"Fresh Leader, Unchanged Goal: Michigan's Title Defense Continues"
When Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL and became the head coach of the Chargers, defending national champion Michigan already knew who would take his place.
Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was promoted to head coach with Harbaugh's enthusiastic support, and a major overhaul was underway.
Several new coaches were hired, there will be a new starting quarterback in Ann Arbor - J.J. McCarthy was selected 10th overall in the NFL draft - and two new conference opponents; USC will come to the Big House on September 21, and Oregon will visit on November 2.
Moore did not change one specific aspect of Harbaugh's program: the main goal remains the same.
"I think every year our goal is to win the national title. We will not deviate from our goal of trying to win it all every year," Moore stated at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on Thursday. "When you're at Michigan, that should be your goal every single year."
Following in Harbaugh's footsteps is no easy task. He won 10 games six times in nine seasons and left after three consecutive years in the College Football Playoff, culminating in a 15-0 season and national championship.
The significance of standing before the media in Indianapolis as the head coach of the Wolverines was not lost on Moore.
"It's a humbling blessing to be the first African American head coach at Michigan. It's a blessing," he said. "I think it's amazing. But it also shows that every young man, regardless of their skin color or background, can achieve whatever they want. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. If you want to do it, take the opportunity and strive for greatness."
Moore stated that there is no set timeline for naming McCarthy's replacement or any other decisions on the depth chart. He said that each position will be determined based on performance during fall camp, as part of a deliberate plan to motivate the team to focus on what Michigan considers important.
"Taking the necessary steps to be elite, to do all the things that we set out to do - win big games, beat our rivals, defeat Ohio State, win the Big Ten, make it to the College Football Playoff, and win it," Moore explained.
