Jake Matthews reacts to entering the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame

At last Friday's Burgess Banquet, former Texas A&M offensive lineman Jake Matthews was officially inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame. The current Atlanta Falcon joined TexAgs Radio to reflect on his days in Maroon and the honor of becoming a Hall of Famer.

Key notes from Jake Matthews interview

• Man, I can't start without saying how humbled and honored I felt. I loved my time at A&M. There have been a lot of really, really good players to come out of there. To be considered up there with the best of the best, I don't take it lightly. It was a huge honor, and I couldn't be more proud about it.
   
• There was a bit of "missing out" type of feeling, I guess. I was sitting at my house all alone after Friday practice. My wife, son and parents were there. I watching from afar. They sent a bunch of videos. It was really cool. They did a great job too. My son is pretty good at entertaining people on stage or on camera. He may have a future different than his dad.
   
• In my immediate family, I'm the last one playing ball now. There was a point four of us were playing at the same time. 
   
• My family is all doing really well. I have a ranch back in Texas, and my dad was out there messing around and dropped a trailer basically on his hand and almost took off the tips of two fingers. Not the best news. Needless to say, he is having a good time out there enjoying my stuff. He got it fixed up, and he is all good. Talk about a badass, man. I have always tried to be like my dad. 
   
• Being a dad is incredible. Good Lord willing, we have a few more. At least, that is my plan. 
   
• Right after my dad retired, he joined basketball leagues, old men's tennis leagues and went after it. It's amazing he never had any injuries playing in the NFL. He started messing around in these old-man sports leagues and eventually had to get both knees replaced. He is doing really well. I still call him after games and pick his brain. He was so good at what he did. I feel like I would be a fool not to receive his wisdom. 
   
• My older brother, Kevin, blazed that trail of going to Texas A&M. We have always been a close family. As much as I appreciate the attention, I had offers to go everywhere, and I did take some visits. In middle school and high school, I would always come to College Station to watch Kevin play. I think it was pretty clear pretty early that I wanted to go to A&M. I felt comfortable there. It was a good decision. 
   
• A&M is very nostalgic for me. I have a lot of special memories there. Just getting to play with my little brother, both starting on the same offensive line. You don't see that very often. We were also playing really well. It was a lot of fun, especially that 2012 season. That is some of the most fun I have had playing football. It shaped who I am today. 
   
• I would be lying if I said there wasn't a bit of pressure going into the SEC. We had a new coaching staff and a new quarterback. I remember as one of those guys up front, we took it upon ourselves to say, "Hey, let's prove we belong." That is what was fun. You didn't know what the expectations were, but we went out there and started dominating.
   
• Going to Tuscaloosa and winning that game is one of my top collegiate memories. It was a fun time to play football at Texas A&M.
   
• We were talented. We had quite a few first-round picks on that O-line, and a lot of guys had good NFL careers. It was a great group of guys. We have a little group chat that is usually full of us joking with each other. I love the relationships I built back then and the going we went through together.
   
• I did watch the Johnny Manziel documentary. We had joint practices during training camp out in Miami. One afternoon in the hotel room, I watched the whole thing. It was entertaining. It just reminded me, "Geez I can't believe that is what 11 years ago was." I am a more boring guy. I didn't have the Johnny lifestyle.
   
• Johnny was always super supportive of his O-line. Johnny being there made that year so memorable and fun. 
   
• Now that I don't have a sibling at A&M I don't find myself watching as much, but I still am a huge fan and try to keep up. I expect really big things from them. A&M is a big deal. Winning is something we all expect. They are trending in the right direction. Things didn't go exactly the way we wanted the last two years. I have all the confidence in the world for them. I will be there cheering them on. Sometimes, I wish I could go back and relive some of those glory days. 
   
• Atlanta has grown on me a lot. I am practically the old guy on the team now, in my tenth year with the Falcons. I love the city and organization, especially with what he has going on right now. 2-0 and will keep it rolling. I love what I'm doing.