Lakeview’s Moody finds calm in Ivy school choice

By Joe Scalzo

CORTLAND — When you’re a guy like Lakeview senior Ben Moody, who grew up dreaming of playing Division I football and seeing his highlights on ESPN and (he didn’t say this, so this is just a guess) maybe flirting with a cheerleader or two, the thought of going to an Ivy League school was about as far-fetched as attending the Air Force Academy.

So, you can probably guess what happened.

Moody, one of the best players in Lakeview history, recently found himself taking back-to-back visits. One was to Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy. That school combined the allure of a Division I football team with the reality of a five-year — or longer — military commitment and a pretty long commute home.

The other was to Ithaca, N.Y., home of Cornell University, which combined a I-AA football team and a chance to play running back with a heavy dose of snow and an even heavier course load.

Both seemed a little scarier than, say, the University of Akron.

“When I visited Cornell, I’ll admit I was a little skeptical,” said Moody. “But right away I felt comfortable. I felt like I was home.”

Air Force had its benefits, but Moody wasn’t sold. The military commitment made him a little nervous and he still wanted to hear Cornell’s pitch.

Once in Ithaca, he met with other football players, who calmed his fears about the classwork, telling him tutors are always available and that he’ll usually have a few teammates taking the same classes. They were all in it together, the players said, and it would be worth the effort. Besides, Moody is no slouch in the classroom, scoring a 29 on his ACT to go with a 3.54 grade-point average. He knew he could handle the work.

As for the snow?

“Doesn’t bother me at all,” he said. “The cold doesn’t bother me and I like winter sports.

“I don’t know if they’ll let me keep snowboarding, though.”

So, ultimately, the choice was clear. Ivy League schools can’t offer athletic scholarships, but the $50,000-per-year university offered to cover all but $7,000 of the cost of tuition, room and board and fees. Moody would be expected to maintain at least a 2.5 gpa, but as a competitor he plans to make that standard moot.

“There is some competition between the players when it comes to grades,” said Moody. “No one likes to admit they can’t make it. If I let my grades get too low, I’d definitely get some help.”

Although Moody (6-3, 180) was a two-way starter at Lakeview, his future (as he saw it) was on offense.

Moody set or tied six school records and running back was where he made his mark. The three-year letterman had his best season as a junior, rushing for 1,367 yards and 11 TDs to lead the Bulldogs to the Trumbull Athletic Conference title, a 10-3 record and a berth in the Division III regional finals — the best finish in school history. He rushed for 1,200 yards and 17 TDs this year and earned first team all-league and second team all-district honors.

“I definitely wanted to stay on the offensive side of the ball,” he said. “It didn’t matter if it was at running back, wide receiver, slot receiver. ... As long as I get the chance to get the ball in my hand and help the team.”

His teachers were proud when they heard the news, knowing they’d helped play a part in the opportunity. His friends teased him a little, reminding him that Cornell games aren’t exactly a staple of the ABC/ESPN football television package.

“They couldn’t believe I’d give that up,” said Moody. “But they understood and a lot of them said they’d make the same decision.”

Moody plans to major in biology. He’s considering biomedical engineering and could eventually go to medical school.

But those decisions can wait. He’s made enough big choices for now.

“Never in my life did I think I’d go to an Ivy League school,” he said. “I’m really excited for it.”

scalzo@vindy.com