Michigan fans furious at Sherrone Moore’s cowardly calls

Sherrone Moore entered his second season at Michigan with lowered expectations following the departure of Jim Harbaugh, but one thing remains sacred to Wolverines fans: competing aggressively against Ohio State. His decisions during the first half of their rivalry matchup have sparked fierce criticism from the fanbase.

A promising start turns sour

Michigan opened the game with energy and execution, forcing a turnover and building a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. That advantage marked the largest lead any team had held over the Buckeyes throughout the entire season, giving Wolverines fans hope for an upset victory.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second quarter. Ohio State responded with a dominant stretch, outscoring Michigan 17-3 to close the half and seizing control of the game. The 11-point swing left the Wolverines trailing 17-9 at halftime and facing an uphill battle in the second half.

Clock management becomes a major issue

Moore’s handling of the clock drew immediate scrutiny from observers watching the game unfold. The most glaring example came late in the second quarter when he allowed Ohio State to drain the clock down to the final 30 seconds of the half before the Buckeyes scored a touchdown.

The decision to give Ohio State that much control over the tempo proved costly. By letting the Buckeyes dictate when they would score, Moore eliminated any realistic chance for Michigan to respond with a scoring drive of its own before halftime.

When Michigan regained possession with time remaining on the clock, Moore made another controversial choice. Rather than attempting to move the ball downfield and potentially cut into the deficit, he instructed his players to kneel and head to the locker room, essentially conceding the final possession.

Limiting the freshman quarterback

The other major source of frustration centered on Moore’s apparent reluctance to utilize freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood’s passing ability. Despite having one of the most highly touted quarterback prospects in the country, Moore called just five passing attempts for Underwood in the entire first half while handing the ball off 19 times for rushing plays.

Underwood managed only 16 passing yards in the opening two quarters, a shockingly low total for a Michigan quarterback in such a high-stakes rivalry game. The run-heavy approach suggested a lack of confidence in the young signal caller, even though he represents the future of the program.

Social media erupts with criticism

Football fans took to social media platforms to voice their displeasure with Moore’s conservative approach. One person on X urged the coach to abandon his cautious strategy, noting that Michigan had nothing to lose and should let their offense operate more freely in the second half.

Another fan expressed frustration with the limited passing attempts, questioning why Underwood was even on the field if Moore was too scared to let him throw the ball. The person argued that accumulating just 16 passing yards in a rivalry game of this magnitude demonstrated a fundamental failure of coaching philosophy.

A third commenter specifically called out the five total pass attempts, emphasizing that Michigan possesses one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country. The person suggested Moore was taking the ball out of his best player’s hands at the worst possible time.

Comparisons to previous success

The criticism carries extra weight because Moore has previously demonstrated the ability to devise winning game plans against Ohio State. In 2023, he served as temporary head coach while Harbaugh was suspended and led Michigan to victory over the Buckeyes. He followed that up with another win against Ohio State in 2024 during his first year as the permanent head coach.

Those victories built substantial goodwill with the Michigan fanbase and established Moore’s credentials as someone who understood how to compete in this rivalry. The conservative approach on display in this game stood in stark contrast to the aggressive mentality that produced those earlier wins.

Rising pressure and mounting doubts

Heading into the game, Michigan already faced uncertainty with a record that would finish at 9-3 if they lost to Ohio State. While those numbers represent a respectable season, they fall short of the championship standards Harbaugh established during his tenure.

A loss in this rivalry game combined with the perceived poor coaching decisions would intensify questions about Moore’s long-term viability as head coach. Fans who were willing to be patient during a transition year are less forgiving when they believe coaching mistakes are costing the team opportunities to compete.

The second half would determine whether Moore could adjust his approach and give Michigan a chance to rally. Fans made clear they expected a more aggressive offensive game plan that would unleash Underwood’s abilities and give the Wolverines a fighting chance against their biggest rival. Anything less would only deepen the criticism directed at the second-year head coach.