Michigan football was thrust into turmoil when Sherrone Moore was fired and subsequently arrested on Dec. 10, and the Wolverines have turned to Biff Poggi as interim head coach while the team prepares for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. 

Poggi on Monday gave his first press conference in Ann Arbor, ostensibly to preview Texas, but the line of questioning focused squarely on his desire for the permanent head coaching job, the fallout from Moore’s dismissal, how he’s kept the team together through uncertain times, and more.

“It has been five years of — let’s just call what it is — a malfunctioning organization where there’s something every year,” Poggi said while explaining why “everything that happens in this building has to be re-evaluated.” 

Here is everything Biff Poggi said: 

Biff Poggi on how he has stabilized the Michigan football program

Well, we have three guys opting out who are going to the NFL, and that’s really it. 

And what’s going on, what’s going into it, what went into it, and what’s keeping the guys on this current team here, and what’s keeping the guys who are committed to us committed to us, is a lot of relationship building. I’ve had eight Zoom calls with parents, and even two Zoom calls with the moms.

It’s a lot of listening, a lot of talking to them, a lot of talking to the kids. And we’ve changed basically everything in the last 10 days. We’ve changed basically everything. Meetings are much shorter, kids are out of the building faster, practices are much shorter, but much more up-tempo, much more good versus good work. And you need to talk to them, but I think they’re actually having fun playing football again. 

I’m really proud of them, and I’m proud of the coaches that are here, that have stayed here to do this. And I’ve gotten a lot of support from Warde, a tremendous amount of support from Warde and Doug. So it’s been a team effort, but it’s been different. 

As I said in Orlando, there’s no manual for this. I’ve never had to figure this one out. But, yeah, very pleased with where we are and what’s going on.

On whether he expects Bryce Underwood to remain with Michigan next year

Certainly hope so. I would hope so, yeah. I mean, if you want to ask that question, you should probably ask him or his dad, or dad or mom.

We’re focused on Texas right now. He’s focused on Texas. Have you seen any film on Texas? No? Have you seen any? They’ve got a bunch of monsters on their football team, right? So that’s what we’re focused on. That’s what Bryce is focused on. We’re not focused on who’s going to go where next year. Hell, I might not even be here next year. You never know, right? So I’m not thinking about that.

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