Tom Matukewicz still has the game ball in his office.
In a coaching career that’s spanned nearly three decades, an October Saturday night in the Glass Bowl in 2012 stands out.
The 18th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats came to town, and No. 18 in the black jersey was a problem.
“He was one of the main things you had to stop, but you had no idea that he was that good, that he would go on to do the things he’s done in his career,” said Matukewicz, who served as defensive coordinator at Toledo in 2012 and 2013. “But he certainly was one of the key things you tried to slow down.”
“He” would be future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, who caught 45 passes for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012. On Sunday, the Kansas City tight end will appear in his fourth Super Bowl. In attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will be Kelce’s girlfriend — perhaps the most recognizable person in the world — singer-songwriter virtuoso Taylor Swift.
But back in 2012, Kelce, while talented, was an unheralded and sometimes troubled player. He was suspended for the 2010 season after testing positive for marijuana. Upon his return, Kelce flashed the superstar potential that’s become the norm. The College Football Performance Awards named him the tight end of the year in 2012.