Moore hoping for new start with Islanders

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ed Moore will play for the Islanders of Arena League 2. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

He finally won the starting quarterback job at Punahou entering his senior year (1993), only to lose it to a leg injury early in the season. Makaena Puli took over and proceeded to lead the Buffanblu into the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship game against St. Louis, only to get hurt himself.

Moore, with his leg wrapped like a mummy's, returned in the title game, but St. Louis went on to win its eighth straight championship.

After graduation, Moore set out for a new start at Columbia University. The Lions had featured a West Coast offense the year before, seemingly a perfect fit for the 6-foot-4, left-handed Moore. But once he got there, Columbia switched to an option attack and Moore was moved to tight end.

He played two years before a back injury ended his college career.

"I thought I was done," Moore said.

He graduated from Columbia with a degree in film and eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he began climbing the industry ladder. But he never did shake the football bug, and his desire to restart an unfulfilled career burned brightly after watching Kurt Warner go from Arena Football League quarterback to Super Bowl champion.

"I had watched Arena Football, and I knew I could play," Moore said. "I thought I'd have a shot."

So at age 23, with an Ivy League degree and budding film career under his wing, he threw a Hail Mary.

"I quit my job and moved to Austin (Texas) to play for the Austin Rattlers," Moore said. "My family and friends said: 'You're crazy. You had a good run, now you gotta let it go.' But I said: 'I gotta do this now; I can't do this when I'm in my 30s.' I have plenty of time to go back to work and make money."

Moore not only landed a starting quarterback job with the Rattlers of the North American Football League, but he ended the season as the NAFL's top-rated passer. When he heard about Arena Football 2 starting up in Hawai'i, he sent film to the team's coach, Guy Benjamin.

Along with former St. Louis and University of Utah standout Darnell Arceneaux, Moore will quarterback the Hawaiian Islanders through their inaugural season which begins March 30 at Blaisdell Arena.

"We're lucky to have Ed, because a lot of other teams wanted him," Benjamin said. "I think both he and Darnell have the ability to move on to the next level."

All Moore ever needed, Benjamin said, was a chance. And now, with the Islanders, he has one.

"With his ability, he could have had a great collegiate career; fate just wasn't with him on that one," said Benjamin, a former NFL quarterback. "But he was patient, he persevered, and then he tore that league (the NAFL) up.

"I promised him I would teach him all I know about the position, and if he develops, who knows where he can go from here?"