Get to know @mattblair59 (Matt Blair)

     Matt Blair is an All American Linebacker out of Iowa State. He was selected 51st overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1974 NFL draft. Matt what influenced your decision to play football? " I needed a scholarship to get my education. I walked on at NEO ( North Eastern Oklahoma)  in Miami, OK and received a 1/2-year scholarship. My parents were sending me their rent money to pay for my education, so I made a decision to go out for the basketball team so I could earn the other 1/2 of the scholarship. I didn't start for the football team but we won the Junior College Championship my freshmen year. I started my sophomore year but the difference for me came when I went home between my freshman and sophomore year when I came back to NEO, I had grown 3 inches and gained 40 pounds!" You played a few different sports through out your school years, what is your favorite besides football? " Basketball. During the off-season, the Vikings players formed a traveling basketball team to earn money. I played in 68 games my rookie year. There were days we would drive from one game in Fargo, ND to Wyoming to Colorado in a Winnebago. Most often, we'd play in the 4 state region (WI, MN, IA, ND, SD). One season there were 112 games that were played. It was our off-season job."
     
     Being drafted in the second round must have been quite an experience, tell us about it from your side. " Players today, when they're drafted, they have family, friends, friends, girlfriends, wives, etc all around them, including agents or lawyers. When I was drafted it was just me and my German Shepard, Slick, waiting in my apartment, for the phone to ring. When the call actually came in, the Vikings said they were interested in having me and if I was interested in coming to them. There was another league developing at that time who showed an interest in me, so the Vikings were wondering where I was at it that and if they had a chance. So I told the Vikings I would rather play for them, so they said they would call me back. When they did (about a half-hour later), it was a dream come true. So Slick and I went down to the local Hardees and he had two burgers and I had one to celebrate." That sounds like a great memory, what is your best football memory Matt? " Playing in the NFL for 12 years is the best memory that you can have. Just knowing you'd made it to that level and all the things that came with it- coaches, friends, other players... it was a memory of a lifetime." 
     
     It sounds like you really appreciated the game and the opportunities that you had. Was there ever a day when you woke up and thought to yourself " I don't want to go to work today?" " I always wanted to 'work' and get there early so I wouldn't miss anything. I was pretty disciplined." It sounds like you were very dedicated to the game. You have a couple of records, are any one of them more special than the others? " Yes. You set goals for yourself and my focus and anticipation of each play. You imagine yourself doing those things and my personal goal was to try and intercept a pass and return it 100 yards.  It's what you dream about - each play being 'THE PLAY.' We'd talk about that as teammates. In the preseason game against the LA Rams, I ran an interception back 99 1/2. My only wish was that it was during the regular season, not the pre-season. As you know, the stats don't apply to pre-season games. My other goal was to block 3 kicks in one game. That happened as well. I'm not sure which game, but you can check into that.  The bottom line, pre-season or regular games, I'd come to play and try to give it my all. I just loved the game!"
     
     I can tell you really enjoyed your time in the NFL but you must have enjoyed some of the time off as well. What was your favorite thing to do on the road? " Fred McNeill and I would just sit and hang-out talking. Occasionally I would bring my camera and take photos of the guys. I did sneak one in on Bud going to Detroit on the way to the game. Otherwise, the camera was off limits on game day. I was more into concentrating on the game." You actually first got into photography during your rookie year in 1974, what was the most difficult thing to learn about photography? " The hardest thing is being patient and taking the time to take the photo. Not rushing- waiting for the right shot." After 12 years in the NFL I'm sure you played in a lot of different places. What was your favorite city to play in? " I'd have to say Chicago, since that's where I had my best games. I had my first interception against the Bears as a rookie. On two Monday night games, I blocked a kick and returned it for a touchdown and another time, Mark Mullaney stripped the ball and lateraled it to me and I went in for another touchdown."
     

Matt Blair blocking the punt during
Super Bowl IX

     You played in a lot of important games during your NFL career, possibly the most notable was Super Bowl IX. How did it feel playing in that game as a rookie and blocking a punt that led to the only points the Vikings scored that day? " It didn't feel good, after the game was over and we lost. But at moment that I blocked it, I thought it would get us going to win but that didn't happen. Now that I'm retired, I'm happy to say I blocked it and it was the only point, as I was part of Special Teams who managed to give us points and not be shut-out." You were also selected to six pro bowls during your twelve year career. How did it feel being selected that often? " Let me clarify that they were six CONSECUTIVE years. Each year I tried improving to be better than the previous year. That was my goal - to do a little more than the year before." We have covered a few of the big games now lets go back to your first career sack, how did it feel making that play? " I looked at is as part of the job. Going for the quarterback wasn't the goal, it was to get whoever had the ball." To kind of cap off your career with the Vikings, you were added to the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2012. How special was it to have so many former teammates and Vikings greats there to celebrate with you? " Without my teammates, I would NOT be in the Ring of Honor and the same goes for my family. And without Fred McNeill, the Vikings #1 draft pick my year (1974). If he hadn't pushed me each play, each game, each day, and each year, I wouldn't have made the team of the Ring of Honor. He made me a better player."

     We have talked about the serious stuff, now lets talk about the fun stuff. What is the best locker room prank you have seen or been part of?  We would often tease the kickers, saying that they are not real athletes. So one day, we took Greg Coleman and tied him to the goalpost. We left him out there while we changed and went home. One of the equipment people went out and cut him loose! hahahaha... We also smashed Wally Higenburg with a cream pie in the face for his birthday. I actually have photos of that!" Staying with the fun theme, what is the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to sign? " That's a good question! Cell phone would be the weirdest, but a golf ball is the hardest!" I can only assume a handful of your autograph requests come in the form of fan mail, what are your feeling towards it? " I enjoy reading what the fans have to say. Especially to hear their thoughts on the game of football. But I will say, I don't like receiving fan mail that isn't signed - generic letters asking for autographs without even hand-writing the request or signing the bottom of the letter. So those I mail back to them asking them to sigh the letter and then I'll sign the card."

     In your opinion Matt, what have been the best and worst changes made in the NFL since you last played? " The best changes are the salary they pay the players these days. The average player is stronger, taller, faster than we were back then, so the conditioning is improved. The worst things are the amount of injuries that are happening and are coming to light from the former players." 

     Matt is there anything else you would like to add? " The hardest thing as a former player who had the opportunities to win a Super Bowl, to not come away with one, is probably the most agonizing thing ever. Regardless how many times you get there. Some players never get to play in one in their careers, but to get there numerous times and not come away with ' the ring ' is painful. It will haunt you for the rest of your life. Even other former players will remind you of that."



Matt I want to sincerely thank you for the depth of your answers. You made it much easier to understand the game of football during an era in which I was unfamiliar with it, at some points I could even imagine you sitting with your dog, or snapping pictures with your camera. If you need anything from me, please do not hesitate to ask.