The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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4 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW T here wasn't any winter of discontent in Michigan. Wolverine fans warmed themselves constantly by the fires of 15-0, national championship, third straight Big Ten title, dis- missing Ohio State once again, and more. But if anyone thinks for a mo- ment the Wolverines themselves wallowed in contentment, Sherrone Moore has a story to tell you. The new big boss of Michigan football spins it well. He recalled encountering his new offensive coordinator, Kirk Campbell, watching video follow- ing Michigan's resounding, 34-13 victory over Washington in the title game. "We won the national champion- ship, and Kirk Campbell is in there yelling at the screen the day after because someone's route depth wasn't right," Moore recalled. "I said, 'Kirk, go home. We just won the natty, bro.'" Campbell's ferocity and focus tells you how Michigan reached the title game. Moore carries it himself, and he soon enough returned to yelling at screens and coaching up Wolverines. They concede nothing about 2024. Zero. They understand personnel churn in football. They also understand what it takes to win, and win big. But, but, but … Jim Harbaugh is gone. J.J. McCarthy is gone. Ben Herbert is gone. The starting offensive line is gone. Mike Sainristil is gone. Kris Jenkins is gone. And what about … Never mind what about. You know who else is gone? Bo Schembechler, Charles Woodson, Tom Brady, Steve Hutchinson, Jon Jansen, Dan Dierdorf, Tom Harmon and a 145-year host of luminous Wolver- ines who helped Michigan win champi- onships. Moore and his crew are looking ahead, not back, and seeing plenty about which to get excited. "Pressure bursts pipes, but we're going to prepare," Moore said. "We're going to have a tough, physical team that's ready to compete. I trust our players. I trust our staff and I trust our coaches. I trust this university, this backing. I know the type of kids we have here and the type of staff we have here. I'm excited about the chal- lenge." Several wearing the winged helmets in 2024 might not have been, had Moore not put great effort into retaining them. In today's Wild West era of free agency, some could have grabbed a massive payday, simply by switching schools. The fact that they didn't speaks volumes about how they believe in Moore and Michigan, ac- cording to radio play-by-play man Doug Karsch. "Over time, we may appreciate the job Sherrone Moore did fending off the por- tal overtures that his players got," Karsch said. "They could have four first-round picks in this junior class in next year's NFL Draft. Everybody knew it, and everybody came after those guys. "I think Sherrone Moore did one of the great recruiting jobs you'll see, just to keep his roster intact. In this day and age of college football, you've got to guard your yard. "Given how little they've lost in terms of front-line players, he protected his ros- ter about as well as could be expected. A lot of it has to do with personality, and the belief that those guys have in him, and what's going to happen here under him." He's talking about players such as junior defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, around whom one of the nation's top de- fenses is getting constructed. That defense can be the difference, in taking on a Michigan schedule for the ages — including Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon and Ohio State, to name a few. Most of the questions surround the offense, especially an all-new starting offensive line and quarter- back. Keep asking the questions, Campbell suggests. Fuel the fire. He'll keep yelling at the screen, and he and Moore will keep dialing up the plays, and maybe another CFP berth. "With this defense, and the por- tal additions on offense, they ab- solutely can be in the postseason," Karsch said. "I have no question about that. They might need to stay healthy, with some key players on offense. But for an offensive line that lost so many guys, it's kind of surprising how many snaps some of these players have taken. I work with an offensive lineman that really, really likes some of these young guys. "They're not going 15-0 next year, most likely. But I think the College Football Playoff is in play," Jansen takes it a step further. "I expect to see a playoff team, with the expanded playoff," he said. "I don't expect this team to run the table, be 12-0 at the end of the regular season. I do expect this to be a nine- or 10-win team. I think either of those, with this schedule, gets you into the playoff. It's a team that's been to the playoff three straight years and the moun- taintop last season. I expect this team to again be in the playoff. "If it was four teams, that would be a bit of a stretch. But with it being 12 teams, I expect a seat at the table." In other words, time for Moore … and more of the same. ❏ WOLVERINE WATCH JOHN BORTON All Eyes Forward For Further Smash Hits Senior writer John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@thewolverine.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @JB_Wolverine. In Year 1 as head coach, Sherrone Moore concedes nothing and expects Michigan to field a "tough, physical team that's ready to compete" in 2024. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN