NATALEIGH BALLANTYNE
Argonauts.ca Staff
TORONTO – In the land of sports, being a great athlete traditionally comes from possessing a great athletic skill set. In football, great accuracy can make you a great quarterback, great speed can make you a great receiver, and great strength can make you a great offensive lineman.
However, Toronto Argonauts Receivers Coach Cos DeMatteo is quite the exception. On Friday, he’ll be inducted into the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Hall of Fame for excellence as a receiver. Yet, he has seemingly achieved greatness without the traditional athletic ability that others possess.
DeMatteo was first introduced to Argonauts’ Head Coach & G.M., Jim Barker, by Calgary Stampeders’ defensive coordinator, Chris Jones. Jones scouted DeMatteo when he was a high school football player, and remembered his limited athletic ability on the basketball court, “We didn’t usually have to guard him [when playing pickup basketball], we’d just let him shoot and he would not quit shooting. He always had to depend on the rebound to put the ball up. We would put our worst defender on him because he had a low shooting percentage, but he was competitive.”
“[Cos] was just a winner. He had enough speed and quickness to allow him to compete, but it was in his head and his heart that allowed him to be a good player.”
– Calgary Stampeders defensive coordinator Chris Jones who scouted DeMatteo when he was a high school football player.
That competitiveness was what drove Cos DeMatteo’s career, which has now made him a member of his alma mater’s Hall of Fame Class of 2010, and not his athletic ability.
According to their website, the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame was established to formally recognize outstanding contributions to the heritage and tradition of the university’s intercollegiate athletic program. It has honoured other football alumni, and great athletes, such as Terrell Owens, with whom DeMatteo shares the receiving spot with on the school’s all-time depth chart.
DeMatteo was overwhelmed with the news, “It’s an honour. So many great players have been inducted before me, and to be mentioned among them is a true honour.”
The friendly Tennessean arrived at UTC as a quarterback out of high school. He even played seven games at the position as a freshman in 1998. In 1999, he was moved to receiver, making way for strong-armed Texan QB Chris Sanders, which led Cos to an outstanding football career and one of the greatest quarterback-receiver combinations in the history of the program. DeMatteo didn’t worry about the change as attending UTC was important to him personally. The school’s proximity to his hometown in Winchester, TN allowed him to be close to his family and have their support. Plus, it allowed them to watch his Hall of Fame career unfold.
Paired with Sanders, the two played major roles during what was known as the “Air Raid” era of Chattanooga football. They teamed up to post big numbers at Finely Stadium and away from home. Included, was a memorable game where DeMatteo tied an NCAA record with six touchdown receptions.
DeMatteo holds the record along with pro football legend Jerry Rice. Ironically, the game in which he tied the record was against Rice’s alma mater, Mississippi Valley State.
“Even being mentioned in the same sentence as Jerry Rice is an honour,” said DeMatteo. “It was pretty neat to [tie the record] against his team.”
DeMatteo holds the NCAA record for touchdowns in a single game with six. He shares the record with pro football legend Jerry Rice. Ironically, the game in which he tied the record was against Rice’s alma mater, Mississippi Valley State.
DeMatteo was a two-time honourable mention All-American, and ranks in the top five for career receiving yards, receptions and touchdown catches in school history. His career receiving record of 166 catches has tested the hands of time as it is still ranks second in the UTC record book. He still holds the single season record with 11 touchdown receptions in both 1999 and 2000. In both years, he was named the team’s offensive MVP.
DeMatteo credits his success to hard work and dedication, “Every team I played on, I was the least physically gifted guy on the team. But every day I came and I worked hard; I dedicated myself, and good things eventually came along too.”
That same mentality has carried into his success as the Boatmen’s receivers coach. After a casual first meeting, Jim Barker hired DeMatteo just before the 2010 season, knowing he’d be a fit, “Cos has unbridled enthusiasm for football and it makes everyone around him better. His enthusiasm is contagious among the coaching staff and the players, and it brings another element to our team.”
Chris Jones credits DeMatteo’s approach to the game for his success, “[Cos] was just a winner. He had enough speed and quickness to allow him to compete, but it was in his head and his heart that allowed him to be a good player.”
Prior to joining the Argonauts, DeMatteo was the facility coordinator for Peyton Manning’s D1 Training Facility, and advises future athletes, “show up every day and work your hardest. If you do those things, you’re typically going to come out ahead.”
As for coach DeMatteo, he’s come out ahead and on top. His hard work, competitiveness, and dedication have brought him a long way. As it turns out, athletic ability alone won’t always pave the way to greatness but heart, a competitive spirit and hard work might.
Congratulations coach DeMatteo!