After the Ducks pulled off what many people thought was impossible, beating the Penn State Nittany Lions during a white-out night game at home, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was brought to tears.
Somehow, not everybody was moved by the expression of unadulterated emotion. In fact, some people started to complain that Moore was acting like the Oregon Ducks had just won the National Championship instead of "just" winning a top-10 Big Ten game.
The following week, Moore was asked about why he couldn't contain his feelings after the big-time win for his team. His answer gained the veteran QB even more fans.
"People don't understand how much prep and work was put into that week. I mean, if I told my younger self that you're about to play in front of 112,000 in a white out top five hardest atmospheres in the world to play in, and we win in double-overtime? It's just a crazy situation.
"It's so much work that gets put in... so much tension was built up, and when I took the field against Penn State, I looked Poncho [Iapani Laloulu] in the eyes and he looked at me, and it's like, 'I have confidence in my teammates and they have confidence in me.'"
Moore went on to say that he lives for these big moments, that they are exactly why people come to play for the Ducks.
"I just feel like playing in these big stages and big environments... these are just the things we worked hard for," Moore said. "Overall, like I said, I get really emotional and I get real particular with myself about things because I've worked so damn hard for it."
Dante Moore versus Penn State
He played his heart out against the Nittany Lions, throwing for 248 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while also earning 35 yards on the ground. He was never sacked and never turned the ball over. He was the leader through and through.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has loudly sung the praises of his QB, stating that he truly believes the Ducks have "the best quarterback in college football."
This week, Moore and the No. 3 Ducks take on the No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers in their third Big Ten game of the season. Oregon and Indiana are scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 11, and the game will be broadcast on CBS.