Story Links
Aug. 4, 2003
Question: How do you react to pressure on and off the field?
Elizabeth Snook, Charlottesville, VA
I try not to let pressure affect me too much. I put more pressure on myself than anything else. Football is a team game and I have faith in all my teammates and they have faith in me so if we just relax and stay poised and concentrate on our jobs then everything will be fine.
Question: I’m in grad school down here in Gainesville now (FL Gators country), and on the radio, they often say how UVA has the potential to be ACC champs, but two primary unknowns:1) our offensive coordinator, and 2) our running attack. My questions are: Is our offensive coordinator similar to the previous, and is Uva planning on more, less, or the same balance of running and passing? I’m stoked that you are a Heisman candidate. Best of luck this upcoming year from all the Hoos in Florida!
Gavin Aaron, Martinsville, VA
Our OC is a guy that has been in our system for two years and has just been promoted to OC from the offensive line coach. He is very smart and able to call plays. He is a terrific coach and I’ll say that we will do whatever necessary to win games whether that is pass or run or a mix, whatever it takes.
Question: Matt, which team in the country would you rather beat than any other? Thanks, Go Hoos!!
Cliff Kirkpatrick, Forest, VA
Virginia Tech or Florida State.
Question: Matt, what’s it like having all this publicity and all the hype?
BJ Williams, Stuarts Draft, VA
It’s nice but more from a team perspective, everyone is becoming aware of Virginia, around the country people are talking about us and that is the direction our program is headed.
Question: Hey Matt!!! I am from the Tri-Cities/Soutwest VA area (Home of such former/current UVA’ers Thomas Jones, Heath Miller, and Vince Redd) and I was wondering what you think about our legitimate shot at the national title, your possible NFL future, and your understudy Anthony Martinez on being our future starter. Thanks!!!
Seth McConnell, Gate City, VA
We definitely have a shot at the national title, everyone does, all we have to do is focus on each game individually and win each of them and the rest will take care of itself. As far as my future we will see what happens of course I want to go to the next level that has always been my goal, I am just looking forward to enjoying my last season at Virginia. Amart has progressed very well in his first off-season, he has worked on his mechanics and nailing down the offense.
Question: Besides avoiding all of the preseason hype, what is going to be your biggest obstacle both offensively and opponent wise…?Good Luck! Go Wahoos!
Chris Nunnally, New Kent, VA
The biggest obstacle that I see is ourselves. We have to take care of the football, and create turnovers like we did last season. We can not beat ourselves; that is the worst feeling when you know you can beat a team, but you lose because you beat yourself.
Question: What is your favorite play that you have ran?
Blair Farinholt, Richmond, VA
The double pass in the Continental Tire Bowl when I threw it to Marques Hagans, and then he threw it back to Wali Lundy. That was a pretty exciting play.
Question: You were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll? What sort of classroom performance is required to be named to the ACC Honor Roll? You are now in graduate school. Are you continuing your study of economics?
William Mellen, Big Sky, MT
A GPA of 3.0 or higher is needed to be considered to the All-ACC academic team. I am not continuing with economics. I am in the Curry school of Education and applying to the Social Foundations program.
Question: When did you know that football would be your main talent, and when you found that out, how did you prepare outside of your high school practice?
Mac McGraw, Charlottesville, VA
I knew that football would be my future in college in my junior year of high school. Up until that point, I also played basketball and baseball but I was not sure which one would carry me on. Once I realized it would be football, I hit the weight room pretty hard to gain about 30 lbs for my senior year, went to visit colleges to visit with the coaches and players. It was a very long process, but it was well worth it.
Question: Matt, I know a lot of people are talking about you and Philip Rivers and you both are Heisman candidates, I am wondering if it will help or hurt your focus for the NCSU game?
Barry Blankenship, Pembroke, VA
I don’t think it will affect me that much and knowing Philip, I don’t think it will affect him much either. I have a lot of respect for him. He is a great quarterback who leads his team very well and has been doing it for four years. It will be two quarterbacks leading their team in a big game.
Question: I love playing football. I have dreamed of going to Uva ever since I could pick up a football. For you, what did it take to get in and how can I help increase my chances of being a Wahoo? I’m 13, and go to most home games even though we have to drive 2 hours, we do just to support our Cavs!
Marco Johnson, Rockville, MD
Wow, you’re a pretty devoted fan coming to most games from that far away! I would say that you need to do as well as you can in school, work very hard at your school work. Not to mention try and do some extracurricular activities and do them with every ounce of energy in you. The more you can do, the more the admissions staff will be impressed with you.
Question: Compare playing for Coach Welsh with playing for Coach Groh for us. I am a big fan of both coaches, yet I imagine them to be very different. Thanks, jon
Jon Parrish, Madison Height, VA
They are very different, they have different styles both of which seem to work. Coach Groh is very enthusiastic and more of a players’ coach. He has brought an NFL system to the college level. Everything we do is just like if we were an NFL team.
Question: If you could improve one aspect of your game, what would it be and why?
Andrew Berno, Oak Hill, VA
I would want to be faster. I like to think of myself as “just enough” when it comes to running with the ball. That is just enough to get a first down. But it would be nice to do a little more than that.