BUU's Outland Trophy Winner
OUTLAND TROPHY WINNER BYU OG 6-5 290 Story on page BYU’S OUTLAND TROPHY WINNER Continued from page 66 “Talk about a physical specimen, Mohammed is something. His best football is in front of him. His Mohammed “Moe” Elewonibi from Brigham Young potential is unlimited. I enjoyed watching him play.
University is this years Outland Trophy winner. He He's a great prospect who will be an outstanding pro becomes the first offensive lineman to win the award some day.” — John Ralston, former NFL head coach since Nebraska’s Dean Steinkuler in 1983. and current pro scout for Seattle Seahawks “I was amazed [ won it,” said Elewonibi. is one of the great understatements of the decade once “Moe's as good of a lineman as we've ever had you go back to the beginning. Ralph Zobell, BYU Sports Information Director explains. “Moe was born in Lagos, “I’ve followed Mohammed's career ever since he Nigeria, amidst a revolution between his native Ibo clan was in junior college.
He was the best community and the rival Yoruba. Nigeria is located on the west side of college offensive lineman in the country. I knew at that Africa, halfway between Alex Haley’s Gambia and South time he had the potential to be the best pass blocking Africa. lineman at BYU. With the coaching he got at BYU, he The tropical, jungled, now independent Nigeria is now is undoubtedly the best pass protector in college bigger than Texas. “Over 20 times in the 11 years Moe lived in Nigeria he today.”
— Washington State Coach Mike Price made the 11-hour trip from the capital, Lagos to Ikeja to “You'll not find many like Moe, he’s a once-in-avisit his polygamist grandmother, who was the last of 13 lifetime player. He’s a gem in the rough. He’s as good as many of the great lineman I’ve coached. Moe has a sports car or a landrover. In the early years the road great sense of balance. He picks up the unexpected stopped a mile short of Moe’s grandmothers hut and they and is a very intelligent player. he could play any of would hike in for the reunion.
“Moe's “grandma ma,” as he calls her, is nearly 100- years-old. Neither she or Moe’s father have ever seen the Cougar grid star play football. In fact, Moe hasn’t seen his grandma ma since he fled Nigeria in 1977. And he’s only seen his father three times since Moe and his brother Michael moved to Canada “That move to Canada was a separation by Moe’s positions.”
Coordinator and Line Coach Roger French “He (Moe) is the senior and the leader on our line. He has a great confidence about him. He's incredible. He’s got great mobility. Seldom will you see him miss a block. He’s a good athlete. When he hits people, they Canadian mother and Nigerian father. His dad first met his “I don’t see all of the great college players but I see a mom when he was training in British Columbia with the lot of them and he’s as good as any offensive lineman I’ve Nigerian Navy.
Because of this military background, Moe seen in five years. We probably won't be drafting high was in the upper echelon of Nigerian society. Moe’s’ enough to get him. I'll be surprised if he lasts past the top flawless English is the result of tutoring in a Lebanese 10 selections. — Cincinnati Bengals Scout Frank Uible Community School. bread to a Russian company in Nigeria. “This Nigerian way of life came to an abrupt end in the fall of 1977 when his parents’ marriage soured “Moe and his brother last saw Nigerian soil when they boarded an airplane destined for what appeared to be a routine vacation in England.
“Moe has developed in all areas tremendously and matured greatly. I’m very happy for him. He's made many positive steps. Moe has overcome much adversity.
Moe has had challenges but he’s bright and his mom and dad. The flight plans changed in the Ivory articulate. On trips he'll read an 800 page novel. Moe Coast, and the brothers were bound for New York City. has a great attitude. He just wanted it. Moe also has From New York, the next stop was Victoria Island where leadership qualities. The other lineman rally behind him. his mom’s brother harbored them “T got to sit out school until Christmas,” was soon joined by his mom. inside my apartment, watching late TV and then looking outside to see a white carpet.
Moe’s got unbelievable balance and a tremendous base of support. Chuck Stiggins BYU Strength Coach Chuck Stiggins spotting Moe Elenowibi. and made a huge snowman.” for football.”
Moe attended high school in Victoria which offered So, here’s this 6-5 270 pound guy out for football that only soccer, basketball and rugby. Amazing! Moe did not no one has ever even heard of, that didn’t even know how play high school football. to puta thigh pad in his pants. averaged about 10 rebounds and 20 points per game and only lost two games in his senior year.
Coach Kieth Uperesa of Snow College was most influential. “He taught me a good work ethic and my However, Moe had a “dismal” 2.3 GPA in high school offensive line techniques,” said Moe thankfully. It was at and had no interest in college. The next two years were Snow Junior College in March of 1986 that Moe began spent floundering from his main job as a lifting weights. lumberjack, seafood cook and a tractor driver. Moe stated, I “There's nothing else to do,” explained Moe, “besides, didn’t like it. I didn’t have enough money to pay my bills.” it was a lot of fun. My max on the Bench was 235 at first, His father asked him what he was doing with his life.
Moe then it went to 315 in four months. | was really happy.” To couldn’t answer. date, Moe’s best Bench has been 415, with a Power Clean of friend, Dave Mossman, who plays strong safety 320 and Squat of 650. for the University of Hawaii advised Moe to attend Snow Coach, Chuck Stiggins reports that Moe ran a 40 yard dash in 4.83 last spring when Moe weighed 305 pounds. little town in Utah.
Can you imagine it? This huge athletic guy just shows In his first year of football, Moe earned honorable up. “Dave talked me ito going there,” explained Moe, “but mention All-America honors. In the next year, he was rated I really wanted to play soccer and not football. The coaches as one of the top six lineman in the junior college ranks. talked me into giving it a try and what the heck, there’s no bright lights in Ephraim, Utah, and that’s why | went out chose BYU. Moe reasoned, “Pass blocking is my specialty. | OUTLAND TROPHY WINNER thought about the Pros and felt BYU could teach me better.”
During spring football at BYU in his first year there, Moe dislocated his shoulder on the posterior side which is very rare, It took a long time to heal. He was sent to Atlanta for specialized rehabilitation process by doing Bench Presses with a broomstick. Moe still does a lot of dumbbell work in different positions Moe is just two semesters away from graduation and carries a solid 2.7 GPA in marketing. He'd like to go back to Canada and have his own business, football options are completed. and see his family in Nigeria when he gets the time and money.
When asked about the most important aspect of life, Moe without hesitation replied, “Family and commitment.” Moe talked about his younger brother who is 6-0 and 185 and just completed his last season at Snow Junior College.
Then Moe declared, “But he’s not going to BYU because we're loaded with receivers.”
Moe also advised, “When you decide what you want, don’t go after it halfway. Go for it, one hundred percent, all out.” Moe has gone to a lot of high schools to help kids say “NO” to drugs and alcohol. Moe states, “I realize I'm a role model.
Anyway it’s stupid not only for yourself but also for your example to kids. I try to maintain a good image. I try to live by the ten commandments.” We thank BYU and Chuck Stiggins for making this article possible. amazing upper limit example and wish him the best.
“When you decide what you want, don’t go after it halfway. Go for it, one hundred percent, all out.” Mohammed Elenowibi Mohammed Elenowibi flanked by Chuck Stiggins (L) BYU Strength Coach and Greg Shepard, BFS President.
From BFS Magazine — Winter 1990. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
