Sherrone Moore quick-hitters: Michigan's 'buy in week,' NIL support is 'huge,' Northwestern, more

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media Monday afternoon coming off the bye week and heading into Saturday’s game against Northwestern.

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Sherrone Moore quick-hitters

• Michigan dubbed its second bye week “buy in week,” Moore reiterated after saying that on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ television show last week. He said the Wolverines got back to fundamentals, focused on the next two games (Northwestern and Ohio State) and had a “spirited” practice on Sunday. He said his team came out with “fire” and “energy” during the practice.

• Michigan’s captains — specifically senior fullback / tight end Max Bredeson — came up with “buy in week.”

• Moore said making a bowl game would be “huge for the program.” He noted that it would be an extra game to play and win, and that his players would get an extra 15 practices — essentially another “spring ball” for younger athletes as they develop.

• Michigan having more NIL support from donors has been “huge” for recruiting. Moore was asked if the “transformational” over “transactional” approach has changed, and he noted that players they recruit still have to want to come to Michigan for other reasons than money. He said that not all support from donors is financial, either, noting that they help with networking, internships and more.

• The freshmen who could benefit from Michigan getting an extra 15 practices for a bowl game are: EDGE Dominic Nichols (“he’s shown flashes), safety Mason Curtis (“a tackling machine” and “going to be a star”), cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond and linebacker Cole Sullivan on defense. On offense, he pinpointed offensive lineman Andrew Sprague, wide receiver Channing Goodwin and running backs Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana.

• Michigan’s senior class will be honored before the game Saturday. Moore noted that the group has a 50-8 record over the last four seasons. They’ve meant “so much” to the program.

• Other than getting the win, Moore wants to see his team play with “passion” and “fire,” and to “have fun.” He noted that the goal is to win, though.

• On Michigan junior cornerback Will Johnson‘s status, Moore said: “He’s working through it. We’ll see what happens as we go through this week.” Johnson has missed the last three-plus games with a toe injury.

• Sophomore running back Benjamin Hall will get some carries going forward, even though Michigan will continue to “roll” with senior Donovan Edwards and graduate Kalel Mullings.

• Asked if Moore prefers to spend a lot of money on one or two big-time recruits or spread it out amongst the roster, he said that “I want to spread it out.” He says he’s not sure “what the internet says” and “half of it is fake news.” He wants everybody to “eat” on the Michigan team, and they all “earn their keep.”

• The individuals Moore has leaned on for advice throughout this season, his first as a head coach, are: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. Moore and Harbaugh speak on the phone once a week but talk up to two or three times per week.

• Moore said Michigan has remained “positive” about the vision for the program when recruiting players even though this season’s record (5-5) hasn’t been what the Wolverines envisioned.

• Moore said on an interview two weeks ago that he spends more than 50 percent of his time on “NIL.” He clarified that some of that is recruiting and talking about roster management. He said he’s not the one directly talking to recruits about money — more so having conversations about the program and what the university has to offer.

• Northwestern is a “tough” and “hard-nosed” team that started strong defensively against “Ohio” [Ohio State] last week.

• What Moore is most proud of this season is the way the players have “continue to fight in every game.”

• Michigan’s offensive line is “not where we want to be.” Moore said he has to do “soul searching” as to how he can help the group develop. He said the “fundamental piece” has to be better. He said the biggest thing has been “one guy here, one guy there” not doing his job, but that it’s not an excuse and that they have to play “five as one” up front.