Moore Is Ready to Strive for Complete Perfection Once More

© Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan headed to Big Ten Conference Media Days for the first time since 2015 without Jim Harbaugh.  Sherrone Moore took over the program in January 2024 after Harbaugh left for the NFL. Michigan is coming off a season of complete perfection—taking home not only the B1G championship but also the national championship.  

Moore heads into the 2024 season with a few questions needing answers. The Wolverines must select a starting quarterback—a decision that should set the identity of Moore’s offense in 2024. Along with the QB position, Michigan will be breaking in five new starting offensive linemen. With a few new coaching hires, Moore looks to build on the success of the past three seasons and put his fingerprints on the identity of the Maize and Blue.

Moore indicated his readiness to confront the challenges presented by taking over the lead role on the Wolverines' coaching staff. He is not shying away from the expectations, stating, "We're going to do everything we can to strive for perfection. Everything we do every day is a process, and we'll continue to strive to do that. We'll continue to do that with contagious enthusiasm, unknown to mankind."

QB 1 Battle

Michigan is heading into fall camp having yet to announce who will be the starting QB in 2024.  Whoever wins the battle will help set the identity of the offense. Moore was asked about the QBs  at media days and said, "All those guys have all the attributes you need to be a successful starting quarterback at the University of Michigan and a lot of other universities."

Alex Orji is believed to be the front-runner for the starting position. Orji showed his ability last season to make plays with his feet but wasn’t asked to throw a single pass. Jack Tuttle is the most experienced of the QBs and was recently granted a seventh year of eligibility. Tuttle was the backup to JJ McCarthy in 2023, and if Moore wants to go with a more conservative type of offense, Tuttle could be the guy.

Complete Perfection: High Expectations

Moore has high expectations for the Wolverines' 2024 season. He told reporters, "Team 145 has really done a really good job up to this point in taking the necessary steps to be elite, to do all the things that we set out to do—win the big games, beat our rivals, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten, go to College Football Playoff and win it. For us, that's something we strive to do.” ("Team 145" refers to the 145th team in the history of the legendary Wolverines' program.)

Setting such high expectations ought to encourage Michigan fans. Gone are the days of contentment with merely winning the B1G. Winning a national championship is now the measure of success in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Since being named head coach at Michigan, Moore set high expectations and avowed his belief that team 145 can live up to those expectations. In preseason polls, Michigan has been picked to finish fourth in the B1G. Moore looks to exceed those expectations.