Sherrone Moore speaks on Michigan/Alabama perception: 'We're not worried about anybody's opinions'
The Michigan Wolverines are busy preparing for the Rose Bowl against Alabama on Jan. 1 and enter the College Football Playoff semifinal as slight favorites in the game. The long layoff has lent itself to some self-evaluation as bowl prep cranks into high gear.
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore addressed Michigan’s preparation during a media availability on Tuesday afternoon, noting that everyone is back on the same page and putting the work in with less than two weeks to go to kickoff.
“It’s just a steady work,” Moore said. “Guys are grinding away, guys are excited to be here every day. Coach [Jim Harbaugh] has set a phenomenal schedule for this year. I know J.J. [McCarthy] brought it up where we’ve changed the schedule from what it’s been like the past couple of years. The guys are fresh, the guys are playing fast, the guys are practicing hard, they’re practicing violently, they’re practicing physical, precise, execute at a high level.
“We had a walkthrough a couple of days back and I was like, man, feels like we’re in Pasadena already. The guys are ready to go, they’re excited and they just keep chipping away.”
For Moore and Michigan, heading to Pasadena is a bucket list type of event and something that many look forward to. The stage on New Years Day will be a special atmosphere, and when Moore saw it as a location for one of the College Football Playoff semifinal games prior to the season, he could not help but imagine what it would be like.
“I was talking to my wife before the season and said it would be pretty cool to play in the Rose Bowl,” Moore said. “I’ve been a part of a lot of bowl games but that’s one I have never been a part of. The tradition of the Rose Bowl and the Big Ten, the tradition of the Rose Bowl and here is something that is going to be special and that’s going to be a moment you really have to take in.
“There’s always some point before the game where I always look around and just breathe in the moment. There will be a time. I don’t know when that will be. Just take a breath and look around, it’ll be pretty cool. I’m excited about it.”
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Despite Michigan’s status as the No. 1 team in the country and a favorite in the CFP showdown with Alabama, many national talking heads and pundits are giving the Crimson Tide the edge in the game. The SEC’s perception as a national power has a lot to do with it.
Moore does not care. Michigan just has to find a way to emerge victorious after an 0-2 showing in the CFP over the last few years.
“We haven’t won it,” Moore said. “They have, we haven’t. We’ve got to prepare our tails off to get to that point and what they’ve done. That’s our goal, that’s our mindset. Our goal is to go win and we’ll do everything we can to do it.
“I think we just need to go win. We’re not worried about proving anything to anybody, we’re not worried about anybody’s opinions, we’re just ready to attack and try to win.”
Michigan and Alabama’s matchup in the Rose Bowl is set for Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET from Pasadena, California with the Wolverines set as a 1.5-point favorite. The winner will head to Houston on Jan. 8 to play in the College Football Playoff national title game against either Texas or Washington, who play in the Sugar Bowl at 8:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Both games will be broadcast via ESPN.
