Doc Rivers on Phoenix guard Steve Nash's role and what third-year Boston guard Rajon Rondo can learn from Nash, who is in his 13th NBA season:
"Every game Steve's agenda is to make his teammates better and he does it each night. He does it some nights by scoring and some by passing.
The one thing that Rondo can learn from Nash is Nash may not play well every night, but he doesn't have an off night mentally. He has a great mental focus every single game. I've never seen him play in a game where he has no focus or low focus. Young players, in general, are up and down in that area. The great ones, like Steve, are always dialed in."
1.24.2009
JOHN PELPHREY - KEEP HAMMERING AWAY
John Pelphrey's Arkansas team won 12 of its first 13 games of the season before losing their first three games in SEC play.
But Coach Pelphrey hasn't changed his approach:
"Whether we're in the middle of something great like going 12-1 or in the middle of something difficult like being 0-3, you try to be consistent and keep hammering way. You never know what swing it's going to be that shatters that boulder. You just keep hammering away."
But Coach Pelphrey hasn't changed his approach:
"Whether we're in the middle of something great like going 12-1 or in the middle of something difficult like being 0-3, you try to be consistent and keep hammering way. You never know what swing it's going to be that shatters that boulder. You just keep hammering away."
BENCH PLAYERS
Last night against the Dallas Mavericks, Rip Hamilton came off the bench for only the first time in his seven seasons as a Piston.
Hamilton's reaction?
"They told me I was coming off the bench, that it was something coach Michael Curry wanted and I said, 'Fine, cool.' The bottom line is you want to win games. If this is the best way we can win a championship, then I am all for it."
Some bench players say they prefer coming off the bench because it gives them an advantage:
"Coming off the bench allows you to see what's going on," said Tennessee Wayne Chism, who came off the bench against Vandy the other night to go for 20 points and 7rebounds. "You're able to see what's working and what's not working and use that to your advantage."
The value of a good bench can't be overstated. Just last night, in a win over WAS, the Lakers bench played a key role. "The bench was what broke the game open for us, actually," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Sasha, Trevor, Lamar."
LA's Lamar Odom, who until this season had started nearly every game he's played in during his 10-year pro career, takes pride in his role with this year's Laker team:
"Every game when me and Trevor are checking into the game, I tell him, 'Let's change the game. Let's change it. Whether it's offensively, defensively or the intangibles.' Our depth is important to us. As a team, we're proud of it. It makes our practices very competitive. Hopefully it'll help us down the stretch."
Hamilton's reaction?
"They told me I was coming off the bench, that it was something coach Michael Curry wanted and I said, 'Fine, cool.' The bottom line is you want to win games. If this is the best way we can win a championship, then I am all for it."
Some bench players say they prefer coming off the bench because it gives them an advantage:
"Coming off the bench allows you to see what's going on," said Tennessee Wayne Chism, who came off the bench against Vandy the other night to go for 20 points and 7rebounds. "You're able to see what's working and what's not working and use that to your advantage."
The value of a good bench can't be overstated. Just last night, in a win over WAS, the Lakers bench played a key role. "The bench was what broke the game open for us, actually," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Sasha, Trevor, Lamar."
LA's Lamar Odom, who until this season had started nearly every game he's played in during his 10-year pro career, takes pride in his role with this year's Laker team:
"Every game when me and Trevor are checking into the game, I tell him, 'Let's change the game. Let's change it. Whether it's offensively, defensively or the intangibles.' Our depth is important to us. As a team, we're proud of it. It makes our practices very competitive. Hopefully it'll help us down the stretch."
1.23.2009
BRANDON ROY
Six winters ago, Brandon Roy was ineligible and insecure, cleaning out containers in a shipyard.
Last night Brandon Roy became the second player in the 107-season history of basketball at Washington to have his jersey retired.
"I really can't put this into words," Roy said.
The kids were waiting for prime courtside seats to see Roy's UW jersey No. 3 hung in the arena's rafters. Roy chose the number at Washington to honor his older brother, who wore it as a high school star before troubles derailed his chance at college.
"One of two players in 100 years of basketball? That's amazing," Roy said.
Roy failed to get qualifying college entrance scores out of Seattle's Garfield High School in 2002. His scores improved so dramatically when he took the SAT a second time the disbelieving NCAA's clearinghouse rejected them as invalid. So he took it again -- and his scores were lost. Then they were found.
The NCAA cleared him for eligibility. UW did not, initially.
Months of what should have been his freshman year passed, darkly. The Huskies' season began and Roy was a confused teen, shut out of college and the arena in which he is now immortalized. He needed a purpose, a job.
So Roy scrubbed industrial spills out of the insides of shipping containers in the rugged, cold shipyards in downtown Seattle.
"The doubt definitely crept in my freshman year," Roy said, chuckling. "I thought, 'Man, I'll never have that chance to prove myself."
His family kept encouraging him, saying everyone's story is different "and this one is yours." Each day, his co-workers at the shipyard made sure Roy didn't see the docks as a dead end.
"That taught me a lot, sitting with those guys. They would say, 'When you get a chance to go to college, make the most of it,'" Roy said.
Romar remembers as if it was yesterday the January day in 2003 when he told Roy that Washington had declared him eligible. They hugged and held on for what Roy said had to be five minutes.
"That was probably the most special day of my life," Roy said.
He refused to redshirt because he was so eager to play. But for the next couple seasons, he quietly sat back and let teammate Nate Robinson, now with the New York Knicks, get the accolades as Washington soared into the nation's elite.
Washington needed Roy to rebound, so he led the Huskies in that.
Then Roy missed much of his junior season with a knee injury. He returned mainly as a sixth man, content to ease his way back in, to not disrupt the chemistry of a team that was on its way to another NCAA tournament.
He took over in his senior season, averaging 20.2 points and scoring the fourth-most points in a UW season. He passed. He rebounded. He shut down opponents' best scorers. The Huskies went 26-7 and reached another regional semifinal of the NCAA tournament.
"Brandon Roy separates himself from any era. You can't match what he did. Brandon's in a class by himself," he said.
Last night Brandon Roy became the second player in the 107-season history of basketball at Washington to have his jersey retired.
"I really can't put this into words," Roy said.
The kids were waiting for prime courtside seats to see Roy's UW jersey No. 3 hung in the arena's rafters. Roy chose the number at Washington to honor his older brother, who wore it as a high school star before troubles derailed his chance at college.
"One of two players in 100 years of basketball? That's amazing," Roy said.
Roy failed to get qualifying college entrance scores out of Seattle's Garfield High School in 2002. His scores improved so dramatically when he took the SAT a second time the disbelieving NCAA's clearinghouse rejected them as invalid. So he took it again -- and his scores were lost. Then they were found.
The NCAA cleared him for eligibility. UW did not, initially.
Months of what should have been his freshman year passed, darkly. The Huskies' season began and Roy was a confused teen, shut out of college and the arena in which he is now immortalized. He needed a purpose, a job.
So Roy scrubbed industrial spills out of the insides of shipping containers in the rugged, cold shipyards in downtown Seattle.
"The doubt definitely crept in my freshman year," Roy said, chuckling. "I thought, 'Man, I'll never have that chance to prove myself."
His family kept encouraging him, saying everyone's story is different "and this one is yours." Each day, his co-workers at the shipyard made sure Roy didn't see the docks as a dead end.
"That taught me a lot, sitting with those guys. They would say, 'When you get a chance to go to college, make the most of it,'" Roy said.
Romar remembers as if it was yesterday the January day in 2003 when he told Roy that Washington had declared him eligible. They hugged and held on for what Roy said had to be five minutes.
"That was probably the most special day of my life," Roy said.
He refused to redshirt because he was so eager to play. But for the next couple seasons, he quietly sat back and let teammate Nate Robinson, now with the New York Knicks, get the accolades as Washington soared into the nation's elite.
Washington needed Roy to rebound, so he led the Huskies in that.
Then Roy missed much of his junior season with a knee injury. He returned mainly as a sixth man, content to ease his way back in, to not disrupt the chemistry of a team that was on its way to another NCAA tournament.
He took over in his senior season, averaging 20.2 points and scoring the fourth-most points in a UW season. He passed. He rebounded. He shut down opponents' best scorers. The Huskies went 26-7 and reached another regional semifinal of the NCAA tournament.
"Brandon Roy separates himself from any era. You can't match what he did. Brandon's in a class by himself," he said.
1.10.2009
KOBE BRYANT
Here is an observation by Eric Musselman the former NBA coach while watching Kobe Bryant during his game against the Warriors:
During Kobe's pre-game and halftime warm-ups, unlike a lot of guys, he isn't chatting or casually shooting. He's focused & taking game-speed jumpers. Its that kind of focus and preparation that separates him from the other elite players. Kobe takes advantage of every minute he is on the floor and it’s that tiny bit of extra focus that can make a big difference.
During Kobe's pre-game and halftime warm-ups, unlike a lot of guys, he isn't chatting or casually shooting. He's focused & taking game-speed jumpers. Its that kind of focus and preparation that separates him from the other elite players. Kobe takes advantage of every minute he is on the floor and it’s that tiny bit of extra focus that can make a big difference.
GARY WILLIAMS
Longtime Maryland coach Gary Williams points out that for a team, there has to be a consistent level of commitment across the board:
"To be a good team... it's just a matter of if everybody makes the same commitment; there's always going to be one guy that's better than the others. But the team's got to get over that. You're doing everything you can to help us win. In other words, for us to win, that guy's got to get those points. Everybody's got to have their role and accept the fact that points aren't the answer to whether a team's successful or not."
"To be a good team... it's just a matter of if everybody makes the same commitment; there's always going to be one guy that's better than the others. But the team's got to get over that. You're doing everything you can to help us win. In other words, for us to win, that guy's got to get those points. Everybody's got to have their role and accept the fact that points aren't the answer to whether a team's successful or not."
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl speaks on the addition of Chauncey Billups, the 12-year veteran, who has played in three NBA Finals. He has had an immediate impact on how the team approached the season:
"In a strange way, I think Chauncey has defined winning with this team as being the only reason why we play the game. In the past couple of years, it seems like we've won games, but that wasn't the only reason we played. His no-nonsense priority is that we're here to compete, we're here to win, we're here to represent the organization, we're here to represent the city of Denver and do it in a first-class way."
"In a strange way, I think Chauncey has defined winning with this team as being the only reason why we play the game. In the past couple of years, it seems like we've won games, but that wasn't the only reason we played. His no-nonsense priority is that we're here to compete, we're here to win, we're here to represent the organization, we're here to represent the city of Denver and do it in a first-class way."
1.09.2009
LOU HOLTZ
Below is a worthwhile passage from Lou Holtz's autobiography:
Every athlete who has ever played for me has heard me preach against the pitfalls of entering anything halfway. In my mind, a half-hearted commitment is worse than no commitment at all.
If you're on a team, you owe your coaches and your teammates your total commitment. If you don't -- if you're unhappy because the coach doesn't start you, or because you aren't getting as many touches as you think you should -- you are hurting yourself and the entire organization. You and the team would be better off if you played somewhere else.
Every athlete who has ever played for me has heard me preach against the pitfalls of entering anything halfway. In my mind, a half-hearted commitment is worse than no commitment at all.
If you're on a team, you owe your coaches and your teammates your total commitment. If you don't -- if you're unhappy because the coach doesn't start you, or because you aren't getting as many touches as you think you should -- you are hurting yourself and the entire organization. You and the team would be better off if you played somewhere else.
RON ARTEST
Earlier this week, the Houston Rockets won at Boston, holding the Celtics to 11 fourth-quarter points to snap a three-game losing streak.
After the game, Houston's Ron Artest credited his team's hard work for the win:
"We sometimes forget that hard work is more important than talent. Last year, Boston had hard work and they had talent. That's why they ran through everybody. I think we're just as talented, but we have to work harder."
After the game, Houston's Ron Artest credited his team's hard work for the win:
"We sometimes forget that hard work is more important than talent. Last year, Boston had hard work and they had talent. That's why they ran through everybody. I think we're just as talented, but we have to work harder."
HUBIE BROWN
Hubie Brown on coaching Jason "White Chocolate" Williams:
"I don't care if a player has got a style, as long as he makes no turnovers," Brown said. "As soon as you turn the ball over, then you've got to be accountable."
"I don't care if a player has got a style, as long as he makes no turnovers," Brown said. "As soon as you turn the ball over, then you've got to be accountable."
1.08.2009
KEVIN GARNETT & HARD WORK
"My game is not perfect, by any means. But I do work hard on it. We all need to work on every phase of the game," said Garnett.
When I was with the Timber Wolves Kevin McHale would grab me and we would go through footwork on the post countless times, and I've been able to acquire some of his knowledge.
Sam Mitchell once told me, "If you want to get better, then show me. If you want it, then you'll work on it." They are in the back of my mind and carried me to this point.
"Now it's my turn as a vet to try and instill this in some of the younger guys. Whether they want it or not, I'm here to give it to them. At the end of the day, it's whether they want to be better players or not. If you want to work on things, I'm in here every day. I have a bit of a cold, but I'm in here. My leg is messed up, but I'm in here. So, if those younger guys are willing to work hard, I'm here," said KG.
"Ask anyone who worked with me, I never had a problem staying in the gym countless hours. I was obsessed with the ability to get better, I always watched Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon and their go-to moves, moves they are comfortable with and had the confidence to use in big time games and big time moments."
"I was always infatuated with how you work on something, from footwork to confidence, and how the better you get at it the more confidence you have. This game is all about confidence in yourself and your ability. "
"There is nothing like going out there and showing off your art, nothing like going out and showing people what you work on, seeing if your stuff actually works. That's the beauty of working hard, is when you see the results."
When I was with the Timber Wolves Kevin McHale would grab me and we would go through footwork on the post countless times, and I've been able to acquire some of his knowledge.
Sam Mitchell once told me, "If you want to get better, then show me. If you want it, then you'll work on it." They are in the back of my mind and carried me to this point.
"Now it's my turn as a vet to try and instill this in some of the younger guys. Whether they want it or not, I'm here to give it to them. At the end of the day, it's whether they want to be better players or not. If you want to work on things, I'm in here every day. I have a bit of a cold, but I'm in here. My leg is messed up, but I'm in here. So, if those younger guys are willing to work hard, I'm here," said KG.
"Ask anyone who worked with me, I never had a problem staying in the gym countless hours. I was obsessed with the ability to get better, I always watched Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon and their go-to moves, moves they are comfortable with and had the confidence to use in big time games and big time moments."
"I was always infatuated with how you work on something, from footwork to confidence, and how the better you get at it the more confidence you have. This game is all about confidence in yourself and your ability. "
"There is nothing like going out there and showing off your art, nothing like going out and showing people what you work on, seeing if your stuff actually works. That's the beauty of working hard, is when you see the results."
JAMES HARRISON - STEELERS LB
The list of past NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners is impressive: Joe Greene, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Deion Sanders, Reggie White, & Ray Lewis.
Yesterday, for the first time since the award began in 1971, an undrafted player has won it.
Steelers LB James Harrison, who'd been cut three times by Pittsburg and played in NFL Europe, made the team's 2004 roster after the starting LB went down with an injury, forcing the team to bring in Harrison "literally hours" before the start of training camp.
That same season, when another starter was suspended, Harrison moved into the starting lineup.
Harrison is an excellent example of someone who (1) worked hard and stuck with it and who (2) took advantage of his opportunities.
"Somebody else’s misfortune is somebody else’s fortune," said Harrison, who sometimes works out three times a day in the offseason. "It’s just hard work, perseverance and little blessings here and there. People said I couldn't do this or couldn't do that," he noted. "I was too short, too slow. Basically, I play and prepare myself in the offseason with the thoughts of what people said I couldn't do. I have been persistent and I never took any shortcuts."
Yesterday, for the first time since the award began in 1971, an undrafted player has won it.
Steelers LB James Harrison, who'd been cut three times by Pittsburg and played in NFL Europe, made the team's 2004 roster after the starting LB went down with an injury, forcing the team to bring in Harrison "literally hours" before the start of training camp.
That same season, when another starter was suspended, Harrison moved into the starting lineup.
Harrison is an excellent example of someone who (1) worked hard and stuck with it and who (2) took advantage of his opportunities.
"Somebody else’s misfortune is somebody else’s fortune," said Harrison, who sometimes works out three times a day in the offseason. "It’s just hard work, perseverance and little blessings here and there. People said I couldn't do this or couldn't do that," he noted. "I was too short, too slow. Basically, I play and prepare myself in the offseason with the thoughts of what people said I couldn't do. I have been persistent and I never took any shortcuts."
DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN
Good quote from Washington Wizards forward Dominic McGuire in a story on Hoops Addict.
Over the last nine games, McGuire's minutes have jumped from 10-12 a night to about 30 a night as WAS coach Ed Tapscott has moved McGuire into the starting Small Forward spot.
According to Coach Tapscott, McGuire is "one of those guys that does those other things people normally don’t speak about. He rebounds the ball, he defends well and... he works at it and embraces his role."
Despite his expanded role, McGuire says he'll keep doing what he's been doing:
"I’m just practicing hard and working out when I wasn’t playing. So I just tried to keep the same routine and just be prepared. I don’t really worry about who they tell me to guard. I just go out there and do it to the best of my ability. That’s what I do on this team, and that’s how I’ll hopefully stay in this league."
Over the last nine games, McGuire's minutes have jumped from 10-12 a night to about 30 a night as WAS coach Ed Tapscott has moved McGuire into the starting Small Forward spot.
According to Coach Tapscott, McGuire is "one of those guys that does those other things people normally don’t speak about. He rebounds the ball, he defends well and... he works at it and embraces his role."
Despite his expanded role, McGuire says he'll keep doing what he's been doing:
"I’m just practicing hard and working out when I wasn’t playing. So I just tried to keep the same routine and just be prepared. I don’t really worry about who they tell me to guard. I just go out there and do it to the best of my ability. That’s what I do on this team, and that’s how I’ll hopefully stay in this league."
1.04.2009
EVERY DEFENSE HAS A WEAKNESS
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, after the Nuggets beat the Knicks recently, on what Mike D'Antoni brings to New York:
"I know that defense is extremely important. But deep down inside, every defense has a weakness. Every defense gives you something. Now can the team on the court, the players on the court, find what it gives you?
That's what Mike teaches. He makes it fairly simple, fairly easy to read. Even though we won, watching them on film, I knew that we would have moments of frustration. Because of their intensity to play the way they like to play, you never totally control them.
My recollection of New York is the city game, the street game, the playground game. And he plays as fast and free as any coach I've ever played against. I know the Knick (teams) have been based on defense. But I was kidding with one of my assistants that I would like to see Mike D'Antoni get a Carolina or Kentucky or Kansas job, because people don't think (his style) can win. People don't think it can win championships. And I think that's crazy.
I think if you get the best players, [Coach D's] style will be incredibly difficult to play against –- impossible, maybe, to play against. But we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is scary when you don't know how to stop someone.
"I know that defense is extremely important. But deep down inside, every defense has a weakness. Every defense gives you something. Now can the team on the court, the players on the court, find what it gives you?
That's what Mike teaches. He makes it fairly simple, fairly easy to read. Even though we won, watching them on film, I knew that we would have moments of frustration. Because of their intensity to play the way they like to play, you never totally control them.
My recollection of New York is the city game, the street game, the playground game. And he plays as fast and free as any coach I've ever played against. I know the Knick (teams) have been based on defense. But I was kidding with one of my assistants that I would like to see Mike D'Antoni get a Carolina or Kentucky or Kansas job, because people don't think (his style) can win. People don't think it can win championships. And I think that's crazy.
I think if you get the best players, [Coach D's] style will be incredibly difficult to play against –- impossible, maybe, to play against. But we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is scary when you don't know how to stop someone.
KOBE BRYANT
There are few things more important to Kobe Bryant than his portable DVD player. The Lakers' 10-time All-Star stares at his 10-inch screen, watching basketball clips of the players he'll be guarding. It's part of his longtime commitment to studying video, one of the foundations of a career still going strong in its 13th NBA season.
The Lakers have had dozens of great players over the years, but according to the team's director of video services Chris Bodaken, "Hands down, he's the biggest video fiend we've ever had. I didn't know if it was possible to be more competitive than Magic was, but I think he might be. It carries over into his preparation, and this is part of that."
The Lakers' video staff goes "through an opponent's last few games and find key plays from the players Bryant will guard, presenting him with eight to 12 minutes of edited footage."
The goal is for Bryant to pick up tendencies of rival players. Have they added any new moves? Do they prefer to pull-up right and attack the basket driving left? Have they been aggressively driving to the basket or have they been settling for outside jump shots?
Kobe's objective is "to find ways to take away comfort zones from opponents."
"It's a blueprint," said Bryant, an eight-time member of the NBA all-defensive team. "So if something goes down, it's not something you haven't seen before. Everybody's got tendencies.You've got to take him out of his spots. That's the key."
Says Patrick O'Keefe, another member of the Lakers' video staff:
"It's like a straight-A student who still goes to all the extra study sessions."
The Lakers have had dozens of great players over the years, but according to the team's director of video services Chris Bodaken, "Hands down, he's the biggest video fiend we've ever had. I didn't know if it was possible to be more competitive than Magic was, but I think he might be. It carries over into his preparation, and this is part of that."
The Lakers' video staff goes "through an opponent's last few games and find key plays from the players Bryant will guard, presenting him with eight to 12 minutes of edited footage."
The goal is for Bryant to pick up tendencies of rival players. Have they added any new moves? Do they prefer to pull-up right and attack the basket driving left? Have they been aggressively driving to the basket or have they been settling for outside jump shots?
Kobe's objective is "to find ways to take away comfort zones from opponents."
"It's a blueprint," said Bryant, an eight-time member of the NBA all-defensive team. "So if something goes down, it's not something you haven't seen before. Everybody's got tendencies.You've got to take him out of his spots. That's the key."
Says Patrick O'Keefe, another member of the Lakers' video staff:
"It's like a straight-A student who still goes to all the extra study sessions."
CLAY MATTHEWS - USC WALK ON
Imagine trying to play D-1 college football as a 166-pound linebacker.
Now imagine trying to play LB at one of the premier college programs, USC, at that weight.
When Clay Matthews was coming out of high school in 2004, most college scouts told him he was he was "too skinny, too weak and too slow."
But he had a couple things going for him. First, he has good genes. His father was an All-America LB who played in the NFL for 19 years and his uncle is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. His grandfather also played in the NFL.
Second, he was willing to work hard to get better.
"I thought it was intriguing," USC coach Pete Carroll says of Matthews' arrival. "He had that big family background. So I thought, 'OK, is there some magic in here somehow?' And I didn't see it. He looked like just a good, hardworking kid who was undersized and skinny and just not physically ready to match up."
Matthews' USC teammates marvel at how far he's come, earning All-Pac 10 Second Team honors and being mentioned as a third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL draft. As one put it, "I just remember how little he was but he was always in the weight room. He would work so hard."
Says Matthews:
"I knew if I came to USC and they gave me a shot, that I could play. I also knew if I was going to hang with these guys, I'd have to work really hard and be really persistent. I just kept working and working and getting bigger and faster and better. I'm sure the coaches thought I was crazy," Matthews says. "Most walk-ons … they're just here to contribute to the scout team or maybe special teams. But I was aiming for much more."
According to Coach Carroll, walk-ons are a valued part of the Trojans football program:
"Clay has done so much and he's come so far. He's really transformed his whole makeup. It's a remarkable story, because he was just a skinny kid who wanted to play football."
Now imagine trying to play LB at one of the premier college programs, USC, at that weight.
When Clay Matthews was coming out of high school in 2004, most college scouts told him he was he was "too skinny, too weak and too slow."
But he had a couple things going for him. First, he has good genes. His father was an All-America LB who played in the NFL for 19 years and his uncle is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. His grandfather also played in the NFL.
Second, he was willing to work hard to get better.
"I thought it was intriguing," USC coach Pete Carroll says of Matthews' arrival. "He had that big family background. So I thought, 'OK, is there some magic in here somehow?' And I didn't see it. He looked like just a good, hardworking kid who was undersized and skinny and just not physically ready to match up."
Matthews' USC teammates marvel at how far he's come, earning All-Pac 10 Second Team honors and being mentioned as a third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL draft. As one put it, "I just remember how little he was but he was always in the weight room. He would work so hard."
Says Matthews:
"I knew if I came to USC and they gave me a shot, that I could play. I also knew if I was going to hang with these guys, I'd have to work really hard and be really persistent. I just kept working and working and getting bigger and faster and better. I'm sure the coaches thought I was crazy," Matthews says. "Most walk-ons … they're just here to contribute to the scout team or maybe special teams. But I was aiming for much more."
According to Coach Carroll, walk-ons are a valued part of the Trojans football program:
"Clay has done so much and he's come so far. He's really transformed his whole makeup. It's a remarkable story, because he was just a skinny kid who wanted to play football."
THE SPIRIT OF A HUMAN BEING
Great quote from University of Cincinnati football offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn,
"I always said you don't underestimate the spirit of a human being. You don't know what's going on in their chest and between their ears. You just don't know."
"I always said you don't underestimate the spirit of a human being. You don't know what's going on in their chest and between their ears. You just don't know."
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