Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore is learning firsthand the pressures of leading one of college football’s premier programs.
After stepping in for Jim Harbaugh during his suspension last season and helping the Wolverines secure key victories, including a win over Ohio State, Moore was named Harbaugh’s successor when the veteran coach left for the NFL.
However, Moore’s first full season at the helm has been anything but smooth.
Following a 21-7 loss to Illinois on Saturday – Michigan’s second straight defeat – the Wolverines have dropped to 4-3 on the season.
The team now faces the daunting task of winning out to avoid their first four-loss campaign since 2020.
Speaking to reporters, Moore expressed his disappointment in the team’s performance to this point.
“Obviously not happy with the record,” Moore said. “Not happy with the losses. Really just want our kids to be in a good place mentally and spiritually. So that’s where we are. We’re 4-3, but our job now is to get better to be 5-3 this week.”
A significant issue for Michigan this season has been inconsistent quarterback play.
The Wolverines have rotated three different signal-callers – Davis Warren, Alex Orji, and Jack Tuttle – yet have struggled to find any rhythm through the air.
The trio has combined for just 898 passing yards, six touchdowns, and nine interceptions over the first seven games.
Moore has yet to announce who would start under center for Saturday’s matchup against in-state rival Michigan State. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Moore is confident in his team’s resolve to push through the challenges.
“I think you look at the end of the [Illinois] game and what the score was, and you saw [defensive tackle] Mason Graham, you saw [defensive tackle] Kenneth Grant, you saw those guys playing their hearts out at the end of the game,” Moore said.
“So I think the culture [supersedes] the losses right now. Those guys see what they’ve done and how they’ve worked to get to this point, and there’s a lot of pride in who they are as people – for them, for their village, for this team, for Michigan.”
The path doesn’t get much easier for Moore and the Wolverines after their rivalry showdown on Saturday.
Following the Michigan State matchup, Michigan will take on No. 1 Oregon, No. 13 Indiana, Northwestern, and of course will close out the regular season against the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes.
What are your thoughts on the current state of Michigan’s program?
We knew that this season was going to be a bit rocky. However, has it been even rougher than you thought? … Are we 100% sure that Moore is the right man to lead the program going forward???
