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Graduating
Just Right - The Clifford Moller Story
by Richard E. Lapchick
Special for The Sporting News
There are always many heart-warming stories at this time of year as thousands of college students graduate. A journey started by Clifford Moller in 1967 was finally completed 33 years later when Moller got his degree 1500 miles from his Harlem home at the University of Nebraska.
I was lucky enough to, in at least a small way, be involved in the story. I was part of a program on the Black Athlete that HBO Sports hosted in New York City several years ago. Among the speakers were Reverend Jesse Jackson, Spike Lee, and myself.
There was a reception for the large audience before the program. I was introduced to an African-American man who was in his late 40s. Clifford Moller was in the real estate business in New York. Dressed for success, he was eloquently discussing many of the issues that would be discussed during the program. When he turned to how difficult it was for a black athlete from a place like Harlem to attend a predominantly white campus, I was sure he was talking about his own story. When I asked him where he went to college, Clifford began to lay it out for me.
He grew up in a family where basketball became his escape and gave him his identity. His namesake father was a serious gambler who lived the high life in Harlem clubs. He finally left his wife, Bernice and young Clifford to fend for themselves. The young Clifford, who was a lightning fast guard, was becoming a player to watch in a city full of basketball legends. He was an outstanding guard for William Howard Taft High in the Bronx. In his senior year, it was all basketball. He was sure he would play in college, maybe even make it to the NBA.
It was during that year that his father was shot and killed while he was shooting dice. Clifford knew then that he would not allow himself to fail in life as his own father had. When Glen Potter, the coach at the University of Nebraska, offered him a scholarship, Clifford was ready to leave New York. However, he was not ready for what he found when he got to Lincoln, Nebraska in the fall of 1967. He had left an almost all black world in Harlem and had arrived in an almost all white world in Lincoln.
"Even basketball couldn't keep me going. I felt so isolated and could not study. I missed New York too much. I was lost and came home."
But the drive to succeed kept him off the corners and he worked hard to support himself. Before becoming a successful real estate agent, he drove a cab and worked in a school based anti-drug program. He had a comfortable apartment, got married and had a son who he named Clifford. When he and his wife separated, he became even closer to the boy. He drove him to school every day. He took a second job to pay for private school tuition. Now I was up to date in his life story.
"My son is a great student. The only thing missing is that I can�t show him my degree. I want to get it."
Clifford was aware that I was the Director of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), which has a degree completion program, based at more than 190 colleges and universities. I told him that Nebraska was one of the very first Division IA schools that had joined. I gave him the name of Keith Zimmer, their NCAS coordinator. I called Keith to let him know about Clifford. I never heard from Clifford again.
I was the keynote speaker for a meeting of the National Association of Athletic Academic Advisors (N4A) in Lincoln in the winter of 1998. I have many friends in the Athletics Department and in the University's central administration. Therefore, I was surprised when an African American man who I did not recognize got up to introduce me.
"I met Richard Lapchick at an HBO program in New York a few years ago�"
Suddenly I realized it was Clifford. Looking me in the eye, he went on,"Meeting Dr. Lapchick that night helped get me back to Nebraska. I am here with my son, Clifford. I will graduate in the spring of 2000."
I looked over at his son, who was beaming. By now, the tears were rolling down my cheeks. The Consortium has had more than 17,000 former student-athletes come back to their campuses but when you see the results up so close, it takes on another meaning. Clifford called a week ago.
"I want you to know that I graduated. My son was there. So was my Mom. I felt so proud because I knew Clifford now had a Dad who had a college degree. I love to learn and I want to go to law school here. I was admitted to graduate school but not to the law school. Maybe I will go to grad school for a year and reapply for the law school next year.
"The only thing I hate about this is that my son is in New York while I am here. I miss him so much. All of this is for him. He loves to learn and so do I.
"When I move back to New York, I want to be a deal maker and developer of major real estate deals. Having the law degree will help that. I wish I didn�t have to wait a year to start."
I got a card from Clifford yesterday. It read, "Shortly after talking with you I received a telephone call from the Dean of Admissions of the University of Nebraska Law College. She informed me that my file had been reopened and the admissions committee granted me admission to the Law College. All I could do was thank God."
Congratulations, Clifford! I am proud to know you.
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