JERRY AND GARY: ALABAMA ROOTS
Aug. 4, 2017
Imagine seeing two guys, weighing more than 260 pounds each cruising 20-plus miles…on mopeds.
That was one of the first things that Jerry Gibsonand Gary Moore did together as young freshmen on the Gopher football squad. The Alabama duo wanted to get out and see Minnesota. Fast forward four years: together they have embarked on fishing trips, owned dogs, fixed up cars and their two families feel like one big one when they go back to Alabama. It was a natural fit since day one.
Moore was getting ready to commit to Minnesota as a senior at Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala. He had admired watching Gibson dominate for nearby Theodore High School. When he found out Gibson was going to be coming to Minnesota, he asked if the two could be roommates even though they had never met each other.
“Being here and having somebody in my class from Alabama helped a lot,” Moore said. “I knew of him and how he played.”
Gibson arrived in Dinkytown first. He was in a new place, surrounded by new people and missed home.
Enter Gary’s mom.
“Even though she didn’t intend to, his mom kind of helped me settle down and settle in.” Gibson said. “She didn’t even know me, so for her to be so welcoming made me realize the relationship would go far. Ever since our first day on campus we have kind of clicked.”
Gibson moved around positions that first football season before asking to be moved to the defensive line. There he was instantly welcomed into that brotherhood by Moore and the other linemen.
“It was really great to have that kind of support system. It allowed me to relax and work on my craft as a defensive lineman instead of worrying about flipping positions,” Gibson said.
The friendship grew even stronger with the two of them in the same position group. They both cherish being on the defensive line and consider it the closest position group on the team.
“It is a bunch of personalities on the defensive line. That’s what so great,” Gibson said. “Even though it is a bunch of personalities we all click in our own ways. I feel like the defensive line has a close relationship because it is a big brother, little brother type of thing.”
Every position group has certain activities they enjoy doing together. What is the main thing the defensive line does?
“Eat,” Moore and Gibson said simultaneously when asked.
“We like to cookout,” Gibson added. “I can grill so if they get the groceries and stuff then we will go to the apartment courtyard and grill.”
Outside of eating with the rest of the group, Gibson and Moore like to explore and get their minds off football. They quickly realized that they needed better transportation than their mopeds to see more of Minnesota.
Gibson had a Jeep he had been working on since he was 15, but it needed help.
“My sister left her old Jeep in our yard and kind of forgot about it. I just kept saving up money and fixing it. I am the kind of person that if I can just do it myself, then I will do it. I couldn’t drive yet so I was just always in the yard fixing stuff,” Gibson said. “When I got here I took it to the shop and found out what was wrong with it. Then I asked Gary if he wanted to come help me.”
“I said sure,” Moore added.
Turns out Moore was quite skilled at fixing cars.
“I learned how to fix cars when I was probably 13-years-old with my dad. I have been big into cars ever since then. We built an engine in our living room area,” Moore recalled. “When he passed away I got left that engine and car. Now I have helped Jerry on two of his Jeeps.”
But after helping fix the first one, Moore needed some convincing to ever help again.
“I have scars,” Moore said laughing.
“He was helping me change my gasket on my engine. I thought I took all the little bolts off and I remember him telling me that if I had left any on then he would never help me again,” Gibson said before getting cut off by Moore.
“He left three in there,” Moore said.
Even after the mishap the two continued working on cars together. While Moore knows the ins-and-outs of working on engines, he lacked knowledge in sound systems. Now his Tahoe has a brand new system with the speakers installed by Gibson.
The two agreed that working on cars has been a big part of their friendship. So much so that when they go back home to Alabama, Gibson is already helping teach basic things like how to change a tire to Moore’s son.
“When we go home my son is basically his nephew,” Moore said.
“My family talks with his family,” Gibson added. “We have gone way past being friends. We are family.”
Gibson and Moore are proof that football extends beyond the field and they don’t have any plans to lose touch after their careers are finished.
“We have talked about that,” Gibson said. “I feel like when we are old guys we are going to be hanging out in the yard telling old stories.”
Aug. 4, 2017
Imagine seeing two guys, weighing more than 260 pounds each cruising 20-plus miles…on mopeds.
That was one of the first things that Jerry Gibsonand Gary Moore did together as young freshmen on the Gopher football squad. The Alabama duo wanted to get out and see Minnesota. Fast forward four years: together they have embarked on fishing trips, owned dogs, fixed up cars and their two families feel like one big one when they go back to Alabama. It was a natural fit since day one.
Moore was getting ready to commit to Minnesota as a senior at Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala. He had admired watching Gibson dominate for nearby Theodore High School. When he found out Gibson was going to be coming to Minnesota, he asked if the two could be roommates even though they had never met each other.
“Being here and having somebody in my class from Alabama helped a lot,” Moore said. “I knew of him and how he played.”
Gibson arrived in Dinkytown first. He was in a new place, surrounded by new people and missed home.
Enter Gary’s mom.
“Even though she didn’t intend to, his mom kind of helped me settle down and settle in.” Gibson said. “She didn’t even know me, so for her to be so welcoming made me realize the relationship would go far. Ever since our first day on campus we have kind of clicked.”
Gibson moved around positions that first football season before asking to be moved to the defensive line. There he was instantly welcomed into that brotherhood by Moore and the other linemen.
“It was really great to have that kind of support system. It allowed me to relax and work on my craft as a defensive lineman instead of worrying about flipping positions,” Gibson said.
The friendship grew even stronger with the two of them in the same position group. They both cherish being on the defensive line and consider it the closest position group on the team.
“It is a bunch of personalities on the defensive line. That’s what so great,” Gibson said. “Even though it is a bunch of personalities we all click in our own ways. I feel like the defensive line has a close relationship because it is a big brother, little brother type of thing.”
Every position group has certain activities they enjoy doing together. What is the main thing the defensive line does?
“Eat,” Moore and Gibson said simultaneously when asked.
“We like to cookout,” Gibson added. “I can grill so if they get the groceries and stuff then we will go to the apartment courtyard and grill.”
Outside of eating with the rest of the group, Gibson and Moore like to explore and get their minds off football. They quickly realized that they needed better transportation than their mopeds to see more of Minnesota.
Gibson had a Jeep he had been working on since he was 15, but it needed help.
“My sister left her old Jeep in our yard and kind of forgot about it. I just kept saving up money and fixing it. I am the kind of person that if I can just do it myself, then I will do it. I couldn’t drive yet so I was just always in the yard fixing stuff,” Gibson said. “When I got here I took it to the shop and found out what was wrong with it. Then I asked Gary if he wanted to come help me.”
“I said sure,” Moore added.
Turns out Moore was quite skilled at fixing cars.
“I learned how to fix cars when I was probably 13-years-old with my dad. I have been big into cars ever since then. We built an engine in our living room area,” Moore recalled. “When he passed away I got left that engine and car. Now I have helped Jerry on two of his Jeeps.”
But after helping fix the first one, Moore needed some convincing to ever help again.
“I have scars,” Moore said laughing.
“He was helping me change my gasket on my engine. I thought I took all the little bolts off and I remember him telling me that if I had left any on then he would never help me again,” Gibson said before getting cut off by Moore.
“He left three in there,” Moore said.
Even after the mishap the two continued working on cars together. While Moore knows the ins-and-outs of working on engines, he lacked knowledge in sound systems. Now his Tahoe has a brand new system with the speakers installed by Gibson.
The two agreed that working on cars has been a big part of their friendship. So much so that when they go back home to Alabama, Gibson is already helping teach basic things like how to change a tire to Moore’s son.
“When we go home my son is basically his nephew,” Moore said.
“My family talks with his family,” Gibson added. “We have gone way past being friends. We are family.”
Gibson and Moore are proof that football extends beyond the field and they don’t have any plans to lose touch after their careers are finished.
“We have talked about that,” Gibson said. “I feel like when we are old guys we are going to be hanging out in the yard telling old stories.”
