An unparalleled pep-talk giver and a constant presence with the Georgia Tech football team, Derrick Moore has taken a position with South Carolina.
Moore, who has served a role supporting the Yellow Jackets since 2002, was announced Wednesday as the Gamecocks’ executive director of character and player development in a tweet. The post featured him giving a talk to the team Monday.
Moore was hired by new Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, who replaced Will Muschamp in December. The position at South Carolina is full-time, where he worked on a contract basis at Tech.
Moore posted a statement on his Twitter account Wednesday night, expressing his gratitude for his time at Tech and thanking, among others, coaches Chan Gailey (”Your vision made it possible), Paul Johnson (”for allowing me to be who I am”) and Geoff Collins (”for your long-standing friendship”).
“To every colleague, I extend my greatest appreciation for your friendships, your amazing support of the work I was afforded to do at GT,” he wrote. “I will never forget you.”
Former Tech quarterback and running back Synjyn Days said he was shocked to hear that Moore had left, calling it a great loss.
“He was just a person you could always go to,” Days said. “You would never see him down, always smiling, energy always up high. He would always know the right thing to say.
“Just a loving, God-fearing man that’s going to be greatly missed at Tech. Somebody that wasn’t on the coaching staff but knows you, knows your story, character, your family, your values.”
Moore served Jackets players through the tenures of coaches Chan Gailey, Paul Johnson and Geoff Collins. As a chaplain and later under the title of character-development coach, Moore gained renown among Tech fans for his passionate pregame locker-room talks to the football team before heading out onto the field. He sometimes incorporated props, including a sledgehammer, a briefcase and a relay baton.
“We’re gonna fight!” he shouted at Tech players before their 2014 upset of Miami, in perhaps his most recognized pregame speech, as players echoed him. “Till we can’t fight no more!”
He also was a fixture on the Tech sideline during games, offering voluble cheering and encouragement to the Jackets. That was only part of his role at Tech, as he offered counsel and mentorship to team members throughout his tenure.
While a face of the team, Moore was a beloved figure among players. Days described him as a father figure, someone whose wisdom players sought on life matters that might have been difficult to discuss with parents or coaches.
“He’s like another father figure for me while I was at Tech, that’s for sure,” Days said.
Former quarterback Tevin Washington said that Moore was one of the reasons why he chose to attend Tech. After hearing Moore speak at a recruiting visit, Washington said his father told him that, “I know that Derrick will have your best interests at heart.” It proved true. As a freshman, Moore sought out Washington after he had been getting chewed out at practice.
Washington said that Moore offered him the analogy of eating a piece of meat off the bone – take the message from the coaches (the meat) and spit out the tone of the delivery (the bone).
“That stuck with me,” Washington said. “I use a lot of that stuff (that Moore taught) to this day.”
Beyond that, Washington remembered how Moore had an office in the players lounge and kept his door open. The conversations were far ranging – family, social life, school – and usually not about football.
“He was a mentor, someone you could count on to have your back and have your best interest at heart,” Washington said. “The advice was going to be spot-on with whatever you needed help with.”
And, yes, Moore could deliver a pep talk. Washington recalled how he fired up the team before the Jackets’ 2011 upset of then-undefeated Clemson, telling players that, while everyone was counting out the Jackets, he believed in them.
“He never missed on a message,” Washington said.
Washington said that Moore has continued in his mentor role with him, eight years after his playing career ended.
“When I think of ‘D-Mo,’ I’m very thankful,” Washington said.
Former Tech defensive end KeShun Freeman remembered feeling pressure to perform as a freshman in 2014 as he replaced All-American Jeremiah Attaochu.
“And D-Mo, when I met him, the only thing that he said he expected out of me was to just enjoy life and do what God would have me to do,” Freeman said. “When he told me that, I told myself I have to stay close to him.”
Freeman said that Moore continues to mentor him, more than three years after the end of his Tech career.
“D-Mo is a forever type of guy for me,” Freeman said.
Now, he’ll be that guy at South Carolina.
“With the support of my faith, family and friends, I look forward to new relationships that will further my growth, inspire my curiosity, and serve my ambition of investing in people,” Moore wrote.
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