Moore, Pierson-El Share an Unbreakable BondMoore, Pierson-El Share an Unbreakable Bond
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Moore, Pierson-El Share an Unbreakable Bond

Video: Husker Day By Day Highlights at Minnesota

Riley’s Weekly Presser      Moore Meets the Media

Huskers Return Home       Nebraska Rocks, Rolls

Honoring B1G Riley Milestone, Armstrong's  Gem

 

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

What a difference a week makes, especially after Nebraska wins its first Big Ten Conference football game of the season at Minnesota, and two Husker wide receivers, who share an unbreakable bond, are media targets at Mike Riley’s press conference. The questions were simple, the answers positive. The atmosphere reflected cheer, inspiring quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. to roll into Memorial Stadium’s press box on a two-wheel, self-balancing hover board.

Lincoln-based broadcaster John Bishop asked Armstrong if his new ride represented college football’s new full cost of attendance. Everyone in the room laughed. Even though Nebraska is riding a simple one-game winning streak, it felt more like four because a burden has been lifted and Husker confidence is soaring two days after a 48-25 mastery of the Golden Gophers.

Even Riley’s weekly injury report was cause for optimism instead of headshakes. The happy hour was uniquely upbeat in a sprawling media huddle that surrounded the filming of De'Mornay Pierson-El answering 15 minutes of questions while teammate Alonzo Moore was trying to get his attention and force a laugh.

Moore, who had just completed his own bonus 13-minute interview about 10 yards down the hall, successfully rattled Pierson-El while he described his 42-yard punt return, plus college football’s most dramatic 14-yard touchdown catch of the season…Pierson-El’s acrobatic tip of the ball that enabled him to know exactly where to cradle it in the end zone.

Fans need to understand that Moore, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior from Winnfield, La., is like a brother to Pierson-El, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound sophomore from Alexandria, Va. “I have to get you back and I will,” Pierson-El promised Moore in the midst of his briefly interrupted interview.

Blood Could Not Make Moore and Pierson-El Any Closer

“Blood couldn’t make us any closer than we are,” Pierson-El said of Moore (pictured above scoring a touchdown). “He gets me and I get him. We came from the same kind of background and grew up similar. We share a common love and have an unbreakable bond.”

That bond separates two hard-working players who motivate and support each other. Three years older than Pierson-El, Moore became a true voice of wisdom, informing and inspiring his second-year teammate about the right way to fight through injury, show patience and maintain focus. Moore knows, understands and shares his thoughts to keep Pierson-El mentally sharp and emotionally balanced.

“Alonzo is a leader on and off the field,” Pierson-El said. “He helps you prepare and be patient. He’s helped me become a lot more patient, whether it involves football or something outside of football. Alonzo can bring a light to any dark room. That’s just who he is. Action speaks louder than words, and that’s also who he is. He has a lot of talent. When he needs to talk and be serious, he is. He’s also a clown at times…not a bad clown…a good one. He laughs and focuses on the right things and doesn’t stress out.”

Both wide receivers hold a special place in their head coach’s heart. “I have a lot of respect for Alonzo,” Riley said. “He’s a hard worker, a good guy and a good football player. All we had to do was teach him. He’s a great learner. He’s totally engaged, and he’ll do anything you want him to do. He’s started on all four special teams. He’ll run the ball. He’ll catch it. Alonzo is always ready because he practices well. You can do a lot with a guy like that."

Life hasn't been easy, but Moore has learned how to adjust. He sees his life lessons through faith. "God will take you to hell just to get you to heaven," he said.  "He's going to take you through all those dark rooms, but you just have to stay with it and trust the process. I think that's what our guys did. We trusted the process and stayed with it. Things from here can only go up."

Riley Developing a Plan to Get Football into DPE’s Hands

According to Riley (pictured above after his first B1G win), Pierson-El is also trending upward as he continues to feel more comfortable coming off of foot surgery. His coaches discussed Sunday the strategy of increased opportunity for the All-America freshman. Pierson-El needs to learn more to play more, simply because knowledge cannot replace practice reps.

“It’s one thing knowing what you’re doing, but also knowing what adjustments you have to make if the coverage looks like this or looks like that,” Riley said. Playing is “a little more complicated than just throwing him back in there and throwing him the ball,” Riley said. “We do need to get him going more. We have things that are specifically good for him that we really have to focus on. So if, indeed, we do not play him on every play, the things that we have for him, we need to extenuate and get him the football.”

Nebraska running back Terrell Newby was asked about the impact Pierson-El has on the Huskers. "He's a big play waiting to happen, especially on punt returns and getting us in good field position," Newby said. "With him out there, he could get the ball on a sweep or just be a good target in the passing game. He definitely adds another weapon to our offense."

Pierson-El and Moore are both team-first competitors. “It took me a year-and-a-half to get my blocking down,” Moore said Monday. “It’s part of the game. I’m more proud of my team winning than the individual goals involved. I want to sacrifice every ounce I have for the team.” Pierson-El is younger and learning to develop that mindset, and the interesting twist between Moore as a mentor and Pierson-El as a close friend and mentee is how both played quarterback in their respective high schools in Virginia and Louisiana. They were born to lead and to win.

“I’m taking guys to the ground now blocking,” Moore said. “I’m a receiver and that comes with the job.” Former Husker Quincy Enunwa learned how to block. So did current teammates Jamal Turner and Taariq Allen. Redshirt freshman Stanley Morgan Jr. is a particularly adept blocker.

Husker Wide Receiver Gets a New Nickname: Officer Stan

Nebraska wide receivers coach Keith Williams calls Morgan “Officer Stan” now that he’s shown how receivers can block dramatically. “I’m ahead of Officer Stan (pictured above, helping a Golden Gopher he blocked get back up), but onlyby two blocks,” Moore said with a laugh. “It’s a big competition for all of us. Whenever we get one, we call it the ranch. These guys (defending wide receivers) are the chicken nuggets, but we want the ranch, the dressing that gives every block a better taste. Every time one of us takes a DB to the ground, we get credit for a ranch.”

Both wide receivers rave about their position coach. “Coach Williams…I love the guy,” Moore said. “I love him a lot, especially when he lets us have fun. He coaches us not only as a receiver, but after football and life in general.”

Moore honors Riley in similar fashion. “Coach Riley’s a smooth operator,” he said. “He’s already had a big influence on me. He’s given me advice as a football player, a student and valuable information about life after football. I’ve learned to reflect on that. He’s a good teacher.”

Reflection was also automatic for Pierson-El. “I was glad I caught the ball I tipped,” he said. “I had a year’s frustration leading up to that game after what happened last year (losing two fumbles to the same Minnesota defender in Lincoln). We were at a crossroads. It was a confidence boost when we needed it. We stayed focused and came together to play a full game.”

Leaning on Captains Armstrong, Westerkamp and Collins

Both wide receivers view the win over Minnesota as a kick-start to a team they envisioned before losing four games in the final 14 seconds of all four decisions. “We have great leaders,” Moore said. “I’m going to follow the leaders we have. I’m going to stick with guys like Tommy Armstrong, Jordan Westerkamp (pictured above) and Maliek Collins no matter what. Tommy sacrifices so much. Every time I catch a ball from him, I know what kind of punishment he’s getting.

“Westerkamp makes big sacrifices all the time, too,” Moore said. “He’s a role model, a guy I will always look up to, on the field and off the field. He does everything right and still stays totally humble. Maliek is quiet, but he always shows how much he cares. I see the blood, sweat and tears that all of these guys are making every day in practice and in every game. They sacrifice their bodies just like they sacrifice their minds.”

Asked to translate and describe what all that means, Moore offers an instant answer. “The sky’s still the limit for this team,” he said. “We just have to keep practicing hard, put our hearts on the line and play every game like we did Saturday. We have a shot because every game starts zero-zero. We have the boost we needed and want to keep it going.”

Pierson-El doesn't shy away from such optimism either. “I’m not a futurist,” he said. “I’m a one-game-at-a-time guy and more a man of action than a man of words. But I will say if we continue to work as hard and prepare like we have, I think we can be an eye-opener for a lot of people down the stretch. Again, I’m no fortune-teller. I can only go on a day-to-day basis. One day at a time is the only way to get focused and stay focused. If we do that, we’re going to be a handful for anybody. It all depends on how hard we work, how much better we get, and how we do it. It has to be together, and that’s the most important part of all.”

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