34-Year-Old Marine Veteran Joins College Football Team: ‘Dreamed About This’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Matt Ganyard, a 34-year-old Marine Corps veteran, pursued his dream and landed a spot on the University of Virginia Football team as a walk-on kicker.
“Sixteen years later, the dream lives on…I’m truly humbled to announce that at 34 years young, I’m officially a member of the @uvafootball team. I’ve dreamed about this day — countless ups and downs and apparent dead-ends. But now, a chance to take the next step,” Ganyard shared on Instagram.
Ganyard continued, “Thank you to Coaches Elliott, Gaither, Meyer, and Speros, and the entire staff who helped make this dream a reality. It’s an honor to join this team and be a part of this group of men. To my wife, my family, my kicking coaches, and everyone who has supported me along this crazy journey, thank you. Truly. To Savannah and Noah, you two are my world and I hope this story will someday encourage you to chase your own wildest dreams. Now, it’s time to get to work because the job is just getting started. Forever a Hoo.”
For the last ten years, Ganyard prepared for this moment as he served as a Marine around the world. He practiced by using YouTube to keep his skills strong in countries like Jordan.
CBN’s Faithwire reported, “After playing soccer in high school, Ganyard tried out for the Virginia football team in 2009, but he didn’t make the cut. Nevertheless, every student has five years of eligibility once they step on campus, which, for Ganyard, began in 2008.”
The outlet continued, “Thanks to an NCAA rule, his clock paused in 2011, when he enrolled in active duty in the Marine Corps. He then applied for a waiver, but the NCAA denied it. With the help of UVA, Ganyard appealed the decision — and it worked.”
In the locker room, Ganyard is just another one of the guys who is learning on and off the field.
“I don’t know enough about football,” he told USA Today. “I’m still learning and putting on the pads was one thing. I look over to Vadin [Bruot] next to me and say, ‘OK, so this goes on first?’ I felt like the scene from ‘Little Giants’ where he holds up the cup: ‘Does this go here?’”
He added, “I think they’ve realized in the past three weeks that I’m just another guy with a little more life experience, but at the end of the day, I’m just another guy here to help the team succeed on the field.”
While he’s used to the pressures of flying helicopters, Ganyard says kicking a 45-yard field goal to win the game is slightly different.
“I’ve had many questions like, ‘Oh, you should be fine handling the pressures of kicking, you flew helicopters,’” Ganyard expressed. “I understand the comparison, but it’s also very much apples and oranges. I think there are certain tools and techniques you can use and translate well, like the compartmentalization and understanding that I’ve got to focus on what I’m doing, block out all the noise, whether it’s radio chatter, or fan noise.”
A video shared on X showed Ganyard launching kickoffs at practice.
The source wrote, “Matt Ganyard, #UVA’s 34-year-old walk-on kicker who served in the Marines after graduating Virginia in 2011, was mashing deep kickoffs today at practice.”
Matt Ganyard, #UVA’s 34-year-old walk-on kicker who served in the Marines after graduating Virginia in 2011, was mashing deep kickoffs today at practice. pic.twitter.com/NGJiTAoObl
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) August 17, 2023
