Miller Moss blocks out the noise, rises above play with self-awareness
It ends for all of us.
For some of us, it came when our peers grew quicker, faster, and stronger during the transition from middle school to high school. Others were lucky enough to postpone the inevitable decline of their athletic career and aching bodies, but at some point, this whole sports thing ends. Even for the varsity quarterback.
For Louisville signal caller Miller Moss, that comes next Tuesday in Boca Raton, Florida, against Toledo.
Okay, Moss’s playing career isn’t exactly over, but it is at Louisville. He’ll have professional opportunities and have the chance to make a career for himself in the NFL or elsewhere, but the self-awareness of the California Cardinal is clear: Moss gets it; there was no way he wasn’t going to play in Louisville’s Bowl Game.
“It’s your obligation to the guys that you work year-round with to give it everything you have, regardless of how you may be feeling,” Moss told the media on Tuesday.
“You never know when this football thing ends,” he added later when asked about the decision to play. “I’m certainly very excited about the next steps about my career…when you invest so much in a certain group and in your craft, you want to finish it the right way.”
A similar sentiment followed his absence at SMU. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback suffered a freak weight room accident, which forced him to hobble around on the sidelines during the deflating 38-6 loss at SMU. A bad left foot could have easily ended Moss’s season and college career if he wanted it to. The Cardinals lost three in a row last month, with Moss struggling in the home losses to Clemson and California. He threw for 415 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception over the two-game span.
It seemed like Louisville, especially the fanbase, was ready to head in a different direction over the final month of the season. However, Moss came here to play quarterback, and after fighting through the foot injury against Kentucky, he confirmed his commitment to his teammates and coaches by gutting it out and putting together one of his better performances of the fall. In the 41-0 UK stomping, Moss threw a season-best three touchdowns while only incompleting eight passes and running in a score, being down his top two pass-catchers in Chris Bell, who is out for the year with a torn ACL, and Caullin Lacy, who was limited in his offensive role.
“If I wasn’t feeling good, I probably wouldn’t play,” said Moss. “Disappointed that I missed the game (SMU) throughout the regular season. Was happy how we were able to capitalize on the final week against our rival.”
“I’m not gonna sit here and take a ton of credit, and be like ‘oh, I’m so tough and put it on the line for the team’, I think at the end of the day I’m a part of a much bigger group.”
On the season, the USC transfer has thrown for 2,562 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 64 percent of his passes. Moss also ran in a team-best nine scores. Statistically speaking, it wasn’t the year he wanted for his final year of college, but Moss led Louisville to two wins over College Football Playoff teams, Miami and James Madison.
Toledo’s defense will present a tall task for the Louisville offense. The Rockets ranked No. 3 nationally in total defense this year and No. 4 in scoring defense, allowing just over 12 points a game. Nine of 11 starters on defense were named to an All-MAC team. The Toledo defense intercepted more passes (13) than it allowed passing touchdowns (9) and only allowed 158.4 pass yards a game — 8th in the nation.
Louisville will once again be shorthanded at the skill positions next Tuesday, and for Moss, there has to be something said about his continued presence through the outside noise. He kept showing up for his teammates, and that’s how Moss’ time at Louisville will be remembered.
“It’s been a ride for sure, it’s been a journey…I care a ton about this group of people, and I want us to go out with one last positive memory, a victory together,” he added.
