Lucas: Doing Moore for 34

BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – Capturing the spirit and soul of Howard Moore was this headline – "UW's Moore embraces life with enthusiasm and faith" – on a newspaper feature that appeared locally in the sports section of the Capital Times on February 25, 1995.

The storyline revolved around the energetic Moore, a fifth-year senior from Chicago's west side.

"He truly has an indomitable spirit," said Wisconsin head coach Stan Van Gundy.

Through his first three seasons of eligibility, Moore spent far more time on the bench than on the floor. Yet, he endeared himself to the fan base with his engaging smile and infectious attitude. In his final year, he got eight starts. And he made the most of them. Like he did with everything in his life.

Moore was mentored by three different UW coaches. Steve Yoder. Stu Jackson. And Van Gundy.

Here's how Van Gundy described Moore's perseverance to CT writer Rob Schultz nearly three decades ago: "He's been here five years and got little chance to play but he continued to work hard and continued to believe his chance would come and to ready himself for that day."

Here's why Van Gundy felt Moore was such a positive role model in handling setbacks, a lesson that others could learn from: "When things aren't going well for people, they want to find excuses, blame other people and not do anything to better the situation themselves. But not Howard."

And here's what turned out to be Van Gundy's most prescient take on Moore: "Howard is a star and will be a star. As Howard goes on in life, I have as much confidence in Howard's ability to become a star as anyone that I've ever been around. He'll find his niche and he'll be a star.

"It may not be in a way where everybody will read about him.

"But he'll make a difference in people's lives. There's no doubt in my mind about that."

• • • •

One of Moore's teammates, Andy Kilbride, was reminded of Van Gundy's words prior to Saturday's fund-raiser at the Champions Club in Camp Randall Stadium; a luncheon that kicked off a daylong celebration – recognizing 125 years of Badger basketball – capped by a banquet that night.

"When I think of Stan saying that Howard was going to be a star … absolutely … 100 percent (spot-on)," Kilbride said. "Mike (Finley) was already a star, Tracy (Webster) was already a star and Rashard (Griffith) was already a star on the basketball court. But Howard was the star of life… and still is.

"It goes back to the way he carried himself. When someone walks into a room and changes the temperature in the room, you know that they have a gift. Now whether they use it or not is sometimes the question. But not with Howard. Bar none, you knew this guy was going somewhere."

Moments earlier, Kilbride had greeted Moore's 17-year-old son Jerell, a junior at Middleton High School. Along with his dad, Jerell Moore, then 13, survived a horrific car accident on Memorial Day weekend 2019 that claimed the lives of his mom, Jennifer, and 9-year-old sister, Jaidyn.

"He's got the spirit and energy of his parents," said Kilbride, looking around the 1917 Club level of the south end zone renovation, a room filling up Saturday with alumni and media reps. "He moves through rooms like this – which has to be really uncomfortable – with such grace. Like his parents."

One by one, people made their way to Jerell. Asked about the turnout, he smiled and said, "It means a lot to me that I have such an amazing father that I can look up to. It's crazy to see how much of an impact that he has made on this UW community. He has made a change in so many people's lives."

Jerell Moore was not about to take the support for granted, either.

"Definitely not," he emphasized. "I try to embrace it as much as I can."

That has been Howard Moore's message all along through his recovery and rehab from the accident and a subsequent heart attack. Don't compromise any day. Don't take anything for granted. Do Moore. Be Moore. 4 Moore. (The 4 representing Jennifer, Jaidyn, Jerell and Howard).

Picking up on the play on words, Kilbride said, "There was so much more he was doing that people didn't know about. Doing Moore – it's crazy his name says that – but it's not crazy when you meet him and peel back all the things he has done. He was always doing more than everyone else."

On Saturday, there was a new twist. Let's do Moore for 34 (Howard's jersey number).

The focus was on securing commitments and raising funds for his long-term health-care needs.

"It means a lot to me as a friend of Howard's to see the support that he's getting for this event," said Finley, a former teammate and vice-president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks. "It just speaks to the type of man that Howard is. His network of friends spreads far beyond Madison.

"He has always been the type of guy that gives more of himself to others and now people are giving more of themselves to support him. For us to give more to help Howard is a no-brainer. It started as a friendship. But it turned more into a family bond between his family and mine.

"If there's one common thread here today, it's Howard – Howard connects us all. And not because of how he played as a basketball player. But who he is as a man. People wouldn't be here if they didn't respect and honor Howard the way they do. They're here to support him. It's a great thing to see."

Finley talked about how he used to tease Moore about being the "Mayor of Madison." It's easy to understand why. Or as Finley explained, "Everybody knew him, and he knew everybody. His heart was always in the right place. He always wanted to do what was best for the university and community."

In February of 2022, Finley, the second-leading scorer in UW history, had his jersey retired. His number 24 is now hanging in the rafters of the Kohl Center. In that aforementioned Capital Times story, Moore said of Finley, "Sometimes I look at him and wish that I could shoot like that or move like that."

But he understood that was wishful thinking. He had to stay true to himself. "I realize that the way I play is the way God made me and this is the way He wanted me to play. So I have to accept that." In 47 career games, Moore averaged 2.1 points. But his impact on others was immeasurable.

"He had a smile that lit up the Field House," said teammate Shawn Carlin.

During the mid-'90s, Bo Ryan was winning Division-3 championships at UW-Platteville. "But I had a chance to watch Howard as a player by going to some practices here," Ryan remembered. "And from what I heard from his teammates, he was a unifier, an entertainer, a glue guy."

In 2005, Ryan hired Moore to be an assistant on his Wisconsin coaching staff. "He had contacted me several times about the possibility of coaching here," Ryan said. "He'd always stay in touch. It was always a pleasure to be around him. You always felt good when you were around Howard Moore."

When Rob Jeter left the Badgers for the UW-Milwaukee job, Moore replaced him. "I can remember when I offered him the job," Ryan recalled. "He cried and hugged me. He said, 'This was his dream.' And he couldn't thank me enough. He's just genuine that way …

"What's important," Ryan went on, "is that he's part of the (Badger) family and it was a family long before I got here. And it will be a family long after I'm gone. Look around this room at the connections that he has made and the people that admire and respect him. It says a lot about him.

"And it says a lot that Wisconsin people will dig into their pockets and try to help.

"Hopefully, he'll be able to get the best care possible for the next … however many years."

Dick Bennett wasn't surprised by the engaged gathering, the numbers at Saturday's luncheon. "It doesn't surprise me because it's Wisconsin, it's the UW," said the former Badger coach. "I've been at a lot of places. But the heart of this whole area, this whole state, particularly this place, is bigger than life.

"It's heartwarming. But I'm not surprised."

Neither was Jackson, who was recently named the Commissioner of the West Coast Conference.

"I truly believe that with any great program – football, basketball, whatever sport – paying attention to and honoring the tradition of that sport just enhances the program and gives more notoriety to those who come after you," said Jackson, who guided the UW to the 1994 Big Dance.

"It goes without saying that (having supportive fans) is vitally important and it's exemplified by the fact of how many people are here today to do exactly that – to support Howard. I can't think of a better person to get people together. I'm just grateful and thankful to be a part of the group."

Van Gundy wasn't able to make it back to Madison this weekend because of his television assignment with TNT. He will be the color analyst, alongside of Milwaukee Brewers announcer Brian Anderson, for Sunday's first round playoff matchup between the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns.

Van Gundy and his wife Kim have been generous in their support of Moore. As have many.

"Seeing everyone pitching in," Carlin said, "it's the saying of 'Once a Badger, Always a Badger.'"

Carlin is second generation. His dad, Mike, was a guard for the Badgers in the late '60s. Both attended Saturday's luncheon. "It's heartwarming to see all the generations coming back together," observed Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, who has taken an active role in rallying the hoop alums.

"Obviously, it's for a phenomenal cause and for a phenomenal person in Howard Moore. It exemplifies the power and the connectivity that this place has. And to have this (fund-raiser) at the center of it all – to help Howard – is amazing.

"We talk a lot about the wins and losses and that's at the surface," Gard acknowledged. "But when you really dig down deep, the power of this place and the relationships that it creates, this is just another example of how all of us can rally together to help one of our own." A star, no less.

Nobody is Moore deserving to be treated like one.

University of Wisconsin Athletics

Related News

Related Videos