BOISE -- Bronco Quarterback Kellen Moore begins a busy week of award shows beginning Thursday in Orlando and continuing Saturday in New York City for the Heisman. He's a finalist for 3 awards because of his athletic talent on the football field.
More than just an athlete, Moore is also an accomplished student. Even while planning his next couple of weeks with awards shows and a bowl game, he is thinking about finishing his degree at the same time.
It'll be a very busy few weeks tied into finishing up school and all this craziness. We've got the bowl game early, Moore said Monday during a news conference.
'The celebrity thing'
When he's on the field, fans see Kellen Moore as the sure-armed quarterback of the Broncos. But his academic advisor and professor, Doctor Laurel Traynowicz, sees the guy she helps figure out scheduling and has in a 7:40 a.m. communications class.
When you have somebody who is a local celebrity, you pay attention, you notice, 'Oh, that person is whomever', but then very quickly, the student is a student, Traynowicz said. Traynowicz has Moore in two classes this semester.
Now Moore is surrounded by Heisman hype, but Traynowicz said other students treat Moore as another classmate, at least most of the time.
Students really like him, and he doesn't really get the celebrity thing from other students. And even if he does, he's very humble and he gets embarrassed and he turns red, Traynowicz said.
Dedication on and off the field
Even with rigorous practice schedules, the player isn't slacking off in class.
In the midst of all this publicity, he is a student who comes to class 100 percent of the time. He does his work. He works hard. He's really smart and students love him, so he's the epitome to me of a great student, Traynowicz said.
Even during football season, Moore takes a full course load.Throughout his academiccareer, Traynowicz said he has chosento take tougher classes than he needs, like taking calculus instead of the required algebra. He also came to BSU with college credit under his belt and has made the dean's list.
He doesn't shirk away from hard work, and I think that his dedication in the classroom has got to be what everyone else sees on the field, Traynowicz said.
Something else fans might recognize that his professor sees every day, Moore doesn't always play it safe, but he's got a plan.
He's not afraid of making mistakes. He'll take those risks in the classroom. They're calculated risks, but he's great with them, Traynowicz said.
From the field to the classroom to life in general, Traynowicz sums it up: He's someone who just doesn't settle for anything but the best.
Graduation and the plan ahead
Moore will graduate next week with his bachelor's degree in communication. His advisor says he'll start his masters in kinesiology, the study of human movement,in January. She says he's interested in perhaps coaching, and definitely staying active in sports.
Moore still has another year of eligibility on the BSU football team.
