Funk Gets His Kicks for Mavs

If you ask UTA Mavericks Offensive Coordinator David Pullig, Matt Funk is one of the best athletes on the team.  When talking about Funk on Saturday before their game with South Alabama, he talked about Funk’s hands.

Funk warms up before his game with South Alabama

However, it was Funk’s tackling prowess that impressed Pullig during the road game against Concordia College.

Funk is a Sophomore from Killeen High School where he excelled in soccer and football.  Unfortunately for Funk, his football team never made the playoffs, therefore, he wasn’t recruited heavily.  However, he did garner some impressive achievements in both sports.

For the soccer team Funk scored 17 goals, 12 in district.  In spite of the number of goals, Funk didn’t make all-district.  Funk even scored three goals in one game.

For the football team, Funk was named honorable mention All-Conference his Junior and Senior years.  Funk hit a 39 yard field goal in a loss to Connally Austin in 2006.

Funk has kicked well for the Mavericks too.  Last season, when the Mavericks were playing in the Texas United Football League, a semi pro football league, Funk hit 47 and 48 yard field goals.  In the game against New Orleans earlier this year, Funk hit a 30 yard field goal that was tipped.  His punting average has been impressive too.  Funk averages 43 yards per punt, and several of his kickoffs land in or near the end zone.

Matt's long time girlfriend, Jackie Rodriguez

For the Mavericks, Funk is a weapon.  Anytime the Mavericks get inside the 30 yard line, according to Pullig, they feel comfortable with Funk’s range to get the three points.

Jackie Rodriguez has been dating Matt since high school.  She is one of Funk’s biggest supporters.  She describes Matt as a “true maverick,” a “dissenter.”  She explained that Funk has a military lineage through his father and both grandfathers who retired as three-star generals.

“Matt tried ROTC but decided its not his calling,” she told me by email.  She also explained that, “Matt would have also been an 8 year legacy Sigma Chi–all males on his dad’s side were Sigma Chi’s–had he decided to pledge.  He instead chose to pledge Phi Delta Theta.”

Funk and the rest of the Mavericks will take on the University of New Orleans club football team in Arlington at 3 p.m. at Maverick Stadium.  Maverick players are inviting fans to tailgate beginning at 1 p.m.  This weekend is Parents Weekend at the University of Texas at Arlington, and players and coaches are hoping for a big crowd.