Kyle Whittingham explains his ties to Urban Meyer, Ryan Day

CHICAGO -- Michigan football fans might not want to hear it, but there are connections and friendships for new head coach Kyle Whittingham that have major prominence in the state to the south.

Whittingham has been open about his relationship with former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, the man he coached under as Utah's defensive coordinator and eventually succeeded as the Utes' head coach. Though his constant mentioning of Meyer has drawn consternation from fans in Ann Arbor, Whittingham isn't shying away from that relationship, noting that he's been a pivotal cog in terms of his head coaching style, along with two others.