Great Day In Harrisburg As Former Redbank Valley Coach Dave Moore Is Inducted To PSFCA Hall Of Fame (05/28/19)

(Photos by Coach Moore’s son-in-law Shane white or CSZ) Above photo:2019 PSFCA Hall of Fame Inductees (L-R) Jim Morgans, Dave Moore, John Hayes, Ted Nypaver

Typically Clarion Sports Zone covers Clarion Area School District Athletics and other youth sports around the Clarion community, but once in a while there may be a story from out of our coverage area that warrants posting. This is one one of those times.

I had the pleasure of attending the induction of friend and former Redbank Valley football coach, Dave Moore, into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) Hall of Fame, at the Best Western Premier-The Central Hotel and Conference Center, in Harrisburg this past Sunday (May 27th).

Leading the Bulldogs from 1979-1996, coach Moore had a 118-51-5 record. The team had three District Nine Class-AA championships and were runners-up twice. They were KSAC Champs three times and won one Little 12 title. He was twice named Little 12 Coach of the Year. He also coached the girls’ basketball team for ten years, compiling a 136-85 record and winning a District Nine title and coached track and field.

Matt Moore serving as his father’s presenter, mentioned some of the things coach Moore did behind the scenes, helping the football program, that folks may not realize, such as: driving twenty miles to get a student, who didn’t have transportation, to practice; running the strength and conditioning program; watering the field with the local fire company.

He shared a story showing his father’s toughness and dedication to the team. In the first quarter of a game, coach Moore was hit by a player on the sideline, blowing his knee out. He refused to leave, finishing the game on crutches, before going to the hospital. Matt Moore said his father didn’t miss one game or practice in eighteen years.

Stepping up to the podium, coach Moore thanked, “the thousands of people who have helped” him. He thanked the PSFCA for selecting him, mentioning the emotions he experienced when notified: happy, sad, excited, depressed, saying he screamed and cried. He likened the feeling to when he and his wife Nancy’s children were born. Coach Moore said he was humbled at being chosen.

He shared some of his experiences as an assistant coach on the Zuni Indian Reservation, in New Mexico, saying it was one of “the greatest experiences ever…” He also described many of the hardships faced by students and families on the reservation.

Coach Moore thanked his past players and members of his coaching staff, a number who were in attendance. Among the coaches mentioned were, Mike Brown, Ben Kundick (who was in attendance), Bob Carmichal (who also was in attendance), Ed Wasilowski and the late Larry Shumaker.

Others he thanked were his parents. He said his 92 year old mother, who was in attendance, would work 8-9 hours in a factory job and then come home and work and do household chores etc. He mentioned his father’s hard work in providing for the family.

Coach Moore thanked his wife and kids for their support, saying without the support of your family, “you won’t coach.”

Coach Moore mentioned three keys to success in football: 1) Discipline, 2) Fundamentals (knowing the game) and 3) Heart.

About “Heart,” he mentioned that everyone thought he’d get a professional baseball contract, which didn’t happen. He said he had no one else to blame but him self and vowed to never let it happen again and that when he coached he always gave heart. “Heart” was something that he credited his teams with having.

Coach Moore concluded by accepting the honor, in the name of his father and Larry Shumaker, who he credits as being a major influence in his life. Shumaker’s son Greg, was among the former players in attendance. Also in attendance were some of Coach Moore’s Rimersburg friends.

His last statement before receiving his plaque, was, “Go Dogs!”

Coach Moore and the other inductees, John Hayes (Bellwood-Antis, Tyrone), Jim Morgans (Allentown Central Catholic, Salisbury, Parkland) and Ted Nypaver (Southern Huntingdon, Spring-Ford, Beth Center, Blairsville, Mount Pleasant) will be included in the PSFCA Hall of Fame display at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. They were recognized at halftime of the Big 33 Game (Pennsylvania vs Maryland) on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. The Big 33 Game had a major emphasis honoring our military.

In listening to the other inductees, the love affair between coach, team, community and family must be a common denominator among successful football mentors.

Coach Moore will be honored by Redbank Valley prior to the kickoff of the Bulldogs’ season opener with Keystone, on Friday, August 23rd.

(Thanks to Shane White for his photos. CONGRATULATIONS COACH MOORE AND THE MOORE FAMILY AND TO HIS REDBANK VALLEY FAMILY!!!!)