Sherrone Moore has been sleepless. But for reasons he shouldn’t have had to. This was supposed to be that critical time when the second-year Michigan head coach plots a scheme to usurp Ohio State at “The Game” (again!), alongside another Natty dream. Unfortunately, the world is far from ideal and the HC is instead left dealing with the consequences of a blunder he made almost two years ago. Moore has already been handed a two-game suspension that’s enough cause for worry. But if we are to believe more updates, looks like he’s not going to be let off the hook this easy.

The controversy stems from a 2023 sign-stealing scandal—during which Moore was an offensive coordinator with the Wolves—when former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions was accused of operating an elaborate scouting scheme. By employing friends and family to videotape opponents’ games, the staffer was allegedly using the footage to study playcalling signals (an NCAA violation). And Moore’s role in all of this? Suspiciously, on the same day that media broke the controversial news for the first time in October 2023, the HC reportedly deleted a 52-message thread with Stalions.

But Moore had always been confident in himself. “All I can say is I look forward to them being released,” he had later said about the text messages that were later recovered through device imaging. His defense? The deletions were just made to protect his players from those wanting to hurt the program. After a dark chapter, Moore could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. The head coach whitewashed his image by sealing the deal with No.1 quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood. But just when he might have thought of writing a fresh story for the upcoming season, his image once again got tarnished with suspension decisions. While Moore might have thought that it couldn’t get any worse, that’s when a CFB analyst dropped a bombshell. 

On the May 15 episode of the Michigan Football Report with James Yoder podcast, the host hinted at tough times ahead for Moore. “Now, you may want to brace yourselves for not having a head coach on the sideline and practice, I guess, for maybe four games or six. I think there’s a lot of credibility out there that says a two-game suspension that Michigan has imposed…is not potentially going to cut it. The NCAA is looking to pin something on Moore. He’s kind of the last guy standing.”

“You can’t really do anything to Harbaugh…go back and suspend him from the NFL you can’t do anything to Jesse Minter. You can’t do anything to anybody else really one or two guys has left and one of those is Sherrone Moore…the NCAA is trying to, maybe, pin him as a repeat offender given that he was already suspended in the 2023 season for improper contact with a recruit during the COVID safety era of 2020 and into 2021.” The Committee on Infractions (COI) hearing is reportedly slated for June 6 and 7, as per a Sports Illustrated report.

He’s considered a potential “repeat offender” by the NCAA because of contact with recruits made during a COVID-19 dead period. Back then, he received a one-game suspension. And what about this time?

What Michigan insiders are hearing about Sherrone Moore? 

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel recently said he has not had any conversations with the NCAA about a potential postseason ban. However, the Michigan insider, Sam Webb, had some scoop. “What my sources tell me, this is in line of what Michigan may be thinking… Assuming that the NCAA were to say ‘Hey, we agree. This is a suitable punishment’…you will be fully out like Jim Harbaugh…that will suffice. But if the NCAA are to come back…and they say, ‘Nah, this doesn’t sound suitable. This is not sufficient. We are thinking something along the lines, something more severe.’” In that case, what price will Moore have to pay?

That’s when analyst NevadaBuck came up with an alternative reality. A showcase penalty might be cooking up for Moore. In that case, he repercussions are indeed going to be tough. As the analyst noted, “If Sherrone Moore gets a show cause, I don’t know exactly what the rules but Coach Meyer is under the impression, a lot of people are under the impression, that if you have a show cause, you can’t coach in college.”

Amidst these tough times, Michigan President Santa Ono left Sherrone Moore’s hand as he has declared to step down as the University of Michigan president to take the same job in Florida. However, his steps have left college football fans wondering. After all, Moore’s Michigan is the more prestigious job as a school president. Maybe he left to fatten his bank account. However, it’s not time for the Wolverines to brood over Ono’s exit. They better hope Sheronne Moore only sits out two games—anything more could spell trouble.