The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520409
22 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2024 BY CHRIS BALAS U nlike last year, nobody is ex- pecting the Michigan foot- ball team to compete for a national championship in 2024. The Wolverines lost an incredible amount of talent, including a school- record 13 players taken in the NFL Draft, will have to replace elite players at several positions and no longer have Jim Har- baugh on the sideline. Yes, it's now Sherrone Moore's show, and he's ready to put his own stamp on a team he helped build the last six years. If the first-year head coach is sweating about the losses, he's not showing it. He seemed composed and confident days after watching the Maize team outscore the Blue, 17-7, in the April 20 spring game, and was happy with the progress on both sides of the ball after 15 spring practices. "I thought it was good — physical and tough," Moore said. "I think we're cal- loused. It was a fun spring. The boys got after it, and I'm excited for the progress we'll make in the summer. "In the game, there were a couple of penalties, but other than that, I think guys competed and had a lot of fun. That's what I wanted to see … and no major injuries." Though he didn't admit it, he proba- bly wanted to see some elite quarterback play, too. Instead, most observers would say, he got "solid." For the second time in three years, senior Davis Warren made the most of an opportunity on the big stage. While junior Alex Orji struggled with his com- mand at times, Warren made the best throws (and decisions) of the day in showing why he could be a legit con- tender for the starting job. Many didn't want to hear it when it PROGRESS MADE Sherrone Moore Likes His First Michigan Team Despite Plenty Of Question Marks Moore was pleased with his first spring game as head coach, calling it "physical and tough." He added, "The boys got after it, and I'm excited for the progress we'll make in the summer." PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY