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Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi said players feel "very betrayed" by ex-coach Sherrone Moore after his arrest on Dec. 10
Poggi shared that players have been experiencing "a wide range of emotions" about Moore's alleged affair with a staff member
Poggi told his players they could opt out of competing in the team's upcoming Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game on Dec. 31 in the aftermath
Players on the University of Michigan's football team feel "very betrayed" by former head coachSherrone Moore's alleged affair scandal, the interim coach says.
Biff Poggi, who was named the interim head coach after Moore's arrest on Dec. 10, told reporters on Monday, Dec. 15 that there have been "a wide range of emotions" for the Michigan Wolverines in the days since,ESPNreported.
Poggi said it's "been a tumultuous time" for Michigan's football team since Moore was fired for the alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member, hours before he was detained by police after officers responded to an "alleged assault" at the staff member's home and was subsequently charged withfelony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and entering without permission.
The interim head coach shared that he prioritized speaking with and listening to players, as well as parents, through "multiple video calls."
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"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, per ESPN.
He shared that the team has seen "lots of arms around shoulders, lots of listening, lots of telling them that you love them," in the last week. "But showing it, because words are cheap, and that takes a lot of time. What it really takes is you being willing to listen," he added.
Poggi described the situation as "complicated" and said, "I don't know that you can prepare for something like this."
The Wolverines are scheduled to compete in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31, but Poggi said he offered his players the chance to opt out amid the news about Moore.
"What we've told them is this is a personal decision for you all, based on a very unique situation," Poggi said, according to the outlet.
He added that he wanted to be "really sensitive" about "making sure that we're not forcing anybody into doing anything."
Players have found comfort in the distraction of football, Poggi told media. "Because when they're inside that rectangle for those hours that were either in meetings or practicing, it's a bit of a sanctuary... And a chance to not think about what is a constant barrage of media questions and things like that."
Read the original article onPeople
