Jim Harbaugh wasn’t on the sidelines for Michigan’s 24-15 win over Penn State on Saturday, but his replacement — Sherrone Moore — made it clear the suspended head coach inspired the victory.
In an emotional and profane postgame interview following the win that kept the Wolverines undefeated, Moore — the offensive coordinator who took over as acting head coach with Harbaugh suspended by the Big Ten because of a sign-stealing scandal — thanked Harbaugh in a NSFW manner.
“I want to thank Coach Harbaugh,” Moore said, with tears streaming down his face, during an on-field interview with Fox. “I f–king love you man. I love the s–t out of you, man. I did this for you.”
Harbaugh was suspended when its temporary restraining order was not granted in time for Saturday’s game.
Warning adult language
On Friday, the Big Ten conference announced it was suspending Harbaugh for the remainder of the 2023 regular season, having found the football program conducted “an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition.”
The restraining order seeks to allow Harbaugh to coach games until the case is heard.
A hearing is reportedly set for Nov 17, which is before the Wolverines’ next game against Maryland.
In the meantime, Michigan kept its perfect record intact, with Moore at the helm, and Harbaugh’s absence appeared to fuel other players, too.
“There’s a target on our back right now,” offensive lineman Trevor Keegan said, according to The Athletic. “We love that s–t.”
The win, Moore said, was “for this university, the [university] president, our [athletic director]. We’ve got the best players, the best university [and] the best alumni in the country.”
Then, turning to his players, Moore said, “I love you guys, these f–king guys right here.”