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Essentials Inside The Story

  • Interim president of Michigan reviews athletic department
  • Sherrone Moore gets into trouble
  • Michigan shifts gears in coach exploration

Over the last few years, the Michigan Wolverines have made headlines for all the wrong reasons, even during their 2023 national championship campaign. The university has decided that enough is enough. Interim president Domenico Grasso is stepping up to address not only the Sherrone Moore case but also to assure everyone of the seriousness in which this matter is being handled.

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In simple terms, the entire athletic department is now under review.

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“We are continuing the investigation of Coach Moore’s actions to uncover any additional germane and material information and to assess whether there may be related misconduct by others,” Grasso said in the public statement issued in the video.

“And we will not stop there. We have expanded the Jenner & Block assignment to include an independent evaluation of culture, conduct, and procedures throughout our athletics department.”

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He recently told the public that the university’s goal is to “leave no stone unturned” while they dig into the department’s culture. He wants to determine why so many scandals have been occurring and ensure the school is actually adhering to its own rules.

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This whole mess started last week with the firing of Sherrone Moore for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, which is strictly prohibited according to university policy. Things took a much more serious turn just hours later when Sherrone Moore got arrested.

He’s facing serious charges, including a felony for home invasion, because he allegedly forced his way into the staffer’s apartment. Grasso called this behavior a “breach of trust” and a total violation of what Michigan stands for.

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Due to all this chaos, Athletic Director Warde Manuel is under a massive microscope right now. People are questioning how so many issues, from NCAA violations to this latest criminal case, could have occurred under his leadership.

To handle this correctly, the university brought in an outside law firm, Jenner & Block, to lead the investigation. The firm is digging into several areas. That includes how past scandals, such as the sign-stealing situation and other coaching-related issues, were handled. They are also evaluating whether the overall environment in the athletic department needs reform.

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Even though Grasso is only the interim president, he’s taking a very firm stance to clean up the university’s image before a permanent leader takes over.

He has encouraged anyone with information to speak up, saying the school needs to face these issues head-on to move forward. The AD also spoke about hiring the coach who represents the Wolverines with ‘the highest values’.

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Michigan’s coaching search heats up

The search for the next Michigan football coach is officially on.

A top name on the list is none other than Kenny Dillingham. But there’s also a lot of talk about Jedd Fisch from Washington and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea. Some fans are even holding out hope for a massive “home run” hire like Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer.

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“We will hire an individual who is of the highest moral character, who will serve as a role model and respected leader for the entire football program and who will, with dignity and integrity, be a fierce competitor,” Grasso stated. “This is no doubt a challenging time for our community. I understand the anger and disillusionment that many in our community may be experiencing.”

Obviously, the search isn’t without its headaches, though. Signing top candidates won’t be cheap, as many are under contract with other universities and have significant buyouts. For example, grabbing Kalen DeBoer could cost millions.

There’s also some internal pressure to consider Biff Poggi for the permanent job, especially from donors and some players who appreciate how he’s stabilized the program lately. He was even formally interviewed recently for the position.

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The administration is aiming to complete this by the end of the month. So, there isn’t much time left to make a big decision.

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