As the Lady Toppers Basketball team plays on the Diddle Arena court, senior basketball manager Marcus Moye races across the gymnasium to wipe the floor and interact with the crowd. The Nashville senior has gained a local reputation for continuously hyping up players, the audience and cheerleaders during games.
“Working for the Lady Toppers is one of my favorite things to do,” Marcus Moye said. “I am proud to be a manager for this team.”
During his high school years, Marcus Moye said that he attended every basketball game. His mother, Glenesha Moye, encouraged him to talk to the high school basketball coach about working for the team. After speaking to the coach, he started helping out his high school basketball team.
Glenesha Moye said that Marcus Moye has a great work ethic. She said she taught her son that something being difficult is never an excuse to not do his best.
Marcus Moye had a different start in life than most people, Glenesha Moye said. He didn’t speak until he was six, which resulted in him having to take special education classes until middle school.
“I never questioned his ability to learn, and I knew he was a hard worker,” Glenesha Moye said. “He never altered his personality to fit in and unapologetically was true to himself.”
After watching Lady Topper basketball practices in his first year of college, Marcus Moye said he was approached by one of the coaches who asked him if he would like to be a manager.
Initially, Marcus Moye wanted to become a teacher like his father, Glenesha Moye said. After his freshman year of watching the Lady Toppers play, he decided sports was his calling.
“Everyone around me had a job, and I wanted to do and participate in something for a change,” Marcus Moye said.
Glenesha Moye said her son has always loved basketball. From behind the scenes to on the court, she says he is able to feel like he is a part of the game.
“No one had many expectations of him, and so he wrote his own path and has exceeded everything people thought he could not be,” Glenesha Moye said.
Marcus Moye said that after working for the Lady Toppers, people began calling him “Cash Money Marcus,” a nickname for him that originated in high school.
“In high school, they had a ritual every game where he would go to the huddle and sit in the middle of all the players,” Glenesha Moye said. “The players would jump up and fake cash money would be thrown around him, which the crowd loved.”
The nickname followed him to college as Marcus Moye said he still excites the crowd. When he wipes the floors during games, he will often make a heart with his hands showing his love for the fans.
Kennedy Rowan, a graduate assistant for the Lady Toppers from Owensboro, said she has worked with Marcus for four years. She said that he never hesitates to try and get people in a good mood and excited for the games.
“I think his energy definitely helps with hyping up the crowd at our games because every time he runs out to wipe up the floor, the crowd instantly starts cheering,” Rowan said. “The crowd loves to see him sprint across the gym to wipe the floor, and he loves to hear them cheer, especially for him.”
After becoming a fan favorite for the Lady Toppers, a “Hilltopper Spotlight” video was made by the athletic department about Marcus Moye to showcase the passion he has for his work and dedication towards the team.
“The first time I saw the video, it made me so happy, and I was really shocked,” Marcus Moye said. “My favorite thing is being on the big screen.”
Marcus Moye said his goal is to get as many people to attend women’s basketball games as men’s basketball games.
Marcus Moye’s Instagram is full of videos and pictures with cheerleaders, players and audience members alike to bring more attention to and support the Lady Toppers.
“I like encouraging people to show up and support the team,” Marcus Moye said. “I try to make everyone feel excited to come and watch the games.”
Marcus Moye waves to fans in the crowd during a timeout in Diddle Arena during the Lady Toppers vs. MTSU basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 24. (Photo by Preston Jenkins)
“The best word to describe Marcus is ‘joyful,’” Rowan said. “He always does his best to bring out the best in people, and if he senses that someone is in a bad mood, he tries his best to cheer them up.”
Marcus Moye not only demonstrates loving behavior toward the crowd, but he is also very enthusiastic and determined, Rowan said.
“He is at every practice, every game, and he hates to miss even when he has to go to class,” Rowan said. “He knows exactly what to do and how to execute it.”
Marcus Moye never hesitates to ask if there is anything that needs to be done, and he does everything he can do to the best of his ability, Rowan said.
“Everyone working for the team is so nice to me and treats me so good,” Marcus Moye said. “They have all become like family to me, and the court at WKU is like my home away from home.”
Working with the Lady Toppers has given him a sense of home, Glenesha Moye said. When he is managing, she said he seems to feel as if he fits in.
“Knowing that they genuinely accept him for who he is and appreciate what he contributes is an overwhelming and proud feeling for me,” Glenesha Moye said. “As his mom, I wanted him to feel he belonged, and they gave him that sense of belonging.”
After he graduates, Marcus Moye said that he wants to keep incorporating sports in his life and work toward getting a full-time job for the Lady Toppers.
“I am very thankful for this team and all the memories they have given me,” Marcus Moye said. “I’m very excited to finish this season and, of course, get that cash money.”