Oregon's Dante Moore hosts hundreds at Eugene youth football camp
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Dante Moore couldn't wipe the smile off his face June 20 as he walked on the turf at Marist Catholic High School in front of hundreds of kids attending his youth camp.
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The Oregon football quarterback trotted on to the field to repeated chants of "Dante" from the crowd of kids ages 6-16, including several "I love you, Dante" screams.
The typically calm and collected Moore couldn't help but laugh and think back to his days as a kid chasing a dream in Michigan.
"I remember when I used to go to camps and see people walk around that are in the NFL and in college and I said, 'One day I’m gonna be in their shoes,'" Moore said. "It’s just funny because when they say them type of things it just makes me enjoy and appreciate life. Just making sure that I’m putting the right impact into people’s lives."
The camp, put on by FlexWork Sports — the same group that helped Bo Nix put in his youth camp two years ago at North Eugene High — featured drills run by FlexWork coaching volunteers and Moore's interaction with kids, including throwing and catching passes during chaotic two-hand touch mock scrimmages.
Before that, Moore spoke to the crowd and said he'd answer any three questions from the group.
The first was the first question Moore had to answer this spring after opting to return to Oregon for a third season: Why not go to the NFL?
He gave the same answer he gave reporters then, that he still had things to work on and things he wanted to accomplish for the Ducks.
The next question was much tougher: "Are you better than Bo Nix?"
Moore shook his head and said "no," with a smile. The last question was if Moore could play for any NFL team, what would it be? A heavy contingent of Seattle Seahawks fans lined the young crowd, who shouted out their support of the team to which Moore eventually Seattle for the group.
Afterward, Moore's focus was on preaching football as being something that's fun and not competitive all the time.
"We can be loving in the way we can connect with other people and making sure we have a great time," Moore said. "It’s just having a great time with the kids and seeing everybody smile and run around."
Moore has made a habit of showing up in the Eugene-Springfield community of late. After a Thurston Elementary teacher and her students sent letters to Moore throughout the year and read his children's book, "From Journey to Dream," Moore visited the second-grade class earlier this month to surprise the group, sign autographs and take pictures.
Though Moore has only lived in Eugene for a few years, the community feels like home, he said.
"This community, this city is loving," Moore said. "Everybody just loves pouring into kids and athletes and it’s just when you see that, you just want to give back … I’m thankful for them and of course the teacher."
Moore's summer of giving back isn't quite over as he and a group of Ducks will head to Japan at the end of the month to host a football showcase. Oregon teammates Bear Alexander and Jeremiah McClellan were also in attendance at the camp.
Moore will head up the road to Portland for another youth camp at Ida B. Wells High on Sunday, as well.
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore hosts youth football camp