Is he going to stay or go? Following his national championship, that is the question that the football world is posing to Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
His Wolverines defeated Washington 34-13 on January 8 to cap off a 15-0 season.
Sherrone Moore, Harbaugh’s former interim head coach and offensive coordinator, may not have been present when he accepted the bows in Houston.
While Harbaugh was out due to suspension, Moore led Michigan to vital victories over Penn State (24–15), Maryland (31-24), and Ohio State (30–24) in the interim.
Harbaugh was unable to play due to concrete evidence that his staff had used video equipment to snoop on opponents as they approached and steal signals.
A slip-up in any of those pivotal Big 10 games would have severely hurt the Wolverines’ chances of winning their first national championship since 1997.
Because Moore could “pinch hit for his boss” when things got tough, Harbaugh called him a “Michigan legend.”
After the Penn State game, Moore sobbed in an ESPN post-game interview.
“We completed it for you,” he said to the reporter, referring to Harbaugh. “We took action on behalf of the team, the president, and the athletic director.” This location is the best in the nation.
With the Big 10 East secured and the postseason (a win over Iowa for the overall Big 10) and playoff victories over Alabama and Washington, with Harbaugh once again on the sidelines, in place, the victory over Ohio State in Ann Arbor set the stage for success.
Moore joined the Michigan staff in 2018 after playing offensive line for the Oklahoma Sooners. Reluctant to accept the credit for the team’s accomplishments without Harbaugh
“My leadership was not the issue,” he stated. “This team, this team, and this team was the focus of it all. It wasn’t about me, so I don’t want any tags implying that it was.
In the championship game, Moore’s offense dominated the No. 2 Washington Huskies, amassing 443 total yards—303 of which came on the ground, a playoff record.
As the applause has subsided, serious talks about Harbaugh joining the NFL are taking place. There are openings and interest from the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Washington.
Prior to attending his alma mater, Michigan, Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, leading them to a 44-19-1 record. This included a Super Bowl appearance in 2012, where he was coached by his brother, John, and lost to Baltimore.
At Michigan, Harbaugh is currently paid $7.34 million, but if he stays, administrators will undoubtedly sweeten the pot.
However, if he leaves, Moore would appear to be the next in line for one of the most prestigious positions in college football.
Just three of the 14 Big 10 schools have Black coaches. They are Mike Locksley of Maryland, Ryan Walters of Purdue, and James Franklin of Penn State.
