Colorado University Athletics
MOORER LIVING PROOF OF MIND OVER MATTER
In a neighborhood that is more widely known for its gang-related violence and tumultuous riots than for its sprawling palm trees and California sunshine, South Central Los Angeles is not the place for just anybody. But senior strong safety Medford Moorer is not just your average guy.
Growing up just miles from Watts ? the area of L.A. twice known for historical riots, first in the 1960s and then in 1992 after verdicts came down in the Rodney King case ? life was certainly no bed of roses for the young Medford Moorer. Everywhere he looked, abundant opportunities to stray from the straight and narrow path of life were staring him straight in the eye. Gangs ran the neighborhood, and the peer pressure to 'fit in' with the surroundings usually corralled those of weaker minds and hearts. But to anyone who knows Moorer, he is certainly not either of those things.
'I've seen a lot of kids who have grown up in rough neighborhoods that were never able to make it out,' said Moorer. 'They face certain situations that keep them back and keep them from taking the chance and holding on to it. I was presented with some of those things, but it's all about believing in your heart that you can do it. You can get out of the hood; get out and make something of yourself.'
And that's exactly what the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Moorer did, landing him at the University of Colorado.
While the obstacles in his way have been numerous, the 22-year old never wavered from his pursuit of making something out of his life. From the start, his critics doubted that his academic endeavors in high school would be good enough to warrant a one-way ticket to CU. After he signed the letter of intent to play football in 1998, it seemed doubtful that he would ever make it to Boulder. CU's academic advisors had their misgivings, stating that he had overachieved so much in high school that he would never catch up, let alone graduate.
The 'overachieving' Moorer almost proved his nay-sayers correct after failing the standardized admission test twice, but finally passed on his third attempt. 'Third time's a charm,' he said with a smile.
Not only did Moorer prove the advisors wrong by graduating in 3? years with a degree in sociology, but he also earned CU's Clancy A. Herbst Student-Athlete Achievement Award, presented to the player who overcomes personal, academic and/or emotional difficulties to succeed academically. So much for what the critics had to say.
'People have their own thoughts and speculations on how a person can do in certain things, and many people get in that position and they prove a lot of people wrong,' he said. 'That's just what I did. I made sure that I took care of my business and I didn't want them to be right. I wanted to be the one to prove them wrong, and I did.'
Once Moorer enrolled at CU in 1999 the next wave of critics ? the football critics ? emerged to take their shot at the beleaguered defensive back. Listed at 6-foot-2 and only 180 pounds as a freshman, they said that he might be too skinny and too small to play football in a major conference like the Big 12. But once again he proved his opponents wrong, earning a nod as the Scout Team Defense award winner for the Kansas State game as a freshman. He saw action in the first six games of the 2000 season and was gaining a reputation for making the big play. But just when he thought he might finally be free of all the criticism and opposition, he had his season cut short when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Texas. It was just another hurdle for Medford to overcome " something that by this point in his life he had gotten well accustomed to.
'My knee injury was just another piece of adversity in my life and I had to make sure that I worked hard to overcome it,' he said. 'I took the setback to make sure that I worked harder and harder each and every day so that I could make a comeback. And I did come back and play the best I could for my team as well as for myself. I try not to think of the bad things, but instead I see everything as a positive influence on my life.'
Two knee surgeries and one year later, Moorer's physical confidence may have been understandably shaken, but his mental wherewithal wasn't even phased " not until a phone call on the morning of June 12 sent horror running through his spine. The voice on the other end of the phone line relayed something that one could only think of in their worst nightmares " his father was dead. Shot to death as he walked to his car in front of his South Central Los Angeles home, Medford Moorer Sr. was pronounced dead at the scene. It was likely in retaliation for the elder Moorer complaining to the police about gang activity in the neighborhood.
As if the loss of any family member isn't enough, this one was especially devastating because Medford Jr. and his father had an exceptionally close relationship ? something that would and still makes it hard for him to deal with. But in true resilient fashion, the besieged Moorer would find a way to take the horrible and turn it into a beneficial.
'In some aspects I will never overcome the death of my Pops,' said Moorer. 'I will never get over him, but he will always be there in my heart and mind. I use his memory as an inspiration in football and in life to make sure that I do the right things and stay positive.'
Though the youngest of five children, Medford took it upon himself to assume the role of family caretaker after his father's death. While two older brothers chose to remain in California, Moorer insisted that his mother move the rest of the family to Colorado so that he didn't have to worry about them anymore. In return, his mother was a valuable crutch that he did not have living 1,000 miles from home.
'It helped to have somebody that was going through the same thing as me, but in her case it was even worse,' he said. 'We just really helped each other. There was that love, understanding and comfort in knowing that we could make it through this tragedy together.'
So to recap: According to critics, Medford Moorer is an overachiever in the classroom and on the field. He overcame adversity while growing up in a crime-laden neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. He was pushed to the limit on the standardized admission test, finally passing it on the third and final try. He was projected to be too small to play college football. He has had to overcome two knee surgeries and the untimely death of his father while trying to hold his family together. But through it all Medford hasn't skipped a beat in what he has set out to accomplish.
'If you have the faith in your heart that you can overcome many things that you are presented with, then you can do whatever you want in life,' said Moorer. 'If you just believe that you have the tools, the attitude and the great love to help yourself and others, then you can overcome all the obstacles that come your way.'
Medford has become an expert at turning tragedy into happiness. If you didn't know him personally, you would never be able to tell he's been through so many things in his life judging from his personality. 'I am just a fun person,' he says. 'I like to make the people around me warm and happy. I tend to dwell on the painful aspects of life, but I make sure that I turn that pain into something happy " something that can help me out in the future.'
It's that kind of attitude and resiliency that has led Moorer to be an on-the-field leader for the 2003 Buffs. He sees his role as keeping the team relaxed so that they can have fun, while at the same time giving it their all in true 'Moorer fashion.' While the senior leader doesn't necessarily see himself as just that, he admits that it is his personality to help those in need.
'That's just who I am,' he said. 'If you're struggling, I shall help. I will try to get out there and make sure that you can get over all of your obstacles just like I have myself.'
What does the future hold for Medford? 'I'm interested in a whole lot of things,' he said. 'If the NFL doesn't work out, I'm interested in teaching, being a firefighter or even a coach. I'm just looking forward to the future and working hard to make sure that I get some of my goals accomplished.'
With the kind of person that Medford Moorer has become in his short 22 years, there is no doubt that he will accomplish what he sets his mind to. Watch out world.