The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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134 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PAST said: the loss to top-ranked and seven-time national champion UCLA in December of his junior year in a made-for-television game in St. Louis was the best thing that could have happened to the Pack. "We were all disappointed, but vowed on the plane ride home that if we were fortu- nate enough to meet the Bruins again, we would be ready and the outcome would be different," Moeller recalled. "We, to a man and as a team, committed to getting better and doing what it would take to win the national championship. "It was verbally communicated to Coach Sloan on that plane. It truly was the begin- ning of our title run." First, the Pack had to get through the pressure-packed ACC Tournament in Greensboro, which featured three top-five teams with North Carolina and Maryland. Moeller says the sense of release after the 103-100 overtime victory in the winner- take-all championship game over the Terps was palpable. "The tension was incredible," Moeller said. "The ACC Tournament was always a festive time for our fans, but this game was different. We all knew what the deal was, and the tension was thick because of it around the hotel. There wasn't much activity, everyone was just sort of keeping to themselves. "After the game, the locker room scene was amazing. All that emotion came pouring out, even from big Tim Stod- dard. It was just a real sense of relief and accomplishment." After graduating in 1976 and working in private business until 1979, Moeller joined the Wolfpack Club, where he was an ac- count representative until 1987, when he entered the commercial real estate busi- ness with JDavis Architects, Hunter Rob- erts Construction Group, BE&K Build- ing Group and the T.A. Loving Company, among others. He joined Danis in 2010. He's remained involved at NC State, serving on the university's artist selection committee for the recently unveiled statues at the Coaches Corner. He joined former players Ernie Myers and Lou Pucillo to represent players under Jim Valvano, Norm Sloan and Everett Case to add to the origi- nal statue of women's basketball coach Kay Yow. "It was a great honor to help represent those four coaches, all of whom had a pretty amazing impact on NC State bas- ketball," Moeller said. "And it was espe- cially an honor to represent Coach Sloan and his family, because of what they mean to me." Moeller was swelled with pride through- out the Hall of Fame weekend, while spending time with former roommates Mike Buurman, Steve Smith and Kusz- maul. It was the first time in more than five years that the entire team was reunited. "The one thing that people don't always remember about our team is how close we were back then," Moeller said. "That's one of the things that made our team so special. It's always meaningful when we get to spend time together again." The team was honored at the Reynolds reopening gala, stepped on stage during the Hall of Fame inductions, had a private tailgate party for Saturday's football game against Old Dominion and sat in the stands together at Carter-Finley Stadium. "It was great to see everyone again," Moeller said. "And to be part of the first team to be inducted into the NC State Ath- letic Hall of Fame." ■ Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker. You may contact him at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu. Moeller (inset photo), the director of business development in the Raleigh office of Danis Construction LLC, labored for more than four years in help- ing develop the Reynolds renovation project that produced the lavish new hall of fame and arena. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN (INSET PHOTO COURTESY MARK MOELLER) "I wanted to keep my finger on the pulse of the project as much as I could and make sure things were progressing nicely. It turned out better than I could have ever imagined." ■ Moeller