The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70101
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? from losing to them the previous year … we came back and said, 'We're big, but they're faster — so we need to be big and faster.' [Strength coach] Mike Gittleson pushed that all the way across the board the entire offseason, and I ate it up because I was so mad we lost. I felt they were celebrating what we should have been. I worked my butt off to be in the best position we could to be in that game. Coach Carr had a great defensive plan, and we were just ready to go." Dyson finished with seven tackles and a sack in the win. He played the next few seasons with a large knee brace after suffering a partially torn ACL, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1993 despite playing on the bad knee. He returned for the 1994 season in the best shape of his life — 250 pounds with six percent body fat — and was ready to fulfill his All-America potential when a broken foot suffered in the opener with Bos- ton College sidelined him for the next several games. Dyson returned in time for a rivalry game win over Michigan State, though he wasn't close to 100 percent. He was back at full health for the finale with Ohio State, but had his hands full in a 22-6 loss in Columbus. "We changed our defense midway a potential second-round pick. A run on offensive linemen moved everyone down the ladder, he recalled, making for a frustrating draft day. Though Dyson learned plenty from Oakland's veterans, his once promis- ing career lasted only two seasons. "I was learning from Jerry Ball, Chester McGlockton, Russell Mary- land, Pat Swilling … here were all these All-Pro players teaching me the intricacies of playing on the defensive line," he recalled. "They were all great guys, team-oriented. They wanted to win, but they weren't opposed to having some fun. They taught me so much about the game. "I felt I was well on my way to earn- Dyson currently serves as the head club football coach at George Mason University, the head track and field coach at Falls Church (Va.) High and the chief engineer at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Va. PHOTO COURTESY MATT DYSON through the season, so instead of outside linebacker, I went down and played defensive end," he recalled. "That game they went with an unbal- anced line and put Korey Stringer as the tight end, Orlando Pace at tackle." Both Stringer and Pace would go on to be NFL Pro Bowlers. "They double teamed me the entire The Matt Dyson File 1991-95… Notched 124 career tackles from his outside linebacker spot and 116 sack yards, 143 tackle for loss yard- age … Defensive MVP of the 1994 Holiday Bowl … Earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1992, his first season as a full-time starter, and second-team in 1993 despite playing through a knee injury … Missed half his senior season with a broken foot, but still managed 33 tackles (22 solo). Professional Accomplishments: Fifth-round draft pick of Michigan Accomplishments: Four-year letterman, the Oakland Raiders, 1995 … Played two seasons with the team before a knee injury ended his career. Michigan Memory: Dyson had been a standout soccer player through 10th grade before taking up football, and his inexperience showed in his first year at U-M. Things started to click during his second year under linebackers coach Bobby Morrison. "One moment I thought I had things down and we went out to practice, where I was doing a good job," Dyson re- " called. "Then I screwed up a play. As it happened, I knew I had screwed it up. It was the first time I really recognized I messed it up. Internally, I get mad at myself. I was angry. Morrison didn't need to tell him twice after he came over to make his point. "I turned and looked at him, and he knew I was angry, Mason University, head track and field coach at Falls Church (Va.) High and chief engineer at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Va. Education: Dyson returned to earn his Bachelor of Arts in 1999. Family: Dyson and his wife, Sara, were married in 2003. They have two daughters: Mackenzie (4) and Natalie (2). Current Occupation: Head club football coach at George '" MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 109 son recalled with a laugh. "He said, 'Okay — I think you get it. I'll leave you alone now. " Dy- suing Holiday Bowl and responded with an MVP performance, providing relentless pressure in finishing with three tackles for loss and a sack in a 24-14 win. Months later he became an Oakland Raider, going to the team in the fifth round after being projected as game, every time they ran the ball," Dyson recalled. "Keep in mind, I was 255 at the time, taking on these two, 300-plus pound guys at position I wasn't used to playing. They handed it to me that game." Dyson shed the brace for the en- ing a starting position. In practice dur- ing one-on-one pass rush, I would be beating our all-pro offensive linemen cleanly. A couple of them would tell me, 'Hey man — you're getting really good.' It was exciting to know that was what was happening." The dream of a long career, though, didn't last. Dyson tore all four major ligaments in his right knee on a play in which he stopped Dallas Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith from scor- ing, and he'd never play again. Today, Dyson serves as chief engi- neer at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Va. His football dreams are now played out through his players, but he's more than content. "It's great to see your ideas and things being put into practice, seeing young guys learn from those things and utilize those as they move on in life," he said. "It's nice to see them apply some of the things they might have gotten from me." ❑