Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore Leads Wolverines to ReliaQuest Bowl

Michigan Coach Sherrone MooreLeads Wolverines to ReliaQuest Bowl

By Joey Johnston

The life of Michigan head coachSherrone Moore keeps getting more fascinating every day.

In the offseason, Moore waspropelled into Michigan football's top job when Jim Harbaugh bolted for theNFL's Los Angeles Chargers after winning the national championship.

On Nov. 30, Moore oversaw one ofthe great victories in Michigan's recent era, a 13-10 upset of the heavilyfavored and home-standing Ohio State Buckeyes.

And now, Moore has an opportunityto really make a season to remember if the Wolverines (7-5) can topple theAlabama Crimson Tide (9-3) in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond JamesStadium.

Moore had operated in relativeanonymity - positions at Louisville and Central Michigan - before arriving atMichigan as the offensive-line coach in 2018. He was impressive and gotpromoted to offensive-line coach/co-offensive coordinator, when the Wolverineswon the Joe Moore Award as the nation's best offensive line in 2021 and 2022.

Right place, right time? Maybe.When Harbaugh served a four-game suspension in 2023, Moore served as actinghead coach and kept the Michigan ship sailing. The seminal moments were a 24-15win at Penn State - when Michigan called a running play on 32 consecutive snaps- and a 30-24 triumph against Ohio State.

Moore showed enough to be chosenas Harbaugh's replacement.

The Big Man at the Big House.

"Every day I walk in the building,I kind of pinch myself," Moore said. "I walk in my office and say a prayer. Ithink about how blessed I am to have this position. That's every single day.

"To be honest, sometimes it goesblank on me (playing before 100,000-plus fans at every home game. You're solocked into the game. You hear it (crowd noise) when we're on defense. You hearit on touchdowns. But you don't really understand where you're at. Sometimes,you've got to take in the moment. I remember specifically against Ohio State, Ijust looked around and said, 'This is my reality.' It's something that we'revery blessed to be a part of.''

Moore faced some heavyresponsibilities in replacing Harbaugh and following a national championship.The season wobbled at times, but beating Ohio State brings its own share ofspecial grace.

As Michigan's Team 145 preparesfor its final act of 2024, Moore said he knows there's a high standard touphold. He's the first African-American head coach in Michigan footballhistory, so there's a historic aspect to his appointment as well.

"It's a humble blessing,'' Mooresaid. "I think it's awesome. But it also shows that every young man, regardlessof the color of your skin, wherever you're from, you can do whatever you want.

"Don't allow people to tell youthat you can't do something. If you want to go do it, go take the opportunityand strive to be great.''

When Moore was appointed headcoach, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel described him as a "dynamic,fierce and competitive individual.''

The world saw Moore's passionfirst-hand during an emotional post-game interview following the 2023 win atPenn State. For a guy who began his post-high school life as an offensivelineman for Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, it was heady stuff.Moore spent two seasons at Oklahoma on back-to-back Big 12 championship teams,but he was always behind the scenes.

Now it's high-profile all the way.

The bumps-and-bruises of Moore'sinitial season reached an peak at Ohio State. Beating Alabama would provide anemphatic exclamation point.