My Favorite Memory of Coach Mal Moore

Upon hearing of Coach Mal Moore’s passing this weekend, I couldn't help but think.

I thought about the improvements to the facilities on campus, from basketball to football.  I flashed back to the news coverage of coach Saban arriving in Tuscaloosa and Moore’s introduction of Alabama's new head coach. I began to remember the first time, as a student, when I covered a press conference, anxiously walking into the building that bears his name before the Alabama-Clemson game in 2008.  I remembered sharing a short conversation at the airport when he brought Anthony Grant to Tuscaloosa.

I thought about the handful of times I was I had the chance to meet Coach Moore, nothing more than just a quick conversation, but always genuine.  I then thought of my favorite memory.

It was 2009; Alabama had made the trip to Starkville,Mississippi to take on Mississippi State in front of a crazy evening crowd that was eventually silenced as Alabama won the game 31-3, capped off by a 70 yard Mark Ingram touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, my friend Brent and I walked down to the field to watch the game from the sidelines, our usual routine.  While standing in the far corner of the endzone, Coach Moore and then President Witt were standing about 30-40 feet away when Coach Moore walked over toward me.

“Is Auburn still losing?” he asked.

The Tigers were playing Georgia in a tightly contested game that was going back and fourth.  I told him I wasn’t sure and would look into it as he nodded in understanding.  So there I stood, pacing on the sidelines trying to get the internet on my phone to work, eventually trying to get a hold of friends back in Tuscaloosa with a score.

I am not sure if it is really acceptable to use a cell phone on the sidelines, maybe it is, and maybe it is not.  But this was for Coach Moore, so it was ok.

Finally I found the score and waited for a break to walk over to where we has standing and told him the score. Auburn was losing 31-24, a score that would go final just minutes later.

It wasn’t much; I’ll never claim it to be. However in that moment, out of all those on the sidelines, coach Moore could have asked anyone, but he asked me. I’ll never forget that.

What is your favorite memory? Share it below.