The University of Michigan football program is again facing uncomfortable scrutiny after a former player claimed that teammates and members of the program used head coach Sherrone Moore’s personal scandal as leverage to influence decisions inside the team.
The allegation surfaced this week when wide receiver Anthony Simpson, who recently entered the transfer portal, wrote in a now-deleted post on social media that Moore was “blackmailed” by people within the program during an alleged affair with executive assistant Paige Shiver. Simpson suggested the situation affected playing time and opportunities, saying the internal pressure prevented Moore from standing up for him.
“If I kept my mouth closed no one would know that I was part of a scandal that impacted the team and impacted my chance to add to my production in college,” Simpson wrote before announcing his transfer to Toledo.
“Targets vs non targets, I was the best slot receiver for Michigan and I was treated unfairly due to [Sherrone] Moore being blackmailed by players and staff members. Which jeopardized my opportunity to get on the field.
“Fastest player on the team and I won reps every day in practice. Only there for fall camp. Our team captains also advocated for me to play. I was denied fairness.”
Michigan fired Moore with cause in December after an internal investigation found he violated school policy by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member Paige Shiver. Hours after his dismissal, Moore was arrested and charged with felony home invasion and misdemeanor counts of stalking and breaking and entering in connection with an alleged incident at the woman’s residence. The legal case remains pending.
The new claim of blackmail adds another layer to a saga that has already shaken one of college football’s most prominent programs. Michigan has not publicly addressed Simpson’s allegation, and there has been no independent confirmation that blackmail occurred.
Current players pushed back on the claim. Starting slot receiver Semaj Morgan wrote on X, “Y’all let people tell y’all anything and believe it,” casting doubt on Simpson’s version of events while others confirmed something strange was going on.
“if only y’all knew and understood a .10 of what he really saying tho,” former wideout Cristian Dixon wrote, including a pair of crying laughing emojis, on X.
Former Michigan center Raheem Anderson added, “Dat part.”
The program is now under new leadership after Michigan hired longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to replace Moore following the scandal. Whittingham was introduced earlier this month and has emphasized restoring stability and trust inside the locker room.
The off-field turmoil has overshadowed much of Michigan’s offseason, raising questions about program culture and internal oversight. With recruiting, transfers and a coaching transition already in motion, the Wolverines now must navigate lingering fallout from a scandal that continues to produce new and damaging claims.
Flip the pages for photos of Paige Shiver the woman who brought down Sherrone Moore.
