Urban Meyer has revealed he initially advised Kyle Whittingham not to join the Michigan Wolverines football before later backing the move.

Speaking on the THE SCRIPT podcast, Meyer said Whittingham contacted him after receiving interest from Michigan.

“I got a phone call from the Wolverines. And I was like, ‘Whoa! Wait a minute. And my first reaction was, ‘don’t go there, pal,’” Meyer recalled Whittingham telling him.

Meyer, who coached the rival Ohio State Buckeyes football from 2012 to 2018 and went 7-0 against Michigan, said his feelings were shaped by one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.

Despite that, Meyer later changed his stance after speaking further with Whittingham.

“After we talked for about 20 minutes, my comment was, ‘That’s a perfect fit, I get it’. Of all the people in the United States of America, they should call, it’s you,” Meyer said.

Meyer also criticised recent controversies surrounding Michigan, including NCAA investigations and the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal.

“What’s gone on in the last four or five years, I lost a little respect. The nonsense that has gone on up there, that’s not the Wolverine team or program that I mean,” Meyer said.