On Friday September 4, 2009 the Gordon Tech Ram’s lost their first home game to Bishop Mac, 41 -12. The following interview consists of questions and answers based on the performance of Friday.
This week the player interviewed is Matt Olivera (Jersey #89)
Positions: Tight end (offensive line), defensive end, kicker and punter.
Years of Experience: 7 years, 6 out of the 7 years were consecutive
Years on Varsity: 3 years starting on varsity
Al: How did you and the team get motivated for Friday’s game?
Matt: After warming up we all came together in a huddle and started our football chant – which we took from Rutgers
Al: Would you say the pre-game ritual had an effect?
Matt: It pumped us up.
Al: Were you more nervous or excited about the first home game?
Matt: More excited
Al: Why?
Matt: It’s always fun playing in front of the home crowd, and I am use to the tempo of varsity games, making nervousness not an issue
Al: Did the excitement have an effect on your performance?
Matt: Normally the excitement doesn’t have an effect on my performance. However, for some reason, this game was different; all I could think was about how bad I wanted to beat that team. I wanted to perform to the highest of my abilities, in the hopes that it would inspire my teammates to do the same.
Al: What was the main factor to the loss?
Matt: I wouldn’t just say it’s one main thing. I would say concentration, focus and effort is where we had problems. It led to penalties, bad field position and loss of motivation.
Al: At half time, after realizing you were losing, what did the coaches say? Did it have an impact on the team?
Matt: They basically said that we’re throwing the game away with silly penalties and bad field position. We needed to focus more and put up a tough second half in order to win. We became a lot more relaxed and started to focus.
Al: If we could replay Bishop Mac, do you think a different outcome would result?
Matt: I definitely do. We would come out more focused, with more intensity. Most people should know that talent wasn’t where the game was won; rather, we lost the game because of lack of focus and field position.
Al: Although it was a pretty rough weekend, what would you consider the best play of the game?
Matt: When my boy, J Willis caught that monster pass for the touchdown. I was ecstatic.
Al: Does the loss on Friday show fans what to expect this year?
Matt: Not even close…If anything that shows Gordon Tech that side of up is dead from now on. We, the people of GT, will come together just as our young football team; we have only a handful of seniors combined with about 5 juniors and about 20 sophomores, not to mention about 40 freshmen. Gordon Tech is on the rise, and although people don’t see it now, it will be a program to reckon with for the next few decades to come.
The interview above has direct quotes from Matt Olivera himself.
