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The Daily OrangeFB | Moore could sign with Syracuse after Ole Miss pulls scholarship
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 1/14/09, 3:42 AM EST Section: Sports
"In my mind, I can fit into any system," Moore said. "I ran the spread in high school and ran a lot, but I'm a thrower before I'm a runner. Whether I'm under center or in the gun, I really don't have a preference."
It has been a year to forget for Moore. After passing for 3,046 yards, running for 840 yards, scoring 40 total touchdowns and winning a state championship, Moore was "on top of the mountain" as a junior. He had scholarship offers from 17 schools in May, according to Scout.com.
"I had a lot of expectations coming into my senior year," said Moore, who graduated from high school early. "It started off well, and I just spiraled downward. I went from the top to the bottom in five seconds."
Moore takes full responsibility for his altercation in the playoff game. But that argument with his coach was merely the tip of a very deep iceberg, he said.
It all started in July. Moore suffered a stress fracture in his lower back while doing squats in the weight room. He didn't know it at the time. Moore figured his back was just sore from sleeping in awkward positions in his new bed. Confirming his suspicion, a doctor diagnosed it as nothing but a muscle spasm. So Moore continued lifting. The pain worsened.
It got so bad Moore said he couldn't even throw a football. One week before the season started, Moore visited the doctor again. He had a stress fracture. Rather than sit out six weeks as suggested, Moore played. In the third game of the season - while carrying the ball 16 times for more than 150 yards - Moore injured his back again. This time, he needed to sit out.
And so the rift began. Moore said his high school coached pulled him into his office after sitting out his fourth straight game.
"The doctor told me not to play and my coach thought I should," Moore said. "He thought I was trying to protect my (scholarship) offer and things like that. That's how it all started and we got mad at each other."
Fundamentally, Moore understands Mississippi's decision to revoke the scholarship offer. If Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt ignored Moore's coach's complaint, it could've sent a damaging ripple effect through the entire state.
It has been a year to forget for Moore. After passing for 3,046 yards, running for 840 yards, scoring 40 total touchdowns and winning a state championship, Moore was "on top of the mountain" as a junior. He had scholarship offers from 17 schools in May, according to Scout.com.
"I had a lot of expectations coming into my senior year," said Moore, who graduated from high school early. "It started off well, and I just spiraled downward. I went from the top to the bottom in five seconds."
Moore takes full responsibility for his altercation in the playoff game. But that argument with his coach was merely the tip of a very deep iceberg, he said.
It all started in July. Moore suffered a stress fracture in his lower back while doing squats in the weight room. He didn't know it at the time. Moore figured his back was just sore from sleeping in awkward positions in his new bed. Confirming his suspicion, a doctor diagnosed it as nothing but a muscle spasm. So Moore continued lifting. The pain worsened.
It got so bad Moore said he couldn't even throw a football. One week before the season started, Moore visited the doctor again. He had a stress fracture. Rather than sit out six weeks as suggested, Moore played. In the third game of the season - while carrying the ball 16 times for more than 150 yards - Moore injured his back again. This time, he needed to sit out.
And so the rift began. Moore said his high school coached pulled him into his office after sitting out his fourth straight game.
"The doctor told me not to play and my coach thought I should," Moore said. "He thought I was trying to protect my (scholarship) offer and things like that. That's how it all started and we got mad at each other."
Fundamentally, Moore understands Mississippi's decision to revoke the scholarship offer. If Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt ignored Moore's coach's complaint, it could've sent a damaging ripple effect through the entire state.
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