Would Michigan's Kyle Whittingham bench Bryce Underwood? 'Bryce is our quarterback.'
· Yahoo Sports
ANN ARBOR, MI – If Kyle Whittingham’s comments about Bryce Underwood stirred up a quarterback controversy, well the Michigan coach says that’s news to him.
Whittingham doesn’t live on social media, and he says he doesn’t read what’s written by the scribes — meaning no offense to the free press, of course.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
“I hope you’re not offended that I don’t read your stuff,” Whittingham said, good-naturedly, to a room full of reporters after No. 24 Michigan's 17-10 takedown of No. 10 Oklahoma. “I’m sure it’s witty.”
Recently, the press clippings were more biting.
If Whittingham had gotten some ink on his fingertips ahead of this game, he would’ve noticed more than a few reporters interpreted Whittingham’s comments about Underwood last week as a direct shot that came close to declaring Michigan’s quarterback job an open competition.
To which, Whittingham shrugs, and he downplays the notion that his comments put Underwood on notice.
“Whose job is ever etched in stone?” Whittingham said.
Kyle Whittingham: Bryce Underwood is Michigan's quarterback
OK, fair enough, but it was difficult to hear Whittingham's remarks about his quarterback in the days after Michigan’s replay-aided Hail Mary escape against Western Michigan and think Underwood’s hold on the job was anything other than tenuous.
So, what of it?
Is Whittingham considering benching the quarterback of his 2-0 team?
“Bryce is our quarterback,” Whittingham said, “and that’s where we are.”
That's a more direct, affirmative tune than Whittingham struck just a few days ago.
Michigan still needs more from Bryce Underwood
Michigan didn’t count on Underwood to throw it much against Oklahoma. He completed just two passes after halftime for 8 yards and completed nine passes in the entire game.
That adhered to the run-heavy plan Whittingham figured would be the best way to attack Oklahoma, a team expected to have a premier defense.
“The game plan was to win the game, so that’s what we did,” said Underwood. Never the most loquacious quarterback, Underwood stuck to brief, matter-of-fact responses in his postgame remarks. “So, I would say we accomplished our game plan.”
Can Michigan keep winning rock fights in this manner when the Big Ten schedule starts? Whittingham isn’t counting on that.
“There’s going to be weeks where we’ve got to be able to throw the ball a lot better than we’re throwing it right now,” Whittingham said. “That will be a point of emphasis.”
And when Michigan requires that uptick in pass game, will it be Underwood or freshman backup Tommy Carr throwing the passes?
Whittingham won’t see this – no offense to me, he’d say – but if he did, he’d read that Michigan’s coach doesn’t sound ready to bench his quarterback yet.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Would Michigan's Kyle Whittingham bench Bryce Underwood? 'Bryce is our quarterback.'