Interim coach Biff Poggi says Michigan players feel 'betrayed' - ESPN

ORLANDO, Fla. — In his first comments since being named Michigan interim football coach, Biff Poggi said Monday his players feel betrayed and angry following the firing and arrest of former coach Sherrone Moore.

During a media availability for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Poggi was asked how both he and his team has handled the events of the last week. Moore was fired last Wednesday because of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Hours later, prosecutors said that Moore forced entry into the staff member's apartment.

He subsequently was charged with felony third-degree home invasion and two misdemeanors: stalking in a domestic relationship and breaking and entering. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel selected Poggi as interim coach in the aftermath.

Poggi said he has spent the last week speaking with and listening to players, having multiple video calls with parents and trying to treat everyone with kindness and empathy.

«It has been a tumultuous time,» Poggi said. «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 said he has tried to help 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.»

Earlier this season, Poggi served as interim coach against Central Michigan and Nebraska in place of Moore, who was serving a suspension as part of self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations related to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal.

Before he returned to Michigan as associate head coach in February 2025, Poggi