Was Sherrone Moore the right hire for Michigan football?

There's a saying where I come from: 'The grass is always greener'. Okay, maybe that's a saying everywhere. But following a disappointing start to the season for Michigan Football that has failed to meet expectations that sentiment feels very applicable.

There were many other high-caliber candidates in the hiring cycle this offseason led by Kalen Debeor at Alabama, who has the Crimson Tide rolling right along with a win over top-five Georgia (we'll just forget about the following week in Nashville). Many Michigan football fans have to be wondering 'Was Sherrone Moore the right man for the job?' Here are a few thoughts on why he was and still is.

Roster Retention

When Jim Harbaugh left, speculation about potential transfers swirled, especially with star players like Colston Loveland, Will Johnson, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant. It's been no secret that Michigan hasn't had the same level of NIL program in place that other powerhouses have. The Wolverines have largely been playing catch-up over the last few years. While they have the potential to be one of the best in the country down the road, Chris Balas of the Wolverine reported that players had to sacrifice significant pay raises to finish their careers at Michigan.

Players did this because they believed in the culture that was established the past few years and realistically there was only one hire that would keep the culture, and subsequently roster, intact. After Harbaugh's departure, there was an outpouring of support for Sherrone Moore from players on the 2023 roster as well as Harbaugh himself. If Michigan football hired someone else, they'd likely have lost a lot of the star talent on this roster.