When Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson saw that new Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison called Michigan “the team up north,” Hutchinson took it personal.
The sophomore defensive end tweeted a snake emoji implying his former defensive line coach had betrayed him and the Wolverines defense.
Hutchinson explained his emotions on Saturday after Michigan’s spring game, saying Mattison meant a lot to him and packing up to coach with Michigan’s rival was something he couldn’t stomach.
“Coach Matty, you know, he taught me so much when I got here, and I’m not taking any of that away from him,” Hutchinson said. “But you get a big feeling of betrayal. He told me he was either retiring or he’s renewing his contract, so I’m like, oh OK.
“I thought he was leaving. I was like oh, OK, whatever. Then he said Ohio State, that kind of makes your stomach, you know, turn a little bit.”
Hutchinson was coached by Mattison and also coached Hutchinson’s father, Chris, who was an All-American defensive lineman in the 1990s. The family had history with Mattison, so Hutchinson was naturally upset when his coach decided to leave for the Buckeyes, and even further wounded by Mattison’s quote calling Michigan “the team up north.”
Fellow defensive lineman Donovan Jeter was also upset by the move, but he wasn’t as vocal about his disdain for Mattison’s decision. Jeter initially offered up a no comment when asked about his former defensive line coach, but eventually opened up as to why he was upset.
“I’m a lot less filtered than Aidan,” Jeter said. “I don’t want to say anything bad about Matty, because I messed up a lot off the field and he kept his faith in me. Matty could’ve just [been like], ‘I’m done with this kid.’ But he brought me a long, he showed me how to play, how to stop the run, how to be a professional.
“But doing what he did, I can’t. No comment. No comment.”
That coaching change has left a salty taste in the players’ mouths, but not every offseason move has had a negative impact.
The addition of offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has the offensive players singing his praises in bringing a new energy to the locker room and revitalizing the offense. Gattis has brought a speed-in-space mentality and has vowed to modernize Michigan’s offense.
Starting quarterback Shea Patterson said he was excited when he first found out Gattis was the new offensive coordinator, quickly read up on Gattis and had already seen the impact he had at Penn State and Alabama.
“As soon as he came in, day one, just got with the installs and looked it over with him and I just couldn’t wait to get on the field,” Patterson said.
Quarterback Dylan McCaffrey went as far as saying the offense needed a change and Gattis has brought a whole new mindset to what the offense is doing.
“I’m really enjoying it,” McCaffrey said. “I think we’re moving at a much faster pace, I think the offense has a lot more energy. I love it. I think come season time, it gives a lot of our players an opportunity to make plays that necessarily didn’t get any.”
Outside of bringing energy and new opportunities, bringing in Josh Gattis meant that there were less people involved with the offense and its strategy. Coach Jim Harbaugh said the reins would be handed over to Gattis and he would have complete control of the offense going forward.
That was a big difference in the past when multiple coaches, including Harbaugh, had a say in what the offense would look like and even what plays were called on game day.
That streamlining of duties has resonated with the players and has already made a difference in how they’re learning and implementing the system.
“I think it’s easier for everyone when you got a clear cut guy, you know who the coach is,” Patterson said. “In Coach Pep (Hamilton)’s defense from last year, there were so many other coaches had their hand in and input. I think you have Coach Gattis coming in, he’s running it, you trust him and let’s go.”