Jimmy Rolder reacts to Sherrone Moore fallout at Michigan

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Wolverines have had their fair share of turmoil in recent years, each with varying degrees. Whether it was 'burgergate' or 'signgate,' Michigan football had been in the media crosshairs, but the firing of Sherrone Moore is an entirely different matter — especially for the players.

While debate still rages on, mostly by Michigan's rivals, about the temerity of past allegations, Moore was a leader of the team who betrayed the trust of those he was coaching. All of his credos, such as 'team over me,' ended up being the opposite of his actions.

So now, with the players tasked with picking up the pieces in the aftermath, elder statesmen, like senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder, are working to find reason amid the unreasonable.

"It's out of our control," Rolder said. "Life's not fair. And so things happen, and you just gotta figure out how to move on from that, get over those hurdles. And that's exactly what this is, just another obstacle."

The reputation of Michigan football has taken a big hit, going from being discussed as a squeaky clean program to having hit pieces put out by several media personalities, decrying the Wolverines as 'the dirtiest program,' it affects the players above all. They're the ones still tasked with putting on the winged helmet and going to work every day, unable to distance themselves from any indiscretions of their so-called 'leaders' such as Moore.

Even so, Rolder says that they, the players, are all about integrity and doing things the right way, no matter what outside voices might say.

"Despite everything that's been going on, it's still a program of utmost respect," Rolder said. "And the blue collar mentality, and despite everything that's happened, the guys here still wanna work, go to work every day. And just work for the guy next to them, work for their coaches. And just show up every day, and that's about it."

Rolder, among many players, has a decision to make. He's at something of an inflection point: he can choose to stay for his remaining year of eligibility, he could transfer to another program, or he could try his hand at the NFL. At this juncture, he hasn't made a decision among the three, instead choosing to focus on Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and learning who the new head coach will be before he starts to weigh his decisions.

"Yeah, definitely in between right now," Rolder said. "I'm not really sure what I'll end up doing. So just waiting it out and seeing."

But will this coaching change sway his thinking once he comes to it? Not necessarily, he explains.

"Not at all," Rolder said. "My decision, whether I think would be best for myself and what others think would be best for me, has nothing to do with coaching change."

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Jimmy Rolder focused on daily work instead of Sherrone Moore firing

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