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| Matt Gutierrez will answer questions on Thursday at 1:30 pm |
Welcome to BengalChat, Idaho State's moderated chat where fans can ask questions of various ISU players and coaches. Our first BengalChat for the year featured ISU quarterback Matt Gutierrez. Matt stopped by for about 45 minutes and discussed ISU football and ISU's upcoming conference opener with Northern Arizona, which is also Homecoming.
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| Moderator: Hey gang, 12:24 pm on Thursday, so we're about an hour away...remember to keep sending in your questions. Matt will be here until at least 2 today, hopefully right up until 2:15, when he starts his meetings. |
| Moderator: Hi everybody....man, it's been a busy, busy day here in Bengal-land! Matt should be here in just a minute or two... |
| Moderator: Again, you can ask questions at any time, and the basically will come to us here, and we'll try and get through as many as we can. |
| Moderator: A couple of programming notes....our next BengalChat guest will be Paul Bubb, who will be taking questions on ISU's Athletic Facilites Master Plan, which will be unvieled at a press conference at 3 pm today, and the story and the actual design concept and diagram will be available to download from the site at 3:05 pm today. |
| Moderator: ALso in the upcoming weeks, Dr. Arthus Vailas, the new ISU President will be here (actually, I'll go there, but you get the point), and he will answer questions about athletics, facilities, and hte university in general...OK, we just need Matt and we'll be all set. |
| Moderator: Alright, Matt has made his way to the office, so we are about ready to go (and yes, he's looking at the facilities master plan).... |
| Matt Gutierrez: I'm happy to be here, so let's see what we have for questions... |
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| Sam (Nampa): Matt, you have lots of alumni excited about this season! What do you think of the level of play at ISU so far? Has it matched your expectations? Has there been anyone on the team that has really stood out to you? Best of luck against NAU! Go Bengals! |
| Matt Gutierrez: The competition has exceeded my expectations so far, and I think as a team, we are just beginning to achieve the level of play that I think we are capable of. |
| Matt Gutierrez: An example of this high level would be Eddie Thompson. He plays hard every down, and he's an exciting player with and without the ball. |
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| Jerry (Pocatello: Matt...after spending four years at Michigan where they cram twice as many people into their stadium for a game than we have living in Pocatello, any insights on what we can do to get more butts in the seats at Holt Arena for your games? Winning has always been the most effective formula here, but those getting on the bandwagon too late aren't going to help us in the early games, like Saturday's against NAU... |
| Matt Gutierrez: I understand that the best way to get fan in the stands and in the seats is to win games. I hope that those who have seen us play thus far have been inspired by our efforts, and by the potential that we have showed. |
| Matt Gutierrez: I hope that they can share this with fellow citizens of Pocatello and the surrounding areas and build more excitement and interest. |
| Matt Gutierrez: We appreciate the fans that have attended our games to this point, but we need more people in the crowd to support us, and create a true home field advantage. The more seats we fill in Holt, the better our advantage will be. |
| Moderator: To that point, there were a lot of fans who made the trips to UNLV and Idaho, which was great as well... |
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| Andrew (Ann Arbor): Matt, we miss you in the land of the Big Blue! How do you think playing at Michigan has helped you at Idaho State? |
| Matt Gutierrez: I learned how to play the game at the highest level of college football when I was at Michigan. It was a great experience for me, and I have been able to take much of what I learned and apply and share it here at ISU. |
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| Steve (Pocatello, ID): Matt, thanks for taking the time for this out of your busy schedule...at Michigan you played in front of 100,000 fans. Does it bother you that Holt Arena only holds about 10 percent of that? |
| Matt Gutierrez: Playing in front of 100,000 people was a huge thrill and a great experience, but I believe it is about the enthusiasm of the fans in attendance, as well as filling the venue where the game is being held. |
| Matt Gutierrez: I think a packed Holt Arena could be just as intimidating as the Big House if the whole community was behind us. |
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| Pocatello: Each year the Coaching staff acknowledges the need to get the tight-ends more involved in the offense yet it has not happened. Will this be the year or do you have any say in the matter? |
| Matt Gutierrez: We have a lot of talent at tight end, and I believe in those guys' play-making abilities. So far, they have not a significantly large number of balls, but they've still been effective in our efforts. |
| Matt Gutierrez: We have many weapons on offense, and we try to include all of them in the game plan each week. This type of balanced attack will hopefully get the ball to the tight ends increasingly in the future. |
| Moderator: It should be noted the Brandon and Jon (the two stating tight ends) have 10 catches combined through three games this season, and they had 11 combined all of last year, so Matt's getting the ball to them...back to the questions. |
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| Joe: What did you think of the beat down Michigan put on Notre Dame last week? |
| Matt Gutierrez: I was not surprised that Michigan came out victorious, although I was surprised at the score. I was happy for my friends and ex-teammates. That was a big win for them. |
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| Kenya (Ann Arbor): No question, just wanted to tell Matt good luck and I miss him here at Michigan. Go Blue! Go Bengals! |
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| Cliff Dothan Alabama: Hey Matt im a Michigan fan we really hated to see you go but we understand and beleive your decision was the right one. So hows life in Idaho compared to in Michigan? |
| Matt Gutierrez: I loved my experience at Michigan, and I didn't want to leave, but I felt it was a decision I had to make. Life in Idaho has been great for me. I've been able to enjoy the many natural beauties in this area, and of course, the highlight has been finally being able to play football on Saturdays. |
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| Dave (Poky): Matt, how much of Pocatello have you gotten to see, and what do you think of it? Have you made it to some of the good places to eat like Buddy's and Remo's? |
| Matt Gutierrez: I have been able to see a lot of Pocatello and the surrounding areas. Although I'm sure I haven't discovered all of the many hidden treasures of Pocatello, I have made it to a few of the restaurants. I really like Remo's and the Sandpiper, but my favorite late-night joint is Robertos. |
| Moderator: Apparently Matt enjoys the 24-hour Mexican food... |
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| Nick/Twin Falls: As leader of the offense, what lessons can you take from the pre-season as the Big-Sky conference begins? |
| Matt Gutierrez: I thin kthe main thing for us is to understand the potential that we have. But also, that potential can be our worst enemy, if we do not focus one play at a time and perform at a high level. |
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| Curtis, Poky: Hey Matt... I know you have been involved in some huge prep games in your day. With the bye next weekend, are you gonna check out the best rivalry game in Idaho, 5A #2 Highland vs. 4A #1 Poky on Friday the 29th? |
| Matt Gutierrez: The best time of my life was my four years of high school, and I believe that that is the purest form of football left today. I will likely attend because I always enjoy watching kids play for the love of the game. |
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| Jerry: Does Coach Lewis give you any latitude at all on the field when it comes to calling plays? Or are you pretty much relegated to making reads at the line only, then adjusting through audibles? |
| Matt Gutierrez: The coaches get paid to do the job of calling the plays, and our job as players is to execute them. Our coaches do a great job of getting feedback from the players of what plays the players are confiident in and comfortable with. |
| Matt Gutierrez: Many of these plays include a responsibility on my part to make sure that we are in a play that gives us a chance at success. |
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| Matt (detroit): How does the speed of the game change from Michigan to Idaho State? |
| Matt Gutierrez: Michigan plays at the highest level of college football. The amount of scholarships allowed and support of the athletic program allows for more depth across the board. Despite the high level of talent at Michigan, the game at this level is played at a surprisingly fast pace. |
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| Jake (Boise): Realistically, what kind of Big sky record do u feel that you will finish with? |
| Matt Gutierrez: We are not worried our record at the end of the season at this point, we are trying to take it one day at a time, and focus on each upcoming opponent. |
| Moderator: And a reminder that the next opponent is Northern Arizona on Saturday at 3:05 pm for Homecoming in Holt Arena...and we need to fill those seats! |
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| Shanna - Texas: What is your greatest strengths and what is your biggest weakness. |
| Matt Gutierrez: I was raised with a great work ethic, and to always work to be the best at what I do. I feel that this is an important ingredient in building a rapport with my teammates, and with them entrusting me as their leader. I'm confident in my abilities, but I know that there is something that can always be improved in my game. |
| Matt Gutierrez: I try to pick out one or two things each day to work on in practice. The biggest thing for me I feel is to continue to get game experience. |
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| Maryanne (Boise, Idaho): Do you have a girlfriend? |
| Matt Gutierrez: Do you have a picture and a resume' (LOL) |
| Moderator: Quickly off the topic for a second, but Matt, you've gotten to see the new plans for the athletics facilities....any thoughts? |
| Matt Gutierrez: The plans look amazing! I'm disappointed that I will not be here to use these great facilities, but I'm excited for Idaho State University and the athletes that will benefit from these changes. These improvements will not only benefit current athletes and coaches, but will definately serve as a large attraction to prospective student-athletes, and I feel they can play a great role in continuing to build programs and teams that Idaho State and Pocatello can be proud of. |
| Moderator: Since I'm now getting a deluge of marriage proposals and such, I guess you can send pictures if you really must through the webmaster contact on the ISU site... |
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| Hector (Idaho Falls): What team in the Big Sky do you expect to give you the most trouble this season? Who do you look forward to playing most? |
| Matt Gutierrez: The Big Sky is known as the toughest conference in I-AA across the country. I know I will be excited at the challenge each team will pose week-to-week. There will be no easy games or sure wins in the Big Sky, and I can ask for nothing more than that as a competitive athlete. |
| Moderator: Just a few more questions before Matt has to head to his quarterbacks meeting.... |
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| Jerry: Matt, you've just played three games at ISU so far, but who have you played with, or against, so far...that you think could earn a spot on a team in the Big Ten? And please talk about your center, George Yarno...how tough is he? |
| Matt Gutierrez: George Yarno is a leader on our team. Although he is undersized, he performs at a high level using his football savvy, and his toughness. I'm not interested in playing with guys who have all the size and talent in the world, but no heart. I would take a guy like Yarno on my team any day, because all he cares about is winning. |
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| Pocatello: How does Dan Zeidman's leg compare to those that you have seen at Michigan and throughout Division 1-A? |
| Matt Gutierrez: Danny is a very talented play who has made and who will continue to make a large contribution to possibly the most important phase of the game for us, which is special teams. He has the talent, and the potential, to make whatever plays he is asked to make by our coaches with his leg. The thing that impresses me most about Danny is his work ethic and his desire to be accountable and to perform when the team calls on him. |
| Moderator: We've got time for one more question.... |
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| Avery, Pocatello: Matt, what would you rather have, a 400 yds. 3 TD game, or 100 yds. rushing? All in a win of course... Good luck this week! |
| Matt Gutierrez: I think if I rush for 100 yards in a game, it would probably be a dream, which means I would wake up and we would not have won, so I'll take the 400 yards passing and a win anyday! |
| Moderator: Well, Matt's gotta head to his quarterback meeting, but thanks for taking the time during a hectic week to stop by and chat with Bengal fans truly from around the United States. |
| Matt Gutierrez: I enjoyed chatting with all of you, and I hope to see you all this Saturday at 3:05 for Northern Arizona and Homecoming. Go Bengals! |
| Moderator: Thanks again Matt, and again, Matt wanted me to remind folks to send those pictures to the webmaster contact link (LOL)...those actually come to me, but I will forward them on to Matt...against, thanks for joining us, and I'm sorry we couldn't get to all the questions....we probably could have gone on for another hour if we had the time. |
| Moderator: Remember, Paul Bubb will take part in the next BengalChat in about two weeks, and check out the website at 3:05 pm for your first exclusive look at Ben.....oops, almost gave the name away...at the Athletic Facilities Master Plan |
| Moderator: See you then! |
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