Sherrone Moore not focused on homecoming aspect of Oklahoma week: 'It's about my players'

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore is well aware of what this week means to him on a personal level, just don’t expect him to care all that much. At least publicly.

[Sign up for Maize & Blue Review for $1 and get PLUS access for 7 days!]

Fully locked into game mode, Moore was asked what the game against Oklahoma means to him, facing his alma mater from the opposite sideline. He played in 14 games at offensive guard with the Sooners from 2006-2007.

For Moore, it’s not about homecoming. He’s fully focused on the team he’s coaching and trying to go 2-0 to start the season.

“It’s about my players,” Moore said. “So there’s no, like, emotional attachment to it. But I’m emotionally attached to the players that are at Michigan. They’re my kids. I see Gio back there. I’ve known him since he was, like, 15 years old, even though he looks 30. And, yeah, Gio. I’m talking about Gio. But, like, he’s like one of my kids. So these guys are who I’m emotionally attached to more than anything. And it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great town. And, obviously, I got my degree from there, and there’s a love there. But, like, these kids are what’s special to me. So that’s all I’m worried about. I’m worried about our players, getting our team ready to go play this game.”

Upon his return to Norman, he doesn’t plan to catch up with anyone outside of a brief pregame greeting with anyone he’s familiar with on the Sooners’ staff.

It’s not personal, it’s business.

However, Moore can’t deny the Sooner impact it’s had on not only his life but his coaching career. Former OU coach Bob Stoops remains an important figure, and it’s where he learned most of his coaching lessons.

Seeing his mentor means something a little more .

“He’s one of the biggest mentors I have,” Moore said of Stoops. “So there’s a lot of respect and love that I have for Coach Stoops. I’ll see those guys before the game. There’s no love lost or anything. I’ll see all of them before the game and say hi to them because there’s memories there. But, Bob, coaching players hard and loving them is one of the things I remember Bob telling me all the time. And just the enjoyment for the game. You always have to love the game. When you stop loving and when you start learning is when you should probably stop coaching. He was always very humble and always wanted to learn no matter who it was from. So that’s something I take from him. I think as much as people think you know, you don’t really know as much as you actually think. So you’ve got to continue learning this game.”