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Working hard, doing best, leads to opportunity
Editor's Note: Most everyone has pride in their ancestors. It is important for everyone to know from where they came and have pride in their roots. This is true also with communities and schools. "Meritorious Panther Alumni" will feature Fort Stockton High School graduates who have achieved recognition in their field or endeavor.)
"Going to school in Fort Stockton and living in West Texas has a lot to do with where I am today," said Clay Matchett. "The people out there are a bunch of hard working people and what I learned about work and doing your best when given a chance has led to my opportunity here."
Matchett took a chance then seized the opportunity and today is a working member of the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff.
"I'm not bragging but, I am proud to say there aren't too many 26 year olds coaching in professional football," said Matchett.
Some local football fans will remember Clay, he was the guy in the Panther football uniform who never started a game for the blue and white. He was the junior on the junior varsity and at 120 pounds didn't get much time on the field as a senior "I got to go in when the game was lopsided or the coach needed someone to carry in a play," said Matchett. "We were 7-3 but didn't make the district playoffs. I kept in touch with some friends and was happy to see them (the Panthers) get into the play-offs. It sure brings the community together."
Though his football days in Fort Stockton were not notable, his athletic ability took him to the state power lifting finals in his 120 pound weight class.
He credits power lifting and football defensive coordinator coach Marcos Hinojos, with instilling much of Clay's tenacity and drive.
However, upon leaving Fort Stockton, Matchett found his way to Louisiana College, an NCAA division three school which plays a number of Texas small college teams. It was not an easy journey, a year at Western New Mexico University followed by a nine-month stint as a prison guard at Huntsville were sandwiched in between his move to Louisiana.
He played 40 games for Louisiana College and was a starter every game.
"I was kind of lucky, I was on the second team but the starter was ruled ineligible to play and I got the starting spot on defense in the opening game. In my first game at Louisiana College I intercepted a pass on the first play and I kept the starting spot."
Matchett did a little more than keep the starting spot during his career. He was a four year letterman, team captain and twice he earned All-American Southwest Conference honors as a safety. He led the league in tackles and holds the school record for most tackles in a game.
Clay knew he would not be moving his 5-foot 9"-slightly more than 120-pound frame into professional football early in his college career, his goal became coaching. Getting his degree in mathmatics hoping to teach in high school and coach.
After graduation, Clay spent five-months working for the Lakeland Thunderbolts a "mom and pop football team" in Lakeland, Florida.
It was barely professional football but Clay found that it gave him some experience, and little else.
Clays friend Richard Angulo, a football player from New Mexico, who signed with the Vikings gave Clay a tip about a four week internship during the off season for the Vikings.
"I used my savings to pay for a motel room, but didn't have the money to eat. I would go to the continental breakfast at the motel and take an extra oatmeal package and some juice for lunch," confessed Clay. "But it was a great four weeks, it made me realize that this was where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do."
As the week ended and Clay prepared to leave, the Vikings organization manager offered Clay a job in public relations department.
"What that meant was that I was a "go-for," said Clay. "I hauled the players to the airport or delivered messages to the coaches and players cut out the clips from the papers.. After a year around the last of January I went to the Vikings office coordinator and told him I was going to find a job in coaching at the college or high school level, I wanted to be on the field.
"He told me the newly hired head coach Brad Childress wanted to see me. I went to his office and he asked me 'can you pick-up offense if we make you part of our offensive coaching staff?'
"I tell you it was hard to sit there and not whoop and hollar," said Clay. "I wanted to jump over the desk and shake his hand."
"It was more than I had expected, during the last year I have made some real friends among the coaches, when you are working late into the night and early the next morning you become like a family.
"I think that is the thing I like about football it is like a family with a common goal.
Clay has strong family ties with his dad Tommy Proifka and mom Patricia, grandparents Bill and Lemeta Matchette of Huntsville.
Clay and his twin brother, James, came to Fort Stockton when their dad was named warden at the prison here. The twins have a younger brother Cory Venable, 20, presently attending Blinn Junior College. The family moved to Huntsville and the twins lived with Rocco and Judy Weist to finish high school in Fort Stockton.
The Vikings didn't make the playoffs this year, but they started strong with four straight wins. It was a building year.
"I wanted to win the Super Bowl, but, you know I got to travel all over the country, Seattle, Miami, Detroit, Chicago, and San Francisco to most of the coaches each trip was just another road game but to me it was the opportunity to see places I might never get to see. Every place I went was a new experience.
"I had a few hours to walk around and look at the cities, the great lakes in Chicago, the bay in San Francisco, the ocean in Seattle it was a great year.
"I want to be a head coach someday, have my own program maybe at the college or pro level but, this is a great opportunity for now and I have a job thousands of other people would love to have."
This summer Clay is expecting to return to Fort Stockton for a visit following his wedding to Morgan Jones, they met in Louisiana and plan to marry in Huntsville at Easter.
No matter what direction Clays career path winds, he stands, at just 26 years old, an example of the success determination and the willingness to sacrifice can bring. You can be sure when he puts that Super Bowl ring on his finger, in his mind there will be traces of West Texas dust under the fingernail.
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