a year ago to now, many of which have no experience in the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
One of those coaches is linebackers coach Alex Whittingham. On Wednesday with the media, he shared how all the new faces are learning about the intensity and physicality of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry.
“Mr. Jansen came in and he was great, gave us the whole background,” Whittingham said on Wednesday of Jon Jansen, former Michigan
offensive lineman who spoke with the team this week. “I’ve been a college football fan for a while. That’s why I’m kind of familiar with it. I’m lucky to have been, you know, in the rivalries back in Utah, those games that they played the last eight years. I’ve seen NFL rivalries, which is a little different flavor to that. … So experience with rivalries and kind of how they work. Getting educated this week has been eye opening and good, and I’m very excited for this game.”
An added bonus for Whittingham specifically is his room of linebackers has some unique experience with the rivalry. Graduate student Aisea Moa spent three years at BYU and then last season in East Lansing with Michigan State. Moa shared with the linebacker room what it was like to be on the other side of the rivalry.
“We got Aisea Moa in the room, who is a Michigan State transfer, so he gives us an interesting perspective,” Whittingham said. “I had him speak to the guys in our linebacker room on Monday, just kind of give us a take on where they’re at on the other side and what they’re talking about. So that was good.”
Just like any player, Whittingham has his fair share of experiences with rivalries. Another in-state rivalry was when he was a student at Utah from 2013-17, playing against BYU in the Holy War every season. Whittingham has very fond memories of that rivalry.
“As a player, being able to go undefeated against the team down south in Provo, the other team, that was a good experience,” Whittingham said. “I enjoy that and look back on that often.”
Then as a coach in the NFL, the rivalry between the Chiefs and Raiders was one that always had a little extra spark to it. And his introduction to the rivalry as a member of the defensive staff was tumultuous to say the least.
“Back in 2018, we played in the Coliseum in Oakland,” Whittingham said. “Conveniently all the coaches got to the locker room, we set our stuff down, went out for warm ups and all that, and we came back and conveniently, the plumbing had overflowed out of the toilets and gone onto all our stuff. It was crazy how it happened. First and last time playing there for me, so that was inevitable, I guess.”
Like many others, Whittingham has plenty of experience with rivalries. Despite not having played or coached in this particular game before, the team is doing whatever it can to prepare for what it will be like.
Pulling from prior experiences, bringing in Jansen and letting Moa speak to the group is what Whittingham will do to prepare for it. And that’s all he needs to get amped for Saturday night.
“I’m fired up, excited, and to be in front of our own fans, it’s gonna be great,” Whittingham said.
