Michigan Interim HC Biff Poggi Talks 'Tumultuous Time' After Sherrone Moore Firing

Amid a difficult time for Michigan football, interim head coach Biff Poggi discussed how he's been handling things and what's next for the Wolverines.

Poggi said things have been "tumultuous" after head coach Sherrone Moore was fired last week.

"It has been a tumultuous time," Poggi said, per ESPN's Andrea Adelson. "A lot of ... first disbelief, then anger, then really, what we're in right now is the kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed, and we're trying to work through that."

Poggi added that he has supported players with "lots of arms around shoulders, lot of listening, lot of telling them that you love them, but showing it, because words are cheap, and that takes a lot of time. What it really takes is you being willing to listen."

Given the situation, Poggi gave his players the option to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Texas on Dec. 31, noting that getting ready for the game has helped "a tremendous amount."

"What we've told them is this is a personal decision for you all, based on a very unique situation," Poggi said. "So, we're trying to be really sensitive to making sure that we're not forcing anybody into doing anything."

Obviously, Poggi must do his job to get the Wolverines ready for the matchup against Texas, but he added that it's also important for him to be his team's support system.

"I don't know that you can prepare for something like this," Poggi said. "It's been complicated. I want to listen to them. I want to understand what the kids are feeling and what their parents are feeling, and so a lot of listening, and there's been a wide range of emotions, and we are going through those steps.

"They're not over yet, and I don't expect them to be over for a while. The mandate that Warde Manuel gave me as the athletic director when he asked me to be the interim coach, was to love and take care of the kids, and so that's what I'm spending all of my time doing."

Poggi was serving as Michigan's associate head coach before being named interim head coach. He previously served as interim coach during the Wolverines' Week 4 win against Central Michigan while Moore was serving a suspension.