You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Your vision narrows, you can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo three. From beyond! And the logo.
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Now, on with the show. Uh Live from Plymouth, Michigan. Can the Wolverines survive in advance? This is the Rich Eisen Show. Michigan, the men's basketball national champions.
The Rich Eisen Show. In this hour, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham. Michigan football receiver Andrew Marsh. Michigan running backs, Jordan Marshall, and Savion Haider. And now, it's Rich Eisen.
Hour number two of the Rich Heisen Show is on the air live from the great state of Michigan down the road from the campus of the University of Michigan. We're here for the fourth annual Champions Circle Golf Classic. We talked in hour number one, a lot of basketball with the national champion basketball players Elliott Cadeau and Trey McKinney, and the new coach, Mike Boynton.
Now that our friend Dusty Mae has moved on down the road to Dallas, a lot of movement here on the campus of the University of Michigan, and that's why we're now finally landing on the football team since this Champions Circle golf classic features none other than the new head coach of the University of Michigan football program, Kyle Whittingham, is here to kick off hour number two. Good to see you, coach. How are you? Good. How's it going?
Going good. It's great to see you in that block. Yeah, it feels good. Is it you used to it yet? I am.
You are? Absolutely.
Okay, how long did it take you to get used to this? A few months. A few months, but we've settled in and can't wait to get. Of the season going, we'll be here before you know it. Yes, I mean, it's kind of right here.
I mean, next week is when. Yeah, coaches come in next week, early in the week, players midweek, and then we start fall camp practice, and then September 5th is the opener.
Okay. I mean, because again, obviously, coaches, all the coaches that I've come across, you know, you're all guys who like to control what you can control. And I'm just wondering, you know, how. Getting into a new program at this stage of your career, or at least bringing your program into a new school at this stage of your career. Did you see something like that coming for yourself?
You know, I hadn't ruled it out. You know, I wasn't sure what direction I was going to go, but I knew there were about half a dozen schools that, if the opportunity arose, Couldn't say no, and this was definitely on that list. That was on that list for you. And so, when you wound up, how would you term that you became available? Coach.
How would I term it?
Okay, well, I felt like, you know, Utah, you know, we'd done. Just about everything we could there, and we had a nice run. Time for somebody else to be able to have the opportunity to lead the program. Uh so I step down. uh didn't use the word word retirement right and uh still don't but uh you know uh just the way the the sequence of events after I decided to step down uh you know the stars aligned I mean the things that happened and transpired and and uh the opportunity to uh you know, interview for this job and and It just seemed to all fit.
It all fit in place, and here I am.
So when the opportunity became available to you, You thought what? What hit your mind? I had already known that, or already made the decision. My wife and I, if the opportunity did come, it was a no-brainer. And so it wasn't like, okay, well, let me think about it and consider it.
It was, okay, let's go, I'm in.
So, what about this program, school? Always intrigued. What not about it? I mean, this place has got everything. We talk about resources, winning his program in college football history, the tradition, the history.
The academics and the academics here are incredible, and so you know, it's just attractive, ready from every angle. And then, obviously, we're here with the Champion Circle. How do they play into a decision, something like that? Yeah, well, they're vital. I mean, in this day and age of college football, it's all about NIL and having the funds to put a roster together.
And without an entity like Champion Circle, you got no chance. And so, you know, having that in place was a big factor. And, you know, we're still, it's competitive. And, you know, every year you're trying to get your NIL resources where they need to be to be competitive. And we're there at Michigan.
How many times in your coaching career with the NIL world has somebody come into your office? And said I want to be paid more. How many times can't count them? Are you serious? Yeah, that's what it's all about right now.
And not only recruits that you're after, but players on your roster. Everyone wants to be treated fairly. And fortunately, we have a general manager and someone that is a go-between for me, so I don't deal with that directly anymore. But before that person was in place, you dealt with that all the time. Is that right?
So, how do you handle something like that?
Well, now, like I said, I just defer to the general manager. His office is right next door. Go ahead and have a conversation. But in terms of that, just Dusty May, who I'm sure you got to meet a couple of times, actually, I was at an event with you in Southern California. It was the last time I saw him.
I had no idea. It was the last time I'd seen him as the Michigan basketball coach. But the reason why I bring it up is that the conversations nationally are like. Hey, when the NBA knocks on your door and says, contracts are a contract here in the NBA. Schedules are a schedule in the NBA.
Off seasons are an off-season in the NBA. It's tough to say no to something like that if the money and everything else in the roster is right. I'm not sitting here and saying, do you think of the NFL? I'm sitting here thinking, how do you, does that weigh on you at any point in time? Like, you just want to coach?
Yeah, you know, there is a lot going on in college football and there's more to come. I can tell you that. It's not settled in by any means. But that is a factor, and you're right, there's a lot more. Consistency, stability, whatever the word you want to use at the NBA level or the NFL level.
But I love coaching, I love working with college athletes. And to me, you got to be able to change with the times. You either change with the times or you become irrelevant. And so it's something that I'm embracing and that it's not going away at least anytime soon. And so you just roll with it.
Just a few more minutes on this subject matter, if you don't mind. Kyle Whittingham here on the Rich Eisen Show.
So what do you want to see done? If you could wave a wand. I know, again, you're a coach, but you clearly have been around this game for a long time.
Now multiple programs. As the HC. You haven't coached an actual game here yet, but you've been exposed enough.
So what do you want to see done if you could have your way? Just in college football in its entirety? Yes, sir. I think it's got to be an NFL minor league model where we have a salary cap and the players are employees. I think as distasteful as some of that is, I don't think there's any other way that is better than that.
And right now it's out of control. I mean, we're going to have probably a dozen teams in the next recruiting cycle with $50 million rosters. And there's such a disparity between the haves and the have-nots. And I think that the only way to get that Evened out and level the playing field is to go ahead and pattern it after an NFL, like I said, a minor league NFL model and a super league, if you will. And you'll probably see 48 to 60 teams survive the cut and be on the right side of the line in the sand and proceed forward.
That would be with obviously other conferences or something like that. I believe so.
Well, I mean, you're already hearing Greg Sankey and the SEC say it's no posturing here that we might want to attack. It's a reality. Yeah, no doubt. And you think it would make for a better, fairer, more e... I guess in that respect, it's fairer and even if everybody plays by the same rules that are delineated by a governing body that runs the thing, right?
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And, you know, if you had a super conference that breaks away and has their own commissioner and runs it again, just almost a carbon copy of what's going on in the NFL, then I think you get a chance. That would maybe also mean you have unions and collectives bargaining it. That's part of it.
And that's where it would have to go. I don't see any other way around it if it goes that direction.
Now, private equity is starting to enter the picture as well, and where that goes, who knows? But there's got to be some guardrails. There's got to be some ability to get control of the thing because the NIL is going up 20%, 30%, 40% a year. And it can't continue that way. It's not sustainable.
How has the game on the field changed from the first time you grabbed a headset? Not a lot. I think you do have to. Simplify your schemes a little bit because you have most teams in the country have about 50% of their players new every year, 50-55 players. That's very common.
And so you got to be more plug-and-play. Than you used to be. You can't have a guy that comes and soaks in the system for two or three years, then he's ready to go. You've got to have systems that are user-friendly and the guys can adapt to right away and get on the field. Maybe, how about this?
Bringing kind of all full circle, is that you might have players stick around. Collegiately, more because they look at how much a second or third or a fourth-round draft choice makes in the NFL. They could make more money here at the University of Michigan potentially with the champion circle help. You've already started to see that. I think guys that maybe five, seven, eight years ago would have opted to come out, those guys are opting to stay, those guys that are right on that borderline, because you're exactly right.
Now, with the five-year eligibility clock, Then that gives you one more year to make that. You can make a pretty good living for five years, and so I think you're going to see more and more players stay and less and less obviously go to the NFL early.
So I've got the head coach of University of Michigan football, Kyle Whittingham, here in the Rich Island Show a few more minutes before I send you out to the golf course for the golf event today. The quarterback room right now, how do you see it in terms of who's. Who's starting to do that? You know, to be fair, he was a barely turned 18-year-old true freshman last year and thrust into the situation that he was. And even though there's a lot of room for improvement, he still won nine ball games and put up some decent numbers.
And, you know, he's still, we believe in Bryce. And, you know, he's got all the tools in the toolbox. He's 6'4, 230, runs like crazy, has a big arm. And so we feel like he's got a big upside and has made a ton of progress so far in the offseason. You know, fall camp will be important for him, obviously, as it is for everybody.
But Bryce is our guy. Tommy Carr had an exceptional spring and a true freshman, just should have been in high school, but he graduated early and really did some good things.
So he was impressive. But going into the season, Bryce Underwood is our guy.
So what has he already improved on?
Well, mechanics, footwork, pocket presence, decision-making. He's just tightening up his whole game, and that needs to continue. It's our job to put him in position to succeed and tailor things to what he does best, and that's what we're paid to do as coaches. Is there anything I'm sorry to put you in this position, but is there anything that you were surprised that he already hadn't? had in his Toolbox.
Well, yeah, you know, in fairness to Bryce, we talked about his youth. He also didn't have a dedicated quarterback coach last year, and so that was something that might have. You know, not allowed him to progress as much as he could have during that freshman year. And so we felt like we were getting a guy that almost was like straight out of high school. And so he's now up to speed software.
He's getting closer. He's getting closer. And I'll tell you one thing: there's nobody that wants to be great more so than Bryce Underwood. He does, he's a workaholic. He's in the film room constantly.
He's out on the practice field by himself throwing balls. He's working with. You know, Joe Burrow, guys around the country trying to, you know, pick their brain and do everything he can to be the best player he can be. Did you hook him up with that sort of thing? No, he's got, you know, everybody's got players or guys that handle him and that type of thing.
So he had that going outside.
Okay, with an outside throwing coach. Yeah.
Okay. So I'm going to ask you a fan question now, straight up. As somebody who've watched a lot of Bryce Underwood last year, are you going to let him throw on the run more? Because that is that, honestly, I've rarely seen somebody his age, his size.
Okay. Be that accurate throwing on the run with that amount of zip on the throw as well. He's kind of remarkable in that respect. Not to jump into your playbook a little bit here publicly on Disney Plus and ESPN Radio, but I just, is that in the cards? You'll see, yeah, we'll move the launch point around and get him out of the pocket.
And that's one thing he is, well, there's a number of things, but that's one of the things he's really good at is extending the play. And you're right, you know, to be throwing on the move as accurately as he does is something that, you know, if we didn't implement that, we'd be stupid.
So, yeah, that'll be part of it. Good to know. And defensively, we have John Henry Daly, who obviously you're very familiar with having coached him at Utah.
Now he's, if you will, followed you here. What is your expectation level for him? And what can you tell Michigan folks about the defense coming into this year?
Well, first of all, John Henry is completely healthy now. He had a pretty severe. lower leg injury. He's back to 100%. Last season, he was leading the nation in sacks all the way through week 10, I believe it was, and he got injured, I believe it was week 11, and so ended up in the top four or five in the country.
But he's a guy that I think the Michigan fans are going to love. He's got a motor that just never stops. He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played. He's a throwback. He's a tough guy, and they're going to be excited about what he brings as far as his edge pressure.
Defense in general, J. Hill is a proven commodity on the defensive side of the ball as a coordinator. And we've got some good players, a little thin at some positions, but I think the top 11 players are going to be very formidable. What concerns you about the thinning? A little thin in the secondary as far as guys that.
That have accumulated a lot of reps, and same with linebacker. We got some really good young players, but not a lot of reps accrued in that position group either.
Okay. Last couple for you here. What's it going to be like for you, you think? when you put the headset on. in the big house.
On the opener. I've put a headset on the big house three times. I know that, but not on this particular sideline. Yeah.
You know, coaching's coaching. When you get in your coaching mode and game mode, my anticipation is it'll be business as usual. I mean, that's just how it is. You can't be in awe of the crowd or the surroundings or any of that. You just get zoned in and you go into.
You know, that mode, like I said, of just analyzing the game and making decisions, and you're not really thinking about much else.
Okay. And then I'm just one follow-up question to the last time I spoke with you. Have we weaned ourselves off of the urban mire friendship yet? At all. At all.
No. You know, Urban's been a close friend of mine for, what, 20 plus years? I know. But this is this. This is now is now.
I'm molding him. Let's put it that way. I don't think he's moldable on this. It's a little bit of give and take. How about that?
But Urban's been a great supporter and a great friend of mine for years and years. You know, football is obviously football, but friendships and those bonds are pretty strong.
Okay, so I haven't thought about it this way. Is it possible? If you're saying that you're molding him. Is it possible you're going to bring him over from the dark side? Oh, I don't know if it'll go that far.
Where, you know, I get inroads, though. You're his friend. He roots for you. He wants your success. He's a friend who wants your success.
Yeah.
Right? Like, do you think maybe we could get him a little bit? We've got a few go blues out of him over the past year over the past year.
Okay. Can you record that and send it to me? Yeah, he probably wouldn't want that. In fact, I probably shouldn't have said anything. But it's been fun.
And like I said, he's a guy that was really instrumental in my career.
Well, I'll just say it to you here in front of everybody. You come to this program. at a very crucial time. Obviously, the athletic director is now leaving. I'm wondering, does that concern you in any way, shape?
You know, that's college football. I mean, people come and go, and you know, I'm grateful to Ward, gave me the opportunity to coach this program, and we will have the opportunity to spend this season together, so that's a positive. But that's the nature of the business. I mean, you just got to block everything out and minimize distractions and just stay focused. Right.
And then, in terms of that, again, you come here at a very crucial time, and you and who you are and who you stand for and what you stand for is so important. For this football program, and for everybody like me who roots for it and who has their emotions affected, and whose pride in their school and ability to puff a chest out. Um it's it's it's so important. that your success is Is um is going to happen, and the fact that you are here right now, I thank you for that. I truly do.
I appreciate that. Thank you. You know, I do, and I look forward to seeing what you do and how you do it. Um, and I wish you nothing, obviously, but the best of luck. All right, thanks for being here.
I appreciate this. Go blue, you're right. Go blue to you. That's Kyle Whittingham right here on the Rich Eyes and Show. Before we take a quick break, if you'll indulge me, a SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible.
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Hit them straight, sir. Hit them straight today. Thank you. That's Kyle Whittingham right here on the Rich Eyes Show. Andrew Marsh from the wide receiver room is coming up next.
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Savion Haider and Jordan Marshall from the running back room will be joining us shortly. But right now, fresh off of an outstanding, if not one of the best freshman seasons in the history of Michigan receiving, and that is saying a lot. Andrew Marsh is here on the program. Good to see you Andrew. How are you, man?
Sure, glad to be here. Good to see you here.
Now that was a heck of a handshake right there. That sounds like you got great hands, obviously. Of course. All right, let's get into it. Instead of me being ridiculous, to start off the top, how are you approaching this season coming off of What you just did?
I would say just grinding. Trying to stay focused, I would say, is the main thing. One thing I kind of always try and say to myself is just keep going every day, no matter what's going on in life, or off the field, or on the field, just being able to come in and work every day, focus on the task at hand. How does a kid from Katy, Texas, the Houston area, wind up? In Ann Arbor, Michigan.
How did that happen? I'm not sure, Dubius. It's a long way from home. But I would say kind of just the community here. The community here has always been so welcoming.
Really, the people, the staff, the community, it really just opened my eyes to life after ball and all the possibilities outside of football. Life Afterball is what you already had on your mind as a 17-year-old sifting through. Your options? Yes, sir. Pretty much.
Who helped you sift through your options? Really, me and my mom. Yeah, she she helps me with a lot of stuff. Um those who know her know that she she gets a lot of stuff done for me. Um but really just I would say having a tight group around you um to help you narrow down things is big.
If I'm not mistaken, you lost your dad to cancer very early in life, right? You were seven and then your dad passed away? Yes, sir. So what did your mom do for you to get you to this spot? A lot.
I mean, she took me around to different camps, different events, and making sure I was always having the stuff I needed to perform at the highest level. One thing she always said is, you take care of the on-the-field stuff, and I'll take care of the off-the-field stuff.
So I feel like it's worked out pretty well.
So when did you realize you wanted to play football? When did that happen for you? I would say from a young age. I mean, I always knew I wanted to do something with sports. I was running around the house at an early age.
I think soccer was like the first sport I ever played. It was the earliest sport they let me play. I started at like three years old. Other than that, I just picked up everything, basketball, baseball. But I would say I kind of fell in love with football.
I was just always, that was kind of what I was better at. And as I got older, it just became what I put my focus towards.
Well, living in the state of Texas will kind of focus you on that sport, I imagine. But how long were you playing the other ones, though? Because I think it's kind of important, right? Like playing multiple sports as a kid. Probably until high school.
Because when I got to high school, coaches wouldn't let me play the board. And then my mom, she was kind of like, nah, we're going to focus on football and stuff like that. I ran tracks still, but really just football. Receiver always, though? Was it always?
I used to do a little bit of everything. Quarterback, running back, kicker. Safety, safety was big for me. Kicker. Yeah.
Used to just kick it, then go tackle somebody. Could you s in a pinch, heaven forbid, on this team, what do we got? How far can we split the up lights from? What do we got? Oh, so you were talking punning or something?
Yeah, more like punning. Oh, okay. Kicking.
Okay. Oh, so you weren't like a place kicker anymore. Nah, nah.
Okay. But punning, that could be in a listen, I'd rather you. I'd love. I'm happier seeing you receive those as opposed to you. That's more where I'm comfortable at.
That's more of your lane, I'm sure.
So let's talk about Bryce a little bit here. What sort of chemistry did you guys. Immediately noticed between you and your fellow at the time, freshman, when you first came in? I would say it's always really been there between us. I mean, we came in together and really just ever since we've been here, making sure we're getting in lots of hours, lots of extra practice and stuff.
And I would say kind of throughout the season, as I started to play more, it just started to click as we would go through different games, either making a pass or missing a pass, but just getting better off of that rep was big for us. And really coming into this year, just being able to stack days and really just put in a lot of work, travel, and train different places with some different trainers and stuff like that. Did you guys talk about coming here together? At times or no? We did.
So it's kind of funny. I really committed before he was ever committed. Oh, I know that. But I know he always knew he liked it here.
So that was kind of one thing I tried to focus on after I committed was making sure we had a good quarterback.
Well, I mean, he's from here. And so when he was talking about LSU and went there, everyone around here is like, wait a minute, hold on a minute. Why not stay home? And then eventually that happened. Did you kind of push him in that window at the time?
I would say definitely talk to him for sure. Definitely let him know, like, I'm one of them guys that's going to be here. And I'm really looking forward to just what we could build. How are you different now than you were the last time you stepped on a field for Michigan? I would say I'm.
Just different in every way. Bigger, stronger, faster. Um a lot of stuff in my game I've kinda tried to work on, like just being able to create more separation, running cleaner routes and kinda just expanding my route tree and being better off the line and releases and stuff like that.
Well, I mean Bryce is coming on here in about an hour. We just said goodbye to Coach, who said I don't know if this is news or not, but You know, when he first took the job over, he's like, I'm gonna see everything here. What's this, what's that, before I make a decision on anything? He said, Bryce is our guy. Yeah.
He literally just said that from that chair about 10 minutes ago. Does that surprise you in any way? No, it doesn't surprise me. I mean, everybody can see the work that he puts in and kind of where he's at. And really, just the maturity from him and the rest of our team from this year or from last year to this year has been crazy.
And I'm really just excited to see it. To what do you owe that, the maturity? Just. I would say Really, just being able to keep working every day, and I think that that's huge as a testament to who he is as a person just to come in. It really just helps our team as a whole.
Okay, and what about the new coaches around here? How's that helped? I like them. I mean, they've come in, they've kind of added structure to some places of the team. And I think that has really helped us, as well as their scheme.
I love the scheme that they're bringing in. What can you tell me? I feel like it's going to be open, it's going to be explosive. Guys will be flying around the field and really kind of just have more freedom throughout the offense.
Well, as opposed to last year? As opposed to last year.
Okay, well, what's give me? I'm dying to get something different here. What do we got? What do you mean? Um, I mean, I just feel like this year it w we'll you'll definitely see the ball in the air more.
Um, we'll be able to throw the ball around more, get it in different guys' hands, and really just be more explosive as a whole. And I think that'll open up the running game as well.
Okay, you're not speaking that into existence, are you? That's really going to happen. I mean, you really receivers like talking about it. Yeah, I'd love to talk about it. Yeah, who's the guy you model your game after?
Um, it's a few guys. Um, I kind of try not to get too caught up on one person, but really growing up, I've always watched DeAndre Hopkins. Um, just his catch rate is is amazing. Um, another guy, Julio Jones and Justin Jefferson, those are guys that I've kind of always watched, and Devontae Adams, of course.
So well, you just named some very physical receivers as well. Do you like that? Um, kind of a little bit of both. Um, guys that can be a little physical, like Julio Jones, but then also guys that can win off the release and kind of be more elusive, like Devontae Adams and stuff like that. The thing about, because from my world of being with the NFL Network, being around DeAndre Hopkins is.
His ability to always get his feet down is. It's crazy. It is crazy. It's unlike anything that I've seen. And I know I've I've I'm saying this because it He might be the best I've ever seen at it.
Where there's a contested catch on the sideline back of the end zone. Never once am I thinking the replay is going to show like his foot is out of bounds. Ever. He knows exactly where his feet are. Is that something you're also working on?
I think it is. I feel like I've always had good body control and good awareness of my feet. And really, just something I've kind of always tried to harp on. Like, guys always told me, like, oh, one foot is good and in college, da-da-da-da. But even as a high schooler, I always said, I mean, NFL is the goal.
So being able to get two feet down all the time is really the goal. And so did you ever think of leaving when Coach Moore was gone? Not really. To be honest, I mean, obviously, it was some guys who had to go do what was best for them. But as far as the guys that are here, we really wanted to keep the team together.
And that was kind of big for us. Obviously, we lost coaches and some players, but really keeping the majority of the team together, keeping the tradition the same. And based off of the position I feel like I was in from last year, kind of the spot I set myself up at. I didn't really want to go anywhere. I feel like this is kind of where I wanted to be.
I wanted to play with the guys and really just rock it out. And Savion's going to be joining with Jordan Marshall next, just real quick on Savion. I'm hearing he's a lot of people. I'm excited. Electric.
Yeah, I'm excited to see him. He can run the ball. He runs physical. He runs hard. He's a real big 10 running back.
What would it mean to win this trophy for yourself? I mean a lot. I I feel like as well as all the guys in the locker room, I mean this is what we chase after all year. One thing we kinda always say is we go get that, everything else will work out.
So that's kind of big for us. Yeah, I mean, for you to obviously, this was one the year before you arrived, right? You come on campus here and it's a whole new situation.
Now it's again another whole new situation for yourself.
So I wish you the best of luck on that. Yes, sir. You got it. And then, you know, almost honestly, the way that you played your freshman year, it's very rare to see anybody play like that. I could see your skill set, and it's great to meet you here in person and see the type of guy that you are.
And, you know, I might, if I had hair, I would throw it like you. The Frosted. Yes, sir. This is Andrew. You could rock it.
You think so? Yeah, yeah, you can pull it off. Careful, because there's some people who are probably putting that together on some sort of edit or something. Yeah.
Great to see Andrew Marshall. Great to see you. Thank you. You're back here on the Rich Eisen Show. Savion Hyder and Jordan Marshall will join us.
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Good to see you guys. How are you? Good. How are you? I'm doing all right.
Yeah, can't complain. How's your golf games? Be honest, straight up. What do you got? I would say out of 10, probably a 5.
A 5? Yeah.
Okay. Savion? I can't even say anything. What do you mean? My golf swing, it's not there.
Why? I go to top golf. Like Relatively, but not really. Not at all. No.
So, you know, you're lame. Is football? Would you say that? Yeah.
Okay. I can play a little basketball. I can shoot a little bit.
Okay. But no. But like McKinney and Cadell shooting? No. Oh, okay.
Not that type of shooting. Not that type of shooting. No. Okay. So when you say your game's a five, Jordan, what do you mean?
Like, you can break 90 or you break. No, I'm saying like I'll have a. If we're scrambling, I'll have a good shot. I'll pick up the slack for some needs.
Well, that's what today is: a scramble. Yep, so whatever.
So, you could be a factor, is what you're saying. Yeah.
Off the tea, putting, whatever you're saying. I would say putting and chipping.
Okay. Yeah.
So, around the green, yeah. But from the tea, no, no, not so much. What if you catch one? You can catch one. I either catch one or I either smoke it straight and just line drive straight into the ground and ride a little bit.
Well, let's not, let's not. We need to positively visualize here. I'm going to have a great day today.
Okay. Well, let's jump into the football aspect of things. Let's start with you, Jordan.
So you are from the state of Ohio. Yes, sir. You were Mr. Ohio. Football.
Yes, sir. And yet you're here in the so-called. team up north. What happened? You know, my mom always told me to just lead with my heart and.
I never grew up an Ohio State fan, actually. I grew up a Georgia fan. My dad's from outside of Atlanta.
Okay. I don't know. I just came up here and I fell in love with it. How Harbaugh did things, the community around here and the people. Truly, it was just the people for me when I was done playing football or something happened to me, where d where would I wanna be at?
And coming back up here every single time, you you have that feeling. It's like You go to a score My high school, for example, I walk in there, I had that feeling. You meet people and you're like, Somebody like Savion, like, that's my guy. Like, you just know right away with certain people, certain places you go, and that's what it was when I walked into Michigan. And is it true, Savion?
You also told Ohio State, no thanks. Is that true? Yes, sir. Okay. I like you two guys.
You guys had me at hello. Michigan's the only place to be. Why? I mean, the love here is different. I mean, like what Jordan said, meeting people like him and meeting people like TA.
T.A. is like the best running back coach in the country. Tony Offered your right.
Okay. Yes, sir. And he also. Left Ohio State, if I'm not mistaken, as well. He was there for a while.
Is that where you guys first? Came across Coach Alfred. Yeah, so I've had a good relationship with him since Ohio State. Right. People are like, Oh, he chose Mike Hart over you Um Never really was true.
I liked both of them. I just didn't Level highest state and I love the culture and what Harbaugh brought to the table. Um,. And then I just remember TA getting the job, and it was like, I don't have to start over again. I was close to his family, and it was just, again, he's a great guy, and one of the best in the country.
I think the best, but. Is it, let me just be straight up then, the fact that he. He was retained here by Coach Whittingham. Is that a crucial reason why you guys are sitting here in this room at this event for Champion Circle today? Would you say that?
I I would s I would say so, yes. I I would a hundred percent say so and I think that says something about his character and who he is and the trust. Coach Whittingham and the staff have in them. What happened when for before we get to you, Savion? What happened?
Well, I guess for you too, when there was everything that happened with Coach Moore and everything that happened with Whittingham coming in, did you guys think for a split moment what's going on that's going on here? I think that's there's always that split moment. I've had the opportunity have a A decent amount of coaching change throughout high school, college. This would technically be my third head coach with hardball recruiting me. Right.
Um. But I feel like I've learned that You find out who men really are when they stay in those tough situations. When things aren't going their way, what do they lean back on? And I didn't want to be somebody who ran from something, or I love this place and truly love it. Um That's the reason why I came back, is just because the love I have for this place, and I couldn't see it in.
ill ill way or Michigan not at the top, and that's what I'm striving, and this staff is striving to do, is put Michigan back at the top. Savion, what did Coach Whittingham say to you when he first jumped on board? And clearly you know, you're a valuable, valuable recruit. I said it twice. You're no longer a recruit now as you're sitting here.
But what did he say to you that you needed to hear from him? I mean, we're always going to be a family. That's what Michigan is. When you think about family, that's what Michigan is: the block M. It's so strong, and anywhere you go, you can get Go Blue, Go Blue.
I mean, that's what you gotta love here. And so what did he tell you about what what's expected of you? I mean Me and Jordan. in the backfield, dynamic duo.
So That's all I really got to say. Are you guys going to be on the field together? I think you might see some glimpses that aren't sure.
Okay, I don't want to get you in trouble. The coach is gone by now. But yeah, I would say he's probably on the golf course right now. It's cool the way they're doing things. How they look at our room, not even just me and Savion, but Koos, who played a big role last year.
There's other guys in our room that can play too, and They're trying to find every single way to get me and Savion, Savion and Koos on the field. They want to utilize the running back room as much as they can, and that's a testimony to what we've built in our running back room. The legacy of our running back room. What's your goal, Sadion?
So many Michigan fans. Seeing you choose Michigan. to bring your game to this school, this offense. What is your personal vision of what you can do.
Well, first of all, I want to win a national championship. First. And then I want to build a family of being a captain, being being whatever I need to be for the team. You know. I got to build myself up and build the team up at the same time.
It's not all about me, it's about the team. You're nodding your head too, Jordan. Yeah, I mean, that's what he's done. He he came here and he worked and Um sometimes you get these five star guys that That's not how they're they're wired or And it's humbling to have somebody like this and wants to learn. And I think our generation has learned not to do that is.
They're always about their self, or it's always me, me, me. And it's so refreshing to see people are willing to learn and. Shoot, if he rushes for four touchdowns in a game and I have zero, who cares? As long as we win that game, that's all that matters to me. And putting my team first, just like you said, and that's something that excites me about him is he's so willing to He's about his team, and that's what it should be.
That's what the game of football is about. That's what When I talked to John Harris, when I talked to all these people, they're like, you have a team and people around you, it's never just about yourself.
So that's helped me a lot. I know I can't do it by myself, or I'll be hurt in game three, or four, or five, and to have a room around you is beautiful.
Well, I mean, I just remember when you first. you know, hit the field in earnest. against Alabama in the last day of 2025 or the last day of 2024 leading into 2025. I forget which year it is anyway, but it was last year, the year before your big year. And you dominated.
I was turning to my son. I'm like, where the hell is this guy all year long? And you crushed it that day. And then last year you got hurt towards the end of the year. Uh what is your goal?
for this year. My goal is to be healthy. Right. just be healthy healthy for my team and make it to Ohio State. Right.
Honestly, I just want to win. I don't. I want to put Michigan back on top. I want to lead this team. Whether that's with the ball in my hand, without, if I'm on the sideline.
Um won a national championship. I mean, that's what you come here for, and that's the standard we've set here at Michigan. I mean, you just to you just said before the show is Michigan basketball won that that puts Good pressure on you. It does. When you see somebody else and you're happy for them, but it also stings too because you want that.
And even celebrating and seeing all the basketball guys out there happy is you go back home and you're like, I gotta get one of those. That's my mindset and I think we've done a good job as everybody's on the same page on our team. Everybody's connected, and we're reaching that one goal of Big Ten champs winning the conference. And beating our rivals and then winning a national championship.
Okay. It's Savion with. With you, I noticed: did you have an interception? You played defense as well. Yeah.
Okay. I played linebacker. All right. Did you take it to the house? Wow, what sort of question is that?
I don't know. Like, if you caught it in the middle of the field, somebody hit you, but you took it to the house? Yes, sir. Okay. I don't mean to offend.
No, that's all. I know, but you like the house calls, is what you're saying. Of course. Okay. I'm a running back, so that that's what I got to do.
Have you pitched? I like that. Have you pitched Coach Whittingham to play defense as well? I should. I really should.
I really should. You should. Yeah.
Okay. What about special teams? Yeah, of course I would do special teams and like kickoff return. Yeah, and stuff like that. All right, very good.
Have you seen him do something? Like, listen, you're a Mr. Football in your own right here. Have you seen him do something so far where you're like, okay, now I get it with Savion? Yeah, I mean.
Because that's all I've heard from you, by the way, secondhand. I haven't been to any of your practices, I haven't seen it. But all I keep saying I'm sorry, talk about you like you're not sitting here. His moves are second to none. I mean, even seeing him do movements, he's really explosive, and I don't even think he knows how explosive he is yet.
but just the twitchy fast He's a fast guy. Good you are just yet? Defense is gonna figure out. defenses like our opponents and People are on a schedule.
Okay. Well, good luck to you both. Thank you. I really appreciate it. Hour number two is in the books.
Hour number three is coming up with John Henry Daly and Bryce Underwood as we wrap up our day here. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
