Michigan Football head coach Sherrone Moore will reportedly be suspended for Weeks 3 and 4, which will have less of an impact on the season than if he were suspended the first two games of the year. We explain:
News broke Monday morning that Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore will serve a two-game suspension for citations related to Connor Stallions’ advanced scouting scheme. Two things stand out about the suspension:
- Moore is expected to serve his suspension in Weeks 3 and 4
- He will not be able to take part in team-related activities during that time
That means Moore will get to coach against New Mexico and Oklahoma in Weeks 1 and 2. While it’s nice Moore will get to coach against his alma mater, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a bit more strategic than emotional.
Here’s why…
Moore can still assess players early in the season
Moore is barred from all team-related activities during his suspension. If he were to miss Weeks 1 and 2, that could be detrimental to the entire season. Michigan is clearly still searching for its starting quarterback, and while fall camp tells you a lot about a player, there’s nothing quite like a game day to prepare you. Imagine if Moore had taken a self-imposed suspension and couldn’t work with his players the first two weeks of the season.
In my opinion, that could potentially derail the entire year. It sets you back weeks with quarterback development, and it inhibits you from talking with your coordinators about how to adapt and adjust moving forward. It’s not like Moore has a ton of experience as a head coach, and losing out on those weeks right at the start of the season seems unreasonable.
He’ll be able to work with coaches on adjustments ahead of his suspension
Moore and the staff should learn a lot from their first two games of the season. You’ll get to see your team play at home against an opponent you should beat, and on the road in a hostile environment. I’m guessing Moore will be able to have conversations with his coaches after the Oklahoma game to prepare for the games he’ll miss when they’re traveling back to Ann Arbor.
It’d be tough to have the newer coaches do their job two weeks without any contact with their head coach. Now they’ll have a chance to assess new units on the field and figure out how to work together post-game. They’ll all get to see what it’s like to work together in their first season as a coaching unit.
A win over Oklahoma would be more valuable than a win over Nebraska
I get Nebraska isn’t an easy game to win. There’s truth to Nebraska’s improvement each year, and I’ve been to a game in Lincoln. It’s loud! The fans show up every week with a ton of energy, regardless of how the season is going, and this will not be an easy win by any means.
However, one conference loss doesn’t have the potential to break Michigan’s season. A win over Oklahoma is a big resume builder given its move to the SEC. I don’t care if OU has a horrible record — we know how favorable the committee looks at the conference, and if Michigan gets a win on the road in Norman, I’d trade it for an L in the Nebraska game. It’s the Wolverines’ only major non-conference game of the season, and they need to make a statement. A loss to Nebraska could easily be overlooked as not having their head coach if Michigan comes up with conference wins later in the year.
Michigan is expected to see some improvements in 2025 compared to last season, but this certainly puts a damper on the year. We’ll have to wait and see how it all unfolds in the fall.