ArenaFan Interview: QB Matt D'Orazio
Fran Stuchbury
Wednesday February 20, 2008
Q. During the AFL off-season you had back surgery. How did the surgery go?
A. I had it a couple of days after our last playoff game, a loss to the San Jose SaberCats in July right before the ArenaBowl. I was off my feet for the whole month of August. I started rehabbing in September.
The surgery went great it was a quick turnaround, my body healed real well. I came out to Philadelphia early in January, was working out with the team and camp has been going great. It’s really held up so I feel strong.
Q. Were you a little disappointed the Chicago Rush decided to go another direction at the QB position or did you understand the decision they made?
A. I think I was a little disappointed and I was a little taken back by the decision. I didn’t expect it would come because of the past few years I had with the team. We won an ArenaBowl and we were one game away from winning it again.
At that point I understand it’s a business and they had other things in mind so I certainly wasn’t upset when it happened. I simply smiled and decided what would be the next opportunity for me to play in the AFL.
Q. How the experience of leading the Rush to an ArenaBowl XX Championship in 2006?
A. It was great, it was unbelievable, and the team kind of came together at the right time. It was one of those years we had a good team all year, we just lost all the close games. When the playoffs started we won all the close games.
It was a great feeling; it was a great bunch of guys that came together. There are a lot of things on this team that kind of look the same to me. There is a good group of guys, good coaches, and good front office, which makes me think this team, has a legitimate shot to make a great run at the championship.
Q. You played with WR Bobby Sippio, how do you compare him to WR Chris Jackson?
A. They are probably the two best wide receivers in the AFL. They both seem to be pretty football savvy. Catching the ball, getting open, and confident. All the things you want in a wide receiver, I’m excited to watch Chris Jackson play this season.
Q. Last year you had 12 rushing TD’s for the Rush. Do you think the Soul may consider utilizing you in goal line situations?
A. I don’t know, I think Tony Graziani is sneaky quick too, they might use him but if they put me in I will certainly give my best effort. I don’t know if I necessarily like rushing the football, but I try to make plays and maybe that is why I had back surgery in the off-season because I ran the ball a little bit too much but if they put me in I’ll give my best effort and try to put the ball in the endzone.
Fran Stuchbury has been the host of ArenaZone since 2003. In 2002 he was the co-host of ArenaFan Radio with Tim Capper. While in school, Fran was the host of the original ArenaZone radio show on his college radio station, where he interviewed many league names such as Kurt Warner, league founder Jim Foster, and Commissioner David Baker. Fran lives in Southampton, Pennsylvania and works for the website SportsNetwork. Fran will be attending all the Philadelphia Soul home games this season and will be covering arena football for ArenaFan Radio and OurSportsCentral. He has followed the AFL since its first game back in 1987 and has been part of the media since 1998.