Sherrone Could Have Moore Potential Than DeBoer with Two B1G Advantages

Moore's Institutional Knowledge Trumps DeBoer 

Kalen DeBoer has never worked or lived in SEC country. It is an alien part of America where college football is life, death, and eternity. Its recruiting and portal battles are legendary for being down, dirty, and cutthroat. Only someone who has previously coached in the SEC can fully comprehend the jungle.

Additionally, DeBoer does not know the major players at Alabama. The administration, power brokers, donors, NIL contacts, and players are totally unfamiliar with DeBoer. As for his relationship with former coach Nick Saban, DeBoer never had one until he was hired on January 12, 2024.  Furthermore, DeBoer has little knowledge of or relationships built with the high school coaches in the SEC recruiting footprint.

DeBoer will need time to build connections and trust with the key players at Alabama. Sherrone Moore will not have such problems at Michigan. He’s already plugged in.

Moore has been on the Michigan staff since the 2018 season. This head start gives him a tremendous advantage that DeBoer lacks. Moore knows all the power brokers in Ann Arbor. The administration fully supports Moore, whom they know intimately. The remaining players on the Michigan roster love and respect Moore and will be great spokesmen to recruits about his merits as a coach. And unlike DeBoer, Moore knows the Big Ten recruiting footprint and relevant high school coaches after years on the trail. Also, Michigan's playbook won't change much, while Bama's could be entirely different.  

Finally, Moore has the full and enthusiastic endorsement of Harbaugh. And that matters with Michigan Men.

A B1G Edge in Conference Competition 

Another factor that could give Sherrone Moore the long-term edge over Kalen DeBoer is that Michigan plays in the Big Ten Conference compared to Alabama’s membership in the SEC.

Michigan indeed beat Alabama in this past season’s College Football Playoff semifinal in overtime. It is also true that Alabama blew a late lead and self-destructed. At Michigan’s very best, they still needed some help to get past an Alabama team that was not of vintage form. With all of its problems, an argument could be made that Alabama was the better team, if not at least equal to Michigan.  That leads to the SEC vs. Big Ten quality issue.  

The SEC was said to be down this season, and perhaps it somewhat was. But in comparison to the Big Ten, the SEC had a deeper and better roster of teams. That has always been the case and is likely to continue in the years to come.

Starting in 2024, the Big Ten will no longer have divisions and will play as one entity. Thus, it will be increasingly difficult for the league to hide its weaker programs that were previously operating in the West Division. 

While USC, Oregon, UCLA, and Washington come over from the Pac-12, only Oregon is assured of immediate future success. Washington lost DeBoer, UCLA is above average at best, and USC has been a perpetual paper tiger. Compare that to the SEC gauntlet that has added Oklahoma and Texas, and you have a growing monster down South.

Can Moore Capitalize on His Advantages?

In the long run, Sherrone Moore and his Michigan Wolverines will not face the difficulty of schedule that Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide will have to deal with. Thus, over time, Moore could have a greater shot at ultimate success than DeBoer.

To be sure, DeBoer is a proven championship-contending coach. But Sherrone Moore may rate the edge with intangible yet substantive advantages for the specific role and challenge that each man faces.