Thursday, November 21, 2013

The 'greatest strength of our program is its closeness'- Coach Joe Smith (11/21/2014 N-R)

McMinnville N-R 11/21/2014 edition coverage about Linfield Football, death of player Parker Moore.












Walgreens McMinnville (11/20 and 11/24/2014) and McMinnville First Baptist Church readerboards (11/20/2014). Wildcatville photos.

Linfield coach Joe Smith pens open letter

An open letter from Linfield football coach Joseph Smith was published on the website catdomealumni.blogspot.com Wednesday evening at 10:46 p.m. regarding the Parker Moore tragedy. Smith’s words are among the few public comments on the case from members of the Linfield football program. The letter (text which follows as it appeared in the McMinnville N-R/News-Register 11/21/2014 edition) has been lightly edited for clarity.

Dear Catdome Family,

The past few days have been the most difficult of my life, and certainly the most trying and painful period our program has experienced. It has ripped our hearts out. I believe the greatest strength of our program is its closeness. This truly is a family. It is pillar number one. We say “Family,” we break huddles to “Family,” it’s written in the locker room; but it is more than words. We actually live Family. It is the single greatest characteristic that makes our program what it is. It’s Thor’s hammer; it’s Samson’s hair.

It is also what has made this so painful for all of us. Not only is each member of our team hurting personally, but they have to see the hurt in their fellow teammate’s eyes and the pain is doubled. A former Wildcat just a few years out, wrote to me, “I never had the pleasure of meeting Parker, but that doesn’t matter, once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. If one is hurting, we all are hurting, if one of us is in need we pick each other up.”

I could not agree more. It has been very hard, but that very sentiment shared to me is helping our program process, embrace, and eventually grow from our loss of Parker.

The incredible outpouring of love and support from hundreds of former players, supporters, as well as so many people from the McMinnville community is overwhelming. Businesses and many churches in town have sent their support, many sending incredible letters and wishes. Driving home past the readerboard at Walgreens in McMinnville last night, I had to pull over as I found that so powerful and impacting.  All of this outpouring is humbling and has truly helped our students and staff.  On behalf of our program, I want to publically thank you all.

I have to agree with sentiment that in the midst of tragedy is when you find out what you are made of.  Saturday night at that 7-Eleven I was able to witness firsthand the finest police officers and paramedics one could want, perform in their darkest moment. The way in which they handled the scene was impressive to me. They were professional and yet compassionate. I applaud them for what they do, and I am in their debt. Thank you.  The officers and paramedics that tried to save Parker’s life on that floor, in the ambulance, and in the helicopter – thank you.  To the McMinnville Police Department officers that physically stood between Parker and evil, thank you for protecting ALL in that 7-Eleven. You are heroic to me.

The way in which Linfield has come together to show solidarity and support has given me a renewed hope for this generation. Just when I think my kids can only live digitally, these young men and women showed so much compassion and insight that I was taken aback. I am so proud of our students here. The memorial fence is a testament to the caring and insight and yes, wisdom, that our young adults here possess. I am so proud of Linfield and our students.

The way that colleges all around the country have reached out and expressed their condolences, letting us know we are in their thoughts and prayers, has really helped our team. Many high schools throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest have reached out as well. Thank you.

The Northwest Conference has particularly struck a chord with our team, as the support from our fiercest competitors made a difference for us. Each program in our conference reached out to me personally, some even going further, such as Pacific’s image they posted, Lewis & Clark’s picture of their team honoring Parker, and Whitman’s candlelight vigil. Chapman specifically honored Parker, as is Wesley with a moment of silence planned for their playoff game. To all I say thank you.

The way that Parker Moore lived his life is a testament to his faith and his upbringing. There is no doubt that the Moore family raised an incredible young man. The impact he has had on our campus is what has made his loss so unbearably great. He was a young man that transcended social barriers because of his genuine love and concern for others. In many ways Parker was the total package. I really do believe he embodied all that is good at Linfield, and all that we strive for men in our program to become.

A consummate teammate. Team-first at all cost.  A man of character, his word was his bond.  A man of action. He was a worker that loved the grind. Teddy Roosevelt was writing about Parker when he penned the “man in the arena.”  A true leader.

Some people are born with a magnetic personality and strength of personality that draws people to them. Parker was that man. From a young age I know he exhibited that. What made him a true leader was his compassion and caring for people. His middle-school math teacher, Ryan Adams, wrote a letter that portrays Parker EXACTLY as the image I have in my mind of what I believe Parker would have been like at that age.  A young man that cared more about others more than himself. 

Now besides being a man of action, Parker could talk. That is for sure, and he was funny. He had that gift of timely wit, and knowing when a nickname would stick, and ride it. Since he cared about people, he got people. He knew what would be funny, what would interest others, and would go with it. His positivity was contagious.  Our team will miss that smile and that positive humor and spirit more than I can write. Many have described Parker as a light on campus, and I sure agree with that.

Many around our campus have celebrated the well roundedness and compassion of Parker, and that is so true. However, make no mistake about it, Parker was a linebacker. When he sat in my office with his father contemplating colleges, he asked what we thought about him. I told him, “You are a football player, Parker, and you are our kind of man. We want you.”  He was created to enjoy physical combat; it was in his DNA. Parker could run and hit. And he loved it. Parker loved to compete, especially if he could hit something while competing.  Parker embodied the compassionate warrior that so many of our players strive to be. He was STRONG in ALL the best ways.

Parker Moore is the young man that every father wants their son to grow up to be.   I am so proud of him. The example he has given this team, this college, and hopefully all who read about him, will live on in all the young men who come through this program.  As Lucas Jepson wrote to our team, “Parker Moore is not gone, he’s with us all every step we take. He will be making sure we all represent that Linfield L to the fullest with every step and every moment we encounter.   It’s a chance to rise up and be leaders and change a life.”   I know that the young men on this team will use Parker as an example to live up to, and will be better men from having known him.   I know that will have a ripple effect in our communities and world, and Parker will have made a larger impact than he could imagine. Our coaches will ensure that every future player gets to know Parker and what he stood for.

I know Parker loved our football field, and it was clearly a favorite place of his.   Parker was a strong man of faith.  As hundreds stood on the L in the middle of our field last night at our student led candlelight vigil, I could not help but realize our Parker was at his new favorite place, watching down on his school brought together as one.  I know he has heard the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
I love you, Parker.
Coach Smith
..........

Losing a student to tragedy
Ryan Adams is a math teacher at Leota Junior High School in Woodinville, Washington, where he taught Parker Moore. He wrote this remembrance on his blog.

By Ryan Adams

Text as appearing in McMinnville N-R/News-Register 11/21/2014

Caring about the education of each child who walks into the classroom should be a given for every teacher, but what about students? Should it be expected that each child who enters the classroom cares about the education of every other child in the room?

You know what? Lose the word “expected.” Does this ever happen? Do other teachers encounter students who inherently care about the learning of every other student in the room?

For the first five or six years of my career, I would have easily answered that question with a loud and emphatic no! Students may be willing to help other students, to work in groups, to speak to and disagree respectfully with every other student in the room. But care about their learning? No.

Not, that is, until Parker Archie Moore walked into my ninth-grade Algebra 1 class. At first glance, he looked like the typical alpha male.

 I teach at a junior high with grades 7, 8 and 9. Parker was well known in all three grades, the good-looking, athletic, popular and charismatic kid that girls had crushes on and all athletes looked up to. It seemed he was talented at everything. What I soon learned was that Parker was so much more than talented and could never be defined as anything close to typical. Parker was a special kid.

I first noticed how maturely he carried himself. On the first day of ninth grade, he introduced himself to me and shook my hand, “Mr. Adams, I know we have seen each other around school a lot and joked around in the hallway before, but I wanted to officially introduce myself. I’m Parker.” I laughed and told him to sit down.

Of course, I knew who he was and, of course, he knew me. I first thought he was trying to earn some brownie points with the teacher, or maybe he was an “Eddie Haskell” type student. Boy, was I wrong!

Parker started to distinguish himself as a top student right away. He followed directions to the smallest detail; he listened intently and took notes even when not asked. He ensured the group rules used in my class were being implemented correctly in his group because he trusted me when I said this structure would lead to more learning for him and his classmates.

His work was neat and methodical. He was not afraid to try new things, experiment or admit when he did not know how to solve a problem. But how he interacted with others really set him apart from most students.

With Parker, social circles did not mean much. If he saw someone who did not have a pencil, it did not matter whether they were friends; he would open his binder and give them one of his extra pencils, never expecting to see the pencil again. If someone in his group was confused, he would stop everything to lean over and talk them through whatever they needed. He encouraged others to keep trying because “That’s the only way you are going to learn and get better.” Who is this kid?

One day, I was walking around the room and noticed him writing his number down in another student’s planner. These two were not buddies, did not have the same friends. As a teacher who knows my students fairly well, I knew they were from different worlds. Parker said to him, “If you have trouble tonight, call me. Don’t give up.” Wow.

A similar situation happened later that semester. After class, Parker came up to me and asked if a particular student was attending Want Help Wednesdays, a math help session I held after school for struggling students. I replied no, but I had been trying to encourage him to go. Parker asked, “If I can convince him to stay, can I stay after school, too, and help him? I think he trusts me, and it might help him get over this hump.” Wow.

Parker did persuade him and came to WHW to help him. A few weeks later, Parker again stayed after class to ask me another question, “I seem to be doing pretty well. Do you need some help on Wednesdays after school? Baseball doesn’t start up for another month or two, and I think I could help out while I have the chance.” Wow.

Parker continued to impress me with the generosity of his attention, time, class supplies and smile. His smile was never missing. If he did well on a challenging problem, he smiled. If he struggled, he smiled and took it as an opportunity to get better. If someone in his group struggled, he smiled and offered to help. Parker’s outlook on his life was all about opportunity: the opportunity to learn, play, excel and help others excel.

In discussing the art and philosophy of teaching, I have told colleagues, “I am not here for the ‘A’ students. I am here for the ones who need me most.” I can say with confidence that Parker did not need me to succeed, but I sure needed him. He inspired me to be a better person, teacher and role model.

A few years later, when Parker was a senior in high school, his mom reached out to me about Parker’s college choices. He was debating whether to follow in his sister’s footsteps to Gonzaga or continue his education and football career at Linfield College.

I attended and played football at Linfield, and she wanted my perspective on its size, location, educational quality and the team. This was a no-brainer for me, as Linfield was the best decision I could have made for my college experience. I asked her to send Parker my way.

When Parker came back to my classroom, he filled the room with his smile and greeted me once again with a proper handshake. Only this time, his hand was much bigger and stronger. He sat down and regaled me with stories of his high school classes. The good ones, the tough ones and those he wished he could take again. Not to improve his grade, because he earned an A, but because he felt there was more to learn. Wow.

He asked me if I still had Want Help Wednesdays, and I explained it had expanded into a school-wide program in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Now we have teachers from other content areas, and we help everyone with whatever they need. Parker expressed that he wished our school had that when he was here. When I asked why, he said I bet it would have helped a lot of students in my grade. Wow, again.

Soon we moved the conversation to Linfield College. Why did I choose to go there, and what did I like about it? First, the education one receives at Linfield is hard to match. It is consistently ranked as one of the Top Small Colleges in America and Best Bargains for your money. The community around Linfield is centered on learning. The staff-to-student ratio is one of the best on the West Coast, so you can meet with a professor and not a teacher’s assistant.

Second, the location is great. Living outside Seattle, a four-hour drive to Linfield made weekend trips home do-able, but still far enough away that parents can’t drop in unannounced (smile). Plus, McMinnville is 45 minutes from Portland and Lincoln City. So trips to the city or ocean are close enough for quick getaways.

Third, the football team is more than a team; they are family. The goal of the coaches is to make you a better man first, then a better football player. This philosophy is exemplified by coaches who care about their players, their players’ lives and education. Team, Excellence, Attitude and Class.

I summed everything up for Parker by saying Linfield College is full of students like him, students who care about their learning and the learning of those around them, students who excel in the classroom and athletics.

Parker went home to discuss his choices with his family and consider his priorities. A few days later, I received an e-mail from his mom informing me that Parker had called the coaches at Linfield and committed. The next day, Parker came by my class again. We hugged, and I congratulated him on his choice.

This fall was the start of Parker’s second year at Linfield and his second year on the football team. I attended the homecoming game in October, hoping to watch him play. He had yet to crack the starting rotation but was making a splash on special teams.

In a conversation with someone close to the program, I heard coaches were excited to see what Parker could do in his future at Linfield. Later that evening at a restaurant, I ran into Parker and his mom. I gave him a hug and told him how proud I was of him. I asked him if he was happy with his choice to attend Linfield.

“Yes, I have met so many good people, and I am really enjoying it. I’m a little disappointed I’m not starting yet, but that just means I need to work harder.”

This past Saturday, after Linfield had won its sixth straight conference title, Parker entered the 7-Eleven across the street from Linfield a little after 11 p.m. A local man entered the store and stabbed Parker in the chest. Parker died not long after.

I read the news article on my phone Sunday morning. Shock. Disbelief. Sadness. Denial. Anger. Sorrow. Then again. Shock. Denial. Anger. Sorrow. And again.

I called his mom to offer whatever I could, but what could I do? I called Linfield’s coach, too. I cried.

The past couple of days have been a roller coaster of emotions. I had to leave school Monday because I could not handle being in the classroom where Parker demonstrated incredible humanity for his classmates.

I still remember where he sat. I still remember our conversations. It’s hard to be here. It’s hard to think about going to after-school help on Tuesday and Thursday.

I want to go home and try to sort through this terrible act of evil, but I have to get back into the classroom. I have to be there for the kids who need help, because that’s what Parker would do.

.........

A game week like no other

By Robert Husseman of the McMinnville N-R/News-Register 11/21/2014

Asked about Linfield’s position in the NCAA Division III playoffs on Tuesday afternoon, Wildcats head coach Joseph Smith stiffened his posture slightly and waved his left hand dismissively.

“I didn’t care,” Smith said. “The show was on, and I just asked our guys, ‘Who are we playing first?’”

Smith – and in all likelihood, the Linfield program – still had Parker Moore in his thoughts. The sophomore linebacker from Woodinville, Washington, was fatally stabbed on the night of Nov. 15 at the 7-Eleven convenience store at 901 S. Baker St. in McMinnville, across from the Linfield College campus. Sixteen hours later, the Wildcats (8-1), champions of the Northwest Conference, would learn where they stood in the Division III playoffs.

Smith makes weekly appearances before the media to discuss his team and the week ahead. He did not deviate from that schedule, making his first public appearance since a press conference Sunday to discuss Moore. At that press conference, Smith read a prepared statement and took no questions.

In a deviation from the traditional format, the News-Register was asked to participate in the press conference on the condition that one person would ask one question about Moore’s death to Smith, by a person of the athletic department’s choosing. This condition was agreed to. A request to photograph Smith at the press conference by the News-Register was subsequently denied.

Asking the question about Moore to Smith was Bill Johnson, the Wildcats’ radio play-by-play announcer. Johnson customarily tapes a short segment with Smith before each press conference for the purposes of the Linfield athletic department.

Johnson asked: “It has been the most incredible week and I would imagine that the emotions for the coaching staff and the players, for anybody, Joe, a part of the Linfield nation has spread from the alpha to the omega, from the excitement of winning over Pacific, knowing that you would be into the playoffs, knowing that you definitely are the championship team of the conference for the sixth year in a row, and yet the tragic news that we all received Saturday evening.”

Smith replied: “Yeah, it’s been quite a roller coaster for certain, and our team is really, uh, really happy on Saturday night. We were able to kind of wash away the stink of that Willamette game and a little bit of the disgrace of that. I thought that was awesome. It was a good feeling. We kind of knew that, if we played well, we’d be able to just kind of erase that from memory and learn from it, of course, but move past that.

“And, uh, you know, the events with Parker, they rocked our team. There’s no question. It’s been a brutal deal for our whole campus, and it’s been really hard, so, um, you know, we’re moving past it and – we’re moving through it, I guess, is a better way to say it.

“And, you know, the outpouring of support and love and condolences is quite staggering. The sheer amount of high schools around the state that have called, and, you know – in the forties, probably – and the same amount of colleges from all over the country have called – probably close to 30, 40 colleges – and have sent us their condolences and being there for our team. So, I think that’s just been awesome.

“And just the campus itself has really come together. From security bringing us coffee or hot chocolate, you know, just the little things like that have been truly amazing, just to see what the support groups and the different student groups on campus, coming together for the team and for all the different people that Parker touched, because he touched so many people on campus. It’s been quite a grieving time for most of them.”

While Smith would not mention Moore by name, he gave glimpses to the News-Register of the team’s mindset entering Saturday’s first-round contest.

“I think this whole week would be, I don’t know, new, in terms of different.” he said of how the team had scheduled out the week. “We’ve had a normal week; we’ve tried to keep everything as normal as we can, but not one day will be normal. There’s something different every day that we’re doing to help the team get through this.”

Asked where the game-week routine would deviate, Smith said: “Every day, we’ll have something planned different every day to get through this. I don’t want to go into great detail with that right now. I will. We’ll be able to share a little bit more, but I’m trying to keep my comments to a minimum until we get through those.”

Smith was referring to a team dinner, held in the upper gymnasium of the Health, Human Performance and Athletics Hall at Linfield on Wednesday evening. Neither players nor coaches would take questions from media, and two individuals stood by the door to prevent members of the public from entering.

He was also referring to Linfield’s memorial service for Moore, which was held at Ted Wilson Gymnasium on Thursday evening. The media was invited to participate under strict guidelines put forth by the college.

“Part of the healing process is being together and sharing that together, and our guys need that,” Smith said.

So, about the game. No. 10-ranked Linfield hosts No. 17 Chapman Saturday at noon, in the Panthers’ first NCAA Division III playoff game as a program. The Wildcats and Panthers met up on Sept. 13 in Orange, California, a 21-14 Linfield victory in the first game of the season for both teams.

Seven hours before Moore’s death, the Wildcats had played their most complete game of the season in a 59-0 shellacking of NWC co-champion Pacific at Maxwell Field. Linfield outgained the Boxers 401-144 and forced three turnovers, using excellent field position (seven drives began in Pacific territory) to grind down the opposition.

The Wildcats ran the ball 55 times on Pacific, gaining 316 yards (5.7 per carry). Smith noticed the Boxers guarding heavily against the pass, allowing Linfield its second-best rushing performance of the season.

“I think that our receivers are a great strength of our team,” Smith said. “Last week, Pacific was really nervous of manning those guys up, so you saw a whole lot of Cover 2 (defense), a lot of double coverage, particularly on (Charlie) Poppen, and going to great lengths to try to keep the one-on-one matchups to a minimum out there. That led to getting gutted pretty hard with the run.”

The winner of the Linfield-Chapman game will play the winner of No. 24 Texas Lutheran at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor on Nov. 29. Should the Wildcats and the Crusaders both win, Linfield will be going on the road.

An early road trip in the playoffs is considered a consequence of the Wildcats’ 31-28 loss to Willamette on Nov. 1.

“I think that’s fair,” Smith said. “I don’t have any problem with that.

“For anybody in the west, you’re looking at having to beat three of the big four in a row. You’re going to have to beat Wesley, (Wisconsin-) Whitewater, Union, or Mary Hardin-Baylor. Three of those teams, to win the whole thing. So why not start it earlier, you know?”

.......................

Remembering Parker

By Paul Daquilante Of the McMinnville N/R/News-Register 11/21/2014

Having just commemorated Parker Moore's life as a model Linfield College Wildcat, head football coach Joe Smith pointed upward Thursday night in Ted Wilson Gymnasium and said a final goodbye.
"Well done, Mr. Moore. "Love you Parker."
Moore, a 20-year-old sophomore from Woodinville, Washington, who played football and served as a resident assistant, was stabbed to death last Saturday night at the counter of the 7-Eleven store on South Baker Street across from the main entrance to Linfield.
The assailant, 33-year-old Juventino Bermudez-Arenas, was shot dead by three McMinnville police officers when they were confronted by the knife-wielding McMinnville man in the parking lot of the store.

A 1 1/2-hour celebration of life was held Thursday evening on campus, with about 2,000 people filling the gym, including Moore's parents and sister. The football team, coaches and support staff sat on the court, filling about three-quarters of the chairs that were set up.
Members of the Linfield, McMinnville and Woodinville communities came together to honor a young man who was characterized in so many ways — man of high integrity, ever the optimist, kind, compassionate, loyal, extraordinary, amazing, a bulldog, genuine, caring, non-judgmental, hard-working, engaged and connected, go-getter and simply a special kid.

Linfield President Tom Hellie, Rev. David Massey, Linfield chaplain and assistant professor of religious studies; Smith, Kyle Chandler, a student, teammate and best friend; Jeff McKay, associate dean of students and director of residence life; Elii Fults, teammate, resident life advisor and friend; David Korb, business professor; Wayne Maxwell, Woodinville High School head football coach; Ronnie Harris, a friend and associate pastor at the Woodinville Alliance Church, and Tyler Matthews, the Linfield football team's chaplain and a former Wildcat quarterback, all spoke glowingly about Moore.

"You made me a better person," Chandler said. "I love you and I miss you. I'll never forget you. Rest in peace."

Maxwell, some of his Woodinville coaches and a group of players, many of whom wore their letterman jackets to the service, watched Linfield's football practice earlier Thursday. The Wildcats host Chapman University of Orange, California at noon Saturday in an NCAA Division III first round playoff game at Maxwell Field.

Maxwell stared out at the gather of Linfield coaches and players and told them he understands that it's going to be difficult to go out and play. However, he also assured them that if Moore was in uniform he'd be doing everything possible to get his teammates fired up.
"And he would believe in you," Maxwell said.
The stage was adorned with items that included Moore's framed No. 35 jersey and his helmet.
Moore was a linebacker for the Wildcats, and Smith announced that in the years to come, a junior or senior who embodies the qualities that symbolized Moore will wear jersey No. 35 as a way of honoring him.
The Parker Archie Moore Memorial Fund at the National Christian Foundation Seattle has been established by the Moore family to provide scholarship support to a Linfield student who most exemplifies the character and qualities Moore embodied. Donations can be made by going to www.linfield.edu/parkermoore.
.........

Let not this devastating act divide us one from another
By the McMinnville N-R/News-Register Editorial Board in 11/21/2014 edition

The community of McMinnville and Linfield College, once known as McMinnville College, have forged far richer and more meaningful ties than is typical for town and gown. For more than a century and a half, they have been nurturing a close, mutually rewarding relationship.

When one mourns, they both mourn. And both are mourning this week, as are a pair of heartbroken families.

The events unfolded in quick succession at a convenience store just across the street from the college’s stately main entrance.

After fatally stabbing a 20-year-old Linfield student, in an apparently random and unprovoked attack, the 33-year-old assailant was shot to death in turn by local police. The spasm of uncharacteristic violence claimed two lives in a matter of minutes.

Unfortunately, some were quick to stereotype, particularly on social media, where nothing ever seems off limits. And this story was filled with inviting targets, including guns, violence, crime, police officers, police shootings, college students, football players, illegal immigration and residents of Latino heritage. Even townies and underage drinkers made some lists.

We find nothing productive in group or issue fingerpointing, particularly at this early stage, where so little is known about what precipitated either the stabbing or the shooting.

We reject the idea that either the community or the college let its guard down in terms of public safety. We reject the idea that softness on crime or laxness on immigration played any role here.

We aren’t ready to condemn the police for shooting someone who reportedly was in the act of surrendering. We reject, on every level, the notion put forth by one particularly vitriolic social commentator that police were “taking out the garbage.”

We are confident the McMinnville police — who have not taken a life in the line of duty in decades, if ever — were doing their job as they saw it Saturday night. And we are confident we will learn, in due course, to what extent they succeeded during the critical and chaotic moments at issue.

We are less confident we will ever learn what prompted the attack that took the life of a promising young Linfield student, devastating his Seattle-area family and many friends. We may gain some insights from the ongoing investigation, but based on what we’ve learned so far, it doesn’t look promising.

There is no pain like the loss of a child. We understand that.

And when it comes in response to something as mundane as a trip to the local 7-Eleven — one we have all taken innumerable times in our own lives — it becomes all the more wrenching. We extend our deepest compassion.

But it would be a terrible mistake if we allow this tragedy to drive a wedge between college and community, Latinos and Anglos, or police and citizens, or be distorted into fodder for rival factions pushing political and social agendas.


The sequence of events played out among specific human beings. There were no groups, elements or institutions present.