At every Bowling Green home football game, there’s a group of eight or nine people sitting about 10 rows below the press box on the west side of Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
After about two minutes of play, you know exactly who they are at the game to see.
“Chad Brinker the ball carrier,” the public address announcer proclaims over the loudspeaker. “Tackle on the play by no. 94, Matt Leininger.”
The group goes wild.
This is what it’s like to be the hometown hero, like freshman Matt Leininger. The 6’3″, 260-lb. freshman hails from Napoleon, Ohio, and is an alum of nearby Liberty Center High School.
Leininger led his team to a 12-1 record last fall, and their fourth straight league title. In the process, Leininger was named to the All-State, All-District and All-NWOAL teams as a senior.
Now, though, Leininger is having the time of his life here playing for the team he has wanted to play for years.
“When I came to the Toledo game, I sat down where the recruits sit down by the students,” Leininger said. “The atmosphere was great, and they whooped Toledo. I went into the locker room, and I felt that electricity, and I thought ‘This is where I want to be.’
“Playing close to home makes it that much better, and making my first start was amazing with everyone here,” Leininger said. “It’s really an honor to start at a football program like this, and being a freshman makes it that much more special for me. Having all my friends and family here is great. I’m always begging the other guys on the team for their tickets so everyone that’s coming don’t have to pay.”
Leininger started for the first time Saturday against Ohio, and due to injuries and the depletion of the Falcons’ defensive line, has been thrown into the mix. Leininger has totaled nine tackles thus far this year in four games, including three tackles for a loss and one sack.
Still, though, he has found the adjustment to college life and college football very challenging.
“Time management is so hard for me,” he said. “I’m usually at the stadium from one in the afternoon until 10 at night, and add classes into that, and trying to be social, and it’s hard.
“When it comes to football, I tried to stay quiet when I got in here, and not be cocky,” he said. “I knew I had to come in and work hard. I did that, but the first time I went against our offensive linemen, it was like a punch in the mouth. That’s when I knew I was here, playing college football.”
On the field, Leininger has all the confidence that the people around him — older players and the coaches — will make him the best he can be. He cited senior defensive lineman Alex Glantzis as one of the most influential players for him.
“I know that I’m prepared, so there’s not a lot of nerves when I play,” Leininger said. “We have the best set of coaches around; I think they’re the best in the nation. [Defensive coordinator] Coach Beckman gets us so prepared, and we work so hard on the practice field, the games are not much different.
“Alex Glantzis has taken me under his wing,” he said. “People say we look alike when we’re on the field; he has taught and told me so much. He’s told me about the losing from before, and how bad it was, and how no one ever wants to go through another 2-9 season, that it’s something you never want to do.”
Coach Urban Meyer has repeated his sentiments about Leininger throughout the early stages of the season, crediting his hard work as a major part of his success.
“Matt Leininger is a one now,” Meyer said. “This goes back to our depth, but he’s a one now, a true freshman. I love Matt Leininger; he’s a fantastic player.”
So, if you get a chance in two weeks when BG hosts Western Michigan to see Leininger’s family, please do. They’ll be the ones with their ears peeled for no. 94.
