Former Appalachian State University head football coach Jerry Moore, second from right, mimics the pose of the bronze statue in his likeness, which was unveiled during the dedication of Jerry Moore Plaza in front of App State’s Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18. Chancellor Sheri Everts, far left, applauds. App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin is pictured at far right. Photo by Chase Reynolds
BOONE, N.C. — Excitement was electric in the air on Saturday, Sept. 18, as the Jerry Moore Plaza was dedicated and its eponymous statue unveiled in the shadow of Appalachian State University’s Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The event took place just a couple of hours before kickoff of the Mountaineers’ home opener football game — a fitting time to honor the coach who impacted scores of young student-athletes, including the Mountaineers’ current head football coach, Shawn Clark, who played for Moore in the late 1990s.
App State Chancellor Sheri Everts lauded Moore’s legacy both on and off the field — from being named to the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame and earning multiple Coach of the Year honors, to receiving the prestigious North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine award.
Of Moore, Everts said, “He leads and inspires. He is tough yet fair, and, above all, he helps lift up those around him as they pursue their dreams.”
Mountaineer fans gathered Saturday, Sept. 18, to witness the dedication of Jerry Moore Plaza at Appalachian State University and the unveiling of its bronze statue, crafted in Moore’s likeness. Pictured in the foreground, from left to right, are Margaret Moore, wife of Jerry Moore; App State Chancellor Sheri Everts; App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin; and former App State head football coach Jerry Moore. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Former Appalachian State University head football coach Jerry Moore, right, with local artist Suzie Hallier, who created the bronze sculpture in Moore’s likeness that is located in App State’s Jerry Moore Plaza, outside the Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone facility. The plaza was dedicated and the state unveiled on Saturday, Sept. 18. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts speaks at the Jerry Moore Plaza dedication held Sept. 18, prior to the Mountaineers’ home opener football game. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin, at right in foreground, speaks at the dedication of Jerry Moore Plaza, prior to the Mountaineers’ home opener football game on Saturday, Sept. 18. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Former Appalachian State University head football coach Jerry Moore, center in foreground, addresses the crowd gathered for the dedication of Jerry Moore Plaza and the unveiling of his statue in front of App State’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts celebrates former App State head football coach Jerry Moore at a reception held Sept. 17 in the Grandview Ballroom of App State’s Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone facility. The event, held in Moore’s honor, took place prior to the dedication of Jerry Moore Plaza on Sept. 18. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Former Appalachian State University head football coach Jerry Moore, far left, is pictured at the reception held in his honor on App State’s campus Sept. 17. With Moore, from left to right, are Mark Ricks ’89, vice chair of App State’s Board of Trustees; App State Chancellor Sheri Everts; and C. Philip Byers ’85, a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Moore served as App State’s head football coach from 1989 to 2012, leading the Mountaineers to three consecutive national championships and 23 winning seasons in 24 years.
App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said, “Because Coach Moore, those who took the field with him and many others who paved the way, the future of App State Athletics continues to be bright. The impact he had on countless student-athletes, fans, alums and friends of Appalachian State University is immeasurable.”
The bronze statue of Moore, which depicts him in a contemplative pose with a clipboard — a common sight on the sidelines during his time as a coach, was crafted by local artist Suzie Hallier. Hallier is also the creator of the Lillie Shull Dougherty statue located in Founders Plaza on App State’s campus.
Coach Jerry Moore received the 2010 Appalachian State University's Appalachian Medallion. The award recognizes an individual's long and sustained commitment and significant service to Appalachian.
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About Mountaineer Athletics
More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University. App State’s nationally ranked football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision), with six bowl wins in its first six years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). Learn more at https://appstatesports.com.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
