University Southern California Trojans
Childers Comes Home To Smell The Roses
October 03, 1999 | Football
Oct. 3, 1999
LOS ANGELES - USC junior defensive end Matt Childers just couldn't get used to the slow pace of Manhattan.
Manhattan, Kan., that is - home of the Kansas State Wildcats.
Childers spent 1998 spring practice in a Wildcat uniform. Coming out of Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., it seemed like a good idea to join the emerging Big 12 Conference power.
"They had a great defense," said Childers, who majors in public policy management. "I thought they would have a chance to contend for the national title."
The Wildcats did make a good run last year, but without Childers. Not to knock Kansas, but the Kansas lifestyle just didn't appeal to him.
"It's a lot different there than it is in California," said Childers. "It's just so slow and there's nothing to do. I really missed California and it's great to be back here."
The soft-spoken Childers, who prepped at Casto Valley (Calif.) High, also didn't like how his football career was going at Kansas State.
"They wanted me to gain a lot more weight," said Childers."I came to Kansas State at about 260 and they wanted me much bigger. They wanted to move me to nose guard or tackle. For a while I went along with it and I was up to 270 but I didn't think I carried the weight well. I lost a lot of the quickness that I used to have."
Childers asked for and was granted a release from his scholarship at Kansas State. Shortly after, he was on his way to USC.
"My junior-college coach, Tony Caviglia (who was an assistant coach at USC in 1986-87), called (USC defensive coordinator) Bill Young and told him about me," said Childers.
As it turned out, Childers would get a chance to play his natural position, defensive end, at USC. Plus, he could live about 1,000 miles closer to his family and friends. Throw in the chance to be tutored by defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and the possibility of playing in the Rose Bowl and, well, it couldn't get any better, he thought.
"Coach Orgeron really pushes and motivates us," said Childers. "He has really helped the defensive linemen play up to, and sometimes beyond, our potential."
"My goal is to improve each game and to always play my best game. And I want to go to the Rose Bowl."
So far this season, Childers has been a pleasant suprise. A starter in USC's four games, he already has 14 tackles, including three for a loss, plus two sacks and two forced fumbles. These numbers are all the more impressive when you consider that USC constantly rotates its defensive linemen. Childers gets about as much playing time as his backup, Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed.
"It's a great system," said Childers. "I never get tired and I always feel fresh."
Coming into the 1999 season, Childers was an overlooked element on the defensive line. But this has often been the case with Childers.
"I didn't even play football until high school," said Childers. "Baseball and soccer were my sports. I really liked soccer. Then one day one of my friends suggested I go out for football. I was about 195 pounds in high school and I played wide receiver at first."
In his senior year, Childers switched to defensive end and won All-League Defensive MVP honors. But being so small, he didn't really attract any attention from major colleges. He enrolled in Chabot College and played football, but with no intention of going to a higher level.
"I just played to play, stay in shape and have fun," said Childers. "I never thought I'd end up anywhere."
But by his sophomore year, Childers was a solid 240 pounds and was getting all kinds of attention. In 1997, he was named a J.C. Grid-Wire All-American second teamer while racking up 17 sacks. Soon, he was off to Kansas State. It was a tough decision to leave there, though, since NCAA transfer rules require a player to sit out a year before playing. Childers admits that he felt a bit rusty coming into this fall.
"It was tough to sit out that year after transferring," said Childers. "I had to stay tough mentally. I knew that as I got more reps in practice, I'd get my chance to show what I could do. Also, I'm playing at about 250 now so I feel a lot quicker. It's easier for me to be a more effective pass rusher."
Though he patterns his game after such NFL greats as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas and former Los Angeles Raider defensive end Howie Long, Childers doesn't have a burning ambition to get to the next level. But then, he never thought he'd get to this level either.
"I figure, whatever happens, happens," said Childers. "I've done fine so far without planning things. Sometimes things don't work out like you plan them."
In the meantime, Childers is enjoying college life.
"I'm the first one in my family to go to college," said Childers. "I just do what I'm supposed to do and try to stay out of trouble."
