Oct. 9, 2006

As the child of a favorite son, Matt Pritchett has always heard about the exploits of his father ­ a small-town star in a sport synonymous with his home state.

Especially any time the family paid a visit to the city of Princeton in Southern Indiana.

That's where Bob Pritchett once practiced a Hoosier ritual, developing the shooting touch that would eventually help him lead nearby Vincennes to a junior college title in basketball.

"I get all the Bobby Pritchett comments when I go back there," says Matt, punctuating those words ­ as with almost every sentence he speaks ­ with a smile. "I never get tired of (hearing them), but its like, 'Man, I have to forge my own thing (in life) so people stop talking about him all the time.'"

Though don't get the wrong idea, because the boy is as likely to tell you about his dad as the folks back home in Indiana.

About how Bob was voted Most Valuable Player when the Vincennes Trailblazers became national champions in 1965. And how he then transferred to Old Dominion and set a single-game record with 67 points as an honorable mention All-American in 1967-68.

"My dad was my biggest influence in life," says Matt, "always pushing me to be better. I got his wisdom and knowledge about not taking anything for granted."

With such, the son set out to make a name for himself. What's ironic is how he's done it ­ in a different sport, playing a position that's virtually anonymous.

As the left tackle on Navy's offensive line, Matt Pritchett occupies that place on a football field where one gets noticed usually on two occasions ­ if he is beaten by a defender or singled out by the Referee for a penalty.

Yet, his is one of the five most important roles on a unit attempting to lead the nation in rushing for the third time in four seasons.

In fact, last Saturday when the Midshipmen defeated Air Force, 24-17, it was Pritchett and his line mates who took control of the contest midway through the second quarter.

They paved the way to a 17-point lead with three scoring drives that devoured nearly 21 minutes off the game clock. When time eventually expired, he and his classmates celebrated an unprecedented fourth straight victory over the Falcons.

Leaving Pritchett and the rest of the Navy seniors only a December win away from a perfect career record against their Academy rivals.

And to think, not all that long ago Pritchett had, in his words, "no idea what the Naval Academy was.

"I'd heard of Army-Navy, but I thought it was actual people in the Army and Navy just playing football," he says of his early high school days in the Columbus, Ohio suburb of Grove City. "I knew of West Point from history class, reading about the Generals in the Civil War."

But by his senior year, Pritchett was enlightened about Annapolis.

Complementing the initial recruiting overture from Navy assistant coach Jeff Monken was the influence of Grove City teacher Bill Fell, himself a former Midshipman.

"We talked a lot about the Academy," Pritchett says. "(Fell) talked about the friends he made here. He was just a positive influence about the Naval Academy."

If not entirely forthcoming.

"He left out a lot about plebe year," said Pritchett, laughing as only a 'firstie' can do ­ when he is much closer to graduation than indoctrination.

To reach this point ­ as a solid student majoring in information technology and history who's started the past 18 games ­ Matt has benefited from the encouragement and inspiration of others.

Like Scott McIntyre, yet another Grove City mentor. He was the offensive line coach who convinced Pritchett to wrestle in the winter.

"He was always pushing me to be my best," says Pritchett, who firmly believes his experience on the mats aided him on the field. "It helped me with my aggression.

"I can remember matches when (I'd) be down 3-1 and needed a takedown. There's a minute left in the third period and you're tired. That transfers to the fourth quarter of the game, when it's third and one and you need a touchdown. It's the mental toughness that comes from pushing your body."

Wrestling helped prepare Pritchett for his future position at Navy ­ including an understanding of how he could use leverage against a defender.

Once he arrived in Annapolis, he was aided by the upper class Mids already on the offensive line ­ namely, Josh Goodin and Tyson Stahl.

As a member of the junior varsity, Pritchett studied game film and was struck by what he saw of Goodin, in particular, the effort on every play.

Separated by two years, he looked to Stahl as a role model ­ to such an extent that Pritchett intends to follow his ex-teammate into the Marine Corps.

"I look up to him still," Pritchett recently said. "I was a sophomore when Tyson was a senior. It wasn't like he looked down on us.

"With our team atmosphere, the (veterans) wanted people to feel welcome and to succeed. That's the basis of the team, having that brotherhood."

And it's why Pritchett is re-paying those he still admires ­ like Goodin and Stahl ­ by doing the same for his younger teammates. Whether he must go out of his way or simply lead by example.

"I think Matt does a really good job of coming out every day and, for the most part, working hard," says assistant Todd Spencer, who coaches the Mids' tackles. "I think his work ethic sets a tone for a lot of the young guys."

"(Our coaches) tell us we have to be the hardest working team in the country," Pritchett explains. "If we don't out-work people, we're not going to beat them.

"(Coach Spencer) doesn't want to let you down and not teach you the right things and we don't want to let him down."

In Pritchett, Spencer sees a guy who 'gets' what's being taught in meeting rooms and on the practice field.

"I think (Matt's) an intense classroom learner," Spencer said after a recent practice. "He's real dialed in during our meetings and transfers information to the field.

"I think he is a real detail guy, dialed into technique and fundamental things. For the most part he lays it out there every day in practice and in games."

One teammate who's taken note is junior Josh Meek.

"When I was recruited here, I was a center," Meek said. "I broke my ankle and the next year was converted to a tackle. Pritchett kind of became my mentor."

Just as he did for sophomore guard Anthony Gaskins.

"Pritchett has been a leader overall on the o-line, especially last year with me being a freshman and it being his first year as a starter," said Gaskins. "When the coaches get on you, he tells you to keep going, keep pushing (yourself). He's a real motivator.

"(Matt) leads by example. He always plays hard in practice and, on film, he's always hustling downfield (blocking) the safeties."

But as much praise as Pritchett earns for the effort he invests on the field, by his own admission, he's sure to get a great deal of grief for the way he spends much of his time off it.

"I'm embarrassed to tell you this," he says, words mixed with laughter, his 6-foot-2, 290-pound body in blue uniform sinking into his chair. "I get a lot of flack for itŠ"

What 'it' is, as the red-faced Pritchett goes on to explain, is a computer "role-playing experience" known as 'The World of Warcraft'.

And, apparently, when Pritchett isn't upending defensive linemen or scraping linebackers, he's trying to save the 'World of Azeroth' ­ battling on-line opponents from 'The Alliance' as a member of 'The Horde'.

So naturally ­ surrounded by teammates who'd rather play football video games than conquer an enemy comprised of "dwarves, gnomes, humans and night elves" ­ Pritchett is sure to hear about it.

Still, contrary to an apparent soft-spoken manner, according to at least Spencer and Meek, he is more than capable of holding his own when it comes to locker-room razzing.

"Pritchett seems like a quiet guy, but he's probably leading the chirping on the buses and on the airplanes coming back from games," says Spencer. "He's not a quiet guy."

"He may seem quiet," Meek said. "But get him behind closed doors and he'll talk your ear off and definitely crack on you some."

Of course, as the saying suggests, they kid because they love.

Seriously, who among his teammates couldn't respect the work ethic Spencer discussed? Or the generosity Pritchett's shown with both time and advice, as reflected by the words of Meek and Gaskins?

Or the way he's forged his own way in the world and made a name for himself with the Midshipmen?

The stories about his father, the basketball standout, were always there.

And when Pritchett's sister, Julie, married Travis Trice ­ an all-conference guard at Butler University ­ yet another all-star joined the family.

"My dad was the basketball star of his generation," Matt says with pride. "My sister's husband was the basketball star of his generation in his hometown."

As for Matt's career on the hardwood, it ended when he was cut from the freshman team in high school.

Nonetheless, he responded by becoming an all-state wrestler, which in turn helped him become a starting tackle for the nation's top rushing team and a postseason honoree, according to College Football News, for his play in last year's Poinsettia Bowl.

And, now ­ with Bob celebrating his 60th birthday and his mother, Tamara, expected to be in the stands for a homecoming encounter with Rutgers ­ Pritchett is trying to help his senior class of Mids make more history.

Which no one would appreciate more than Matt Pritchett, even if it means someday his own kids will have to hear just how good their father was, as the favorite son of Grove City.