Breaking down potential trouble for Michigan, Sherrone Moore with latest Connor Stalions investigation fallout

Even with Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions gone, punishment could still be on the way for Michigan and new coach Sherrone Moore. It was revealed Sunday that Moore may receive a Level 2 violation for deleting text messages between him and Stalions, a Wolverines staffer accused of running a sign-stealing operation for the team.

The timing that the messages were deleted also plays a factor, as it came the same day that Stalions was reported as leading the effort. It was reportedly a “string of texts” that totaled 52 messages between the two parties.

It’s unclear at this point what, if any, punishment Moore could face as a result with the investigation still ongoing. Clayton Sayfie of The Wolverine joined On3‘s Andy Staples on his podcast to discuss the situation.

“They said the texts were deleted the day that media reports came out that Connor Stalions was kind of the centerpiece of this investigation, which to my knowledge was a day or a day-and-a-half after that Tuesday night before the Michigan State game when the NCAA informed the Big Ten that Michigan was under investigation,” Sayfie said. “Michigan obviously gets notified at the same time. So at the time, I assume Sherrone Moore and others staff members are probably told, ‘don’t do anything. We’re probably gonna have to turn over devices.’ So I think that’s why it’s important that the texts were deleted and he can receive a Level 2 violation for it.

“If Sherrone Moore was involved with whatever Connor Stalions was doing, I assume that would have been a Level I violation. So it might have been a blessing that they were able to recover these text messages through the device imaging because otherwise he could never prove, even if they were innocuous, that they were innocuous.”

The exact content of the text messages was not reported. However, as Sayfie explained, it’s safe to assume there wasn’t anything directly linking Moore to the scandal given the severity of the violation from the NCAA.

Moore acted as interim head coach for the final three games of the 2023 regular season as Harbaugh served a suspension, helping Michigan finish undefeated. Of course, the Wolverines would go on to win the national championship and then Harbaugh departed for the NFL. Moore, the offensive coordinator this past season, was named his replacement.

There is also a chance the NCAA considers Sherrone Moore to be a “repeat violator” because, in August of 2023, he negotiated a resolution to claims that he had been contacting recruits during a “dead period” for recruiting in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staples suggested that Michigan might opt to suspend Moore itself in hopes that the NCAA would see that as fitting enough punishment. That’s the strategy it took with Harbaugh to begin 2023 amidst recruiting violations.

However, if that does happen, Sayfie believes with the ongoing investigation it may not be until next season or beyond.

“Next year and really every year going forward, you’re going to have these tough schedules,” he said. “So you would hope, if you’re Michigan, that you don’t have to suspend your head coach. But I think it would easily be, if there’s a penalty like this, 2025 or 2026 because these things obviously drag on quite a bit.”

The Wolverines kick off the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Fresno State and expect Moore to be on the sidelines for that one.