Moriarty boasts NFL pedigree

Cornell junior Jamie Moriarty has football running through his veins.

His father, Thomas, played for the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers. He also has three uncles -- Frank, Pat and Larry -- who donned NFL uniforms.

But even with such a distinguished football pedigree, Moriarty has had a tough time finding his way as a player at Cornell.

That is to say that he did, until this season, when he started making his mark as a defensive back.

When Moriarty staked claim to the starting free safety position this season, his career had come full circle.

Originally recruited as a defensive back, he was shifted to receiver his freshman year and was subsequently buried in the depth chart.

He tallied a few catches and contributed on special teams for the Big Red, but during his sophomore year the coaches decided that the team would benefit more from having Moriarty on the defensive side of the ball.

"As a younger athlete on any team, learning how to play one position and how you fit into that particular defense or offense is hard enough," Moriarty said.ÿ When my positions were changing I was consulted before they would happen, and I think that that was really important.ÿI was not going to be switched around if I did not want to be."

The results have, in fact, been very encouraging as far as statistics are concerned.

With one game left in the season, Moriarty is in a three-way tie for first place in the Ivy League with four interceptions. He is also tied for second on the team with 52 tackles and has scooped up two fumbles.

"I try to put myself into the position to make big plays -- anything to give our sideline some energy," Moriarty said.

His performance has quickly made him a defensive leader on the team.

"We're going through some growing pains right now, so some of the younger guys are looking up to him because he makes plays," Pendergast said.

The Cornell squad has indeed experienced a tough time on the field this year, especially on defense.

The Big Red claimed their two victories by a combined seven points, and have managed to keep opposing offenses under 24 points only once, in a 10-7 victory over Princeton.

"We were very hot and cold as a team and as a defense, but in

the last couple of games I believe that there has been a change," Moriarty said.

Having a free safety with the second-most tackles on a team is an indication that long runs and completed passes are being executed on the Cornell defense too frequently.

This is only partly true, according to Pendergast, because Moriarty's success is also a function of skill and design.

"If your defensive backs are making a lot of tackles, it is not really good news," Pendergast said. "But we do try to move our free safety up to get him involved in the run game, and Jamie has done a great job making plays."

With only two wins to its credit this season, Cornell is looking forward to next season when emerging leaders like Moriarty will form the backbone of the team.

"I try to lead is by example and also act as a sort of QB for the defense," Moriarty said. "My position requires a lot of identification of the offense and communication, so in doing those things I have helped lead the defense."

With four family members having made it to the NFL, one might suspect that Moriarty has the blood lines to be a natural leader and a solid performer.

"Having the NFL background has only... given me extra confidence, not pressure," Moriarty said.

Pendergast attributes most of the defensive back's success to his ability to absorb the game and to build on the lessons that he learns in each week's practices and games.

"He hasn't gone from being nothing to a world-beater, but he has taken big strides towards improving as a defender," Pendergast said. "Jamie has shown signs of progress each week.

"I wish that our whole team could be doing what Jamie has done."

Moriarty sees more progress in the team, though.

"I believe that our future for the upcoming seasons is bright as shown in our victories over Dartmouth and Princeton," the Cornell free safety said.

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