Civil War: Lyle Moevao's Season Has Been Lost But The Oregon State Senior Won't Be Defeated

It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

When Lyle Moevao walked off the Reser Stadium field after last season’s Civil War, the Oregon State quarterback was already thinking about this year.

The 113th Civil War:
Oregon State
at Oregon

When: 6 p.m., Dec. 3
Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene
TV: ESPN
More Oregon vs. Oregon State

Moevao had just tied a school record with five touchdown passes, but it didn’t mean much in the wake of Oregon’s 65-38 beatdown that killed the Beavers’ Rose Bowl hopes. He wanted another shot. He knew he would get it come 2009.

What he didn’t know, what no one could have anticipated, was that the 2009 version of the Civil War would be the biggest in history, that Oregon State would be going after revenge in Autzen Stadium with a trip to the Rose Bowl again on the line, this time for both teams. Also unknowable was that Moevao, the Beavers’ chatty, charismatic leader, would be on the sidelines for it.

For one of the most beloved seniors in Corvallis there couldn’t be a more heart-wrenching ending to a season in which little has gone as planned.

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For all the passes he’s thrown in his college career (509) and all the touchdowns he’s been a part of (25) and all the yards he’s racked up (3,410), Lyle Moevao is probably best known for a nasty block that leveled a Washington defender in 2007 and sent the OSU crowd into a frenzy.

“I guess,” Moevao said with a laugh when reminded of that hit, “I’ve kinda been a fan favorite since I got here.”

In a town that has a history of booing its own quarterbacks, being a fan favorite is a rarity.

The Beaver fan base didn’t fall in love with Moevao because he had a cannon of an arm or deft running ability. They liked him because he was loud and boisterous and physical and played with a smile stretched across his face. In 2008, when the Beavers went on an unbelievable run toward the Rose Bowl, they rallied around their 5-foot-11, 225-pound leader, the guy just about everyone describes as “the heart and soul of our team.”

This season, while getting in for only one play because of devastating back-to-back injuries, Moevao has kept his head up and his smile visible.

It started in the spring, when Moevao underwent surgery to repair the rotator cuff in his throwing arm. It was an odd turn of events, considering quarterback Sean Canfield had gone through the same surgery the year before, allowing Moevao to step into the starting position.

“I’ve always been hoping for two, healthy senior quarterbacks and never got it,” OSU coach Mike Riley said.

Moevao, ever the optimist, thought he could be back throwing when fall camp started.

“The reality was that it was a slow process,” Moevao said. “A lot slower (than I anticipated).”

His goal was to get into one game. When he did, he decided to go all out.

Against Arizona on Sept. 26 Moevao ran in for one snap. Much to Moevao’s surprise, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf called a passing play. Figuring Langsdorf didn’t realize he was in, Moevao broke the huddle quickly and took the snap before any coach could change his mind. He fired an incomplete pass to Jordan Bishop before running back to the sideline as the crowd went crazy.

“Coach Langs told me after the game, ‘I called that play thinking Sean was in and when I saw you break the huddle I was like, Oooooh!’” Moevao laughed. “He knew exactly what I was gonna do.

“It was worth it though … the fact that the crowd was cheering for me and even my teammates were hyped about me going deep. Sean got a little laugh out of it after the game. I can definitely live with that, if that’s how I go out.”

At the time, no one thought it would be the last they saw of Moevao on the field.

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Just over a month after the Arizona game, Moevao was the victim of a freak accident at practice when a defensive lineman fell on his right foot during drills. Initially, Moevao thought he could just walk it off. An MRI reveled the worst-case scenario — Moevao had torn ligaments, and would need season-ending surgery. The news crushed everyone around the Valley Football Center.

“It was hard. I had never had surgery before my shoulder, having two back-to-back …” Moevao said, his voice trailing off as he paused to wipe tears from his eyes

“As long as I was around my team I was fine but as soon as I went home during those first four days, I don’t know, it was weird. I’d go home and just cry.”

The day he found out, Moevao wrote on his Twitter page, "Sometimes I look up at the sky and ask why. But I know it's all for a reason. Gotta stay positive, even when it's pouring.''

OSU plans to file a request to the NCAA for a medical hardship, which would earn Moevao another year, but few are optimistic it will be granted. Moevao hasn’t accepted that he might not play football again.

“Until I hear it (from the NCAA) or I get another three surgeries in a row, I’ll always have that drive to continue on,” he said.

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If he was in a funk, it didn’t last long.

Since his foot surgery, Moevao has been at practice almost every day, acting as a one-man cheerleading crew. He bangs his crutches together when he cheers, whoops and hollers when the defense makes a nice play, and talks to Canfield constantly.

“A lot of people would probably fall in the hole and never recover from things like this, especially having back-to-back surgeries,” Moevao said. “But I think that going to practice, being able to stay involved like I would if I weren’t hurt, it helps me, and it’s helping the team.”

His presence has drawn praise from teammates and coaches alike.

"I don't know how he does it," said Joe Halahuni, Moevao's roommate. "It'd be tough for me, as a senior, missing the rest of the season, being at practice every day, watching everybody and still being encouraging. He's a leader on and off the field, and he shows it."

Moevao's leadership has not gone unnoticed, especially by Riley. Two weeks ago on Senior Day the coach wrapped his injury-riddled quarterback in a hug and held on for a while. There’s no doubt the two are close, and it’s hard for Riley to not get emotional when talking about Moevao.

“They’re all special but for what he has meant to this team, I have a special appreciation,” Riley said. “He’s a heart and soul guy, there’s no doubt about it. He’s been a leader for this team, almost from day one … He’s got a magnetic personality, he’s a guy for every guy and he’ll still be that guy even though he’s not playing.

“He hasn’t changed a bit. He’s out here at practice every day, signaling and doing anything he can do to help, which is exactly what Lyle would do, but what not too many guys could do.”

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It’s fitting that Moevao’s favorite memory at Oregon State involves the Civil War.

In 2007, Moevao stood facing the end zone just as the first overtime ended in what would turn out to be a double-overtime Oregon State victory. While OSU fans squirmed nervously in a corner of Autzen Stadium, Moevao took off his helmet and drank in the atmosphere with – what else? – a smile across his face.

“You don’t really get that feeling anytime in your life, double overtime, so many streaks on the line,” Moevao remembered. “It was big for me and I was just happy, taking it all in, living in the moment.”

He said he’ll live in the moment again this week, even if it’s on the sidelines and not in the huddle.

“It’ll be different than any other Civil War I’ve been involved with but at the same time, I’ll be playing the game through my teammates,” Moevao said. “As long as I can get my teammates prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for this game, then I’ve done my job.

“Physically I’ll obviously be limited, but it doesn’t limit me to what I can say.”

And as OSU players, coaches and fans have learned, Moevao’s impact – with or without words – is a lot.

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Oregon State Needs a Leader, and Moevao is The Man

They leaned over the railing near the end zone ramp at Reser Stadium, booing and with their middle fingers extended. One of the security guards accompanying the game officials, looked up, his eyes darting from fan to fan, worried.

Beaver Nation was ticked. Probably still is today. But just know the fretting and fury at the game officials ends up as a meaningless distraction from the real issue for Oregon State.

It's this: How soon can Lyle Moevao be ready?

Cincinnati beat the Beavers 28-18 on Saturday. And yeah, there was outrage in the stadium after an apparent fumble by the Bearcats was ruled a dead ball because of the lack of forward progress. But what becomes most evident after a loss like this is that OSU is missing its leader at quarterback.

That would be Moevao, who had shoulder surgery in March but was making reads and throwing good short-range spirals all last week in practice.

He's not tall. He's not strong armed. But Moevao is a winner who plays fast, and makes great decisions, and in a high-pressure game, you need a guy who can hack it.

Cincinnati knows what I'm talking about.

It has Tony Pike under center. And he was pressured on Saturday, and sacked, and knocked around the pocket, but kept coming up big.

Pike managed his team, and the pressure. He threw for 332 yards, many of those with the game swirling around him. And maybe you saw him running in the open field, threatening to beat the Beavers with his feet or arm, and it reminded you of Moevao.

How soon can he play?

Because the Beavers compete on defense. They have a fantastic 1-2 punch on offense in James and Jacquizz Rodgers. But what they didn't have against Cincinnati was a leader at quarterback who could stand in the pocket, or scramble, but either way, cut out the Bearcats heart.

Starter Sean Canfield was just so-so. He made a few good throws, and found Team Rodgers often, but he lacked pocket presence (Read: jittery), and held the ball too long (Read: 5 sacks), and it became evident as the game slipped away that Oregon State got outplayed worst of all at the controls on Saturday.

Canfield isn't making his reads comfortably or quickly. He's locking onto his primary target too early, and at times, without regard for what the defense is doing. And in the end, the team's troubles in the red zone against Cincinnati end up as more than bad luck.

OSU coach Mike Riley said he was irked in the second quarter when his offense wasn't crisp in and out of the huddle. And he said it was "procedural stuff." And I can't help but think that this all gets fixed with Moevao back at quarterback. Maybe, too, it gives OSU a non-Rodgers dimension.

Moevao was called the primary back-up this week for the first time this season. And those close to the team said everyone was stunned at how in-rhythm Moevao was all week in practice. So the ticking clock ends up as his arm strength alone, because he can't yet throw the deep ball. But neither could Canfield on Saturday, right?

I asked Riley in the hallway after his news conference about the missing leadership, the lack of a presence at quarterback, and the timeline for what ends up an obvious decision.

Will it be a month?

"Not that long," Riley said.

A week?

"I still have a lot of confidence in Sean."

Then Riley explained that the luxury he'd hoped for, all along, was two healthy and experienced quarterbacks. Which only means that Canfield has about one more unobstructed start to announce his presence as a leader.

One week to prove himself or then, it's "Smiling Lyle" back on the field, clapping his hands, throwing darts, and running over defensive backs. And while you don't want to squeeze Canfield and manufacture pressure, the reality is Moevao thrives on it.

As the game got tight on Saturday, the guy playing quarterback for Cincinnati looked calm and made big plays. And Canfield looked wide-eyed. If that continues, Moevao should be rushed along. Nevermind the arm strength, the leadership and presence is enough.

There's going to be a lot of talk today about that non-fumble, which was ruled correctly. And about Oregon State blowing an opportunity, which it did. And maybe that's what fans do before Pac-10 Conference play begins.

The team must think on a higher level.

Said James Rodgers: "We can go forward or we can go backward."

Which is only to say we've arrived at the team's "Get busy living or get busy dying," moment.

You ready, Moevao?

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Voice of Experience

Sheila Alofaituli uses a strong voice to carry her message of unity, leadership, family and character.

She brought that message to South Albany High School athletes and parents at the school Thursday evening.

The mother of Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao, Alofaituli stressed to the athletes (specifically the football players) the importance of sticking up for your teammates and not forgetting football is a team game.

Alofaituli has been the unofficial team mom for the Beavers in her son’s three-plus seasons at Oregon State. She also served in the same role for Lyle’s high school and junior college teams in California.

She calls the players on Lyle’s teams her “boys” or “sons” and saw her involvement as an assignment from God.

“I had to teach my boys they had to love each other as brothers,” she said.

Alofaituli had moved to Portland when Moevao came to Corvallis. But in one short trip to Corvallis she ran into OSU players at three different locations. She knew then she was meant to move to Corvallis and play a bigger role with the team.

You can have good athletes on your team, Alofaituli said, “but if you lack unity within the team ... you have no need to go out on the field because you just whooped your own (butt).”

Oregon State is recognized by some media as having the most family oriented football program in the country, and she takes pride in that.

Bringing to light her Samoan heritage, Alofaituli recalled the Beavers’ September home game against Hawaii last season. She boarded the team buses before the players headed to a hotel the night before the game.

There, she stressed “no fear” against what she expected to be a united team in Hawaii. Oregon State won the game, and “no fear” became a theme of the season.

Alofaituli used the story of David and Goliath to describe her son overcoming the belief that he was too short to play Division I football. Being strong means standing your ground when everything happening around you tells you to “pack up your bags and go home.“

She talked about the spring of Moevao’s senior year of high school. Alofaituli strongly encouraged her son to spend the spring practicing with the players who would be his junior college teammates in the fall. He took over the starting job early in the next season and went on to earn a scholarship at Oregon State.

“You can’t beat Goliath if you’re playing video games in the spring,” she said.

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Give Assist on 'Iona Verbal' to Moevao & His Mom

BEAVER NATION AND recruiting fans by now have undoubtedly read the news from yesterday, broken by Scout.com's Chris Fetters, that OSU added fast chargin' DT Happy Iona to their '10 class. Iona first began flying high on the Beavs after his OSU camp experience. This week, Lyle Moevao's mom had a noteworthy impact on the 6-2, 280 pounder's decision to go black and orange.

Happy Iona and family members arrived in Corvallis on Tuesday of this week. Iona's family has been very involved in his decision making process, and in recruiting, one of the bromides is this -- the influence that moms have over a prospect's decision generally supercedes the opinions of anyone else.

With Iona on Tuesday, there was also an X Factor. Grandma had come with to Corvallis.

IONA'S GRANDMOTHER DOESN'T speak much English -- Iona himself is still learning the language.

And that's where Lyle Moevao 's mom, Shelia Alofaitoli, came up big.

"(Moevao's) mom was down there with her the whole day," said Gavin Kralik, head man at Spanaway's Bethel High. "That made her feel very, very comfortable."

IF YOU'VE GOT mom and grandma on board, it's usually just a matter of time in recruiting.

Happy and his family traveled home from OSU later that same day, slept on it, and on Wednesday Iona made his verbal commitment.

"His trip down there was top notch...The way Oregon State handled it was great, from (the OSU coaches) to Moevao's mom, it was a team effort," said Kralik.

BEAVER COACHES Mike Riley, Danny Langsdorf and d-line coach Joe Seumalo, the latter being one whom Iona formed a very tight bond with during the Beavs' camp, said Kralik, were all closely involved with his recruitment. And that included this week when the Iona clan came to Oregon State.

"The way they handled the whole thing, not pressing with his family, was outstanding," said Kralik. "From talking to Happy's family, I think Oregon State did an outstanding job of recruiting him."

IONA, SAYS FETTERS, has as high a ceiling from the '10 Evergreen State class as anyone.

"The Beavers are getting a heck of a prospect that carries with him as much upside as any player coming out of the state of Washington this year," said Fetters. "Iona is definitely one of the top players in the state of Washington, and if it wasn't for some struggles with school, I believe he would have a ton more offers at this point. His motor is always going, and even at 280 pounds he can play either inside or outside -- he is that athletic."

ON THE SUBJECT of academics and qualification, Kralik says he's very optimistic, though still cautiously so, that Iona will be on the field in Corvallis for fall camp about a year from now.

"He has a good shot at doing that, but he does still have a bit of work to do. He's got to have a great year, like he did finishing up last year," said Kralik.

Iona hadn't begun to really work on his English until just this past year and that hurt him in the classroom. But as Iona has continued to become more comfortable with the English language, his grades have skyrocketed, says Kralik, noting that he's started to get some A's.

A subject that Moevao's mom, and Iona's grandmother, no doubt discussed this past week in Corvallis.

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Lyle Moevao Resumes Throwing

Let the rivalry begin. Again.

Oregon State's Lyle Moevao, who started 11 games for the Beavers in the 2008 season, was cleared this week to begin throwing again after sitting out spring ball due to rotator cuff surgery.

Moevao's clearance will renew his rivalry with fellow senior Sean Canfield, who started two games after Moevao was injured last season, and is 7-4 overall as a starter. This spring, Canfield seemed to inch ahead in the competition as Moevao watched from the sidelines.

"I'm ready to go," said Moevao, who is 11-4 as a starter in the past two seasons. "I feel close to 100 percent, but my arm strength isn't all the way there."

Canfield said he was surprised to see Moevao out at summer workouts on Wednesday, when quarterbacks practiced routes with receivers. Canfield, who had to deal with shoulder problems of his own last season, said he could empathize with Moevao.

"I told him when this whole process started, 'There's going to be a time when you're not going to be able to do anything,'" Canfield said. "Three months out of my surgery -- around spring ball -- it was killing me to not throw a football, so I know how it feels."

Moevao agreed that sitting out got pretty boring pretty quickly.

"It was hard to sit and watch, especially in the spring when we had all those new guys who are learning our playbook," Moevao said. "But I think it was great for me to take a mental break."

After getting cleared, Moevao sent a text message to OSU offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf telling him the news. Langsdorf's advice back was the same as Canfield's: Take it slow.

"I've pretty much been hearing the same thing from everyone," Moevao said.

Moevao and Canfield both said having two healthy quarterbacks by the time Oregon State opens the season on Sept. 5 against Portland State will be crucial to success.

"It gives us more depth at the position," Moevao said. "If you look at a lot of teams in the Pac-10, the starter goes down and the back-up hasn't got a lot of playing time."

Said Canfield: "Having another guy is good, and he just helps our team chemistry."

Moevao, who was praised for his leadership last season, said he hasn't thought too much about his competition with Canfield yet.

"Right now, I'm just taking it day-to-day," Moevao said. "I'm still far away from being able to compete with him physically.

"Being able to take a few snaps (Wednesday) definitely felt good. I'm excited to get started on the program with the athletic trainers here. I've got the green light all the way."

Oregon State opens fall camp on Aug. 10.

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The 250-Pound Bruiser: Soma Vainuku

Barry Bolton of Beaverfootball.com has another entertaining piece on an Oregon State football recruit, this time 6-0, 250-pound Soma Vainuku of Eureka, Calif. - who just happens to be the cousin of former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga

Vainuku, also coveted by the Huskies, can play on both sides of the ball but is most intriguing as a running back - even though OSU def. coordinator Mark Banker might want him at LB. ... the book on Vainuku is that he moves EXTREMELY well for his size.

Vainuku said USC wants him as a fullback, UCLA as an outside LB.

A note about Lyle Moevao's return ... I would bet my house that OSU trainers are keeping a very watchful eye on QB Lyle Moevao as he begins throwing a football again following rehab from rotator cuff surgery. ... No. 3 is a very intelligent football player and he rates high in every "intangible'' measurement but he's human. There will be a temptation to push hard (same thing happened last fall with Sean Canfield) but there is nothing for Moevao to prove in July and hard as it might be, he has to be patient and take it very slowly or else he will find himself in roughly the same boat as Canfield was in 2008 - physically unable to play in a game until later in the season.

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