Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore is facing allegations of NCAA violations in his first season at the helm of the program. Moore was promoted to head coach in January after Jim Harbaugh left to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, taking over a program that had been put on probation for a sign-stealing scandal from the previous season. Moore, who was an assistant on the staff since 2018, was accused of deleting text messages with former staffer Connor Stalions, who was implicated in the sign-stealing scandal. Moore addressed these allegations to reporters, stating that he looks forward to the release of the text messages and will continue to cooperate with the NCAA investigation.
The NCAA sent a notice of allegations claiming that Moore deleted 52 messages with Stalions in October after reports of the investigation surfaced. Stalions, according to reports, purchased tickets to games around the country and directed individuals to video-record the sidelines of future Michigan opponents on game days. The scandal led to Harbaugh being suspended for the final three games of the 2023 season by the Big Ten, during which Moore served as interim head coach. Harbaugh has been accused of not cooperating with the NCAA investigation, potentially facing a “show-cause” restriction if he ever returns to college football.
Harbaugh left the program after the 2023 team finished a perfect 15-0 season with a national championship victory over Washington. Moore has been left to deal with the ongoing investigation at Michigan while preparing the defending national champions for their first season in an expanded Big 10 conference. The new conference will include former title game opponent Washington and several other former PAC-12 schools. Meanwhile, Stalions will be featured in a new installment of the Netflix docuseries “Untold,” titled “Sign Stealer,” scheduled to be released just days before Michigan’s first game of the season.
Moore said he will continue to cooperate with the NCAA in its investigation but declined to provide further details when asked by reporters. The allegations against him include deleting messages with Stalions, who was accused of being the primary actor in the sign-stealing scandal. The ongoing scandal and investigation have cast a shadow over Michigan’s football program as they prepare to defend their national championship title in a new conference. Harbaugh’s lack of cooperation with the NCAA could have long-term consequences for his coaching career if he ever decides to return to college football.
The scandal involving Stalions and the sign-stealing allegations has had far-reaching implications for both Harbaugh and Moore, with potential consequences for their coaching careers. Harbaugh has been accused of not cooperating with the NCAA investigation, while Moore has been left to manage the fallout from the scandal while preparing his team for the upcoming season in an expanded conference. The allegations against Moore and the ongoing investigation have raised questions about the program’s integrity and could impact their standing in the college football community. Moore’s cooperation with the NCAA and his handling of the situation will be closely monitored as the season progresses.
