Michigan Football Players Feel ‘Betrayed’ by Sherrone Moore, Says Interim Head Coach

The University of Michigan football team is busy getting ready for their bowl game, but they’re still bitter about the scandal that has drawn their program into the spotlight.

“It has been a tumultuous time,” interim head football coach Biff Poggi told reporters on Monday, December 15. “A lot of anger. At first disbelief, then anger, then really, what we’re in right now is the phase of the kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed. We’re trying to work through that.”

Poggi, 66, took over for Sherrone Moore, who was fired by the University of Michigan on Wednesday, December 10, after an investigation uncovered “credible evidence” of an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member. 

The same day of his termination, Moore was arrested after allegedly breaking into the staff member’s apartment and threatening to take his own life in front of her. 

During a hearing on Friday, December 12, Moore was charged with one count of third-degree felony home invasion, one count misdemeanor stalking related to a domestic relationship and one count misdemeanor breaking and entering.

In the aftermath of Moore’s firing, Poggi said he “met individually with all the players multiple times” and has participated in Zoom calls with parents “multiple times.”

“I want to listen to them,” Poggi said. “I want to understand what the kids are feeling and what their parents are feeling. A lot of listening. There’s been a wide range of emotions, as you can imagine. We’re kind of going through those steps. They’re not over yet and I don’t expect them to be over for a while, quite frankly.”