Happy ending
Matt Moore weathered criticism and helped OSU turn its season around
By Kerry Eggers
The Portland Tribune, Dec 22, 2006
His 19 interceptions last season were tied for the most in the country, but this year Matt Moore has cut way down, throwing just six picks.
CORVALLIS – The idea is beginning to sink in. Next Friday’s Sun Bowl matchup with Missouri in El Paso, Texas, will be the final time Matt Moore dons Oregon State’s orange and black attire.
“I’ve thought about it a little bit lately,” OSU’s senior quarterback says. “It’s kind of rough, but it’s the culmination of a very good thing in my life. The way my career is ending has been pretty special for me. I’m just hoping we can end it by playing with the same kind of emotion and style that has been going on for the past couple of months.”
The 6-4, 195-pound Valencia, Calif., native will leave Corvallis with fond memories.
“I’ve met some of the best friends I’ll ever have here,” Moore says. “The people have been just awesome, and Coach (Mike) Riley is one of those people. He and a lot of the other coaches will be in my life forever.
“I’ve had some rough times, obviously, but there are definitely a lot of things I’ll miss about Corvallis. Mainly the people and the relationships I’ve made with them. It’s going to be sad to leave that. It’s been a place I’ll never forget.”
Moore arrived in January 2005 as a junior transfer from UCLA and immediately beat out holdover Ryan Gunderson for the starting job. Moore completed 211 of 355 passes (59.1 percent) for 2,711 yards and 11 TD that fall. But his 19 interceptions tied for the national lead, and his seven turnovers (six picks, one fumble) keyed a devastating late-season loss to Arizona that paved the way to a 5-6 record and no bowl game.
Oregon State started 2-3 this season, and Moore’s mediocre play and occasionally poor decision-making led a minority of fans to call for his benching and replacement by freshman Sean Canfield.
Moore weathered the storm to lead the Beavers to seven wins in the last eight games with a startling turnaround in his individual play. He has had no interceptions in the last four games and carries a nation-leading streak of 144 straight passes without a pick into the Sun Bowl.
Moore has thrown slightly less often this season (198 of 324 for 2,666 yards) but with greater accuracy (61.1 percent) and for 14 TDs with only six interceptions. He wound up second in the league in pass efficiency behind only Southern Cal’s John David Booty.
“Matt had a terrific season after a tough start, and we wouldn’t be where we are without him, quite frankly,” Riley says. “He’s a microcosm of our team, the way he stuck with it and competed and kept working hard. I’ve never said that before about an individual, but it fits.”
Moore got through it by immersing himself in the football office at Valley Center, and with the help of those close to him, including fiancée Tara Coe, his high school sweetheart from Valencia.
“She kind of gave me the whole speech, the ‘Keep your head up and you’ll be all right,’ ” Moore says. “My teammates were huge for me. They were always the ones telling me and everybody else they have faith in me. Coaches Riley and (offensive coordinator Danny) Langsdorf, my parents (Don and Mindy) – same story. Coming from the people you love and you know they love you, it makes you think everything is going to be all right.”
One of the guys
Riley calls Moore one of his favorite kids over three decades of coaching. The coach says Moore fit in with his teammates right away, comparing him to former OSU linebacker Keith Ellison, now a rookie starting for the Buffalo Bills.
“Matt joined our program late in his career, but he almost immediately became one of the guys,” Riley says. “I like quarterbacks who like to be around the office, and Matt has spent a lot of his free time watching (video) with coaches or just visiting. He cares a lot. There are no agendas with this guy.
“Sometimes, adversity tears things apart between a coach and player. With us, our relationship became more solid. He was always trusting of what we were trying to do and what we said. Our relationship was kind of molded through adversity.”
Did Moore ever doubt his own ability?
“I could feel that creeping on at one point, but I never got that way,” Moore says. “Being with Coach Riley and Langsdorf so much, my mind wasn’t on (the criticism of his play) all the time, and then things started to get better. Something happened, our team clicked on some things, and the rest of the season just exploded.”
Moore isn’t bitter about fan criticism. He says he deserved it.
“That whole issue, I kind of brought that on myself,” he says. “When fans aren’t happy, they’re going to let you know about it. You have to take that as a player. You just have to keep working. I learned some things about life through all of that.”
Members of the media admired the way Moore was a stand-up guy through the early season, answering questions respectfully and accepting his share of the blame.
“That’s not the way I used to be,” he says. “I was one of those guys who wanted to be seen only when things were going good. I’ve kind of changed. Maybe I’ve grown up a little.”
NFL could be his future
Moore savors the personal relationships he has made with teammates, especially receiver Sammie Stroughter and, lately, receiver Ruben Jackson.
“It’s been so much fun,” he says. “That’s another thing I’m going to miss. Who knows if I’ll get to play another game of football after the Sun Bowl? This season … going to Hawaii, beating SC and doing all that cool stuff – I had a blast. It’s been by far the best year of football for me in my life.”
Riley says be believes Moore can make it in the NFL.
“He’ll get an opportunity,” Riley says. “I think he can do it – I really mean that. It’ll have to be the right place for him, but he’ll be in somebody’s (training) camp and, talent-wise, he’ll fit right in. He’s a good athlete, and he definitely has the arm to play in the NFL. What he has proved to people lately is his ability to run a system efficiently. What Derek Anderson did the last part of his senior year, Matt did with less time in the program.”
Moore will move to Valencia after the bowl game. He will take the remainder of his classes online – he hopes to earn his degree in communications this summer – and prepare for both his June 23 wedding and the opportunity to play a little more football. He’ll leave with the admiration of his coach, and not just for his performance on the field.
“The way Matt has handled himself is a great example for everybody,” Riley says. “A lot of adults could learn by watching what Matt went through at Oregon State and how he’s come through it. He’s a special guy.”
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