Tider Insider's
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POST-SIGNING INTERVIEW
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Early last summer when the recruiting lists started appearing, Sam Matthews was everybody's All-American, Florida's top prospect, and according to some, the best DL in the country. Then after December 13, 1996, many pundits told a different story on Sam: He was not the player everyone had thought. He was overrated. He didn't have the speed to play defense. He had had knee surgery. Why the change, and why December 13th? Could it be because Sam committed to Alabama on that day? Sam talked about this change when we spoke with him on February 19. |
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| TI | Sam, do you think your rating as the top player in Florida was affected by your commitment to Alabama? |
| SM | First of all, I didn't think about it that much. I definitely didn't let it bother me. But now that you mention it, yes, I know that it was most definitely affected by my decision to go to Alabama. |
| TI | One report said that you had knee surgery after the season. Is that a correct report? |
| SM | Not at all. I couldn't believe it when I heard that story. It's true that I had a minor knee problem, but that was two years ago. The problem I had was very, very minor. It never really even bothered me. It definitely didn't slow me down. |
| TI | What type of knee problem did you have? |
| SM | The tendons in my knees and shoulders are a little loose. That's just my physical make-up. Like I said, it's not even a problem. |
| TI | Some people have said you may play offense in college. We understand that you'll play defense at Alabama? |
| SM | I'm definitely a defensive lineman. That was my position in high school and that's what everyone recruited me for. |
| TI | Have you already started thinking about next season? |
| SM | I'm really looking forward to it. My goal is to play. I'm not sure when I'll get in, but I hope to be able to play some early. I'm going to be patient though. |
| TI | Have you started preparing yourself physically? |
| SM | Yes, sir. I'm working on my strength and I'm running. I want to be ready. |
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