Jim Harbaugh is the primary focus in two investigations into the Michigan football program — alleged recruiting violations during the COVID dead period and his possible involvement a the sign-stealing scandal led by former staffer Connor Stalions. The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb said the NCAA should rule quickly following Harbaugh’s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers, and he doesn’t expect any punishment to be severe.
“I expect that we’ll get a verdict on those punishments before next year starts,” Webb said Wednesday, via CBS Sports HQ. “If they decided they wanted to take away some scholarships, that would be harsh. I find it hard to believe that the NCAA is going to hammer them even more than they’ve already been hammered with the punishments they self-imposed.”
Webb went further in-depth on where Michigan stands with the current investigations now Harbaugh is off to the NFL and whether the NCAA will be satisfied with the Wolverines’ previous self-imposed punishments. He also touched on how the Wolverines had been prepared for the potential of Harbaugh leaving.
ON MICHIGAN HAVING PREPARED ITSELF FOR HARBAUGH’S DEPARTURE
“I anticipate that before the new year really begins, we’ll have a decision on those penalties. Is there a greater chance that the NCAA will agree to recognize “time served”? In my opinion, yes. Would they be more eager to put up with Michigan’s self-imposed penalties now that he’s gone? You could argue in favor of that. Jim Harbaugh was obviously not the NCAA’s favorite person.
“If they decided they wanted to take away some scholarships, that would be harsh. With the sign-stealing violations, you had the president of the NCAA come out and say, ‘Hey, it’s very, very clear that this really had no impact on Michigan’s performance.’ They went through their gauntlet stretch without their sign-stealer guy, where they beat Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State and Washington. If the president of the NCAA is saying the point was proven and Michigan won fair and square, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA is going to hammer them even more than they’ve already been hammered with the punishments they self-imposed.”
“They suspended Jim Harbaugh the first three games of the season. That was fine. They were playing high school teams. The three games at the end of the season was a severe punishment. If you lose one of those games, there’s no way Michigan is making the playoffs. Michigan happened to overcome that obstacle. You could argue that because they overcame the punishment, it wasn’t severe enough. That’s moving the goalposts. When the punishment was imposed, it was seen as very severe and Michigan was picked to lose those games in many circles.”
“We have to see what comes of the ongoing investigation into the sign-stealing scandal. A lot of this jumped off because Connor Stalions was on the field for the Central Michigan game against Michigan State, with the belief being that he was on the field stealing signs for Michigan at the time. There is an investigation going on at Central Michigan right now. They are investigating whether he was there working for Central Michigan or Michigan.
“He wasn’t stealing signs for Michigan if he was there working for Central Michigan. Is that something Michigan should truly be punished for? That doesn’t imply he wasn’t going above and beyond in terms of extracurricular activities, mobile phone-wielding spectators, and sign theft. Alright, but what should the penalty be if that was the case? The coach’s six-game suspension is a steep price to pay for that offense.”
“Jim Harbaugh has proven that he is a master builder of culture. The best football coaches know that a winning system, a winning scheme, and a winning program are not just about X’s and O’s. Most of these coaches know the X’s and O’s piece of it. But in the NFL, the important thing is whether you can get guys to buy in. The Chargers have the components to be a contender in the AFC.
“In my opinion, Brandon Staley lacked the skills necessary to secure the players’ support and reach his full potential. That’s what Jim Harbaugh does. Jim Harbaugh has had a profound cultural impact everywhere he has gone. Before he arrived, Michigan was in decline. He radically and championship-winning turned them around. This man is skilled at what he does. They’re going to prevail. I’m not sure if they’ll be the Super Bowl winners. Jim Harbaugh’s hiring will improve the Chargers.”
Sherrone Moore emerged as the front-runner to succeed Jim Harbaugh at Michigan the moment the former coach of the Los Angeles Chargers accepted the head coaching position.
Moore has been the offensive line coach for the Wolverines for the past three years. Prior to taking on full offensive coordinator duties in 2023, he served as co-offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022.
There were also some unique marketing for the 2023 season. Moore led Michigan to four victories en route to the national championship as head coach because Jim Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten and by himself. As a result, Moore has already achieved a 4-0 record as the head coach of the University of Michigan, with victories over Ohio State, Bowling Green, Maryland, and Penn State.
Many in the program anticipate Moore to get the position despite the fact that nothing is official, considering his background as offensive line coach, offensive coordinator, and interim head coach. As Zak Zinter revealed on Wednesday evening: “Interviews are not required. Papa Moore’s time has come.”
This is an overview of Sherrone Moore, a leading contender to take Jim Harbaugh’s place as Michigan’s football coach:
Sherrone Moore attended Oklahoma to play collegiate football.
Sherrone Moore participated in basketball and wrestling as a freshman in high school before deciding to concentrate more on football as an upperclassman. Before joining with Oklahoma, he spent his first two years as a starter on the offensive line at Butler County (Kansas) Community College. League championships were won in each of those two seasons.
Moore was a reserve guard in Norman and a left tackle at Butler County. In the 2006–07 season, he played in 14 games, helping the Sooners win two Big 12 Championships and two BCS bowls.
After his playing career ended at Oklahoma, Moore got his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Louisville, where he also worked as a graduate assistant.
Moore’s coaching career began at Louisville and Central Michigan
After working as a graduate assistant (and making the Honor Roll) at Louisville from 2009-11, Moore earned a more permanent role as tight ends coach starting in 2012. During his final two years, the Cardinals went 23-3 with a Big East championship and a BCS bowl appearance before Charlie Strong left for Texas.
Moore landed at Central Michigan, where he was welcomed with the following headline: “Moore Brings Winning Resume, Attitude to Chippewas.”
“It’s all about an attitude,” Moore said then. “If you think you can win, you know you can win, then you’re going to win.
“Whether you go to Oklahoma, Alabama, whatever school — the difference between the programs that win and those that don’t is those that win they think they can. If you step on the field and think you can, you’re going to be a winner. That’s the kind of attitude and mindset I bring to my guys.”
In Mount Pleasant, Moore helped develop future NFL tight end Tyler Conklin and also added assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator duties.
