Florida Gators
Wake Forest (Quarter final)
A Q&A with former Gators quarterback Shane Matthews
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 | Football, Women's Tennis, Scott Carter
Shane Matthews took his first snap as Florida's starting quarterback in the season opener against Oklahoma State in 1990. It was Steve Spurrier's first game back in Gainesville as Florida's head coach.
While everyone knew who Spurrier was, few knew much about Matthews. That would change over the next three seasons, as Matthews won two SEC Player of the Year awards and led the Gators to the 1991 SEC title, UF's first official conference title.
More than 20 years later — and after an NFL career highlighted by his time with the Chicago Bears — Matthews now lives in Gainesville spending his days doing radio work, coaching his son's football team and working in private business.
Matthews was back in The Swamp last weekend as the honorary captain for UF's game against UAB. Here is a question-and-answer session with Matthews:
Q: What was your take on the Gators' 41-3 win over FAU in the first game of the Will Muschamp coaching era?
A: I thought for the most part it was a pretty well-played game. We were very well-organized and I thought offensively they stuck to the game plan. I thought Johnny [Brantley] directed the offense very well, made very good decisions and took what the defense gave him. Defensively, they were pretty sound as well. Obviously, the opponents get more difficult as the year progresses, but I thought it was a good start.
Q: A lot of fans are familiar with your radio show on “105 The Game.” How did you end up as part of the media after your NFL career ended?
A: I was fortunate enough to play 14 years and once I retired in '06, I didn't have a whole lot going on and I was approached about being a “so-called'' analyst on a couple of radio shows. I decided to get into that because it's only a couple hours out of the day. That's what I do in the mornings now and I also work at Cornerstone Financial Group during the day and coach football in the afternoons. I coach my son's sixth- and seventh-grade middle school team.
Q: Is your son a quarterback, too?
A: He is a quarterback, yes.
Q: When people ask you about your Gator career, do you have a favorite memory you like to share more than others?
A: I tell you, my three years playing here were probably three of the greatest years of my life. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I would pretty much trade in all the money I made in the 14 years in the NFL to go back and play one more year of college football just because of the passion. Our fan base is like no other. Playing in The Swamp is just an incredible feeling. Obviously, my first career start against Oklahoma State (a 50-7 Florida win) is one. No one really knew who I was. People were giving Coach Spurrier a lot of grief for starting me, an unknown guy. But things went well. The first-ever SEC Championship we won in 1991 when we clinched the victory against Kentucky there, and then the following week we beat Florida State in the most physical game I ever played in. Those are probably three of the most exciting moments. For three years, we had as good a run with anyone.
Q: What do you think the best day you ever had as an athlete was, and that can be at Florida or in the NFL?
A: Man, you put me on the spot with that one. I would have to think about that one. I would probably say celebrating the first-ever official SEC Championship in 1991 in The Swamp. The school had never won a title and the celebration after the game was amazing.
Q: When you look at the program today compared to the one when you played, what's different or has changed?
A: What Will Muschamp has brought to our program not only in himself as a Southern SEC guy who grew up in SEC country, he played in the SEC — he brought a tremendous coaching staff to our program. I just think we're going to get back to playing football the way we did in the '90s when we were a very dominant program. I read somewhere the other day where Florida has won more games since 1990 than any program in the country. That speaks volumes for our program. Coach Spurrier did so much in his 12 years, and obviously Ron Zook had a couple of years in there, and then Urban [Meyer] winning two national titles. I think in Will Muschamp, just his personality, he is going to continue to lead us in the right direction and I think we are going to be back on top very shortly.
Q: How well did you know Coach Muschamp prior to him coming to Florida?
A: I actually played against Will. I got to know him when he was in his college coaching days. I stayed in touch with him when he was out in Texas and I was extremely excited for him to become our head coach. I thought it was a tremendous hire by Jeremy Foley.
Q: You obviously maintain a busy schedule. What do you see yourself doing in the future related to football?
A: My passion is coaching. Once my kids are out of high school, I will get into college coaching.
