WHEN MOORE GETS THAT FIRST TD, HE WON’T BE IN GREEN
Affable fullback traded to Als made many contributions to Riders and community
Spencer Moore has yet to register a CFL touchdown, but he scores points with everyone he meets.
There is not a friendlier professional athlete — or a nicer person, for that matter — than the 28-year-old fullback.
His role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, with whom he spent six seasons, was seldom glamorous. He was typically a blocker, as opposed to a ball-carrier, and performed those duties with aplomb. On special teams, he was a reliable and valued contributor.
And, off the field, he absolutely sparkled.
Whether he was conducting an interview or talking to young people, he was a first-class representative of the Roughriders.
Hence the disappointment of Wednesday, when it was announced that the Roughriders had traded Moore to the Montreal Alouettes for a conditional draft pick.
Under different circumstances, the deal — a non-touchdown scorer for a mystery pick — would not have merited a column. But people like Moore are worth a book.
He arrived in Saskatchewan in 2013, as a fifth-round draft pick out of Mcmaster University, with little fanfare and earned a roster spot on a star-studded team.
A hamstring injury prevented Moore from playing in the 2013 Grey Cup game, in which the Roughriders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-cats 45-23 on Taylor Field, but he nonetheless contributed to one of only four championship seasons in franchise history. By the time Wednesday’s deal was made, Moore was one of the few links to the 2013 season — a member of an exclusive fraternity that also included receiver Rob Bagg, centre Dan Clark, guard Brendon Labatte, linebacker Sam Hurl and defensive tackle Zack Evans.
The Regina-born Evans, who joined the Ottawa Redblacks in an expansion draft that was held shortly after the 2013 Grey Cup, returned to the Roughriders via free agency in 2017. He celebrated a four-year contract extension in fine style on Tuesday, revelling in one of the all-time great media scrums.
Moore was comparably engaging when he met with the media, although I do not recall a scrum.
I interviewed him twice — both in one-on-one situations — and was thoroughly impressed both times.
Last June, for example, I launched the “Spencer Moore must score” campaign.
“I am definitely with you on that one,” Moore replied at the time. “I’ve been on that crusade for a few years now.”
Moore ended up playing in 85 games, including four post-season contests, as a Roughrider. Not once did he visit the end zone, except to celebrate a touchdown scored by someone else. All the other visits he made — on behalf of the team — carried considerably more weight than any statistics.
“In the off-season when I’m doing the Red Cross presentations to the kids, I always start it by saying, ‘Before someone asks me this question later on, I haven’t scored a touchdown … yet,’ ” he said last June. “I always say ‘yet.’
“And then I ask them why they think I said ‘yet.’ And they say, ‘Because you’re gonna!’ I say, ‘Exactly! I’m gonna! I’ve got to believe in it or else it’s never going to happen.’ When it happens, it’ll happen, and I’m sure it’ll be great.”
Perhaps the icebreaking major will be scored on behalf of the Alouettes. Johnny Manziel to Moore for six points, anyone?
The Roughriders deemed Moore expendable after recently re-signing receiver/fullback Patrick Lavoie — a late-season acquisition from Montreal — to a two-year contract extension.
Lavoie’s presence, plus the anticipated recovery of Canadian receiver Jake Harty from a knee injury he suffered on Day 1 of training camp, created a situation whereby the Roughriders felt Moore could be dealt.
The trade was announced on the same morning that the Roughriders heralded the re-signing of defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy, who had been eligible to test free agency in February.
Purifoy, who signed a one-year contract, excelled in 10 games as a Roughrider after beginning the 2018 campaign with Ottawa.
He had three interceptions for Saskatchewan and also excelled on kickoff returns.
The Roughriders were preparing to face Purifoy and the Redblacks when the award-winning “Spencer Moore must score” column appeared in this fine journal.
Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros ended up throwing more passes to the opposition (two) than he did to Moore (one). In fact, one of those interceptions was an end-zone theft by Purifoy.
Moore quietly went about his business, catching all three passes that were aimed toward him — the latter two connections were with Brandon Bridge, who replaced a concussed Collaros — and running six yards for a first-down on a fake punt.
The fake punt was such a success that it set up another endzone interception. It was that kind of day for the Roughriders, who lost 40-17, and that kind of year for the offence.
The Roughriders’ receiving-yardage leader (Shaq Evans, with 785) did not score a touchdown all season, so what was the likelihood of Moore reaching the end zone?
When that elusive touchdown does become a reality, Moore will be resplendent in a colour other than green. But you can bet that everyone who knows him, and appreciates him, will share in the celebration.