Urban Meyer, the veteran college football coach and analyst, weighed in on the scandal surrounding former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore and his assistant Paige Shiver this week, saying the story has reminded him that the human element always comes first in sports. Meyer offered sympathy to Moore’s family and urged people to see beyond the headlines after Moore’s stunning firing “with cause” amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and subsequent arrest following an alleged home-invasion incident.
Meyer, one of the most successful coaches in modern college football history, spoke on The Triple Option Podcast about the rapid swing from triumph to turmoil Moore has endured, noting that behind every headline are real people and families affected by the fallout.
“Last night, I said a prayer for that family. I mean, you’ve got three little girls,” Meyer said on this week’s The Triple Option Podcast. “You’ve got a guy that was on top of the world a week ago. They’re up 6-0 on the Buckeyes at home. And then, also, you wake up, and they’re in this situation. Rivalries aside, this is all human element.
“Now, this is something that, from what you read, that’s some serious stuff that went on. And just, all of a sudden, you start seeing the impact. Forget football. Who cares about football?”
Why Meyer’s voice resonates
Meyer’s perspective carries weight for several reasons:
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Championship pedigree: Meyer won three national championships during his college coaching career — two at Florida and one at Ohio State and compiled an overall record that placed him among the sport’s elite before his retirement from coaching and transition to media work.
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High-profile controversies: Meyer’s career hasn’t been without its own off-field scrutiny. While at Ohio State, he was placed on administrative leave amid criticism over how he handled domestic violence allegations involving an assistant coach, a controversy that raised questions about leadership and accountability.
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Troubled NFL stint: His brief tenure as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 was marked by turmoil. From questionable staff decisions to a viral video of him inappropriate dancing with a woman who was not his wife, and acrimony with players including an allegation from kicker Josh Lambo that Meyer kicked him during warmups, the season ended with Meyer’s firing after just 13 games.
Those episodes have made Meyer a familiar figure in discussions about coaching conduct, leadership, and the pressures of high-stakes football, giving him a unique lens through which to view Moore’s recent collapse.
Putting sports in perspective
Despite his own scandals and the criticism he has faced over the years, Meyer stressed that the current situation is not about wins or losses. “Forget football. Who cares about football?” he said, emphasizing the personal and familial toll that Moore’s situation has taken.
In the wake of Moore’s firing and arrest, college football figures and analysts have struggled to reconcile a promising coaching talent with the gravity of the allegations. Meyer’s remarks reflect both his experience with public scrutiny and his belief that, even in competitive sports, empathy and humanity should guide responses to crises.
The Michigan program continues to deal with the aftermath of Moore’s departure, and Meyer’s commentary is likely to be one of many voices seeking to make sense of the unprecedented turn of events in one of college football’s marquee programs.
Flip the pages for photos of the woman who ruined Sherrone Moore’s life Paige Shiver.
