In the Huddle with Cobras’ QB Matt Nagy
Chuck DiLullo
Thursday March 18, 2004
ArenaFan: How do you like your time in Charlotte so far?
Nagy: I like it a lot. The people in general are really kind. It’s a nice, comfortable environment.
AF: How did you originally get together with John Gregory?
MN: My old agent mentioned trying to get in the AFL and the team he had the most connections with was the New York Dragons. To tell you the truth, I was not too high on playing in the AFL at first. I was discouraged about not getting a chance to play in the NFL. I went to a tryout and worked out for Coach Gregory, and he liked what I did and asked me to be on the practice squad, but I wanted to wait ‘til the next year to see if I could make the team. And that’s when it all started a couple of seasons back.
AF: What do you like most about Gregory’s offense?
MN: You don’t find too many coaches as open as he is. We, as players, will put in plays and he is totally cool with this – we presented it to him and explained why we wanted to do that play and we put it in against the Wranglers and converted a two-point conversion. His offense is real simple because he doesn’t want the players to think too much during the play; he just wants you to react to what’s happening and make the right play.
AF: How do you keep all the receivers happy in an offense that is not catered to one go-to guy?
MN: You look at our team and we have so many weapons. Everyone knows their role and can step in and step it up when called upon. I just have so much confidence in each of my receivers that it makes my job easy. The players on this team have parked their egos and understand what they need to do as a team versus individuals. Coach Gregory calls us his family and the whole offense is predicated on specific routes and the route that opens up is generally a result of one or two other players running their routes to force coverage to a certain area of the field. Everyone compliments each other. The quarterback is challenged to make the right read and if you don’t make the right read you will make the defense look good but that is part of football.
AF: What was your greatest college football moment?
MN: Personally, I would say when I broke the school record for most career passing back from a 25-point halftime deficit against our rival Villanova in my senior season.
AF: What has been your best moment as a pro player?
MN: Previous to the season, it was my very first start with the Dragons where I threw for seven touchdowns and no interceptions and we won, but I would have to say that this season’s victory on the last play by Columbus was by far my best moment – to do that in front of a packed house was just awesome.
AF: What do you consider special about this team this year?
MN: I’ve been on several teams and during times like this when you start losing games there is usually a lot of finger pointing and blaming of other players, and I have not seen that on this team. The number one thing I see is that this team is populated by not just great football players but great people off the field and that is crucial. Right now is when we need each other the most, not when we are winning but when we are losing, and now where guys are gathering around each other. And I have no worries about this team sticking together and fighting through this diversity because it will make us stronger as we push for the playoffs. If we can handle what’s going on now, we will be OK and this team’s goal is still to win the ArenaBowl.
AF: Do you consider yourself one of the leaders on this club?
MN: I think so; at least I hope so. We have some veterans that have been in the league for eight and nine seasons so we have the leadership experience. I want to be there when the team needs me and hopefully my leadership will start showing more and more through my actions as opposed to doing too much talking.
AF: What do you like most about playing in the AFL?
MN: I like that it is free. As a quarterback, how can you not like throwing the ball 90% of the time? I love to throw the ball around. The fans are great and we know we are there because of them.
AF: Being away from your wife when she’s pregnant with your first child must be tough.
MN: It’s been tough but she’s a warrior and trooper. She’s teaching and coaching track while being only eight weeks away from having our first child. We talk as much as possible on the phone and I try to be there as much as possible for emotional support. I wish she could be here and I wish I could be there but I hope this is the last time we will be separated and next year she could be with me. We are playing in New York and Philly around the time the baby is due so I hope that I can travel home after one of the games to be there for the birth.
AF: What do you want to say to Cobra fans?
MN: Stick with us. I know it’s kind of painful right now and discouraging but if they stay with us they will be rewarded at the end. Trust me, we are going to pull this thing out and start winning home games, and we will end this losing streak and to do that we will need their support.
Note: This interview took place prior to the dismissal of head coach Eddie Khayat.
Chuck DiLullo works for a manufacturer of process control instrumentation as a sales engineer. He has been a fan of professional, college and high school football since he could walk. Chuck is originally from Philadelphia and he became a huge Arena Football League fan while living in Buffalo. Chuck has lived in Charlotte since 2000 with his wife & three children.
