Did Michigan football settle for Sherrone Moore?
Michigan football has had quite the year. From Jim Harbaugh being suspended for a scouting violation to the Wolverines going 15-0 and winning the national title, there has been no shortage of drama in Ann Arbor and that continued into the offseason when the head coach decided to make the leap to the NFL (again) and he took the Los Angeles Chargers job.
With the departure of Harbaugh, Michigan was forced into finding his replacement in a hurry. But finding a head coach to take over a program that just came off a national title was not going to be a problem. Every coach in the country (outside of the blue-bloods) would jump at the opportunity.
An elite program like Michigan's could have targeted a big name and found a guy with experience and a history of legitimate success. But instead, the Wolverines hired in house.
Michigan chose to promote offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head coach.
This wasn't a shock. No one was surprised by this decision, especially since Harbaugh gave Moore the reins when he was suspended for a second time this season and he won some big games like at Penn State and at home against Ohio State to capture the Big Ten East and a perfect regular season.
But did Michigan settle? A historic program like this coming off an undefeated national title season shouldn't have to promote within. However, that's what they did.
Honestly, I have a hard time believing that Moore was the best guy for the job but I do think he's the right guy for the job. If that makes sense. He may not be the most qualified or the most likely to succeed in the long term, but the players love him, the fans love him, he has shown he can win big games in tough situations, and he can recruit and connect with young prospects. Moore has fire and he loves the Michigan football program.
It's hard to call this "settling" when everyone around the program is on board and he was an integral piece to Michigan's national title puzzle this season.
Don't be shocked at some growing pains, however.