Sherrone Moore Won't Cancel Michigan Spring Game, Downplays Impact on Transfer Portal

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has confirmed that the Wolverines will not cancel their spring game, downplaying the impact of the transfer portal.

"I don't think the spring game is going to make a big difference in whether your guys get poached or not," Moore said, per On3sports Pete Nakos.

Moore's statement comes after several college football teams have canceled their spring games due to concerns about the transfer portal and potential poachers from other teams.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian announced in late February that the team would cancel their spring game, saying, "No, we’re not going to have a spring game."

The Longhorns' announcement came after Nebraska made it clear that they would likely cancel their spring game due to transfer portal concerns.

"The word 'tampering' doesn't exist anymore," Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "It's just an absolute free open common market. I don't necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, 'He looks like a pretty good player. Let's go get him.'"

However, it appears that these fears are not shared by Moore, who is keeping the Wolverines' spring game on the schedule for April 19.

Instead, Moore views the spring game as an opportunity for players who are not in starting positions to get some valuable field time.

“I want to keep our spring game, and it’s just going to depend on circumstances how we can get it done,” Moore said, per Nakos. “It’s an opportunity for our players, especially the guys that don’t get to play on those Saturdays, to be in front of a crowd and be in front of people.”

Michigan finished seventh in the Big Ten with an 8-5 record in Moore's first season as head coach. Heading into his second year, Moore is focused on building relationships rather than fitting into the mold, prioritizing connection over creating fear.

"And I know the risk — people are going to poach your players,” Moore said, per Nakos. “...We got to do a great job continuing the relationships we have with our players so that we can keep the ones we got and we want. We’ll take it day by day, and we’ll go from there.”