Tight End
World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers
FLYWAY
Let's start off by getting a little background on you. Tell us where you grew up and how you discovered your love for the outdoors. Did you grow up in a family
that enjoyed hunting and fishing?
SPAETH
I was born in a small town in northern Minnesota called Mahnomen, but I grew up in Saint Michael. My dad comes from a very big and close family. His side of the family does a lot of hunting and fishing. These days I don't get to do as much of that as I would like, but growing up we did a lot of both with my family. In high school I did a ton of duck and goose hunting with my friends. We would go every Saturday morning after our Friday night football games. We even bought an old pontoon and fixed it up and made it into a duck blind. We had a lot of fun doing that.
FLYWAY
As hunters we all have our favorite animals or birds we like to hunt, and as anglers we all have our favorite way to fish and our favorite fish to target. Do you
have any personal favorites?
SPAETH
I haven't been able to do it since high school due to the season that it is in but some of my all time favorite memories are of hunting Whitetail deer with the
Spaeth family. The hunting part of it was great, but being able to do it with all of my cousins and uncles is what made it most memorable. As far as fishing
goes, I'd have to say that I'm more into ice fishing than summer fishing. It's not that I don't enjoy fishing in the summer, it's just that I hardly ever get the time
to do it. Our football season ends in the winter and that is when we have some down time, that is when I get my fishing in.
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting or fishing memory? I know this is a tough question but I firmly believe we all have one or two that stand out. Maybe it was a big buck you shot or a monster walleye you lost as you were about to bring it topside. What would your favorite memory be?
SPAETH
This is a hard question because I have so many! There is one that sticks out though. When I was in high school my buddies and I drove up to Red Lake to do some ice fishing. We planned on spending the whole day and possibly the night there. We limited out on some huge crappies within an hour and went back home.
FLYWAY
As you well know I'm an avid waterfowl hunter. I live for it. As a matter of fact, I would much rather be out hunting ducks and geese than sitting on the couch watching a football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. Do you remember the first duck or goose that you shot and how would you describe your desire for waterfowl hunting?
SPAETH
I do enjoy waterfowl hunting, there is no doubt about it. Obviously being in the National Football League makes it difficult to do right now. As far as the first duck or goose I shot, I honestly don't remember. I still have a lot of great memories from some of our waterfowl excursions.
FLYWAY
You can go on a dream hunt with any 3 people of your choosing, alive or deceased. Where will you be going, who will you be taking and what will you be hunting for?
SPAETH
I think it would be pretty cool to go to Alaska and go on a big Grizzly Bear hunt. I would bring my best friend, Dan Zachman as well as my dad and Hank Williams Jr. I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Hank Jr. and he talked about hunting the whole time! He is a really cool guy.
FLYWAY
For your birthday this year I will be inviting 3 of your favorite bands or singers to perform especially for you at your birthday party. Who will I be inviting?
SPAETH
Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and Section 30.
FLYWAY
Tell me a little about your time at the University of Minnesota. Do you look back on those days with fondness and did you accomplish everything you set out to accomplish, both on and off the football field?
SPAETH
Absolutely! I couldn't be more happy with my choice to attend the University of Minnesota. I had a great college experience and met a lot of great people. I got a degree from the Carlson School of Management. As far as football is concerned, I couldn't have asked for a better college career. It led me to where I am today.
FLYWAY
What is your biggest pet peeve?
SPAETH
Bad drivers and traffic.
FLYWAY
As a professional football player I have to believe it's difficult finding time to hunt and fish. With all of the commitments, obligations, and people wanting a little piece of your spare time it would seem to be almost impossible. How big of a priority is it for you to sneak away and spend some time in the woods or out on the lakes when you can?
SPAETH
If our football season started in March and ended in July it would be much easier for me to get out to hunt and fish. It really is hard to find time to do these things because all of the animals or birds I enjoy hunting have the same season as mine. I try to get out and do it whenever I can because the times that I actually can are so limited.
FLYWAY
There are three people in this world I wouldn't want to make mad...my wife, Mike Tyson and your head coach, Mike Tomlin. Obviously he is a great coach and a great leader but I have to be honest, he makes me uncomfortable when I see him pacing the sidelines. He scares me to death. Don't get me wrong, I love watching his passion for the game and his love for his players but he always looks like he is about to beat somebody up. Tell me a little about Mike Tomlin and your relationship with him. Have you ever made him mad?
SPAETH
First off, I am sure that I have made him mad and more than once for that matter! It may not look like it on your television, but he never gets mad or upset with his players on game day. He believes that Sundays are for playing and Mondays are for critiquing. Coach Tomlin and I have a great relationship. I was a part of his first draft class and he followed my college career while he was coaching for the Vikings so I think those two things make our relationship special. It's hard not to love Coach Tomlin, he always says the right thing and he is a great motivator. He is also a coach that you can have a real conversation with.
FLYWAY
Your favorite meal?
SPAETH
Tacos. They are so easy to make and taste so good!
FLYWAY
Your favorite movie?
SPAETH
Gladiator
FLYWAY
I have always wanted to ask a professional athlete this question and now I get my chance! Who were your heroes growing up and who are some former or current athletes you've had the opportunity to spend some time with that impressed you and had you on the phone telling your family and buddies about.
SPAETH
I have been really fortunate to meet so many great athletes, both past and present. The last couple of summers I have had the opportunity to work out with and get to know many NFL greats. The two that really stand out are Jerry Rice and Chris Carter. They were my two favorite players growing up so to be able to work out and spend some time with them has been really special. Another for me would be John Mackey. He is probably the greatest
tight end to ever play the game. My senior year with the Gophers I won the John Mackey award which goes out to the top tight end in college football. I had the honor of sitting with him at the banquet for the award.
FLYWAY
Name 3 of your favorite lakes to fish here in the great state of Minnesota.
SPAETH
Lake of the Woods, Red Lake and Clearwater.
FLYWAY
You are officially listed at 6' 7" and 270 lbs. After being around you I have no doubt that those numbers are accurate. A tight end for the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, how could I not ask you what it was like to score your first NFL touchdown? You don't strike me as a guy who would do a victory dance.
SPAETH
The feeling of my first NFL touchdown was really incredible and something I will never forget. I actually scored a touchdown in each of the first two games of my rookie year. I remember people coming up to me on the sideline and saying how crazy it was that I had scored in my first two games ever. I was pretty naive, I guess I thought it was going to happen every week but it's really not that easy. You are right, I'm not the type to to a touchdown dance, but I will spike the ball every once in a while!
FLYWAY
Have you ever had the chance to hunt or fish in the Pittsburgh area? I've been there a few times and don't recall seeing a lot of ducks or geese flying around, but that was downtown Pittsburgh after all. There has to be something to hunt in Pittsburgh!
SPAETH
I have done some pheasant hunting out here. Brett Kiesel is a teammate of mine and he is a real avid outdoorsman. Every year he has a charity pheasant hunt that I take part in. We do a lot of different charity events but I have to say going pheasant hunting for one definitely makes it the best! You would be correct, there really isn't a lot of waterfowl out here in Pittsburgh. Not that I've seen anyway.
FLYWAY
Describe Matt Spaeth in one word.
SPAETH
Genuine
FLYWAY
Coyote hunting. Your thoughts?
SPAETH
I have relatives in western North Dakota that do it and I hear it's a blast.
FLYWAY
Matt Spaeth. Super Bowl Champion. Describe the feeling of winning it all and being crowned with that title if it's possible.
SPAETH
I really can't. It is really hard to put something like that into words. It doesn't get any bigger than winning the Super Bowl. It's the ultimate goal and something you dream of as a kid watching it on tv. Many of the greatest players that have ever played the game can't even say they have won a Super Bowl.
FLYWAY
I would be remiss if I didn't ask you to look into your crystal ball and tell me if you see yourself playing football in 2011. We the fans want it and demand it. I'm sure you guys want to be playing this fall as well. What does your crystal ball tell you?
SPAETH
I see us playing in 2011. We as players definitely want to be playing. I think it's unfortunate that it has even come to this but hopefully it will get worked out and resolved for the sake of the fans and for us, the players. I am optimistic that it will.
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Matt Spaeth for taking the time to answer our interview questions.
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