Senior quarterback Matt Hunt, sat down with The DePauw to discuss the rest of the season, his collegiate career, pregame rituals, and the growing success of a football program. Hunt, a four-year starter, has led the Tigers to an exceptional start this season with over 1000 total yards and 11 touchdowns.
TDP: You were named NCAC offensive player of the week the past two weeks with nearly 400 yards in both games. What has been working for the offense?
Hunt: We’ve really just been taking what they’ve been giving us. Biggest thing this year has been the options we have on offense. We’re not limited if we need to throw the ball 50 times a game, but if we need to put it on the ground we can do that to.
TDP: You’ve been a starter for four years. What was it like to see the progression of the team?
Hunt: We’ve gotten so much better. I know what we need to do to win. We used to turn the ball over way too many times. We’ve simply gotten more consistent and we have gotten better at controlling our mental lapses. It’s all about being in tune.
TDP: You have also been on the team during the entire tenure of Coach Lynch. How has that experience been?
Hunt: We’ve grown with him. He’s led us along the way. Even when we come into camp or start playing spring ball we are so far ahead of where we used to be and he’s really just raised the expectation of the program every season since I’ve played.
TDP: Can you talk about the second half of your schedule?
Hunt: Well this is definitely the stronger part of our schedule with Wittenberg, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, and of course Wabash. Those four over the next six weeks is going to be a real test.
TDP: Wabash recently fell to Wittenberg who you play this week. Is this week’s game a way to compare yourself against them for the Monon Bell?
Hunt: You obviously compare scores a little bit, but at this point I don’t look into it. If anything I try to distance myself from it because anything can happen in a week. It’s hard not to think about, but at the same time we want to put a ring on our finger and be conference champions and it’s best to focus on ourselves than how other teams are doing.
TDP: Has your pregame preparation changed at all over your career?
Hunt: I listen to the same song everytime we go into the stadium. It’s a Notorious B.I.G. give me the loot remix. A buddy of mine showed it to me in highschool and I’ve been getting hyped to it ever since.
The Tigers return to action this Saturday against Wittenberg as they begin a challenging second half of their schedule.