2010 graduate Matt Acree sets new goals in professional football

With sweat dripping down his neck and teeth clenching his mouth guard, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound athlete launches himself toward his opponent, forcing him to retreat from the line of scrimmage and encumber the offensive team from moving the ball forward. This is a daily challenge for 2010 graduate Matt Acree currently plays football for the Ottawa Redblacks in the Canadian Football League, on the defensive line.

“My passion is football; I play because it’s fun,” Acree said. “I want to continue playing, and I think the CFL is my opportunity to keep playing. Since I played at a smaller school in college, I have to step over one more hurdle before I get to the ultimate dream, which is playing in the NFL. I’m just chasing that dream.”

Beginning the sport after most players, Acree started playing in sixth grade after seeing the professionals on television. Then, during his time in high school, Acree found high school football different from what he expected because he grew up playing with his team.

“There’s six or seven of us who have been in the same class all the way through high school, so my group of friends have grown up together,” Acree said. “When the team was playing together, it was really fun. It was like we were playing backyard football in high school.”

During his high school career, Acree learned the techniques and strategies of the game, where he attributed much of his improvement to the coaching staff, which at the time included social studies teacher Chris Dunback.

“All of those coaches coached because they care,” Acree said. “They obviously wanted to help young men succeed, which is why they coach. I owe those guys a lot.”

After graduating high school, Acree signed to play to college football at Drake University, where he also studied biology. Each year, Acree’s college football coach asked all the players to write letters to those who helped them on their journey. Dunback received an annual letter from Acree, which Dunback said made his year to read it.

“I hope I helped him on his journey in some way,” Dunback said. “He was very self-motivated. If anything, I was his ‘hype man.’ I was in his corner reminding him that success is not an accident and that he had trained to be successful. Now, go out and make that happen.”

Looking back to his experience in high school, Acree’s pride in the school resonates in his memory of it, which continues even after his departure.

“We were proud of Mill Valley; we were proud of where we came from,” Acree said. “I think that’s even perpetuating now because, I still read the [Shawnee] Dispatch every now and then, and Mill Valley is a kind of a big deal now, which is what we wanted to make it. I think all the kids in this era are finally making it something. It’s really cool to pick up a paper and see Mill Valley in the headlines.”

At first, Acree’s dream was out of his reach, until later into college, when continuing football as a career became a new focus he desired to pursue.

“Initially, I just wanted to play college football; I knew that was my goal,” Acree said. “Then, in my junior year of college, I started to figure things out and the game started to come a lot easier.”

Recalling his football skills prior to entering college, Acree said he was “very average” in high school.

“I was not any more spectacular. I think what got me by was that I was just a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger than everyone else,” Acree said. “Honestly, I’m very fortunate that I’m at where I’m at.”

Despite Acree’s personal views of his high school performance, Dunback said he believes Acree has the ability to follow this dream.

“Matt will do his best in whatever journey he pursues; he will give it his all,” Dunback said. “I am glad he is pursuing this dream. I am proud of him for the man he was, the man he is and the man he will be.”