Friday night, when the Michigan football team gathered around the table at team dinner, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. For the Wolverines, it wasn’t just supper, it was a farewell to Michigan coach Sherrone Moore as he began his self-imposed two-game suspension.
And as the Wolverines’ entire team jogged out onto the field Saturday against Central Michigan, interim coach Biff Poggi just walked. For Poggi, this game was about more than the playbook and points on the board — it was about Moore.
“We were texting last night just about how much he loves me and I love him,” Poggi said. “It was a really hard week in our building, a really hard and emotional week. Football is a game about relationships, and his players love him like you wouldn’t believe. I would say, today, you saw a love letter from 120 young men to their football coach. I think that’s outstanding.”
For how much Moore stressed that the Wolverines’ game against the Chippewas should be about the players, Michigan paid him no regard. Instead, the Wolverines game out firing on all cylinders, playing with a chip on their shoulders.
In Michigan’s first drive, junior running back Justice Haynes drove up the middle to find the endzone for the Wolverines’ first touchdown of the game. The crowd roared and Michigan’s sideline exploded, but it wasn’t enough. On the Wolverines’ very next drive, freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood slung a deep ball that connected with junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan in left field for Michigan’s second score.
“(Moore) said he was gonna be at home jumping up and down on his couch, regardless of what happens,” freshman defensive back Elijah Dotson said. “He said he was proud of us and he loves us. So we went out there and played for Coach Moore.”
With at least two touchdowns per quarter, the Wolverines certainly made sure that Moore got his cardio in celebrating at home. Time and time again, Michigan ran through Central Michigan to find the endzone, never once losing steam.
In the week leading up to the matchup, the Wolverines never needed Poggi to give them that extra push. Despite Moore’s best efforts, his players were decidedly not playing for the names on the back of their jerseys — they were playing for Moore.
With Poggi at the helm, there was no chance the game was going to be about anyone else. And by the end of the game, Michigan had signed its love letter with a dominant win.
“It’s hard,” Poggi said. “Sherrone sent me this text about seven o’clock last night, he said, ‘You’re who I want to do it. I know you’ll love our boys to the core,’ That was the text. … I’m so grateful. But you know, this was all about Sherrone Moore, and it’s going to stay all about Sherrone Moore.”
Friday night, Moore fought back tears as he led the team breakdown before stepping away. It wasn’t dramatic. It was just a coach who cares about his players and a team that loves him back. Saturday, Poggi — and Michigan — didn’t talk about it. They just showed up, took care of business and left no doubt about who they were playing for.
The post For Biff Poggi and Michigan, it meant Moore against Central Michigan appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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