The presence of senior tackle Don Matheney is far less intimidating than his 6-foot, 300-pound frame initially suggests. Instead, Matheney is soft-spoken and undeniably optimistic.
Before he enrolled at Ohio State, Matheney was enrolled at the College of Holy Cross. There he endured 40-plus hours of homework a week to meet the demands of a Holy Cross athlete.
Matheney contributed his first two seasons as a Crusader, but suffered a season-ending injury during his sophomore season transferred to OSU for his junior season after tuition increased at Holy Cross.
Coming from a school with an enrollment of 2,900 to the 55,000 at OSU has been a huge change, but one that Matheney appreciates.
“There is less one-on-one time with the teachers, but I really like it: the classes, the environment, the atmosphere.”
Classes have been Matheney’s main focus since he transferred, as he was not eligible to compete his first season as a Buckeye. Per NCAA rules, as a transfer student-athlete, Matheney was required to sit out his junior season. His senior season was his first opportunity to help the Buckeyes on the defensive line.
These events have only fueled Matheney’s optimism, however. When asked how he stays even-keeled despite what is required of him as a student-athlete, he simply responds, “I don’t even think about it … I just do what I have to do.”
Not only does he do what he has to do, he does more. As he strives to complete a history of art degree along with a computer science degree, he does the work required to make an impact for the Buckeyes, on and off the field.
In 2009, Scout.com reported the OSU football team had a 62 percent graduation rate.
With a genuine desire to be a Buckeye, a motivated attitude to graduate and a humbling presence, Matheney will increase the number of OSU’s graduating athletes and better the reputation OSU’s athletic department holds so dear.
