All That Chazz

When Chazz Moore speaks, people not only listen, they usually are intrigued by what they hear.

From wisecracks to inspirational ploys, Moore, an outspoken and quick-witted senior cornerback for Cal State Northridge, not only plays a good game but talks a good one, too. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Moore, quoted in an Oregon newspaper this week, characteristically put his money where his mouth is, so to speak, by guaranteeing a Northridge victory over Portland State in a key Big Sky Conference game tonight at Portland’s Civic Stadium.

“We are definitely going to beat Portland State,” Moore told the Portland Oregonian. “We are at the point where we can’t afford to lose. The way we are playing right now, I don’t think anybody is going to beat us.”

The Super Bowl, it’s not. But the game is crucial for both teams.

Northridge (5-3, 4-2 in conference play) can pull even with Portland State (7-2, 5-1) and remain in contention for the conference title. Portland State, guaranteed its first winning season in four years in the Big Sky, needs a victory to remain in a first-place tie with Montana.

For Moore, a native of Portland and the only Northridge player from Oregon, the game means a lot more.

“I’m from Portland,” Moore said. “I was raised in Portland, played high school football in Portland. I’m known in Portland. This is my home debut.”

With Moore’s college career nearing an end, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior is focusing on lofty goals that include playing in the NFL. After two years as a starter at Northridge, Moore acknowledges that being drafted is a longshot and that he likely will have to ask for a tryout.

Moore said he just needs to take center stage.

“It’s just the confidence I have in myself,” he said. “All I need is a chance. I just need to be in front of the right people at the right time and I know. I’m not even worried about it.”

Nor was Moore backpedaling or claiming he was misquoted after a copy of the Oregonian story circulated throughout the Northridge locker room and offices. Moore said his statements were intended to inspire his teammates and that he was speaking from the heart.

“I made that statement and we’re going to live by it,” Moore said. “Some of the guys said, ‘Oh, Chazz, you know that’s risky.’ But I really believe in my heart that we’re going to win. I know it’s going to get them all fired up in Portland. But we know how big of a game this is and how badly we need to win.

“I’ve had visions of this as a little boy, coming home and playing in the big game in front of my hometown. For some reason, I believe it was meant to happen like this.”

Moore’s comments not only figure to inspire the Vikings, they have stirred the Matadors--for better or worse.

Interim Coach Jeff Kearin would have preferred that his best defensive back concentrate on tackling rather than talking. But Moore’s enthusiasm is difficult to contain.

“We addressed [this issue] in preseason that we don’t want to fire anybody up or give them bulletin-board material,” Kearin said. “But my thought is, he’s done this, it was important to him and I like the confidence factor. The problem is, he’s put us all on the line.”

Northridge players say, “That’s Chazz.”

“C-Mo,” as Moore is known, has long held a dual role of team catalyst and class clown.

“Chazz is talkative,” Kearin said. “But he backs it up with hard work and pretty good play. I don’t think what he did is a destructive thing to our team. He just took a liberty.”

During postgame news conferences, Moore is quick to needle teammates or deliver a one-liner. When cornered, he is thoughtful and introspective and makes numerous references to his religious faith.

“Most cornerbacks, that’s a characteristic they have,” fullback Jaumal Bradley said. “Very seldom do you find someone in that position who is quiet. He has confidence. He has confidence in his friends and confidence in his team and he gives it to me.

“For most of us, this is just another road game. But Chazz is making it bigger for us.”

When all has been said, Moore and his teammates still need to get the job done.

“I definitely think I’m going to be a marked man,” Moore said. “But I wanted to give them a reason to come at me. And I’m going to rise to the challenge.”