BOULDER — Colorado’s first win in 51 weeks turned late in the first half last week when former walk-on Ryan Moeller made a diving interception in the end zone against Massachusetts. The redshirt sophomore safety from the small town of Rifle on the Western Slope changed the game’s momentum.
Moeller was on “Cloud 9” after the play. So were his family up in Section 119, Row 41.
“I came off my seat and I don’t think my feet hit the ground,” said his father, Jay, who played football and wrestled at Northern Iowa. “I was so excited, cheering and watching the replays, slapping hands. They couldn’t play (the replay) enough for us.”
Added Moeller’s sister, Kaitlin: “All five of our seats were empty at that point.”
Moeller made coach Mike MacIntyre pretty happy, too. MacIntyre encouraged to him to walk on at CU, and Moeller played well enough last year that MacIntyre gave him a scholarship just before training camp this summer.
“I told him after spring practice, ‘If we have a scholarship available, I will give you one,'” MacIntyre said. “He’s earned every bit of it.”
Moeller plays for more than himself, his team and his tuition, though. His high school coach, Damon Wells, believes Moeller’s success gives hope to players at other 3A schools, especially those on the Western Slope.
Moeller also plays for the memory of a high school teammate. He wears No. 25 because he wore No. 5 at Rifle High School and teammate Austin Booth wore No. 2. Booth, who was a year ahead of Moeller, died when Moeller was a sophomore.
“I think about him every day,” Moeller said. “I think that me being able to be out here is not just for me, it’s for both of us. I think about him before every game.”
In January of 2011, Booth went to the hospital with flu symptoms. Four days later he was dead at age 17 from pneumonia and an antibiotic-resistant staph infection.
Jay Moeller said it took Ryan “an awfully long time” to get over the loss of his friend.
“He harbored those feelings I think until after he graduated,” Jay said. “There was like a little memorial set up in Ryan’s room. It took him and many, many others a long time. (Booth) was very special. Not only was he a great athlete, but a very special human being who touched a lot of people.”
Wells says similar things about Moeller, especially the way he handled the aftermath of Booth’s death. Rifle, a small rural community of 9,000 on Interstate 70 between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, was rocked when it lost Booth.
“During that process, there were many times when Ryan stepped up and was the leader for kids and adults alike,” Wells said. “While he was stepping up to be a leader, he was phenomenally impacted by Austin’s passing. Still, he was able to put his own feelings and emotions on the back burner to try to serve others. It was a challenge for him, but he was always able to be bigger than the moment.”
Moeller, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, rushed for 3,002 yards his senior year, second-most in Colorado and seventh-most in the nation. , MacIntyre saw Moeller was a good athlete, but CU had plenty of running backs committed.
“I didn’t know he could be a safety,” MacIntyre said. “I knew he was a good running back. I encouraged him to walk on, and I’m sure glad he did. We moved him from running back to defensive back and I said, ‘He’s got a chance there.’ Then he red-shirted, learned how to play (in 2013). Last year he came into his own.”
Moeller played in all 12 games, starting two. In his first start he , setting a school record for most tackles in a debut game.
Moeller grew up a CU fan, so .
“I knew it was going to be a long road, a tough road, being a walk-on,” Moeller said. “But you don’t have a chance unless you’re in the door.”
MacIntyre is grateful Moeller took it.
“I am sure glad we got Ryan Moeller,” MacIntyre said. “I’m excited for him and excited for us, that we have him two more years after this.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnmeyer
Moeller file
A closer look at Colorado sophomore strong safety Ryan Moeller
– Played in 12 games as a freshman, starting two
– Was awarded scholarship prior to fall camp this year
– As senior at Rifle High School, Denver Post named him first-team All-Colorado and Class 3A state player of the year
– Averaged 10.2 yards per carry as a senior
– Majoring in communications at Colorado
– Hobbies include snowboarding, camping, fishing and playing basketball.
