Michigan HC Sherrone Moore's Alleged Off-Campus Scouting Raises Concerns

**SAPO:** Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has been accused of off-campus scouting and deleting text messages with a former assistant involved in a sign-stealing scandal.

Sherrone Moore, recently promoted to head coach of the University of Michigan football team, is facing allegations of NCAA violations in his first season at the helm. Moore was a member of the staff since 2018 before taking over the head coaching position in January, following Jim Harbaugh's departure for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Michigan HC Sherrone Moore's Alleged Off-Campus Scouting Raises Concerns

The Michigan program has been under scrutiny since last season, having faced three years of probation, fines, and recruiting limits for a wide-ranging sign-stealing scandal. At the heart of the allegations against Moore is his alleged deletion of text messages with former Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions, who resigned amid accusations of being the primary actor in the sign-stealing.

Moore addressed the allegations at a press conference on Tuesday, stating that he looks forward to the text messages being released and that he has and will continue to cooperate with the NCAA investigation.

Michigan HC Sherrone Moore's Alleged Off-Campus Scouting Raises Concerns

The NCAA sent a notice of allegations earlier this month, claiming that Moore deleted 52 messages with Stalions after reports of the investigation emerged. Stalions is reported to have purchased tickets to games around the country while directing a network of individuals to video-record the sidelines of future Michigan opponents on game days.

The scandal resulted in Harbaugh's suspension for the final three games of the 2023 regular season by the Big Ten, with Moore serving as interim head coach. Moore also served as interim head coach for the first three games of the season due to a separate violation of NCAA bylaws by the program.

Michigan HC Sherrone Moore's Alleged Off-Campus Scouting Raises Concerns

Harbaugh eventually left the program to return to the NFL after the 2023 team finished a perfect 15-0 with a national championship victory over Washington. Harbaugh has since been accused of not cooperating with the NCAA's request to view relevant messages and phone records from his personal cellphone, and could face a "show-cause" restriction if he ever tries to return to college football.

Moore is left to deal with the ongoing investigation at Michigan while preparing the defending national champions for their first season in an expanded Big 10 conference. Stalions, meanwhile, will be featured in a new installment of the Netflix docuseries "Untold," titled "Sign Stealer," which is scheduled to be released on August 27, just four days before Michigan's first game of the season.

The allegations against Moore have raised questions about the culture and conduct of the Michigan football program under his leadership. The NCAA's investigation is ongoing, and the outcome could have significant implications for the team and its players.