Evaluating how Sherrone Moore developed as a head coach for Ohio State game

On Monday, On3’s Andy Staples was on the Michigan campus, where he caught up with The Wolverine’s Clayton Sayfie. The two college football experts shared their thoughts on the Wolverines’ success this season. One of the more intriguing topics discussed was Sherrone Moore’s success heading the Michigan football program in the absence of head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Moore is the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator. However, when Harbaugh was suspended for the season’s final three games, he also had to assume the role of head coach. And in those three games, Michigan went undefeated, including victories over top-ranked opponents Ohio State and Penn State. But according to Sayfie, something happened in the first two that set the table for Moore to lead the Wolverines to victory over the Buckeyes.

“So we talked after the Penn State game, and then there was the Maryland game, and there were a lot of complaints from the Michigan fans,” said Sayfie. “And I even thought there were a couple of points, especially in Maryland, that they called it a little bit too conservatively. It was like, ‘Okay, Sharrone Moore’s got a lot on his plate. He’s the head coach, there’s pressure on him; he’s got to win these games.’

“That may have been a blessing in disguise because that week, he’s sitting there like, ‘Okay. We gotta call it a little bit more aggressively,’ and it’s Ohio State. Like he said on Saturday, they’ve been preparing for this, and they’ve had calls ready for this all year. You’re working on stuff in fall camp; you probably have an idea of what is gonna come for this game.”

In the Wolverines’ first two games, against Penn State and Maryland, it appeared as if the team had a few struggles that could possibly linger over into their matchup against the Buckeyes. However, Moore stuck true to his word earlier in the week and was aggressive in his offensive play calling, resulting in a 30-24 victory from Michigan and a ticket to compete in the Big Ten Championship game.

“The 4th downs [were] absolutely massive. You compare that with how Ryan Day called the game for Ohio State, and it was a little bit different. The way Michigan did it, the way Sherrone Moore did it when you’re the guy making the call, then you’re gonna go for 4th, and then you are the one making the play call, that could be a pretty dynamic combo, right there.”

Moore’s brief run as Michigan’s head coach was a successful one. The Wolverines offensive coordinator went undefeated and claimed victory over two of the program’s biggest rivals. As Michigan prepares for the Big Ten title game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Moore will likely return to his duties before Harbaugh’s suspension now that the Wolverines’ headman will be back on the sidelines. Still, it’s safe to say Moore will be remembered for the job he did as interim head coach, especially if Michigan is able to capture this year’s national championship.