Sherrone Moore on 'extra curricular activity' against Michigan State: 'We're not going to engage'

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore‘s first experience with the in-state rivalry against Michigan State came in 2018, when the Spartans showed up late for their pregame “walk,” and attempted to clothes-line Michigan players warming up. Former U-M linebacker Devin Bush famously scuffed up the Spartan logo at midfield, after being held back from going after MSU players by Moore himself, then the tight ends coach.

In 2019, Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson took a dangerously late hit from MSU defensive lineman Jacub Panasiuk, a “dirty player” according to former Wolverine offensive lineman Jon Runyan.

In 2022, unprovoked Michigan State players assaulted Michigan defensive backs Ja’Den McBurrows and Gemon Green in the tunnel after a blowout Wolverine win. The acts were so egregious that multiple MSU players were charged with aggravated assault.

In 2023, MSU committed an unsportsmanlike penalty late, before Michigan punched in yet another touchdown in a 49-0 win, the worst loss by the home team in the history of Spartan Stadium.

In 2024, a scuffle started at the end of Michigan’s 24-17 win, with MSU defensive end Anthony Jones shoving U-M tight end Colston Loveland after the play to begin the fracas.

Tensions run high in the series, which Michigan has dominated over the last four seasons, but the Wolverines don’t plan on starting anything after the play or game

“We’re definitely going to have an nice, long conversation about the extracurricular activity — the talking before the game, the talking during the game, the talking after the game — and just playing football,” Moore said on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show. “Don’t worry about all of the other stuff.

“If that happens on their part, then they do, but we’re not going to engage in anything extra, because that’s not going to help us win the game. It’s just going to distract us from doing that. So, worry about what we can do between the whistles to execute our job, and that’s it.”

Moore said he has immense respect for Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith, who has an 8-11 record after taking over for the fired Mel Tucker, who allegedly sexually harassed anti-sexual assault advocate, Brenda Tracy.

“Respect for Coach Smith, him as a coach, what he’s done with the program, what he’s done in the past with other programs,” Moore said.

MSU is down bad this season, sitting at 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten, with one win over Power Four programs, and that came in overtime against Boston College, which is 1-6 overall and 0-4 in ACC play.

“But this game, the records don’t matter,” the Michigan coach continued. “Nothing matters. They don’t like us, we don’t like them — but I’ve got so much respect for them and their program and what they are and who they are.

“It’s going to be a big challenge. We’re going to their place. It’ll be rowdy, it’ll be at night. So, it means everything. We’re going to put everything we have into this game, and there’s no looking at a record or a score or what last year was or the year before. We’ve got to focus on beating this team.”

Michigan is attempting to build momentum as it makes a push for the College Football Playoff, coming off a 24-7 win over Washington last weekend. The Wolverines don’t have a margin for error if they do want to make the 12-team field.

“We talked about last week was a playoff game, and this week is no different,” Moore said. “Every game really is. So, for us, the same edge we had, there can’t be any seep of complacency in the program in anybody. From the strength staff to the training room to us — everything has to be urgent. Not panic, but urgency is the key.”