The Michigan Wolverines have handed down a self-imposed ban to head coach Sherrone Moore for the upcoming 2025 season related to the Connor Stalions advanced scouting scandal. Moore will be suspended for the Week 3 home game against Central Michigan, as well as the Week 4 game at Nebraska.
Here are a few thoughts on this breaking news.
1: This doesn’t mean the NCAA will fall to the sword
In fact, it’s fair to assume the NCAA will eventually assign additional punishments to Moore. Despite Jim Harbaugh serving a self-imposed three-game suspension at the start of the 2023 season due to impermissible contact with recruits/players during the pandemic, the NCAA still handed down a four-year show cause, which essentially banned Harbaugh from being a college coach until 2028.
Will the NCAA see this self-imposed ban and give some grace to Moore? Perhaps, but in my opinion, it isn’t likely considering A) This is Moore’s “second offense” after also being involved in the previous NCAA case, and B) The NCAA continuously makes bad decisions and is one of the most corrupt organizations in all of sports.
Moore’s involvement in this case has to do with him deleting 52 text messages with Stalions, texts he deleted on the day the news broke in 2023. However, the texts were later recovered and showed zero evidence he was aware of what Stalions was doing.
The fact Moore is even deemed “involved” in this case is ridiculous, but the NCAA is a ridiculous organization. It’s unfortunate, but this story is far from over.
2: This self-imposed ban is slightly different from Harbaugh’s
When Harbaugh was suspended by the university in 2023, he wasn’t able to coach on the sidelines on Saturdays, but he was able to coach during the week and prepare the team for his absence.
Moore’s suspension, according to the original ESPN report, will be a bit different:
The suspensions will be for Michigan’s third and fourth-week opponents — Central Michigan and Nebraska — and will include being barred from any team-related duties during those weeks … A key difference in this penalty and the three-game suspension served by Jim Harbaugh at the start of the 2023 season is that Moore will not be able to coach practice in the game weeks of the Central Michigan and Nebraska game. Harbaugh missed those three games to start the 2023 season but was essentially with the team at all times outside game days.
It’s really unfortunate Moore won’t be with the team at all during that two-week span. Whether that makes a difference in the games is obviously to be determined, but at the very least, it could put a damper on the overall team morale not having their head coach present for 14 straight days.
3: Moore still gets to coach against his alma mater
The silver lining — if any — here is Moore will be available to coach against his alma mater, the Oklahoma Sooners, in Week 2. That will be one of the most anticipated games of the season for Michigan, and even more so for Moore considering he was an offensive lineman in Norman from 2006-07.
Missing the game vs CMU is no big deal. Missing the game at Nebraska could be detrimental (if Nebraska actually shows up this year). But missing the Oklahoma game was clearly a non-negotiable for Moore. Him still being able to go to Norman this fall is great for him, personally, and for the team as it hopes to make an early-season statement.
