By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Kori Moates spent Friday nights at Varner Stadium while still in the womb as his dad, Amos, played wide receiver for Woodruff High School.
Kori was quite literally born to be a Wolverine.
His earliest childhood memories are cheering on his father from the stands. The Friday night lights have always shone on him, even as an infant.
“I remember cheering, and I remember my dad scored during the Abbeville game (in 2009) and did his dance,” recalls Kori. “I remember the poster that Abbeville had on the fence. I remember seeing it in person, and then when I saw it on the video, it was kind of shocking.”
Amos was an undersized but electric receiver for the great Woodruff teams of the late 2000’s. He has always had a flare for the dramatic, a trait inherited by Kori. But when Amos learned he had a baby on the way, just after his sophomore season, his thoughts immediately went to his own upbringing without a father.
He vowed at that moment his son would not endure the same fate.
“Even as a 16-year-old, I knew I wasn’t going to let him down,” Amos said. “I wasn’t going to go away or shy away from stepping up to the plate and doing what I had to do and feed that mouth that I had to feed. I had to step up and be a man. I was a kid raising a kid, so I really had to master how to compartmentalize everything. I still graduated from high school, I finished my football career, I played basketball after he was here. It’s just been a blessing to make it this far and be by his side. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
While Kori’s earliest years were spent watching his dad play, his high school years are now spent by his father’s side on the same field and under the same lights he grew up under.
Amos is the Wolverines’ wide receivers’ coach, his first year on staff, and every Friday night, he watches with pride as his son runs onto the green grass of Woodruff’s hallowed gridiron ground.
“It’s a blessing,” says Amos. “I’m fortunate, and a lot of people don’t get this chance, to come back to your alma mater and coach your child at the same time. It’s been a wonderful feeling, and I’m grateful. I can’t thank these guys enough for giving me the opportunity to do this. Being able to coach my own knucklehead, it’s pretty awesome.”
Just like his dad, Kori is a wide receiver, too. At 5 feet 11 inches tall, he is three inches taller than his dad but has his father’s speed and certainly his showmanship. It is already apparent that the younger Moates, a sophomore now himself, will be a great player for the Wolverines.
There is a competitive spark between them, but Kori is adamant about who now has the upper hand. Amos was known for his celebratory dance moves after scoring touchdowns. Kori has that down to an art as well.
“He can’t guard me!” declared Kori with his trademark smile and laugh. “I have my own dance move, too. I loved watching my dad and always wanted to be like him.”
Amos sees things slightly differently. That, of course, is all in good-natured fun.
“You should (Kori) right before practice,” he said. “I’m going to be competitive as long as I can run. I’m going to tell him he can’t guard me, too. But the ultimate goal is to make him better.”
Kori has thrived during his first varsity season. In his first game against Chapman, he caught a touchdown pass and racked up 141 kick-off return yards, including an 88-yard return that set up a Woodruff score.
Amos sees so much potential in his son to be even better than he was. As a dad, he wants that for Kori.
“The sky is the limit for him,” Amos stated. “He’s going to be as good as he wants to be. He puts the work and many hours of training in. He’s been sun up to sun down chasing his dream, and I’m going to push him, and I want him to fight for it because I want him to have it.”
Kori knows his dad is there for him, always has been, and always will be. It is something he is very grateful for. Being coached by his dad is a bonus.
“It’s a blessing,” Kori said. “It’s just a blessing, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Everything about it is fun. He’s my role model. He does everything for me. He keeps pushing me and keeps me level-headed. He helps me focus more and keeps me pushing.”
On the field, Amos wore number three on his jersey. Kori now wears number four. Whether or not that is intentional, Kori is hesitant to admit. It could appear as a representation of following in his father’s footsteps, the man he most admires. Amos makes it a point to separate their on and off-the-field relationship. Regardless, he is extremely proud of his son.
“I try not to show it until after the game, until we get our one-on-one time and talk, but I’m so proud of him,” he said. “He’s stayed resilient and focused on what he wants to do. This is his dream. I’m just here to push him, and to see him blossom and grow into the player that he is is just a wonderful feeling. It’s that dad feeling that you get, and it doesn’t go away.”
Amos has taught Kori many valuable lessons that have helped make him a better football player. However, the lessons taught after the stadium lights turn off mean the most to him.
“Keep your head up, keep pushing, and keep God first,” said Kori. “Keep praying and doing whatever you have to do to succeed. Take care of your family and keep God first.”
Family. Amos grew up missing half of his. It has always strengthened his resolve to make sure all the pieces are in place for his family now.
No matter what he accomplished on the football field, what he earned as a father has been his greatest reward. Just like he taught his son, Amos’ faith has always carried him, even as a teenage father and football star who was forced to grow up while still a kid.
“I gave it all to God,” Amos said. “I asked God to keep me close to him and help guide my footsteps. Growing up without a dad gave me that green light not to be what I had. I did not want Kori to grow up without a father. That was my number one thing. We really grew up together because I was so young raising him, and to this day, I’m still figuring life out. He grew up with me, and through all of the ups and downs and struggles, he’s been right there.”
