Photo via AP Photo/David Dermer
Michigan is expected to suspend head football coach Sherrone Moore for two games this upcoming season as a self-imposed punishment in the sign-stealing case, ESPN reported on Monday morning.
Moore’s suspension will reportedly be for the Wolverines’ Week 3 and Week 4 games against Central Michigan and Nebraska, allowing him to coach his team for their Week 1 game against New Mexico and Week 2 tilt at his alma mater Oklahoma. He will also be barred from any team-related activities during Week 3-4, and will receive additional recruiting-related penalties.
Moore’s suspension — which could be increased by the NCAA, who is expected to reach a final resolution on U-M’s sign-stealing penalties before the start of the season — comes months after he was accused of deleting a thread of 52 text messages with former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions on the same day that reports revealed Stalions as the ringleader behind the school’s impermissible sign-stealing operation of future opponents.
Moore is facing a Level 2 violation by the NCAA for these actions, according to its Notice of Allegations revealed last August. He is also considered a potential “repeat offender” due to further allegations that he contacted recruits during a COVID-19 dead period in August of 2023.
Michigan is accused of committing 11 violations in the NOI, six of which were deemed Level I, the most serious violations. According to ESPN, the school and the NCAA are working towards a resolution. Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde reported that a Committee on Infractions hearing for Michigan is set for June 6-7, which could be the next step in determining if there are any further punishments for Moore and the program.
