OSU wide receiver Charlie Moore looks to build on spring game success
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Sunday, August 05, 2012
8/05/12 at 6:10 AM
STILLWATER - Charlie Moore doesn't want to be known as Mr. Spring.
"The spring game is in the past," the junior receiver said at Oklahoma State's football media day. "I want to be known for how hard I work every day."
Moore graduated from anonymity to spring superhero when he caught nine passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the Orange-White game in April. He said he gained a couple hundred Twitter followers and, all of a sudden, professors knew he was a football player.
One-hit wonder? Or a sign of things to come?
Moore caught a total of seven balls for 114 yards during his freshman and sophomore seasons, but receivers coach Kasey Dunn wasn't entirely surprised by the spring bonanza because Moore had made plays throughout spring drills.
"I worked as hard as I can in the summer carrying it over," Moore said. "I am loving what I am doing and loving who I am doing it with, and I'm just going to keep going working hard and hopefully (good things) will happen on Saturdays."
Moore - who is aiming for another Big 12 championship - wants the Cowboys to benefit from his dedication. But some teammates are being "tortured" because of his work ethic.
This is why: Receivers who are judged to be the worker of the day are allowed to serve as disc jockey and choose the music played in the meeting room. Moore said he loves many kinds of music, but he's a country guy.
Said Dunn, "It's funny because as soon as I put that (worker of the day) up there and they see Charlie's face go up there, it's immediate 'booo!' Here comes George Strait. It's hysterical."
Said a smiling Moore, "They have to deal with it. I think I'm starting to get them to like it a little more."
Not a chance, according to fellow receiver Tracy Moore, who said, "I hate it. It's my motivation for practicing. He plays nothing but country."
Charlie Moore won the first worker of the day award of preseason camp and - perhaps mercifully, depending on your taste in music - subjected teammates to disco instead of country on Saturday.
Mike Gundy said the spring hero has done well the first couple of days of practice.
"Charlie is a guy that was just on the edge of kind of breaking out over the last year or so but he would tweak a hamstring or an ankle and it would kind of set him back for a few weeks," the coach said. "And so I think he is in really good shape and he is stronger than he ever has been. If he stays healthy, he should be productive."
Cooper Bassett said spring fame won't go to Charlie Moore's head.
"He is one of the most grounded guys I know," the defensive end said.
"He's someone who will always deflect praise. He is just a very, very humble guy. That's why I was so happy to see the success in the spring game is because he is a guy that is never going to shout 'look at me, look at me.' His play spoke louder than any words could, so I was glad to see that."
Bassett said it's unrealistic to expect Charlie Moore to duplicate his spring numbers every game. "But I think Charlie is going to have a huge impact on our team and I'm sure he will have some awesome numbers this season."
OSU season opener
Vs. Savannah State 6 p.m. Sept. 1
TV: none Radio: KFAQ am1170
OSU observations, practice report. B6
Original Print Headline: OSU season opener
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Oklahoma State wide receiver Charlie Moore signs a helmet at Fan Appreciation Day in Stillwater on Saturday. KT KING / Tulsa World
Tia Northcutt has her shirt signed by Oklahoma State kicker Quinn Sharp at Oklahoma State's Fan Appreciation Day Saturday in Stillwater. KT King/Tulsa World
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