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University of Minnesota Athletics
Through the Pain - Junior Matt Spaeth
9/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Matt Spaeth is therefore the quintessential warrior for his ability to play through injury and simultaneously ignore pain. “I’ve never coached a guy tougher than Matt Spaeth,” head coach Glen Mason said of his starting tight end.
To illustrate his point, Coach Mason recalled how last year Spaeth started every game, including the Music City Bowl, despite suffering a sports hernia; a painful injury that most likely would have sidelined any other player. Spaeth not only started the bowl game, Mason said an Alabama coach credited No. 89 with being the difference in the Gophers’ 20-16 victory for his ability to handle the Crimson Tide’s defensive ends. “His pain threshold must really be something,” Mason concluded.
When asked about his pain threshold, Spaeth scoffed at his coach’s assessment, claiming his injury “really wasn’t that bad.” He did, however, acknowledge that the versatility needed to play tight end may have contributed to his injuries, which also include a hip pointer that once swelled to the size of a softball.
“You’ve got to block like a tackle on one play and then run like a receiver on the next, so I think the demands of the position put increased strains on the body,” he said. “But I kind of pride myself on being able to play through the pain.”
It’s apparent that Spaeth has been forced to cope with a lot of pain. Though his physical injuries were undoubtedly inflicted on the gridiron, the pain he’s likely battled most is grief due to the sudden loss of his first cousin and good friend, David Wille. Wille was killed in late April, 2003, less than a month before his graduation from Fosston High School, as the result of injuries sustained in a car accident.
Spaeth said he and his cousin always got along really well because of their similar ages and interests. He also said that Wille was an all-around funny guy who could always make him laugh. “Our two families are extremely close,” Spaeth said, noting that his aunt and uncle attend every Gopher football game. “Even though our families live four hours apart, we still did a lot of activities together like going up to the cabin or going snowmobiling.”
To overcome the loss of someone so close has therefore obviously been difficult. But for Spaeth, it’s complicated by the fact that the victim was so young. “I think all the time how (David) should still be around,” he explained. “When things like that happen, it’s always a reality check.”
So the memory of his cousin has become an inspiration for Spaeth. He consequently had a tattoo of David’s name written over a cross inked on his right shoulder. The tattoo effectively honors Wille and also keeps his spirit nearby. Spaeth said it’s his cousin’s spirit that continually reminds him that every day of life is precious. “You really never know how much time you’re going to have left,” he said. “Knowing I only have so much time at the University of Minnesota and only so much time in life, I’m trying to take full advantage of it while I’ve got it.”
Although he admits it’s still painful to think about the tragic loss of his cousin, Spaeth believes it will eventually get easier with the passage of time. At times, the junior from St. Michael-Albertville can escape inside the weight room or on the Gophers’ practice field. “Football has helped because it’s let me safely alleviate some aggression,” he explained. “It’s also just kept me busy and my mind off of (David’s) absence.”
Matt Spaeth is unquestionably tough. But sometimes incidents occur for which there is no gameplan. He’s therefore had to play this portion of the game of life with a heavy heart. And even for the toughest warriors, it’s sometimes difficult to always ignore the pain.
Story by Kevin Noth, athletic communications graduate assistant Football and pain invariably go together. Regrettably, there’s rarely one without the other. So simply stepping onto the field makes a certain statement about one’s vigor. In other words, it’s redundant to refer to a football player as tough. Yet, there are still degrees of toughness that separate certain players from the rest in the huddle. For example, those who continually perform well despite suffering obvious injuries or players that can successfully block out pain often receive the moniker of warrior.
Matt Spaeth is therefore the quintessential warrior for his ability to play through injury and simultaneously ignore pain. “I’ve never coached a guy tougher than Matt Spaeth,” head coach Glen Mason said of his starting tight end.
To illustrate his point, Coach Mason recalled how last year Spaeth started every game, including the Music City Bowl, despite suffering a sports hernia; a painful injury that most likely would have sidelined any other player. Spaeth not only started the bowl game, Mason said an Alabama coach credited No. 89 with being the difference in the Gophers’ 20-16 victory for his ability to handle the Crimson Tide’s defensive ends. “His pain threshold must really be something,” Mason concluded.
When asked about his pain threshold, Spaeth scoffed at his coach’s assessment, claiming his injury “really wasn’t that bad.” He did, however, acknowledge that the versatility needed to play tight end may have contributed to his injuries, which also include a hip pointer that once swelled to the size of a softball.
“You’ve got to block like a tackle on one play and then run like a receiver on the next, so I think the demands of the position put increased strains on the body,” he said. “But I kind of pride myself on being able to play through the pain.”
It’s apparent that Spaeth has been forced to cope with a lot of pain. Though his physical injuries were undoubtedly inflicted on the gridiron, the pain he’s likely battled most is grief due to the sudden loss of his first cousin and good friend, David Wille. Wille was killed in late April, 2003, less than a month before his graduation from Fosston High School, as the result of injuries sustained in a car accident.
Spaeth said he and his cousin always got along really well because of their similar ages and interests. He also said that Wille was an all-around funny guy who could always make him laugh. “Our two families are extremely close,” Spaeth said, noting that his aunt and uncle attend every Gopher football game. “Even though our families live four hours apart, we still did a lot of activities together like going up to the cabin or going snowmobiling.”
To overcome the loss of someone so close has therefore obviously been difficult. But for Spaeth, it’s complicated by the fact that the victim was so young. “I think all the time how (David) should still be around,” he explained. “When things like that happen, it’s always a reality check.”
So the memory of his cousin has become an inspiration for Spaeth. He consequently had a tattoo of David’s name written over a cross inked on his right shoulder. The tattoo effectively honors Wille and also keeps his spirit nearby. Spaeth said it’s his cousin’s spirit that continually reminds him that every day of life is precious. “You really never know how much time you’re going to have left,” he said. “Knowing I only have so much time at the University of Minnesota and only so much time in life, I’m trying to take full advantage of it while I’ve got it.”
Although he admits it’s still painful to think about the tragic loss of his cousin, Spaeth believes it will eventually get easier with the passage of time. At times, the junior from St. Michael-Albertville can escape inside the weight room or on the Gophers’ practice field. “Football has helped because it’s let me safely alleviate some aggression,” he explained. “It’s also just kept me busy and my mind off of (David’s) absence.”
Matt Spaeth is unquestionably tough. But sometimes incidents occur for which there is no gameplan. He’s therefore had to play this portion of the game of life with a heavy heart. And even for the toughest warriors, it’s sometimes difficult to always ignore the pain.
Story by Kevin Noth, athletic communications graduate assistant
