Moore incident involved alcohol

Patricia McCray won't argue that her son, Connie Moore, made a mistake Sunday. But she questions whether the punishment fit the crime.

Moore, a junior college transfer, was dismissed from the Illinois football team Sunday for what Ron Turner called "conduct detrimental to the team."

McCray said Friday the incident involved alcohol.

"I'm not talking stumbling drunk or anything like that," McCray said in a phone interview from her Miami home. "I don't even think it was a few drinks. I think it was a couple sips of a drink."

Turner disputes McCray's version of what happened.

"For a few sips, I wouldn't throw somebody off the team," Turner said. "There was more to it than what she said. I'll leave it at that."

Sources indicated Moore had more than "a couple sips" and had a confrontation with a member or members of the coaching staff.

All week, Turner refused to elaborate on the incident. On Friday, he again declined to go into specifics.

McCray talked to Moore shortly after the incident Sunday, which happened at the team's Rantoul training camp. She later talked to Turner.

"We keep saying, 'There had to be more than this,' " McCray said.

If it were an isolated incident, McCray said, her son still should be with the Illini.

"He (Turner) did what he felt he had to do," McCray said. "I am not in agreement, whatsoever, with the severity of what he did, the ramifications of how it's affecting Connie's future or even the future of the team."

McCray said her family doesn't have hard feelings against Turner or the Illinois program. They just don't agree with Turner's decision.

"It feels like ultimate betrayal," McCray said. "That's how I'd categorize it."

Moore is considering his options, McCray said. Because he started practicing with the Illini, Moore can't transfer to a Division I-A school and gain immediate eligibility. But he can transfer to a Division I-AA school and play right away.

Moore might go to Murray (Ky.) State. The Racers already have one former Illini, running back Wilbert Smith, on their roster. Quarterback Justin Fuente, an Oklahoma transfer, is considered a potential star, but Murray State needs a go-to receiver.

"We've got some decent receivers, but we don't have anyone like him," Murray State coach Denver Johnson said. "That guy will catch 75, 80 balls for us. This guy would be an answer for us."

Johnson said there has been contact between Moore and the Murray State staff. Illinois released Moore from his scholarship, making him open to other schools.

Murray State has its share of Division I-A transfers. Johnson said he considers a player's on- and off-field conduct before deciding to take him.

"We're kind of in the second-chance business," Johnson said. "Our rule of thumb is if a kid's made a mistake or had a problem, we want to help him. If a kid is a mistake or is a problem, we're going to walk away from him.

"Obviously, the UI staff feels like he's made a mistake. We feel like we'd sure like to have him and give him a chance to fit in at our place."

The Racers open the season Sept. 5 against Southern Illinois. Johnson said if Moore picks Murray State, he likely will play in that game.

McCray wanted to see her son play this season at Memorial Stadium. Instead, he could end up at Murray State's Roy Stewart Stadium.

"He's 22 years old, he's had his dream of Division I ball taken away from him," McCray said. "You can substitute any word you like for that. He's crushed."

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