ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is taking on the winningest program in college football and all the scrutiny that comes with it.
Moore spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since the NCAA alleged in a notice related to its sign-stealing investigation that he violated rules as an assistant under Jim Harbaughaccording to three people informed about the correspondence between the governing body and the school.
Two people told the Associated Press that Moore was accused of deleting text messages with Conor Stalions, the low-level recruiting official who coordinated an off-campus advanced reconnaissance operation. One of the people said the NCAA recommended a less serious Level 2 violation for Moore, adding that the texts between Moore and Stalions were recovered and that the coach provided them to the NCAA.
All three people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the notification was confidential.
“I’ll just say this: I look forward to them being released,” Moore said, in front of more than 30 journalists and more than 10 cameras, when asked about the text messages.
Stallions resigned last year during the Wolverines’ national championship-winning season.
Moore said he has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the NCAA investigation, declining further comment when asked to provide more details.
The NCAA had previously placed Michigan on three years of probation along with a fine and recruiting limits after reaching a negotiated resolution in a recruiting case and banned Harbaugh from coaching college football for four years.
The Wolverines are ranked 9th in AP preseason poll and begin the season Aug. 31 at home against Fresno State.
Harbaugh, now head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, was asked to be an honorary captain for the season-opening game several months ago, Moore said, but turned down the offer on Monday to help the Chargers prepare for the season.
“It was really to honor him for what he did for Michigan,” Moore said. “He came back for nine years and got us to where we are now.”
Michigan is defending a national championship for the first time since 1997 with a new head coach, quarterback, offensive line and defensive coaching staff — and a challenging schedule.
The Wolverines will host #4 Texas and No. 23 Southern California in September and No. 3 Oregon in November before closing the season on the road against rival and second-ranked Ohio State.
“They still need to play us,” Moore said. “Our guys are excited about the schedule.”
The players also seem excited to play for Moore, whom they describe as funny and approachable, with an open-door policy that they enjoy grabbing some candy from a jar in his office while talking about life on and off the field.
“He’s like my best friend,” defenseman Kenneth Grant said. “He’s so easy to talk to.”
Although Moore is the head coach after six years as an assistant, the 38-year-old former Oklahoma offensive lineman plans to be as approachable and affable as he always was at Michigan.
“That will never change,” he said. “I want them to feel very welcome and to be able to understand and know that I am always there for them.”
Moore served a one-game suspension during the 2023 season related to recruiting infractions and served as head coach for four games last year when Harbaugh was disciplined by the school and the Big Ten.
“When you’re down, they don’t respect you,” Moore said when asked about the program’s culture. “When you’re in the middle, they ignore you. And when you’re at the top, they hate you. So for us, let’s keep rolling.”
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AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.
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Follow Larry Lage on https://twitter.com/larrylage
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