On Tuesday, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote that Michigan tight end Zack Marshall's leaked group-chat criticism of the coaching staff matters little next to the Wolverines' "major issues" on the field.
The messages, posted Monday by the College Transfer Portal account on X, showed Marshall criticizing offensive coordinator Jason Beck after Saturday's 20-14 loss at Minnesota. Marshall apologized on Tuesday, and Portnoy wrote that he was more concerned with how head coach Kyle Whittingham fixes the team than the text-message controversy.
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Dave Portnoy Reacts to Michigan's Zack Marshall Controversy
"Listen, do you want players in the group chat trashing the coaches? Probably not. But in the scheme of problems we got right now this doesnt even register… There are major issues everywhere you look. I'm far more concerned with how Whittingham is gonna fix this team than punishing Zack Marshall for complaining about how [expletive] they are playing. It's not exactly breaking news," Portnoy wrote on X
.
After the leaked texts went viral, Marshall took to X to apologize: "Last weekend, in the hours after we lost, I made some inappropriate comments that I regret. This game is won and lost as a team, and I pointed fingers instead of taking accountability. I let my frustrations speak for me in an emotional moment. I apologize to my teammates and coaches for the unnecessary drama that this has caused. I will always be proud to represent Michigan and will continue to give everything I have for this program. I love Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan, and Team 147."
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In the messages, Marshall wrote that Beck told the tight ends that "none of them are valuable to this offense," and he faulted Beck, not quarterback Bryce Underwood, for the offense's struggles.
"Basically our offense sucks cause if you blitz us we have no answers… we have an extra OL on the field every play and run different versions of power read every play 🤡. Also Beck tells Bryce where to go on every play and it gets strapped. Bryce is a good QB, Beck is a problem," Marshall wrote in the leaked texts.
In response to Portnoy's post, SportsGrid host Gabriel Morency agreed with Marshall that Beck is the main problem.
"I see the same thing. He isn't wrong," Morency wrote. "Everybody blames Underwood and he has struggled but the schemes suck, play calling sucks. This is wild. Michigan players in a group chat [saying] 'This is worse then Sherrone was.' Wow. Players think [the] coaching staff suck."
Beck is in his first season as Michigan's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after holding the same jobs under Whittingham at Utah. "We'll look at everything," Whittingham said Saturday, adding that Beck's track record as a coordinator is outstanding but that he might have to make some tough decisions.
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One fan who quoted the post zeroed in on the tight ends, "He's not wrong. Beck has eliminated the middle of the field and TE usage."
Only nine of Michigan's 69 completions this season have gone to tight ends, according to CBS Sports. Marshall, a senior, has no catches after posting 16 receptions for 199 yards and a touchdown in 2025.
Others Point to Bryce Underwood's Struggles and Portnoy's Role in His Recruitment
Underwood, the player Marshall defended, went 10 of 21 for 101 yards with 2 interceptions at Minnesota, where Michigan was held scoreless after taking a 14-7 halftime lead. He has completed 59.3% of his passes this season for 881 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Some fans were quick to call out Underwood, whom Portnoy helped Michigan land.
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"I know you're heavily invested in Underwood being at Michigan, but it's time to face the music, the kid needs to sit," one fan wrote.
Asked after Saturday's game about playing freshman quarterback Tommy Carr, Whittingham said every position is being evaluated and that Underwood gave Michigan the best chance to win as the game went on.
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Portnoy has been open about being involved in the NIL effort to land Underwood during the QB's recruitment. He even helped connect the quarterback with Oracle founder Larry Ellison and his wife, Jolin.
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"I like how Dave acts like he's not part of the problem here. Remember all the credit he was taking for landing Underwood (not financial) a couple years ago… LOL He helped bring down his favorite program. Amazing," another fan wrote.
Portnoy told Front Office Sports
he has no regrets about Underwood's deal despite Michigan's struggles.
"He was the No. 1 recruit in the country," Portnoy said. "You certainly can't blame it all on him. He's not playing great, but nobody's playing great. But I don't look at it that way with buyer's remorse."
Whittingham said after the loss that the bye comes at a good time, with Michigan hosting Penn State on Oct. 17.
This article originally appeared on
Pro Football Network
.
