Pete Thamel and Dan Murphy reported Sunday that Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore is one of seven members of the 2023 Wolverines accused of violating NCAA rules, according to an NCAA notice of allegations draft ESPN obtained over the weekend.
The draft states Moore allegedly deleted a thread of 52 text messages with former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions in October 2023 – the same day media reports revealed Stalions had created and operated the Wolverines' sign-stealing operation.
While Moore could face a show-cause penalty and a suspension for his involvement in the scandal, Thamel said Monday that the head coach's punishment could be the most severe of the penalties the NCAA will hand Michigan.
"I would think Sherrone Moore faces a short suspension. If you look at the history of this stuff at the maximum, to go through sort of the matrix of what could happen to Michigan in this, I don't think they're going to have any postseason ban," Thamel told Mike Greenberg on Get Up. "I don't think, looking at the history and looking at past precedent in this, there's going to be any retroactive anything to what they've already won and accomplished. Their accomplishments are safe.
"There's no player eligibility at stake in this, so for Moore – who's sort of become the face of this notice because the other coaches involved have all gone to the NFL – I would think we will find out in the upcoming weeks and months, depending on how long this takes to litigate, if he does end up getting some type of suspension."
Paul Finebaum – who called Michigan fans "insecure," "consumed with their own self-worth" and "the most obnoxious fan base in America" amid the sign-stealing scandal in November 2023 – then called the NCAA vs. Michigan saga a "long, drawn-out story" that is "over" for everyone except the NCAA.
"This is all a continuation of a long, drawn-out story that in many people's eyes, probably other than the NCAA, is over," Finebaum said. "Let's not forget that Charlie Baker, the president of the NCAA – and this may sound out of context because it probably is – after Michigan won the national championship, he said they won, 'Fair and square.' I remember that, and I think a lot of lawyers are going to remember that, too.
"If this case goes very far and puts Michigan in the crosshairs, I think Pete's reporting on this is fantastic, and I'm not trying to minimize it, but the point is that in the big picture of college athletics, nobody respects the NCAA. Nobody really cares about the NCAA. And there is a team of lawyers ready to drag this out and threaten the NCAA if they dare do anything to Michigan other than a slap on the wrist."
As of Monday, Thamel said the NCAA, Michigan and Stalions have not responded to ESPN's requests for comment.
On Aug. 27, Stalions will share "his side" of Michigan's sign-stealing scheme in the Netflix documentary, UNTOLD: Sign Stealer.
