Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and NFL legend Roger Staubach once said, “Confidence doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s a result of something… hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication.”

This rings true for one Missouri Western linebacker.

Senior football player John Matthew Fisher is playing in his fourth and final season for Western.

Head Coach Jerry Partridge said Fisher has grown a lot over the years, especially in the confidence department.

“He’s grown so much as a person,” Partridge said. “He’s more confident, believe it or not. When you’re a good looking guy like that, and you’re big and strong, and you’re a good player, a lot of people wouldn’t think confidence would be an issue. But when it comes to some times, when adults are getting on him, men adults especially, sometimes he would not handle it as well as he should or at least he would lose his confidence instead of understanding it was constructive. He’s become such a good player. He’s very smart and he’s just one of the better linebackers in our league.”

Fisher said that through football his boost in confidence helps him not only on the field but off the field as well.

“I think I have grown a lot in the last four years,” Fisher said. “I think through friends and experience the most though. Through football I’ve become ore confident and more self assured, and in my personal life I just have grown closer to friends and family that I think I took for granted when I was younger.”

Even though Fisher said his confidence has grown he said he still gets pre-game jitters.

“I don’t think I’ll ever not have them [jitters] but I listen to country music to calm me to a degree and just try to go through plays and defenses in my head to take my mind off the nerves,” Fisher said. “But I think the jitters keep me grounded and help me to never over look someone or something. The more nervous I am, the more I prepare and concentrate for the game.”

Fisher’s football career started in high school where he was a linebacker at Central High School in St. Joseph.

Fisher was an all-conference selection. Fisher was also named all-city two times and all-area in his senior season.

“At first what drove me was that all my friends were doing it and I loved sports,” Fisher said. “After I got into it I loved the contact of the sport and found I had a knack for it. Then after being involved in it, it was clear that the friendships and memories you make while putting your body through such an extreme sport can’t be done doing anything else.”

In Fisher’s spare time, it would be likely to find him dressed in camouflage gear, with a rifle, in the good old outdoors.

“I love to hunt,” Fisher said. “I mean whatever is open I’m probably hunting it with my dad and uncle. It’s something I could do year round and every day without any complaints.”

Fisher will be completing his degree in Criminal Justice but said he would like gain experience in the field of coaching at Western.

“Where I see myself is still up in the air,” Fisher said.

Partridge feels the same way Fisher does about what’s in store for his life after football and college.

“I think Fish is pretty realistic and I’m not sure exactly what he wants to become,” Partridge said. “I know that he loves to hunt and fish and I can see him becoming a professional in that area to be honest with you.”

Tony Matzke, former teammate and one of Fisher’s good friends off the field, is now coaching him on the field.

“Fisher is looking good on the field,” Matzke said. “He is the most experienced linebacker being a three year veteran. We joke around a lot but when it gets down to being serious he listens to the advice I give him.”

Matzke said that Fisher was a great teammate and it was fun being able to play next to him. Both Matzke and Partridge said that Fisher has become a great leader over the years.

Fisher’s words of wisdom for future Western football players: “Advice is simple, enjoy the ride and always be ready because you never know when it will be your chance to put on a black helmet.”

Fisher said once the season ends, the memories and friends will still continue on.

“I will take away a lot of friends and memories more than just football,” Fisher said. I’ll remember the pranks, like Anbesol in the mouth piece, the jokes and the down time we all shared while being teammates the most. The wins are great but those will fade, but hopefully the friendships won’t.”

Fisher hopes the team has a great season.

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Dorothy Charles is also a writer for GoGriffons.com.