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Oct. 21, 2002

by Benjamin Hochman, Times Picayune
This story origianlly appeared in the New Orleans Times Picayune on Oct. 17, 2002.
Reprinted by permission.

Last year, Mewelde Moore stole the spotlight.

The running back, then a sophomore, broke Tulane's single-season rushing record with 1,421 yards, and the total-yard record for the school and conference with 2,259.

That earned him first team All-Conference USA honors. And there was the big one: He became the first NCAA Division I-A player ever to rush for more than 1,250 yards and catch 60 passes in the same year.

This year, he's still the center of attention, but some of it is coming from the wrong folks.

After seven games last year, Moore had 163 carries, and, this year, he has just four less. Yet, in 2001, he had accumulated 1,020 yards, for an average of 145.7 in those games. This year, he has 641 yards, an average of 91.6 a game.

The difference? This year, defenses are devoting their efforts to slowing him down.

After seven games last year, he had five 100-plus yard showings, two of them eclipsing 200 yards. This year, he has had two 100-yard games.

Cincinnati coach Rick Minter said, without star quarterback Patrick Ramsey to worry about, teams can key on Moore, instead of doubling top receivers. Blocking, by both the offensive line and receivers, must improve for Moore to increase his rushing total, Tulane coach Chris Scelfo said.

"Right now, I understand my yards are much harder when people key on you and focus on you," Moore said. "Sometimes you're the main read before they start to go into their normal reads."

Still, Moore is fourth in the conference in rushing and third in all-purpose yards (126.7 per game). Furthermore, he's evolving as a complete team player.

"He understands his role is to be a complete faker," said Greg Davis, Tulane's running backs coach. "Carrying out a play fake really opens somebody else up, or running a great route, even though you're covered, will open somebody else up."

His nickname is "Mo," but it might as well be "Elmer's." The junior is the glue of the offense. His elusive ability has been vital in Tulane's four victories. In games Tulane won, Moore averaged 103 rushing yards. In the three losses, he averaged 76.3.

"He's a guy that can get the ball out in space, and he's really hard to tackle," said Memphis coach Tommy West, whose Tigers kept Moore to 63 yards rushing. "We tried to make him go up inside all night and that was the only way. We didn't think we could tackle him if he got the ball out on the edges. He's an outstanding player."

"It's mind-blowing to just see how much respect you can get, with people starting to key on you more," Moore said. "Instead of bringing one or two, they're bring three or the house. ... But right now, it's OK. We're putting up the Ws, and I'm happy."

Waiting on the schedule for Tulane (4-3) are UAB, last in the conference in total defense, winless Army and 1-5 Navy (1-5).

Moore is 143 yards from breaking the school record in rushing yards, 3,095, set by Eddie Price from 1946-49. But for Moore, the only number that matters is in the win column.

"I like to play the team thing," Moore said. "Of course, I love to have the ball and everything. But as you go into the game, you do perform and people start to key on you, you realize there's more to the game than just you playing. You need the whole team."