North Carolina State University Athletics
Torn Dreams and No Regrets
9/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2005
Ralaigh, N.C. - The year is 2003, and a redshirt sophomore has proven his worth on the Wolfpack defense, earning starts in five of the first seven games of the season. The date is October 11 and the opponent is the University of Connecticut.
For Renaldo Moses, his season to remember turned into a season to forget with not one or two, but three torn knee ligments in one disastrous moment. Fearing the worst but not wanting to show weakness, Moses got up and limped off the field. He got to the bench and sat down as the athletic training staff and team doctors surrounded him. Moses already knew it was a serious knee injury. He knew because he couldn't move his knee.
"I came off the edge and the running back came at me trying to cut block me," Moses said as he recalled the play. "I braced myself for the impact, but his helmet must have still hit my knee. Not only did he hit me, but he rolled over my leg. At that moment, lying on the ground I knew something was seriously wrong. I felt like this was it, this was God's will."
The first injury ever to cause Moses to miss a regular-season game in college or high school, a knee injury such as his can end more than a season. It can end a career.
"I dislocated my elbow in spring drills of 2002, and I just smiled because I felt God was just testing me," Moses said. "I felt like my knee injury was just another test for me to prove I can bounce back and play again, and play good, after my knee."
Moses' Wolfpack career was just getting started in 2003, as it marked his breakthrough season. After redshirting his freshman year in 2001, he played just 73 snaps in 11 games in 2002, tallying two sacks and 12 tackles. Moses come on strong to earn five starts in the first seven games, recording three sacks, five tackles for loss, seven quarterback pressures and two caused fumbles. Just 10 plays into the seventh game of the season, it was over for the Rockingham, N.C., native.
"I thought about it being the last time I played football at the moment," Moses remembered. "It was very tough. This one time I was lying in bed before I had surgery, and my leg slid over to the right like it was about to fall off. I couldn't stop it.
"I thought about not being able to help my teammates. I thought about ways that I could contribute, and I realized the value of being there to cheer my teammates on, to root for them. That's all I could do at the time, even though I wanted to do more."
Assistant head coach and defensive line coach Todd Stroud was quick to mention Moses' value to the Wolfpack team and family.
"Renaldo is a true team player," Stroud said. "He knows his role and has patiently waited his turn. He comes into the game as a pass rusher and goes 100 percent, every snap. He is a very unselfish player and person. Renaldo is well-regarded on this team and a great guy to be around, and the team, I think, respects him for that."
With a blown out knee - he tore the ACL, MCL and LCL in his right knee - Moses was faced with a daunting rehabilitation period. After waiting two weeks before surgery to get the swelling down, a six-month period of rehab would precede any attempt to play football again. He missed spring drills in 2004 and was finally cleared to play in fall camp before last season. Moses' motivation to get back on the field was simple, and it was aided by the tried and true principles of faith and family. His mother, Precellia, is a minister and has aided Moses in discovering who he is and what drives him.
"The love of the game kept me motivated," Moses remarked. "I just love the game, period, point blank. I just had to keep on pushing so I could get back on the field. My goal is and has always been to make it to the next level, the NFL, but that's all in God's plan."
Before his NFL dreams can become reality, Moses had to make it back on the field for the Wolfpack. In his comeback season of 2004, Moses played in eight games and saw action on 53 snaps. He admits he was tentative in his play because of his knee and very conscious of it, not wanting to reaggrevate the injury.
"It's really a mental thing," Moses said. "About the middle of last season I felt I was ready to get out there and play as hard as I can. This year, I don't even think about it anymore."
Stroud echoes Moses' assessment. "I think last season was really tough on Renaldo," Stroud said. "Anytime you have to have your knee reconstructed you lose confidence in yourself and in your ability on the field. He has really come on strong this year and is showing no signs of his knee bothering him. That is a testament to who Renaldo is."
Showing the composure and work ethic that eventually led him back on the field after the injury, Moses has used every bit of time learning and training to put himself in a position to achieve his goals. Stroud has pushed Moses to be the best he can, and to become a better pass rusher. He has tried to lead by example, and he has set a high standard to live up to.
"I always felt like we have too many chiefs and not enough Indians," Moses said. "I want to lead by example and I think we need more people like that. I want people to see me working and say, `Look at Renaldo, look how he is doing it.' I want these young guys to know that whatever their role is, it can help the team."
A valuable lesson for sure, but can Moses move on and not think what might have been if he didn't hurt his knee?
"I see it like this," Moses said. "Every snap I get I'm going to do all I can do. I'm going to give 100 percent on every snap, and that way I'll have no regrets from my standpoint."
Speaking of regrets, NC State will never regret having Renaldo Moses wear its uniform.
