Sherrone Moore discusses Michigan football losing Ben Herbert to the NFL

OK, he’s got us fired up over the new strength coach! #GoBlue

It was the shot heard ’round all of Michigan when strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert was revealed to be leaving the program, following Jim Harbaugh to the NFL.

Herbert has been considered the backbone of the Wolverines during this past three-year run, and he was widely expected to remain with the program. But Harbaugh apparently made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and just like that, he was gone.

More so than Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, Michigan football fans melted down spectacularly, but new head coach Sherrone Moore is still confident in the direction of the program. Appearing on the Pat McAfee show on Thursday, Moore spoke for the first time about losing Herbert, but he also shared he’s excited about his replacement, Justin Tress.

“I think anytime when you lose somebody that’s been with you — I mean he has been there since I’ve been there for six years — so he’s definitely put his footprints and handprints on the program,” Moore said. “But it’s gonna be a loss but we think the guy that elevated, Justin Tress, is gonna do unbelievable job. He’s been with him side by side this whole time. He’s had stints there, had stints at Alabama so he’s seen really, really top-notch strength coaches in his time.”

So why is Tress the right hire to replace a legend in Herbert?

Moore notes that Tress has been the protege to Herbert, much like he himself was to Jim Harbaugh. But more than anything, he feels like the whole group of assistants to Herbert — who, from the sounds of it, will remain in Ann Arbor — have a certain swagger to them.

“We’re really excited about Justin Tress and the opportunity for him to lead the strength program,” Moore said. “And you know, those guys are awesome. That whole group, he has them — they all were black, they all travel together. And he’s — you see one of them, you see all five of them. So we’re excited about the future with those guys.”