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Plancher's patience pays off

The Associated Press

On the fourth carry of his freshman year, Plancher's season ended with a torn ACL.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: August 20, 2009

TAMPA - His football career has been haunted by a ridiculous string of injuries - shoulder operation, torn ACL, severely sprained ankle, pulled hamstring and dislocated elbow - but University of South Florida senior running back Moise Plancher hasn't surrendered.

And now - due to his perseverance, plus the thinning of the USF depth chart due to injury and suspension - Plancher is poised to become the Bulls' primary ball-carrier.

"I feel like I've been humbled and I've been tested," said Plancher, a shifty 5-foot-9, 200-pound product of Barron Collier High in Naples. "So I'm taking every day as it comes. All I'm doing is living each day to its fullest and trying my best. You never know when something will be taken away from you."

Like football. Or maybe life itself.

Asked what kept him running, Plancher pointed to a tattoo on his left arm. It's a portrait of his cousin, Ereck Plancher, a constant companion back home in Naples. They played together and dreamed big football dreams.

On March 18, 2008, Ereck Plancher, a University of Central Florida player, collapsed and died during an offseason workout in Orlando. He was 19.

"I'm still a very young person, but sometimes I feel a little older," said Plancher, 22. "I think I have a better understanding of life. There's no time to waste while you're here. If you truly want to get better, every minute counts.

"I think about my cousin all the time. I truly miss him. Even though he was younger than me, I looked up to him because he was such a great person. Even now, he still motivates me to be the best person I can be."

According to USF coaches, Plancher's effort has been an inspiration.

As a freshman in 2006, Plancher was USF's starting running back. But on his fourth carry, Plancher's season ended with a torn ACL. Getting back to form wasn't easy. He showed flashes last year with 322 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns.

Now there's an opening.

Plancher has looked great in preseason camp. In the past week, Jamar Taylor was lost with a knee injury (eight to 10 weeks) and Mike Ford was suspended for the first two games.

"Mo is a guy I really trust," USF running backs coach Carl Franks said. "That's maybe one of the ultimate compliments you can give a player. You trust that Mo's always giving you maximum effort. You trust that he's going to pick up a blitz, that he's going to catch the ball, that he's going to hit the hole. You can also trust that he's going to class, getting his grades and maintaining his eligibility.

"If the season starts tomorrow, he's our starter. He has battled through so much. When you're hurt, you're a member of the team, but you don't feel part of the team. So he has really toughened up not just physically, but mentally. He's a tough guy."

Just ask his teammates.

"I love seeing him in the game because I know he'll make something happen," USF guard Zach Hermann said. "He's always going downhill, always fighting for yardage. You root for guys like that."

"It's finally Mo's time to shine," Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe said. "He's going to make the most of it. You're going to hear his name a lot."

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353.

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