There were rumors he was trying to renegotiate and get a salary boost, ala Kalani, rumors he was “open” to hearing about other positions, Michigan, etc.
I really don’t know if there was any truth to those, or if it was simply attention / click attracting chatter, but make no mistake Whitt is a competitor, he can be pretty intense.
The recent remarks that he “didn’t want to be that guy” who wore out his welcome, that you lose 10% of the fanbase every year, etc. He probably got those insights from Lavell and Mac. The idiot fans don’t know what they have and think something better is just around the corner, like Meyer.
BYU clowns who wondered why BYU didn’t usher Lavell out much earlier after the 1st season of Gary Crowton.
Utah fans who bailed on Mac - 10,000 people show up for a later season game vs UNLV, then celebrated him after he got canned. Everyone loves Mac, but… it was time.
Then Meyer made everything look easy, but his own career didn’t look as enchanted as those 2 years in SLC would have suggested, even with the Nattys.
There’s unquestionably a shelf life to coaching, or leadership in general. (The #1 complaint about former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau 2 years before he stepped down? People were just tired of what he had to say.) Kyle knows that. He’s well informed.
The drive, the work, the emotion, the warrior mentality to do what Whitt has done isn’t just turned off. I’m sure he’s evaluating.
I would be surprised if he took a job and then didn’t show up in Vegas.
Coach Whittingham showed up at our tailgate planning meeting this summer at the invitation of a guy in our group who is friends with him. A comment that stood out was that he was able to stop by because his grandkids were playing baseball at fields nearby. He said that he tries to get to as many of their games and events as possible. From that and other interactions I just don’t think he would move too far away. I could easily see him step in to help out at Weber St or a local HS team in order to stay close to the game and be close to his family as well. I don’t think at his age he is going out of state chasing some other gig.
Actually, that would be awesome if he took a LB coach position at Weber or was assistant at Brigton High or whatever. I would be surprised to see him leave the state.
I know my impression of what matters most to him was set probably 20 years ago during a radio coach’s show on the plaza at Trolley Square. His mother was there and had brought him some pencils, and watching that loving interaction was beyond adorable. I agree that as long as most of his family is here for him to enjoy, the chances of him wandering off very far seem really slight.
Whit may be a bit torn - somewhat like he was torn for a short time when Meyer left - between following his competitive instincts vs calling it a career and finding the next path.
Part of him wants to keep working, fighting, chasing the pinnacle, addicted to the adrenaline, the dopamine summit. The other part knows there’s a shelf-life, there is risk, and the wise know when to hang 'em up. Nobody wants to be the next Joe Montana.
Here’s a thought. What happens if his new availability is turned into a Mission president call at his church? 3 years, taking him to 70. Building youth in a different way.
This is the time of year that potential presidents are being ‘vetted’, asking about availability, willingness, etc. Told not to tell anyone until announced. Had a few friends go through this process. So, Whit’s comments about being a ‘free agent’ doesn’t mean he’s looking at other coaching positions. And focusing on the bowl game and then considering ‘options’ after is just him being coy and trying to help Scalley get off to a good start (and finish the year off with a strong bowl showing, definitely wants to go out with a W to turn around recent bowl losing streak).
After reading some of the speculation, I hope he didn’t feel pressured from the University or Morgan to step aside. I can’t imagine he was ever 100% sure of either returning or leaving. The program is something he built, something he undoubtedly loves and something he wants to be successful down the road. As appealing as retirement can look, there is also the fear of losing a huge part of your identity. I saw that with colleagues in the law profession. Their identity was being a lawyer. His identity is being a coach. What if he is no longer the coach? Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you it is okay to make a change and move on. As someone who has made that transition, I hope he goes on great trips with his wife, his children and his grandchildren, skis when the powder is good, rides when the roads are dry and finds some philanthropic ventures to help kids in sports. Mac has done that and I think it has given him great pleasure to do so.
I could see a road trip to visit places on his vacation wish list that he put off for football, speaking to groups on behalf of the University, and cashing his checks, too.
Amen to that. I’d be fine with him leaving and missing the bowl game on 12/31, but I hope he doesn’t poach from us on the way out. That would leave a very bad taste, but inevitable at some level I suppose.
I do suspect Michigan is capable of getting its players from places other than the U. I’m worried about Beck leaving though not convinced his destination would be Michigan.
I have lots of friends that are Michigan fans and boosters. The general consensus is that hiring Whit would be…fine.
He’s a character guy who can wash some of the stink off the program. And he’ll serve as a decent bridge for a couple years until they can find someone they actually want, since everyone else told them no this time around. They’re all concerned about how attractive a 66-year-old “old school” coach who has been fairly vocal about not liking the NIL era is going to be to the blue chip recruits they need in order to be successful.
He’s a good safe choice that can help right the ship for now, but none of them are particularly excited about him.
