CHICAGO — Kyle Whittingham hasn’t shied away from embracing his friendship with Urban Meyer since taking the Michigan job seven months ago, even if it makes some in maize and blue circles uneasy.

Michigan football coach Kyle Whittingham wasn't here for any of it, but he's heard about all of it.

Between those two appearances, the 66-year-old hired almost an entirely new staff in Ann Arbor, turned over his roster and set the standards both in the weight room and on the field with increased lev...