Aquí te pillo... aquí te placo con Matt

1. Player's bio/description:

I was born in Virginia, in the United States. I grew up for most of my life in Virginia and spent part of my childhood in Texas. I attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia where I continued to play American football as well as study foreign affairs and Spanish. After graduating, I came to Spain in order to attend a master's program and to improve my Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country. Here in Madrid, I met Bryan Ingles, a football player for the Toros, and I decided to continue my American football career here in Spain.

2. When was the first time you discovered american football ? When did you start playing it?

I discovered American football at a very early age. I remember watching college football games with my dad every Saturday when his alma mater (Virginia Tech) was playing. What really sparked my interest in football was a gift from my cousin. For my 5th birthday my cousin gave me a toy set of football shoulder pads and a helmet. After that, I was obsessed with American football. A few years later, my family and I moved to Texas where I started playing peewee football at 7 years old. I haven’t stopped playing since then

3. In which position did you start playing? Did you play in other positions?

In the beginning, I was never a very big guy, so I started playing kicker and a little bit of cornerback and safety. Later on, after I had grown some, I changed to playing linebacker on defense and fullback on offense. I think that linebacker is definitely my natural position. It’s where I feel most comfortable. Apart from linebacker and fullback, I’ve played about every position in football other than quarterback and offensive line.

4. How did you feel when you scored your first touchdown?

To be honest, my first touchdown was a bit melodramatic for me. I was playing as fullback and we have only two yards to score a touchdown. I got the ball and I got it almost exactly two yards. I scored a touchdown, but we were winning 40 or 50 ... to 0. Then, my first touchdown pleased me a little only because I wanted to make one in my career, but I really did not feel like anything special. Anyway , I have always felt more like a defensive player . I like more to stop the touchdowns than score it

5. Offense or deffense?

Defense, all the way!

6. What do you like best about this sport? And what do you like least?

For me, the best part about football is the instinctual aspect of the sport, and the moment of impact. When I’m playing my best football it’s as my mind is completely clear. Everything is action and reaction until that sudden and decisive moment of impact. I love that instinctive and almost primal feeling. I think one of the parts that I like the least about football is the stereotype mentality that it is a sport reserved for meatheads or that there is not much of an intellectual or strategic aspect to the game. No question, it’s a violent sport, but it’s played by good people, and a good deal of intelligence is needed to play this game at a high level.

7. Do you remember any specific game? Why?

I could list at least one game from each period of my career (peewee, middle school, high school, college, and lost toros) that is very special to me. However, there was one game in high school that I will never forget. We played against a team from a neighboring state. They were the 3 time state championships of their home state, and they thought of themselves as the better team. In spite of biased referees (32 penalties were called against us and 0 penalties were called against the opposing team).

8. Do you perform any game rituals before a game?

Not really, in high school I had a "lucky" shirt that I always wear under my armour, and usually pray asking that no one were injured during the game.

9. Do you play any other sports?

I am a sports fan and I love to try new sports, but that I trained "seriously" (apart from football) lacrosse and wrestling in high school.

10. What do you usually do apart from football? What hobbies do you have?

In high school and college I was involved in many theater productions and did a lot of plays when I could. In Madrid, I started doing standup comedy, and I would like to become more involved in theater next year .I also enjoy when studying and improve my Spanish.

11. An NFL team: The Redskins (Washington D.C.)

12. A football player: Between the current players: Pierre Garcon and Ryan Kerrigan (Redskins), Kam Chancellor (Seahawks) and Luke Kuechly (Panthers). From the "old glories": John Riggins (Redskins), Stephen Davis (Redskins), Ed Reed (Ravens), John Lynch (safety) and Mike Singletary (Bears).< /p>

13. A music band / singer: The Eagles, Old Crow Medicine Show, y N.W.A.

14. A TV show: Any game program (like Ahora caigo or Pasapalabra) or Sportscenter in U.S.A.

15. A movie: An American football movie: Friday Night Lights o the Replacements. In general: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

16. A meal: Buffalo Wings

17. Leave a question for the next player to be interviewed: Tell a lie you told your parents when you were child.

18. What made you choose this sport above the rest?

In the beginning , I think that I wanted to prove to everyone that I was tough and strong guy because I was "small" at high school . For me, football was a chance to prove it, to prove that I could compete with the "big" boys . In addition, football is more than a team sport, and always give me good friends than remain in my heart.

19. How high or wich position will Toros reach in the league next year?

Oh well we will win the league obviously.