Matt Stinchcomb is a former offensive lineman who played at UGA from 1995 to 1998. He was a two time All American and won the 1998 Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s top blocker. He is a college football analyst for the SEC Network and ESPN, covering afternoon games and studio programming. Professionally, he serves as a partner and executive at Sterling Seacrest Partners, a commercial insurance brokerage firm in Atlanta. He is also active in philanthropy as co-founder of the Stinchcomb Family Foundation.
What was your favorite moment ever playing for UGA?
I’m going to say the ‘96 Auburn game at Auburn. We were not supposed to win. I think we went to four overtimes. The first overtime game in SEC history, and we were able to win that ball game … that’s my favorite, partly because my wife was in school at Auburn at the time, and so I would have some level of bragging rights. And back then, we would lose to Auburn at home, and beat Auburn at Auburn. We were kind of trading off, and, you know, that was before we went on this run that we’ve been on for a while now over those guys, so it was a little bit more even back then.
What was it like being teammates with coaches Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo?
If I had to pick a word, I would probably say edgy! Both those guys were competitors and they both weren’t scared to verbalize their competitive nature. Both were really good leaders, always were. Different types of leaders. It’s great that both of those guys are playing such a big part of why Georgia is as good as it is now as a football program, and it’s, I think, in large part, because of those guys.
What’s your take on this year’s UGA football team?
Georgia is plenty good enough to expect to be contending for a championship. I think a lot of other folks believe that too, although none of the voters in the AP, thought that they warranted a No. 1 ranking in the country. That’s the first time that’s happened. No SEC teams getting any votes for No. 1, I think since 2015, which if memory serves, it ended up being a SEC team that won the national championship that year. This offensive line should be much better than it was a year ago, and part of their difficulties, a big part of their difficulties, I think, last year was new guys, but not just new guys, but in-experienced guys. So you had true freshmen up there playing significant snaps and getting starts, and a big piece of that offensive line was a bunch of brand new guys. Good players, really good players. There’ll be even better players this year and I’m speaking specifically about Deon Glover and Juan Gaston. This will be one of the better units in the country. Gunnar Stockton is grossly under appreciated at quarterback, and I think he will be improved. We’ve got the best tight end room in the country. running backs, we’ve got weapons that have returned, obviously. You’ve got one of the best defensive linemen and difference makers in Griffin up front. Should be better on the edge. Got a real good chance, I think, to pressure the quarterback more consistently this year, and you’ve got a really talented back end. It’s hard to find big holes. Georgia’s got the roster and the personnel to fill it in, so I think hope should be really high for the Bulldogs this year.
You manage the Stinchcomb Family Foundation alongside your brother Jon. Tell us about your philanthropic work.
When we were at Georgia, Jon, I think would echo this, we were taught this. I mean, I think a lot of folks are compassionate people, but they don’t necessarily know or see how they could impact others, or the impact that they could have on others. And Georgia has long been very intentional about that. And there’s a member of the 1980 National Championship team, he played defensive line, Robert Miles, who’s been a great mentor to both of us. Just a great, great man! And he taught us how to give back and would literally just pick you up out of that cafeteria that we used to have the dining hall back when they had athletic dorms. And if you didn’t have anything going on, and even sometimes if you said you did, and he didn’t believe you, next thing you know, you’re riding with him, and you’re gonna go to a Habitat for Humanity project, or read to kids, or become a mentor at a grade school somewhere, and so it was modeled for us and shown to us what that looks like.
What advice do you have for your brother and JD as they take on their new roles of being the Voices of Georgia Football?
With Jeff, Jon’s going to have a hard time getting a word in, because Jeff is about as passionate a Bulldog as you’re going to find. Those guys will be great. I think it’s a great combo in the booth. Jon’s very knowledgeable and can explain it in a way that is not only entertaining, but informative, which is what you’re shooting for. And Dantzler, I don’t know anybody that is more passionate about Georgia athletics than Jeff. The biggest thing for Jon is just pick your spots. Who knows? There might not be too many early on. I think Jeff’s been waiting on this for a while, so I think he’s probably wound pretty tight to get going.
