ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It’s almost here, the biggest rivalry in sports. The Game. Michigan football vs. Ohio State.
While Ohio State enters The Game ranked No. 2 for the umpteenth time, for the first time since 2017, the Wolverines will come into the game unranked and they’re significant underdogs. But Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore doesn’t want to hear about any of that.
In advance of Saturday’s contest in Columbus, Moore met with the media to discuss the big matchup, what his team has to do, his thoughts on past iterations of the rivalry, and so much more.
Here is everything he had to say at his weekly media availability.
Having Biff Poggi back and is it possible that he could be hired again?
Yeah, it was great having Biff back. I was very close to Biff. He worked with me directly when he was here and excited — we’ll work those things out. But you know, definitely possible to have him back.
What were your biggest takeaways from last year’s rivalry game?
It was a there’s a lot of collaborative effort with Jesse and with those guys. I actually had to make decisions throughout the game to timeouts, all those things. But, really, the rivalry piece is the rivalry piece, and it was — it’s intense, it’s fun. It’s what you want to do. So the strategy last year was to call it pretty aggressive, and that’s what we did. So we’ll continue internally and have those decisions as a group.
How do you think how you handled that responsibility in that game maybe contributed to you getting the full-time job this offseason?
I wasn’t trying to become the head coach of Michigan based off the game. I was just trying to help our team win that game and make the best decision for us at that time.
The passing game obviously, had a really good game this past week, and we’ve seen it kind of take off a little bit. But what kind of challenges do the Ohio State secondary and obviously the front as well, present the offense?
They’re as good as any defense in the country. Field a complete defense. Got great skill, got great talent. Do a good job with the scheme, something we’re familiar with. We studied, we watched, and they’re a really good team. So we just, we have to go execute at a high level.
What’s it like running out on the field when you’re playing down there, and how do you prepare your guys to embrace the welcome they’re heading in?
We’ll have those conversations internally as a group, how we’ll do that, but obviously crowd noise in practice and doing those things, and think our guys love those environments. So we’ll definitely increase the crowd noise, and you put it in the indoor it gets pretty loud, but we’ll definitely have to work in the elements and create some noise and distractions outside too, to make sure we understand what the weather’s gonna be like.
Recruiting is such a big deal, obviously, in this job, signing day a week away. How important still is high school recruiting, and how do you balance the portal and high school recruits?
It’s very important. You want to cut your teeth on the high school players and grooming those but you’ve got to supplement and do things you need to in the portal. So, we’re going to focus on both. We have plans for both, and we’ll continue to do that. But obviously, we’re continuing to try to bring the best players we can that fit us and fit the systems and fit this culture here.
How would you describe the emotional tax that comes with playing Ohio State?
I mean, I don’t know about an emotional tax. It’s fine. It’s everything you want to be when you grow up as a kid — whether you want to be a coach, whether you want to be a player — this is what you want to do. You want to be in these types of games. So it’s awesome to be a part of. It’s a lot of work. It’s something you think about all year. And it’s an exciting time for us to be in.
How much your confidence in this game is derived from the trenches?
Yeah, I think the biggest piece of this game is the rushing battle. And I think you’ve seen that every year, the team that wins the rushing battle wins the game. So I know that we focus on the same thing. So that’s got to be an emphasis for us to do.
A lot of people kind of forget, in 2022 you guys were also underdogs and went down there and certainly handled the business. How much does that mentality matter going into this type of game?
I mean, I don’t think that none of that matters in this game. Doesn’t matter, the records doesn’t matter, anything spread — that doesn’t matter. It’s all about the game. So we got to go execute. We got to go handle what we have to handle to go win.
With the defensive front being the strength of your defense and their offensive line being relatively depleted with the injuries — you mentioned the running game being an emphasis, how can you win that battle?
Yeah, we got to do our jobs up front. Obviously our guys played really well last game. I thought they played with great technique, great fundamentals, great eye-discipline. So they got to do that this game, and do it even higher level, so they’ll be prepared. Guys have been in since the game broke, watching film and doing those things and — as they are every week. So I’m really excited about that matchup.
What did you see from the front against Northwestern?
Yeah, those guys just, they played really well, played really well together, played as a unit. You saw those guys really come together even more with six sacks in that game. I think TJ had one, Josaiah had two. KG had one, Mason. Those guys played really well together. I know it was good to see.
Any updates on Colston Loveland or Will Johnson?
Yeah, we’ll see. I think, you know, Colston’s trending in a good direction. We’ll get a better feel in the next couple days and we’ll see — same thing with Will.
You’ve been here for wins and losses vs. Ohio State. Is there a similar message to the team for the wins?
I think every team is different. Every team is different, every message is going to be different. So obviously, they’ve been on the loss side and been on the wins. And the thing that — similar for the wins is the preparation, and that’s really what’s going to come down to: how we prepare mainly physically and mostly for the game, because there’s gonna be ups and downs adversity in the game, so we gotta prepare for that and make sure we’re ready for that as players and coaches.
Is this a week where the veterans who have big moments of games like Donovan and Colston, you have to talk to the team about it?
I think there will be times we always do. We have, at some point, leaders of the team talk to the team about different things. So those will come up at some point. But that really happens organically.
Last week, Lou Esposito said that he got off the plane, the first thing you said, you started talking about Ohio State, and started watching Ohio State. Who indoctrinated you in this rivalry when you got here?
I mean, everybody. When you walk in the building — obviously Jim, being around him, but really, just being around that, being at Michigan, being here for seven years, it’s something you can’t forget. You just see as soon as you walk in the building. I mean, you see the pictures, you see everything. You understand what the importance of the of The Game and what it means. And just what, as soon as you put on the maize and blue, that’s the first thing you hear about is you hear about is The Game. So the fans, the people coaches here, the coaches in the past, they make sure you understand what it’s all about.
Tyler Morris, what have you seen from him?
Yeah, really good. Career high and targets — 10 and seven catches. Played really, really well, really sound. Just gives, keeps doing that, doing things really good and excited for him, for this game as well.
Can you describe what kind of opportunity this is for the team to put a stamp on the season and to some extent, make the rest of the season forgotten?
Yeah, I mean, I think we’re not going to forget about what’s happened, but I think we’re using motivation for this game. And this game means a lot. It’s just, every year it means that much. And each team could be 0-11 or 11-0 and the records go out the window in this game, and you really just care about winning the game. So that’s what our guys are focused on. And do anything we can to go win.
Do you feel like you’re playing your best ball right now?
Yeah, it feels like got to go prepare, though, so you can’t rest off the laurels of the last game and be satisfied. We still got to stay hungry, and that’s what we’re going to do.
How do you prepare emotionally for your charged environment like this?
Yeah, I think you put them in these environments, whether it’s practicing different things, and you try to cause uncomfortability throughout practice, whether it’s noise, whether it’s movement, whatever you can do to put the guys in situations. But our guys are excited and ready for it, so it’s more of a calming them down than bringing them up. Because if you can’t get hyped for this game, then you probably don’t have a pulse. There’s not much you got to say to get them high for this one.
Should Dominic Zvada win the Lou Groza Award?
He’s outstanding. He’s been that way since he’s gotten here. And, yeah, I don’t know what the other kickers are doing around the country, but not sure it’s anywhere close to Dom. So whoever’s out there listening, you should give the award to him, for sure.
Do you anticipate Jyaire Hill starting at corner on Saturday?
We’ll see. We’ll see what happens in practice. I thought Aamir Hall stepped up in a big way for this game, but look for Jyaire to jump back and do the same thing. So we’ll see how this week progresses.
Jim Harbaugh has a big game tonight, but has he reached out yet this week? Or do you have plans to talk to him?
No, I haven’t talked to him in a couple days, and I might send him a text tonight and wish him luck and everything. But game day, try to let him be. I know he’s pretty locked in.
You mentioned prep a lot, preparation this week, and then the rushing attack. What gives you the belief that you can win this game? And you think your players have that belief that they can win this game as well?
I think they do. I think this game, all bets are off, and the guys are prepared mentally, physically to go attack. And we’ve had great, great preparation up to this point, and then we got to get on the field and do it. So I feel like we can, but that’s our job, to go prepare to do it.
There was a national report about Will Johnson not playing for Ohio State. Do you dispute that report?
Yeah, I just go by what the doctor said. So I can’t confirm or say anything else that besides what the doctors tell us.
The defense hasn’t given up a touchdown in six quarters. Is there a common thread?
Yeah, great team defense, great communication, playing with great fundamentals, eyes, angles — really, all the fundamental pillars. And you can see it on film constantly, whether it was the last two quarters of Indiana or this past game. So just thought that they’ve done a great job. They play together, and they had a lot of fun doing it.
Can you just describe what it’s like being in here leading up to the Ohio State game? Obviously the mentality is to treat every opponent the same. But there’s nothing in here that says, ‘What are you doing to beat Northwestern today?’ So just what’s different about this week?
I mean, you can feel it. You can feel the energy. It’s not something you can really describe. It’s just different. It’s a different energy. It’s a different moment. We all understand what it’s about and what it feels like to be in the game.
Even the new guys. Jordan Marshall came up to me and hit me on the butt and said, ‘Coach, it’s that time.’ So, yes, it is. So those guys know, and guys from Ohio, but even the guys from down south, they understand what this game is about. So, obviously we’re preparing like we have and like we’re gonna, like we did last week, but they all understand the moment
Ohio State is a tough place for any quarterback. How do you feel Davis is prepared for this?
Yeah. It’s a hostile environment. It’ll be as hostile it’s ever been there this weekend. But I think our guys embrace it, and we’re gonna embrace the noise, embrace the crowd, and go prepare like we can.
What did Warren do during the bye week? Because he looked like he took a step forward.
His progression of what he’s done, and just his confidence in himself and other guys playing around him — really good, too. I think that helps. I think the receivers have stepped up, protection has been better, and those guys just have really done a really good job as a whole unit. So him doing his job, and everybody else around them doing their jobs.
What is that fine line between knowing that there will need to be some big plays and players doing their job?
I can’t tell you what we’re going to do, but I think every year we go into that game and people say we can’t throw it, and then all of a sudden there’s throws, and it’s like, all of a sudden we can throw it or we can run it. So really, all we do is go prepare and not worry about anything else, put the best game plans we can together and go try to win.
A lot has been made about how many changes that Ohio State has made in the offseason adding to the roster. When you turn on the tape, what are maybe some of the differences you see in this year’s group compared to last year?
I mean, last year they were really good too. People make all these references of it’s different. I mean, last year they had Marvin Harrison. (Now they have) Jeremiah Smith. The defense is mostly the same guys, except for Caleb Downs. Quarterback’s different. He’s playing really, really well, really efficient. And then they have another running back in there, but the other guy that they had, running back was really good.
So they’re still a talented team. It’s not like they have lost talent or they weren’t as talented last year. They have that — they’re just playing really good together.
Do you lean on Tony Alford any more this week? Or has he had any insight into the other side of this rivalry this week?
I mean, he’s just going to add the value that he’s continued to have. Obviously, he knows the building, he’s been in there, and obviously, we’ll have conversations about that. But really, just everybody’s gonna do their job to the best their ability to help us win.
You discussed the challenges that they present at wide receiver.
I mean, as good as the wide receiver crew you’ll see in the country, probably. And we saw a great one with Texas and Oregon, and this one is probably as good or better. Jeremiah Smith is as advertised — as big, as strong, as fast, can make all the tough catches. So we gotta do a great job disrupting him. And then you got Egbuka, you got Carnell Tate, you got Brandon Innis. So they got a lot of threats out there, so we’ve got to do a good job making it uncomfortable for the quarterback to distribute it to them and then not letting them in the comfort level. They’re going to make plays. They always do and they will but we got to limit those plays.