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FRESHMAN EMMANUEL MOODY PLANS ON BEING ONE OF THE BEST RUNNING BACKS TO COME OUT OF USC. BUT ALONG THE WAY HE’LL DO HIS BEST TO FULFILL ANOTHER VISION HE HAD YEARS AGO. THIS MEANS BEING A FAITHFUL > BY CORINA KNOLL FOLLOWER OF > PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC SUEYOSHI CHRIST AND USING FOOTBALL TO SPREAD THE WORD. FIELD DREAMS

t wasn’t much of a setback — barely a blip during the post-game, really. The kind of thing that would keep him out of the last three games of the season, but alto - gether, nowhere near career-ending. But it redefined him. Refocused him. And so, Emmanuel Moody thinks what happened at the Oregon game was divine intervention. With less than two minutes left in the first quarter, University of Southern California quarterback John David Booty had slipped him the ball, and Emmanuel tucked it safely into the crook of his left arm. He charged through the hole until a 300-pound defender grabbed his waist and slid into him from behind, catch - ing Emmanuel’s ankle under his body. Emmanuel fell forward into the body of a defensive back while his left ankle twisted 45 degrees.

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He heard it pop as he fell to the Methodist Church was gathering for one ground. And then his head began to buzz. of its weekends of worship service, skits You’ve forgotten why you came here, and team-building activities. Emmanuel. Teammates hovered and “Emmanuel came to most of our helped him up. This city and your status retreats,” recalls his youth pastor, Ray have changed you. He hobbled over to the Park. “I could really tell he was very seri - bench, gingerly touching his left foot to ous and very devoted in worshipping.” the grass. You’re beginning to believe This particular retreat was different. more in football than him. He traced the One minute Emmanuel was praying, the pain that began at his arch and shot up to next he was believing in a way he never the middle of his shin. Well, let this be your had. His devout mother had instilled wake-up call. They carted him into the strong Christian values in him, but this locker room for X-rays. Remember your was new. promise, your vision? The early diagnosis “The Holy Spirit just activated some - was probable torn ligaments. Remember thing in my heart, and he really gave me how much he loves you? the passion to glorify his name and live The next day, Emmanuel, on crutches, out a Christian life.” took himself to church. It was about the same time Emmanuel was getting notice for running like hell on *** the football field. All those training ses - sions with his uncle — cone drills, 100- Emmanuel says he was saved at a yard sprints, fake left, cut right, start over, church retreat in Houston. The youth do it again — seemed to be showing up to group of the Korean Central United play. He had a ways to go, but the kid from

“HE’D MAKE MOVES THAT JUST WOULD MAKE COACHES ON BOTH SIDES OPEN THEIR MOUTHS AND GO, ‘WOW!’ AS FAR AS CHANGING DIREC - TIONS, HE’S ONE OF THE QUICKEST GUYS I’VE EVER SEEN.” — COPPELL HIGH HEAD COACH MIKE FULLER

“HE CAME IN WITH A LARGE GROUP OF FRESHMAN RUNNING BACKS AND WAS READY TO COMPETE FROM DAY ONE. HE HASN’T BACKED DOWN A BIT.” — USC HEAD COACH PETE CARROLL

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Coppell, Texas, began to sense that he he says. “My purpose is to really glorify offense and told to run the ball. His coach might actually have a shot at the only his name and really serve him. Not just gaped as he scored four touchdowns — in dream he’d ever had. live day to day.” the first half. But embracing God in his life changed He’s found himself at the other end of “It was like he was playing games with things. And playing professional football the spectrum. Far from the days when he those kids,” recalls Emmanuel’s brother suddenly didn’t seem like the only thing was classified as a hyperactive, angry kid, Eugene, 25, “and none of those kids could out there. willing to duke it out with anyone. It was a hang. It was no competition.” Then, the vision came: He’d use foot - competition thing, a show of toughness in For Emmanuel, hostility and aggres - ball to spread the word. He’d be so good a predominantly black and Latino public sion had found a home. that no one could ignore him. And if he school where classmates taunted those “I just loved running, juking out peo - was really good, they’d want to listen, no with “chinky” eyes. At home he had trou - ple, just sprinting,” he says. “Football just matter what he was preaching. With every ble sitting still, terrorized his sister and provided a place to take my anger out. It’s zigzag he made across the field, he’d gain wasn’t one for following any sort of rules. helped build my character and given me more followers; with every dart into the He was a third grader when his friend a strong mindset.” end zone, a few more willing to believe. Conterio Guster introduced him to Pop The new pastime required all of his Maybe even enough for a congregation. Warner football. With the help of some attention and dedication, and he escaped The vision comforted Emmanuel. It donated pads, Emmanuel played corner - falling into the illegal extracurriculars of was as if the two halves of his heart had back for the team and came home with a his friends. A handful of years later, when clicked into place. Football. God. Football headache and cuts on his body. He hated he found God, the anger dissipated com - and God. God and football. Emmanuel it, but the boy known for challenging pletely. Now Emmanuel finds himself talk - began to feel something a kid with a those around him to a fight, a race — any - ing football and religion, not football as a black father and a Korean mother had thing — stood his ground. religion, as Texans are inclined to do. been told he’d never be: whole. The next year, in one of the last games He could, of course, forgo football “Now I know I have a purpose in life,” of the season, Emmanuel was switched to entirely. Leave the time-consuming prac -

GAME PHOTOS COURTESY OF USC

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tices and weight training to make more sugar, and she was battling lymphoma. time for evangelism. Seeking comfort in the Bible, the name But Emmanuel says the sport is the leaped out at Young Sun. It meant “God is vessel to the goal. Besides, football saved with us.” Fitting for what she believed was him first. a miracle baby. Emmanuel was born Feb. 21, 1987 — five years after she had under - *** gone tubal ligation. And then three years after Emmanuel’s birth, the lymphoma She named him “Emmanuel” because was gone. it made her feel safe. Her father had just Young Sun and Eugene Moody already died from a stroke, her diabetic mother had two children, Eugene, Jr. and Angela, was in the hospital because of high blood and were living in Heidelburg, Germany.

“HE’S DISCIPLINING ME. MY MINDSET HAS BEEN DISTRACTED BY A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. HE’S JUST TRYING TO GET ME ON THE RIGHT TRACK BECAUSE MY LIFE RIGHT NOW ISN’T REALLY TOTALLY ABOUT HONORING AND GLORIFYING HIS NAME. AND THAT’S THE REASON I’M HERE.” — Emmanuel, on his injury

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The death of Young Sun’s father had American workforce was as an employee Eventually, after a couple promotions, added two more members to the family: of a doughnut shop. The owners were Angela felt her job was stable enough to her mother, Han Soon, and brother Inho. good to her, and she pinched her pay - buy a three-bedroom house in nearby When Eugene, Sr. left the Army, the entire checks. After four months she pooled the Coppell. family moved to St. Petersburg, Fla. remaining money her Tampa friends had The move put Emmanuel into a better The couple divorced a few years later. given her and convinced the local dry high school. He got his own room in the By that time they were living in Tampa, cleaner to sell the business for a $2,000 new house, while everyone else shared. and Young Sun had never held down a job down payment and accept the rest later. Uncle Inho made sure his youngest since she left Korea. While she had She proudly named it Smile Cleaners and nephew had designer clothes and spend - dreamed of becoming an engineer or an thought she could get what had been a ing money. Eugene passed down his car. architect, and once worked as a drafter for dying storefront up and thriving. They wouldn’t allow Emmanuel to take a Samsung in Seoul, she wasn’t qualified for “My mom would be out the door early job. “You focus on football,” they said. See, baby brother had shared his

Y vision with the family, and they believed D O

O in it. After all, it was Emmanuel who M L

E attended school and church regularly, U N

A who had transformed himself into some - M

M one who barely needed parenting. It was E F

O Emmanuel who shook his head at the mis - Y S E

T takes of his siblings, steered clear of par - R U

O ties and alcohol, and whose overheard C O

T prayers made his big brother wish he had O H

P the same conviction. It was Emmanuel who logged hours on the field all in the name of God. And while sometimes it didn’t seem fair that Angela and Eugene weren’t given the same guidance or opportunities, and they felt their own aspirations fade away, they saw Emmanuel as the future. Emmanuel, however, didn’t always understand his role. Sometimes he felt he had no say in matters because he wasn’t contributing financially. Once he yelled at Angela to stop telling him what to do. He The Moodys went to great lengths to help get Emmanuel to where he is now. Here they surround the youngest family member (third from left) at his graduation from Coppell High School last May. Pictured from left to right are Emmanuel’s didn’t want to owe her anything, and he mother, Young Sun, grandmother Han Soon, sister Angela, uncle Inho and brother Eugene. told her to take back everything she’d ever bought him. Angela said that would much in America. She had devoted all of in the morning, and she’d be back home mean he’d be out of a house. Emmanuel her time to her family, volunteering at really late,” says Eugene. “It’d be like a 12- had never known that it was Angela who church and taking theology courses at the hour day for her almost every single day, signed the mortgage at just 19 years old. local college. except Sunday.” But the long hours gave “Well then take it all,” Emmanuel said, She decided to head for Texas, where little in return. A few years later she quit finally. “I don’t care about money.” a good friend had immigrated. the dry cleaner for a coin laundry and “You think it’s about money?” Angela “When I left Tampa, I have so many later a convenience store, neither of which asked, her voice shaking. “It’s not. It’s pastor friends,” says Young Sun, 46. “They were very profitable. Public assistance about my time. I spent 40 hours to buy you gave me some money so I can take care of helped a little, but not much. Trips to Wal- that computer. How many hours have you all the family.” So, in 1990, a single mother Mart were considered a treat, and the fam - put in for me?” moved her three kids, mother and brother ily knew to be frugal with every dollar. She walked downstairs in tears. into a two-bedroom apartment in the Eugene worked during high school Moments later Emmanuel appeared. working-class area of Irving. and college, while on scholarship at Texas He was quiet. He said he was sorry and “It was Section 8-type [low-income A&M. At 15 years old, Angela got a part- that he loved her. housing],” recalls her eldest, Eugene. time job and, without her mother ever It was a little awkward. The Moody sib - “When things got a little better, we moved asking, began turning over half of each lings weren’t the sentimental type. into a three-bedroom apartment in the paycheck to the household. When she Expressing emotion was considered same apartment community. But for the graduated high school she attended the weak. But the two hugged. longest time, we lived in that two-bed - University of Texas at Arlington, then For the sister who had partied maybe a room apartment.” dropped out for a data-entry job. Eugene bit too much, who completed only one Young Sun’s first official foray into the left A&M to work full-time as well. semester of college, who wasn’t as pious

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or as disciplined as her kid brother, it colleges were really after were those lat - marked the first time in her life when she eral dances with the ball that had defen - felt Emmanuel looked up to her. sive lines tripping over their own two feet. For Emmanuel, it made him want to “He’d make moves that just would use football for one more thing: to some - make coaches on both sides open their day provide for his family. mouths and go, ‘Wow!’” remembers Coppell High head coach Mike Fuller. “As *** far as changing directions, he’s one of the quickest guys I’ve ever seen.” “He’s disciplining me,” the 19-year-old For that, Emmanuel thanks his uncle, says. “My mind-set has been distracted Michael Inho Chang, a 27-year-old self- by a whole bunch of things. He’s just try - described “tall, skinny Korean guy” who ing to get me on the right track because never played football. Living with his sis - my life right now isn’t really totally about ter after their father passed away, Inho honoring and glorifying his name. And wasn’t much older than Angela and that’s the reason I’m here.” Eugene. But being eight years Emmanuel is sitting at a table on the Emmanuel’s senior brought out a paternal lush USC campus. It’s the day after that side in him. Training became their thing, Oregon defenseman landed on him, and with Inho setting up the drills and the vulnerability of an athletic career has instructing Emmanuel to do two more reared its ugly head. But he’s thanking God. laps, another sprint, just one more time With the sweet grin of a schoolboy and a through the cones. Even when he moved hint of Texas lilt in his speech, he explains out of the house five years ago, he called how the bulky, black brace on his left ankle Emmanuel every day to discuss things represents a twist of necessary fate. like proper diet, a weightlifting regimen “It’s really going to show me how to and what cleats to wear. work even harder,” he says. “Handing me It was something that maybe a zealous a punishment like this has really shown father would have done. But Eugene, Sr. had - me that he loves me that much to make n’t kept in much contact with his children something severe happen.” since they moved away. And Inho knew what The paradox is spoken a few feet from it was like to grow up without a dad. Heritage Hall, where Heisman Trophies “When I was younger I didn’t have all stand proudly inside glass cases. On the the things I needed,” he explains. “I tried second floor are the busts of legendary to supply Emmanuel with everything.” running back Ricky Bell and famed quar - Sometimes that came across as being terback Morley Drury, and between the a little too pushy. He ruffled a few coach - north and south wings hang the jerseys of es’ feathers by voicing opinions on how Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart Emmanuel should be utilized. Inho and Reggie Bush. describes it as a form of brotherly love. It If you’re a fan of USC football, the was he, in fact, who encouraged school is an illustrious powerhouse. If Emmanuel to seek out a smaller school you’re a hater, it’s the evil empire. where he might be able to relax a bit and And now the team is in one of its great - not feel the constant pressure of losing his est eras yet, under the guidance of the art - place on the depth chart. ful Pete Carroll. Last year’s Pacific-10 But when USC flew Emmanuel out to coach of the year, Carroll claimed a BCS Los Angeles the September of his senior national championship in 2004 and has year, the school’s winning history and the “THE HOLY SPIRIT led USC to the No. 1 spot of its conference mild weather won out. “I saw the palm for the last four years. trees and I was like, that’ll do it,” says JUST ACTIVATED When Carroll’s recruiting crew came Emmanuel. SOMETHING IN knocking on the Moodys’ door, Emmanuel That first night he went to dinner with MY HEART AND HE had already made a verbal commitment running back alumnus Reggie Bush — the REALLY GAVE ME to the University of Texas and built a rela - 2005 Heisman winner now playing for the THE PASSION TO tionship with its coaches. The home-turf New Orleans Saints. GLORIFY HIS NAME school had showed him love since his It was the usual recruiting tactic, but all AND LIVE OUT A junior year. Back then, Emmanuel was the Bush said was, “Just do your thing. Carry fifth-ranked running back recruit in the on the tradition.” CHRISTIAN LIFE.” nation, said to be able to bench press 350 Emmanuel liked that idea. He took it as — Emmanuel Moody and run 40 yards in 4.41 seconds. But what a challenge, especially at a school referred

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caught up in the excitement of Los Angeles, of being a recognized athlete, and maybe made more time for Division 1 football and its perks rather than quiet time with the Almighty. He let his own love for the game take over the vision. But the Oregon game reminded him of God’s love. “If he wasn’t showing me his love, then he would let me live the life I want to live,” he explains. “That means he wouldn’t care.” So, while Emmanuel’s disappointed that USC just missed making the BCS national title game, he’s been prompted to remember not to take any of it for grant - ed. And that he’s still got a platform for Providence.

***

There is already proof that it can hap - pen. Emmanuel saw it back in Coppell when he was a local star athlete, how peo - ple came up to him whenever he was out in public. How kids would suddenly quiet if he started talking. He got their attention before he even said the good stuff — about the power of prayer and the Bible. And friends who knew him as a troubled kid always ask the new humble and suc - cessful version of Emmanuel what changed him. “I just say God. That’s what God does.” He watches how they drink this state - ment thoughtfully, their faces slowly com - prehending. And he becomes the parable that he preaches. If one day football fame is no longer the gateway to spreading the Gospel, he says another path will appear. And he’ll find a way to give back to his family even if he doesn’t make the NFL. He’ll start by being the first to graduate from college. The good Lord hasn’t let him down so far. He’s seen the results in the way the dots of his life have begun to connect. The most recent example is his father. During to as “Tailback U” for its history of produc - been the team’s primary No. 1 option. a rare phone conversation, Emmanuel ing NFL-caliber running backs. He asked According to Carroll, Emmanuel proved to invited Eugene, Sr. out to the USC- God what to do. Just before playing in the be everything the coaches thought he Nebraska game. It had been nearly 10 All-American Bowl last January, he would be. years since the two last saw each other. announced he was headed for Trojan town. “He came in with a large group of He thinks his father’s timing in reach - In his very first game, he scored a freshman running backs and was ready to ing out to him is dubious, but Emmanuel touchdown, and two games later, scored compete from day one,” says Carroll, less says he’s trying not to be bitter. If football another. He even started several times. than two weeks before USC takes on brings them closer together, it’ll be anoth - Despite sitting out for nearly four games, Michigan in the Rose Bowl. “He hasn’t er manifestation of that vision. If it doesn’t he ended the season having rushed for 459 backed down a bit.” turn out, well, that’s God’s will. yards, second only to Chauncey It was a freshman season to be proud Anyway, Emmanuel’s already seen how Washington, the redshirt junior who has of, although Emmanuel thinks he got too football has made him his Father’s son.

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