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| Quarterback Sam Riddle is one of the many seniors who have worn number 35 this season in honor of fallen teammate Parker Moore. Linfield athletics photo |
By Josh Smith
D3sports.com
Memories of Parker Moore surround the Linfield football team every day.
Before each home game, the Wildcats play a video tribute for the former linebacker, who was tragically murdered two years ago.
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A memorial that can be seen from almost anywhere on the north end of campus sits across from the football field. Moore's jersey is framed and hung in both the locker room and weight room. A logo incorporating his jersey numbers from high school and college is displayed outside head coach Joe Smith's office. Even the storage shed near the field has this season's motto, One Moore, painted on the side in bold letters.
"It's not something we shy away from talking about. It's definitely something we carry with us at all times of the day and throughout the year," said senior linebacker Kyle Chandler, who wears a practice jersey adorned with Moore's name every day. "It's constantly there."
Moore's memory lives on every Saturday on the gridiron, too, as Linfield's seniors have honored their classmate this season by taking turns wearing No. 35.
While Chandler, Moore's best friend and roommate, had the honor of wearing No. 35 last season, the team decided to do something different this year.
Secondary coach Brandon Hazenberg suggested rotating the jersey among the senior class because this year would have been Moore's senior season.
"Coach Smith liked that idea," Chandler said. "So he had me and one of our defensive ends, Eli Fults – who's obviously another guy who was really close with Parker -- come up with a list of guys who we thought should wear it each game."
The player chosen to wear 35 finds out at the end of the week when Smith announces the captains for that week's game.
"Whoever is wearing 35 always ends up being a captain," Chandler explained. "It's pretty exciting to see the guys who get picked to do it, and their reaction to that. It's a pretty big honor."
"It's pretty emotional," senior defensive back Mitch Lewis said, reflecting on his opportunity to wear Moore's number. "When you go out and play, it's almost like you have to conduct yourself in a different way. You have to be the kind of guy that we remember Parker as, and the kind of guy he was. You have to be a leader. You have to be respectful. There's this weird feeling that you're expected to do more because you're wearing that number."
When remembering Moore, players are quick to point out his kindness and his ability to make people around him feel comfortable.
"Parker is probably the most likable guy you'd ever meet," senior defensive back Skylor Elgarico said. "He always included people in things he did and always made it a goal to make someone's day."
"He had a smile that lit up the room. He really had a charisma about him that really not a lot of people ever have," Chandler added. "He was probably the most genuine guy I ever met."
"A lot of people try to glorify people when they pass. But all of this is true," senior cornerback Dylan Lewis said. "He was the one dude you would look at and smile at all the time. And he would smile back."
Honoring Moore since his death has been emotional for Linfield. But perhaps the most powerful moment the team experienced was when Moore was included with his classmates during pre-game introductions on Senior Day.
"We wanted to acknowledge the fact that he is still with us. He is still a part of this team. He is still encouraging us on a daily basis," Mitch Lewis said. "Hearing it was definitely a little emotional."
"Personally, that was tough. It brought back a lot of memories. It brought back not just good memories, but that bad memory of when he was taken from us," senior safety Mikey Arkans recalled. "It was tough. But it was cool that he was honored in that way."
Linfield continues to remember Moore on the field. Senior cornerback Kennedy Johnson was the latest player to don No. 35 for the Wildcats as Linfield secured a 24-10 playoff win at Hardin-Simmons Saturday.
"I really felt different while I was on the field, knowing I was wearing 35," he said. "You really appreciate the opportunity to be playing.
"It's another reason to play even harder when you have that jersey on. It's another reason to not take a play off and give everything you've got."
Twelve players were selected to wear No. 35 this season, and thanks to Saturday's first-round playoff victory, the 12th player will be announced this week before Linfield travels back to Texas to face Mary Hardin-Baylor for the second time this season.
Saturday's game is an opportunity to avenge the 66-27 loss Linfield suffered in Belton back in September.
"We've been hoping that we were going to get a chance to play them again," Elgarico said. "I think everybody is focused on fixing everything that went wrong in that first game."
"We want to get back there and prove we're better than the score showed," Johnson added.
Chandler said during his time at Linfield, the teams he has been a part of took time to mesh and come together. He believes this year is the same, and he feels Linfield has become a more complete team since it lost its second game of the year.
"I think we've definitely hit our stride a lot more since that game," he said.
"We fully respect that talent that they have," Mitch Lewis said. "But we're not going to go into a game scared, or anything like that. It's just not the way we play. We're going to go in with a deep respect for them and play our game."
In addition to playing Mary Hardin-Baylor with respect, the Wildcats will be competing with Moore on their minds and in their hearts.
"Knowing that something could end at any moment really makes you appreciate what you have," Arkans said. "He's a constant reminder to always be positive."