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| Getting To Know Matt Traverso |
At Stanford: Moved into a starting tight end role in 2005 and was an effective receiver but will have to compete again for the starting job this season ... A three-year letterwinner and one of the team's most experienced players seeing game action as far back as 2002 ... Has excellent skills both blocking and receiving ... Has appeared in 32 of 33 possible games from 2003-05 and 34 going back to two games he played in 2002 before receiving a medical redshirt after a season-ending ankle injury in game two ... Has 21 career catches for 225 yards (12.1 ypg) and two touchdowns ... Has one year of eligibility remaining.
Career Statistics
The 2006 Season: Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2005 Season: Blossomed as Stanford's starting tight end, playing in and starting 10 of 11 possible games ... Caught 19 balls for 223 yards and an 11.7 yard per catch average with one touchdown ... Had the best two performances of his career in the final two contests of the season when he caught four balls for 55 yards against California before getting career-highs of seven catches and 85 receiving yards, as well as a four-yard touchdown reception from T.C. Ostrander versus Notre Dame that put the Cardinal ahead of the Irish, 31-30 with just 1:46 to go in the game before Notre Dame came from behind for a 38-31 win.
Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2004 Season: Saw action in all 11 games and earned his second varsity letter as Stanford's No. 2 tight end behind current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Alex Smith ... Started two games when the Cardinal went with a two-tight end formation ... Had his lone catch of the season with a 30-yard reception at Notre Dame.
Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2003 Season: Earned his first varsity letter after playing in all 11 games as a reserve tight end ... Had one catch during the season, that coming in Stanford's 21-14 victory over UCLA when he caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Chris Lewis that tied the score at 7-7 in the second period.
The 2002 Season: Injuries to the Cardinal's tight end corps early in the season put Matt as the team's No. 2 tight end ... Played in the first two games of the year at Boston College and versus San Jose State, but suffered an ankle injury versus the Spartans that forced him to miss the remainder of the season ... Received a medical redshirt for the year.
In High School: Rated as one of the top tight end prospects in the country following his senior season at Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento ... All-American selection by SuperPrep and PrepStar ... PrepStar rated him as the No. 2 tight end prospect in the West while SuperPrep had him as the No. 7 tight end in the nation ... An All-FarWest selection by Tom Lemming's, SuperPrep and PrepStar ... Played tight end and defensive end in high school ... Recorded 30 receptions for 630 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior ... Defensively, he accounted for 63 solo tackles, a Sacramento-Area leading 15.0 sacks, 22 pass deflections, 10 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries ... Named All-City on offense and defense his junior and senior seasons ... League MVP as a senior ... Three-year All-Conference selection on both offense and defense ... The "Rivals 100" No. 5 tight end in the nation during his senior season in 2001 ... Earned three varsity letters in football and four in basketball ... Was named All-League three times and All-City twice, as well as First-Team All-NorCal once in basketball ... Averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds per game as a junior ... League MVP as a senior ... National Football Foundation's scholar-athlete winner in 2002.
Personal Information:Political Science major ... Member of the National Honor Society and California Scholastic Federation ... Brother, Joe, played college football at Harvard for four years, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in June of 2004.
Getting To Know Matt Traverso
Nickname: Princess I would describe myself as a person as: Charismatic and fashionable What people don't know about me is: I have waxed my body before (ouch) The reason I love football is: I love the thrill of competition I pattern my play after: Brett Pierce For me to improve as a person, I need to: Communicate better and be more selfless My favorite pre-game ritual is: Doing the exact same routine every week from the time I get to the hotel to the time of the kickoff My greatest athletic moment is: Scoring the last Stanford touchdown in the old Stanford Stadium The biggest thrill in my life to date is: Every moment that I get to spend with my entire family The teammate I admire the most is: Brandon Harrison My favorite stadium in which to play is: The new Stanford Stadium The toughest player I have faced in college is: Justin Tuck (Notre Dame) A friend from another college football team is: Dallas Sartz (USC) The reason I chose Stanford University is: My teammates Since coming to Stanford, I have learned: To manage my time wisely The best thing about Stanford is: The football team My favorite class at Stanford is: Political Culture and Ancient Athletics My least favorite class at Stanford is: PWR What sets Stanford apart from other college football programs: The admissions process The sports team I followed when I was younger: San Francisco Giants, 49ers, Sacramento Kings When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be: Jerry Rice and Joe Montana The athlete I admire most is: Barry Bonds The person I admire most is: My parents (no question the best set in the world) If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be: All four of my grandparents The three people in history I admire most are: My Mother, my Father, Jesus Best book I have read: The Power of One Favorite Food: Macaroni and cheese Least Favorite Food: EGGS!!!!!! If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd probably survive on: I do cook my own meals (mostly chicken breasts, pasta and broccoli) Favorite Movie: Gladiator Favorite TV Show: The OC, Family Guy Favorite Actor: Russell Crowe Favorite Actress: Scarlett Johansson If a movie were made of my life, I would have the following actor play me: Michael Rappaport My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be: Catching the Rose Bowl winning TD from Trent Edwards Favorite musical group or performer: Right now?? James Blunt If I were not playing college football, I would be: Playing college basketball After my Stanford career, I'd like to be remembered as: Part of the team that took Stanford Football to new heights The best advice I ever received was: "You can do it if you put your mind to it" One moment in history I wish I could have seen: The parting of the Red Sea The place I'd most like to visit: Rome The favorite place I've visited: Boston Hobbies: Watching baseball, lifting weights, clothes shopping, eating, sleeping, listening to somber music Ten years from now, I'd like to be: Happily married, successful as a parent and a husband, and close with my entire family still My advice to youngsters: Live every day like it is your last and surround yourself with those people who mean the most to you My most prized possession: The Bronco If I won $1 million, I would: Give it to my parents and apologize for being such a knucklehead The one thing about college football I would change: Athletes would get paidLast Updated: September 24, 2006