Catching up with Jones not so difficult
BY ROB KEYS -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Matt Jones is the quarterback who became an overnight sensation with Arkansas' 58-56, 7OT victory at Ole Miss last fall. He also played basketball for the Hogs and, well, you probably know the rest.

What you don't know is that we caught up with Jones recently and played our version of 20 Questions.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Do you ever pop in the Ole Miss tape and watch it just for kicks?

Matt Jones I probably watched it twice, but I don't think too much about it.

ADG Is it true that girls sent you stuff in the mail after that game?

MJ I really didn't get anything from girls. Little kids sent a lot of stuff, wanting autographs.

ADG What was the most interesting item you received?

MJ I shouldn't say because I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but there was some weird stuff.

ADG Do you think Razorbacks athletes are under too big and bright of a spotlight?

MJ One reason is because people in Arkansas don't have the Dallas Cowboys or a professional team. The Razorbacks are it, and it's tough being an 18- or 19-year-old and having a lot of pressure put on you. A lot of things are expected, but when you're young, you're going to make mistakes. It's just real tough.

ADG Did you consider Blake Eddins a mentor when you joined the basketball team?

MJ I don't know if I'd consider him a mentor, but he did help me out a lot as far as feeling comfortable, feeling like I was accepted.

ADG Do you have a favorite sports movie?

MJ Probably The Mighty Ducks. When those were taking place, I was about that age, so those are the ones I enjoyed the most.

ADG What's the last CD you bought?

MJ Jack Johnson. I didn't take it out of my car for about three weeks.

ADG Boise State, South Florida, Troy State, Louisiana-Monroe. Any of those excite you?

MJ Boise State will because it's the first game of the year, and South Florida will because they're a lot like Central Florida. They're real fast, and they're going to be able to score. All four of those are must-win games for us if we want to go to the BCS.

ADG Who hit you the hardest last year?

MJ It was two people for LSU, and Trev Faulk may have been one of them. I was pretty dizzy for a little bit.

ADG If you could have lunch with any professional athlete, who would it be?

MJ Tracy McGrady.

ADG Do your teammates have a nickname for you?

MJ I've been called a lot of things ... Sunshine, Stork, Stretch.

ADG Which guy on the team has the hardest time getting a date?

MJ I'd say Clark Moore, because he's too shy and he sweats too much.

ADG Who's the best quarterback in the SEC?

MJ (Rex) Grossman from Florida ... but Eli Manning would probably do the same thing if he was there, and so would David Greene and Casey Clausen.

ADG Do you think major-league baseball players should be tested for steroids?

MJ I would say so because it hurts the purity of the sport and it hurts the person in the long run ... and that's any sport. And if you get caught, I think you should be out for the rest of the season or two seasons.

ADG Is there a sport you're no good at?

MJ I've been trying to play golf ... but that's probably my worst.

ADG What's a typical summer day for Matt Jones?

MJ The first six weeks it was get up about 8:15, go to work at 9, get off work at 12, run home and change, go work out at 12:30. I'd get done by 3, go home and relax, then go work out at 5 or 6. I had pretty long days. And I had a class on Wednesdays.

ADG Will Arkansas fans see a different Matt Jones this fall than the one they saw last fall?

MJ I've been working on my throwing a lot, and hopefully I'll get to throw a little more.

ADG Who is the funniest player on the team?

MJ Basketball, it's Blake, but football, no one really sticks out.

ADG If you could pick one sport to play for a living, what would it be?

MJ Golf would be awesome if you're good at it. All you do is walk around and swing a club. It's not very hard on your body, either. You can play until you're 80.

ADG Even though you're only a sophomore, a lot of people have said if you have a future in the NFL, it's as a wide receiver. What would you say to those people?

MJ I don't want to be rude or anything ... but I don't have anything to prove to those people. I'm just going to go out there and play my best and try to make it as a quarterback. If I can't, and they're right, and I can make it as a receiver, then I'll go. But it's real fun being the quarterback ... you feel so much more a part of the game, and that's what I like. I like having that on my shoulders.

ADG Very good. Thanks for playing.