Super Bowl champion, Sycamore alum Michael Matthews misses Friday night lights
CINCINNATI — Michael Matthews is a Super Bowl champion who will always remember Friday nights perhaps more than Sunday afternoons.
The former Sycamore High School football player spoke to coaches and media at the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown VIP Party Aug. 3 to remind them of the importance of high school football and the influence the coaches have on their players.
Matthews is executive director of planning and development for the Providence Group at Mercy Health. He played in the NFL with the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, and in the United Football League with the Virginia Destroyers. Matthews, a tight end, played in every game for the Giants in 2007, when New York won Super Bowl XLII, knocking off previously undefeated New England.
鈥淏iggest thing that I want to say to you guys tonight. I applaud each and every one of you, each and every one of you for what you do for these young men that play this game. Pouring your lives into them, pouring your hearts into them, encouraging them. That is just tremendous,鈥� Matthews said.
This is the 25th season for the football showcase, which highlights some of the top programs in Southwest Ohio, Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky. The format has changed. Instead of an early-season (week one or week two) event, usually with multiple events at one or two locations, organizers now designate one or two games each week throughout the season as Showdown games.
Moeller High School will be featured in week five, when the Crusaders play at Greater Catholic League rival St. Xavier 鈥� one of 15 games on this year鈥檚 Showdown schedule. Matthews said these are the moments players will cherish.
鈥淚 can tell you this, in my professional years in NFL locker rooms, all the guys talk about Friday nights. We rarely talked about Saturday games and whatever and playing in college ball. But everyone talks about Friday nights, this is where it starts,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just applaud you guys for what you do, pouring into these young men, because 鈥� sometimes it can be thankless but you know, they鈥檙e improving, there is a lot for me to thank you for that.鈥�
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