To say that former Dickinson State football and track athlete Myren Moore ('17) is thankful is an understatement. Moore credits and thanks everybody responsible for getting him out of Bakersfield, California to Dickinson, where he found a home.
“I’m just so thankful. I thank God for my coaches,” Moore said. “(Bakersfield Centennial coaches) Bryan Nixon and Ryan Renz planted the seeds. Coach Dave Frickle (Bakersfield Junior College track coach) was determined to get me out of Bakersfield on a scholarship to get an education.”
“I thank God for the coaches and staff at Dickinson State. I thank God for (DSU Heritage Foundation Director) Ty Orton for seeing something in me and for being there when I need someone to speak life into me. I thank God for the Dickinson community for supporting me and the Give Day campaigns.”
Moore grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Bakersfield as a college sophomore. He played football, ran track, and continued those activities at Bakersfield Junior College. After two years, he came to Dickinson State to run track primarily and play football, thanks mostly to Frickle. He ran the 200 and 400 meters in track. As a football walk-on, he played running back.
“I had applied to two colleges already,” Moore explained. “I would sell plasma to pay for my application fees. Coach Frickle knew how expensive they were getting, so he started giving me money to pay for them. Coach Frickle passed away a few years ago, I wish he were here to see what he did for me. I wish he was here to see all the incredible things I’ve been able to accomplish because of his commitment to me.”
As a show of gratitude, Moore and fellow junior college football transfers Alex Huitzil, Jesse Carney, and Quincy Mason established the Dakota Brotherhood scholarship to help junior college athletes make a smoother transition to Dickinson State. The scholarship was originally a five-year pledge of $500 each for four scholarships, totaling $2,000 per year. “But because of the support from our friends, family, former teammates, and coaches, we’ve doubled that,” Moore said.
“JUCO is just different,” Moore added. “It’s a different type of struggle. And I don’t care how anybody else looks at it, we knew that to accomplish some of the things we talked about (DSU) needed more JUCO guys as part of the program.”
At the time, DSU was struggling in the Frontier Conference. “We wanted to help turn the program around and we wanted to create a scholarship for junior college athletes. And that’s what we did! We accomplished our goals.”
After graduation in 2014, Moore held down a full-time job and coached football at DSU for four years. Then Orton presented him with an opportunity.
“I went to the Foundation in November of 2020 to buy some alumni apparel for some of my coaches back home. I had a conversation with Ty Orton about the things I was doing with my life,” Moore explained. “I told him I was actually going home to organize a Turkey Drive. He pitched this idea to me of being a fundraiser for the DSU Heritage Foundation and just told me to think about it.
“I remember thinking that I wouldn’t be a good fit for that role. I called Nixon for advice, and he told me, ‘Myren, you are the perfect person for that role. It’s because of a scholarship that you were able to go to college and get an education. It’s because of a scholarship that you got to break generational curses.’ So, I met with Ty after that, accepted the job and created DSU Give Day.” Give Day is the Foundation’s largest fundraising event. Other initiatives, like the Dakota Brotherhood scholarship, have had an impact on individuals like Moore. “I hope it gives another person the same opportunity it gave us; an opportunity to continue your education and athletics, but also an opportunity to create a better life for yourself, break generational curses, start a career, start a family, be a part of a great community,” Moore said. “We’ve just been extremely blessed, and we would love for others to experience that.”
Scooter Pursley
Communication Specialist
DSU Heritage Foundation
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