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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has made his dissatisfaction with Michigan's football program abundantly clear, publicly calling for the dismissal of head coach Kyle Whittingham. Portnoy's demand comes after the Wolverines suffered another lopsided defeat, falling 31-7 to No. 16 Oregon on Saturday.
The loss dropped Michigan to 3-5 in its last eight games, a stark contrast to the team's 3-0 start. The mounting frustration surrounding Whittingham's first season in Ann Arbor has reached a boiling point, with Portnoy stating he would prefer the team continue losing rather than see the coach retain his position.
"I want Michigan to lose every game by 1000 the rest of the season so we have no choice but to fire Whittingham," Portnoy said.
The Wolverines' recent struggles include a 15-6 home loss to Michigan State on Nov. 7, which prompted Portnoy to call for the firing of offensive coordinator Jason Beck. Beck was dismissed the following day, but the change has not yielded the desired on-field improvement.
Whittingham, who spent 21 seasons as Utah's head coach before arriving at Michigan, was initially hailed as a spectacular hire by Portnoy and other supporters. However, his first year has taken a difficult turn, and the pressure on him continues to escalate.
Michigan has two regular-season games remaining: a home matchup against UCLA on Nov. 21 and the annual rivalry showdown against Ohio State on Nov. 28.
Key Analysis
Portnoy's public demand underscores the growing unrest among Michigan's fan base and influential boosters. While Whittingham's track record at Utah was impressive, the rapid decline in Ann Arbor has raised questions about his fit with the program. The upcoming games against UCLA and Ohio State will likely determine whether the administration heeds Portnoy's call or gives Whittingham more time to turn things around.
Originally reported by yahoo.