Michigan football players are understandably angry in the wake of the Sherrone Moore scandal as they prepare for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Interim coach Biff Poggi spoke with reporters for the first time Monday as he is tasked with taking over the program in a matter of hours. Poggi has been talking to players and parents over the past few days, just trying to listen and be as helpful as possible.
advertise
But he said his players felt betrayed.
“This is a tumultuous time,” Poggi said, via ESPN. “There’s a lot of … disbelief first, then anger, and then really, frankly, we’re in a situation now where kids feel very betrayed, and we’re working hard to address that.”
Michigan State said he had an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.” Moore was taken into police custody hours later. Guilty of third degree burglary, stalking, breaking and entering or failure to break and enter after detention.
Prosecutors said Moore had been for several years. Prosecutors said the victim broke up with Moore earlier this week and then disclosed the relationship to the school. After Moore was fired, prosecutors said he broke into the victim’s home and threatened to kill himself.
Moore served as Michigan’s offensive coordinator under former head coach Jim Harbaugh and was promoted to take over after Harbaugh left for the NFL. Moore compiled a 17-8 record in two seasons as Michigan State’s head coach.
advertise
Poggi is the former head coach at Charlotte and also served as Michigan’s interim head coach earlier this season following a sign-stealing scandal that erupted into the program.
Athletic director Ward Manuel asked Porgy to run the program again while he searches for a permanent replacement. He will lead the Wolverines to a bowl game later this month when they face Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.
Poggi said while there was normal football preparation, there was also “a lot of hugging, a lot of listening” and telling and showing his players that he loved them.
“I don’t know that you can prepare for something like this,” Poggi said. “It’s complicated. I want to hear what they have to say. I want to understand how the kids are feeling and how their parents are feeling, so it’s a lot of listening and there’s a whole range of emotions that we’re going through the steps.
“They’re not over yet and I don’t think they’re going to be over for a while. When Ward Manuel asked me to be the interim coach, his mission as athletic director was to love and take care of the kids, so that’s what I spent all my time doing.”
Poggi also made it clear that he would not force anyone to participate or not participate in a bowl game and that it remained a “personal decision” for each player in the wake of the scandal.
advertise
But he said it’s actually very helpful to prepare for a football game where so much is going on.
“Because when they’re in that rectangle during our meetings or practice times, it’s like a sanctuary,” he said. “And a chance to not think about the constant questions from the media and things like that.”
