Sherrone Moore reveals Jim Harbaugh’s availability for season opener vs Fresno State

Michigan Wolverines fans will have to wait longer to see former coach Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. On Tuesday, Sherrone Moore, the current Wolverines coach, announced that Harbaugh will no longer serve as the honorary captain for Michigan’s season opener against Fresno State on Aug. 31.

“Yesterday, he called me, told me that he didn’t feel that he could leave his team, in true coach Harbaugh fashion,” Moore said. “He wanted to be in the foxhole with his team and didn’t want to make it look like he was taking a deep long bow. So, he’s not going to make it for the game.”

On Friday, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced that Harbaugh would be the honorary captain. That came two days after the NCAA handed Harbaugh a four-year show cause order for improper recruiting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the school is still in hot water for the sign-stealing scandal that occurred under Harbaugh's watch. A Netflix documentary on the saga will drop on Aug. 27.

On Tuesday, the school said Harbaugh won't be coming to the Aug. 31 game, with Moore citing Harbaugh's commitment to his new team. The Chargers open their season on Sept. 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Their final preseason game is Aug. 24.

The former Wolverines coach led Michigan to a national championship in 2023, achieving remarkable success over nine seasons. In Harbaugh’s absence, his parents, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, will be honorary captains.

NCAA suspension clouds looming over Sherrone Moore

Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore is under a cloud of NCAA scrutiny as the sign-stealing scandal refuses to leave the Michigan football program. Moore faces potential disciplinary action, including a show-cause penalty and a possible suspension.

Moore was Michigan’s offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh during the 2023 season. He is accused of a Level 2 violation for involvement in the sign-stealing scheme.

The controversy centers around Sherrone Moore allegedly deleting 52 text messages with former staffer Connor Stalions on the same day reports emerged about Stalions' signal-capturing activities.

Although these messages were later recovered and provided to enforcement staff, the deletions raise serious concerns. As a potential repeat violator, Moore's situation is further complicated by prior allegations of recruiting rule breaches during the COVID-19 dead period.

With Jim Harbaugh's departure after the Wolverines' national championship, Moore's leadership is now marred by these allegations. It will be interesting to see how the Michigan Wolverines compete under a new coach after winning the national title for the first time since 1997.