Q & A with Matt Walters
June 25, 2002
Senior defensive lineman Matt Walters took a few minutes to discuss his goals for the upcoming football season as well as what he’s been up to during the off season. Here’s what he had to say:
What has your off season been like, on and off the field?
Its been really tough, actually. Practice has been really hard. School has actually backed off a bit, but for my senior season, I’m really pushing myself on working out.
What is your workout schedule like?
We work out for two hours a day. The first forty-five minutes to an hour, we run, and the hour to an hour and fifteen minutes, we lift.
What, if anything, have you changed in the off-season to improve your performance next season?
I’ve focused on the two parts of my body I use most during the game: my legs and my back.
In one word, describe your experience last season.
Incredible, it was just amazing. I remember watching college football as a little kid on TV. To be able to live out the experience and win a national championship was incredible.
The team had a great last season. Do you feel any pressure this season to make it just as good or even better?
You always remember how you do in your last game. Right now, we’re riding high because we won our last game, and we know everyone is going to be shooting for us since we won the National Championship. We want to do it again. I’ve never heard Coach Coker give a losing speech and I never want to have to hear it.
What are your thoughts on Larry Coker’s first year as head coach?
He’s great. It’s difficult in college football and the NFL to find a great coach and a great people person, and somehow he’s both. He’s an awesome coach, and at the same time, he’s a great guy.
Which team do you most look forward to playing this season?
Florida at the Swamp, because where I grew up, there were a lot of Florida fans. A lot of my friends went to the University of Florida, so I want to go there and win.
What would you say is the strongest aspect of your game?
It’s probably the mental aspect. I try to play the game physical, but I rely on the mental aspect of the game more than anything else.
What are your personal goals for this next season?
I want to double my sacks and get about sixty to seventy tackles.
From which fellow team member have you learned the most?
There are a lot of them. Jamaal Green, because he’s been injured a lot of times, and he always comes back stronger and better.
Which graduate will you miss the most this season?
I’ll miss all of the Offensive Linemen that graduated. Even though we went up against them every day in practice and sometimes fought, they were a really fun group of guys.
What has been the worst feeling you’ve experienced in football?
It was actually the Florida State game we won two years ago, when they score towards the end of the game and I thought we were going to lose. Then, in the last seconds, Jeremy Shockey scored a touch down and we won. So I guess it was the worst feeling followed by the best.
Which is the best professional player at your position?
I really looked up to Bruce Smith and Reggie White as a kid. I remember watching them as a little kid. Those are probably the two best players that ever played the position.
What is your favorite football movie?
I liked The Program. It’s a great movie. It shows hard hits and is probably the most realistic football movie.
What is your advice to young athletes?
Play a sport that makes you happy. Some people like baseball and they don’t like football but they’re pressured to play football. So definitely play the sport that you want to play.
