Top 50 Hokies Spotlight: Corey Moore

The 1999 Virginia Tech football team was arguably the greatest in program history, making its only national championship appearance. Undoubtedly Michael Vick was key for that special 1999 season with his incredible play, but on the other side of the ball there was an absolute menace: Corey Moore.

Moore arrived to Blacksburg after a couple years at Holmes Community College in Mississippi. At 6 feet and 225 pounds Moore was a an undersized DE, but that sure didn’t bother him any.

Moore had a stare like Mike Singletary with pure, raw, aggression every single play. He was a force on defense, but no VT was prepared for what he would do to poor QB Brandon Streeter of Clemson during the 1999 regular season game. This is where we got his famous “Welcome to the Terror Dome”

Moore finished the game two sacks, five tackles (two TFLs), several QB hurries, and the notorious strip and score to close the game out at 31-11.

After his performance he was undoubtedly the best defensive lineman in the country and many argued the best overall defensive player.

Heading into the national championship game, Corey Moore gave a….colorful interview to the media. Warning, it is NSFW.

Some may look at it as disrespectful, but he was all business to win a national championship and there is nothing wrong with that. That is just the kind of character he had.

He finished the season as one of the most decorated Virginia Tech football players of all time winning the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (turns out he was the best defensive player in CFB), Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and picked as a unanimous first-team All-American. Wow.

Moore finished his Hokie career with 31 sacks and over 50 TFLs and etched his name in Virginia Tech football history forever with his jersey retirement in 2010.

He also has a chance to etch his name forever in college football history this year as he is on the 2020 hall of fame ballot. Every Hokie fan is rooting for you Corey and that leaves us with one thing left to say...

Welcome to the Terror Dome, baby.