Michigan Bar Renames Sampler Basket Following Sherrone Moore’s Dismissal
A bar located in Ann Arbor, Michigan has opted to rename a menu item previously associated with the now-disgraced former head football coach of the University of Michigan, Sherrone Moore.
The item formerly known as “Sherrone Moore’s Sampler Basket” has been changed to “Devin Gardner’s Sampler Basket” at The Brown Jug, a well-known student hangout adjacent to the campus. Devin Gardner, 34, is a former quarterback for the Wolverines.
The sampler basket is priced at $13 and includes jalapeño poppers, chicken tenders, onion rings, cheese sticks, and two sauces, as detailed on the restaurant’s menu. Each dish is named after a notable figure from the University of Michigan, primarily athletes and coaches.
“Names frequently change on our menus,” said the owner’s son, Niko Porikos, during an interview with MLive, published on Monday, December 15. “There are hundreds of staff members, coaches, and players to draw inspiration from.”
Moore, 39, was dismissed on Wednesday, December 10, following an internal investigation into an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.
“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” stated athletic director Warde Manuel. Notably, Manuel, 57, has a Greek gyro named after him at The Brown Jug.
On the day of his firing, Moore was also arrested for allegedly invading the staff member’s home and making threats to harm himself in front of her. He attempted to flee when the staffer contacted law enforcement and was apprehended at a nearby church.
“The totality of his actions is extremely threatening and intimidating,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kati Rezmierski remarked during his arraignment on Friday, December 12. “She was terrorized.”
Former Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore is contending with three charges after allegedly breaking into the home of a university employee and issuing threats. Moore, 39, was arraigned on Friday, December 12, just two days after his termination for an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with the staff member. He was arrested shortly after his dismissal.
Moore, who is married to Kelli and shares three daughters with her, faces one count of third-degree felony home invasion, one count of misdemeanor stalking related to a domestic relationship, and one count of misdemeanor breaking and entering. He could potentially face up to six years and three months in prison along with $3,500 in fines if found guilty of all charges.
This isn’t the first time The Brown Jug has received attention for its menu. In August, the establishment attempted to trademark the phrase “Buckeye Tears” for one of its beers, prompting Ohio State University to file a notice of opposition, claiming that the name could cause “confusion” and imply affiliation with the university. Ohio State’s teams are known as the Buckeyes and are rivals of Michigan.
“No rational person would believe that Ohio State is the source of products encouraging the public to take pleasure in the failures of Ohio State athletic teams,” read a response from The Brown Jug in October, as reported by MLive.
UPDATE — 12/11/25, 9:05 a.m. ET: Former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore was taken into custody by police for an alleged assault shortly before his firing was publicly announced. Authorities detained Moore just moments before the university disclosed his termination on Wednesday, December 10.
Ohio State contended that the trademark would “dilute the distinctiveness” of the Buckeyes brand, while the restaurant countered that “Buckeye” is a term used broadly to describe Ohio residents and could apply to numerous Ohio businesses.
Porikos shared with MLive that Ohio State’s “absurd and humorous” legal challenge, as well as the publicity it garnered, led to a spike in sales for Buckeye Tears. The trademark dispute remains ongoing.
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