Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993 TAG: 9305200416
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It will be the last stop for the Timesland athlete who might have as much ability as Cave Spring's fabled twins, Ronde and Tiki Barber.
While the Barbers have soaked up national publicity in track and have been all-state in football, Moyer has quietly gone about having an outstanding career, first at Glenvar and then at Salem.
Moyer will go to Virginia Tech next year on an academic scholarship and walk on for track. Eventually, he hopes to walk on for football.
To do this, Moyer turned down football scholarship offers from the College of William and Mary and Wake Forest, James Madison and Appalachian State universities. According to Salem coach Willis White, college football coaches were shocked when Moyer passed up a career to pursue academics.
In the last two years at Salem, Moyer caught 32 passes for 10 touchdowns. This past year he also played defensive back.
His speed is unquestioned. He has beaten the best in town this spring in the 100-meter dash.
"He's got a lot of natural talent, but he's just beginning to show it," said Salem track coach Larry Bradley. "Last year he was injured [with a pulled hamstring] and didn't get a chance to show it."
White said, "I think he's had a big change of attitude this spring. He's worked harder. Keith's matured and he realizes he didn't reach his potential last spring. He's a senior, so he'll give it his best shot this year."
As for what Moyer might accomplish at the state track meet, "there's a possibility [he could win all the events], but it will take an iron man to do that because he'll have to run three 200s and three 100s because of trials," said Bradley.
"I've been thinking about it and it's kind of rough," Moyer conceded. "But I'm determined to try to do the best. I feel like I owe it to myself to do that because of [being injured] last year.
"I think my injury was kind of an accident. I hadn't trained enough or I could have prevented it."
Moyer transferred from Glenvar after his sophomore football season. He was a big-play star for the Highlanders along with Brandon Semones. At Salem, he never qualified for Timesland receiving leaders. He could make the spectacular reception while at other times dropping routine throws.
"It's all like a mind game," said Moyer. "When I came to Salem, I wanted to prove myself. Sometimes, if if you try too hard, you screw things up."
Still, every football team feared his speed. Moyer, quarterback Tra Wilson and tailback Marcus Parker gave Salem three big-play threats who could score from anywhere on the field.
"I would say his best years [in football] are ahead of Keith," White said. "He improved tremendously from his first year here. We didn't play him on defense his first year because we didn't want to overload him. So we worked him into defense slowly and he really helped us last fall. He was better on offense than he was on defense when he came to Salem and now he might be a little better on defense."
Moyer said he didn't take a football scholarship "because I don't want to be told what to do. If I want to do something, I want to choose to do it. If I was a professional and got paid I should be told what to do."
An outstanding track performer, Moyer said "football is my favorite sport. I always wanted to play football, but I never saw myself getting a college scholarship like that."
He didn't want to play football as a freshman because of the stress and believes track won't be so pressurized.
"Coach [Rickey] Bustle [Tech offensive coordinator] asked if I was coming out. I told him no and he asked me to come out the spring of my freshman year. I've talked to the track people, plus Coach Bustle said they'd work around the track schedule," said Moyer.
Moyer, 5 feet 10 and 165 pounds, is not upset at the lack of attention he has received compared to the Barbers, whom he has played against since recreation football leagues.
"The Barbers are good friends of mine," Moyer said. "I'm not jealous of them and they deserve all the attention they've gotten."
Yet one day, people might be talking about Moyer if he ever goes for college football with the same determination he has this spring in trying to win state track titles in four events.
"It's a possibility [five years from now] he'll be a sleeper in the pro draft," White said. "Keith has big-time skills. The type of skills you watch on Sunday. He's very intelligent and diligent."
by CNB