Sherrone Moore firing: Dave Portnoy shares reaction to breaking Michigan news

Barstool Sports founder and CEO Dave Portnoy had just stepped out of an afternoon shower when the diehard Michigan fan first learned the news that rocked Ann Arbor on Wednesday: Sherrone Moore had been fired. Portnoy immediately took to social media — without even putting on a shirt — to express his mixed reaction.

Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel announced in a statement that Moore had been fired for cause late Wednesday afternoon after just two seasons as the Wolverines’ head coach following an internal investigation revealed he allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. On3 insider Pete Nakos confirmed Michigan players and coaches were abruptly called for a team meeting Wednesday where they learned of the news of Moore’s firing.

For his part, Portnoy expressed his initial shock at the move, but then made it clear he believed it was a football move at heart, especially after the 18th-ranked Wolverines went 9-3 this season and missed the College Football Playoffs for the second-consecutive year. Moore was promoted to head coach following 2023’s infamous CFP national championship-winning season when Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL rather than face serious sanctions stemming from multiple NCAA investigations into the program.

“Just literally got out of the shower (to learn) Sherrone Moore … fired. I feel like I know stuff, I don’t know stuff. I thought he was getting another year. I don’t even know what to speak on,” Portnoy said in a video posted to his personal X/Twitter account. “I’ll just say this, and everybody better hear it loud and clear — anybody that’s part of this program, anybody that goes to this university — we don’t play for 9-3 at Michigan. We don’t play for 9-3 at Michigan! We play for national championships like we’re doing in basketball. No. 1 team in the country, clear favorite to win the whole thing. Like we did two years ago when we went undefeated and won the Big Ten, won the Rose Bowl, put Nick Saban into retirement, won the national championship. We don’t play for 9-3.

“We missed the Playoffs two years in a row. At some schools, that’ll get you another year. Even me, (I thought) maybe they give him another year. Not at Michigan,” Portnoy continued. “At Michigan, we play for national championships. Anything else is unacceptable. I’m a little bit surprised, but when you think about what it means to be a Michigan Man, I guess I’m not surprised.

“I wish Sherrone the best of luck. Onward and upward. If you need my help, you know where to find me. Great day to be a Wolverine, I think. We don’t play for 9-3, we play for national titles. Let the other schools be happy with that. Not here at Michigan.”

Manuel announced Michigan assistant Biff Poggi would take over as interim head coach for the Wolverines’ upcoming bowl game against No. 13 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.