Joel Klatt calls out NCAA in response to Michigan’s ‘self-serving’ Sherrone Moore suspension

Joel Klatt calls out NCAA in response to Michigan's 'self-serving' Sherrone Moore suspension

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Last week, Michigan announced it will be suspending head coach Sherrone Moore in Weeks 3 and 4 for the Wolverines’ matchups against Central Michigan and Nebraska. The suspension is a self-imposed sanction by the university in response to Moore’s alleged involvement in the Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing scandal that surfaced in 2023.

While some fans are applauding Michigan for preemptively disciplining Moore, others believe the Wolverines should face worse punishment. On Monday, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt weighed in on the controversy.

“Choosing which games that you’re suspended is, yes — two fronts — one, trying to get ahead of this infractions meeting that’s gonna take place in June. But it’s also, let’s be incredibly honest about it, it is self-serving for Michigan. This benefits them,” Klatt said.

“To try to get out in front of it is one thing. To get out in front of it to benefit you the most is another… You don’t want to try to go through all of those gymnastics early in the year with this suspension. So get your feet wet as a team, and in particular, the starting quarterback, for the first two weeks in that big road test, Big Ten-SEC.

“Michigan goes on the road to Oklahoma, which, like I said, is Sherrone’s alma mater and then serve the suspension. Is that beneficial for Michigan? Obviously, yes, which is why they’re trying to do it this way.”

Michigan will kick off the 2025 campaign with a showdown against New Mexico and then will travel to Oklahoma to square off against the Sooners. Although the NCAA could technically add to Michigan’s self-imposed punishment, the organization has rarely so in the past.
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In fact, Moore served as Michigan’s acting head coach when the school suspended then head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2023. Moore was suspended in Michigan’s season-opener last year for a separate NCAA case.

In the case of the scouting scandal, Moore allegedly deleted a thread of 52 text messages with Stalions. Joel Klatt believes the NCAA would have trouble enforcing any punishments if it pursued disciplinary action against Michigan.

“The problem is governance,” Klatt said. “The governance of the NCAA is so archaic and so flawed that now, one, it’s too late. And two, do we really know what type of jurisdiction the NCAA is going to have moving forward?

“I think those are both called into question at this point. If we could have a more singular body that was governing college football, and college football specifically, I think that they could be a lot more nimble.”