Chiefs Gretz:Getting to Know Matt Cassel

**Tribal Warfare** · 03-01-2009, 01:03 AM

Getting to Know Matt Cassel
February 28, 2009 - Bob Gretz |

Matthew Brennan Cassel

Born: May 17, 1982 in Northridge, California

Family: Father Greg was a Hollywood scriptwriter who passed away last November. Mother Barbara is a Hollywood set decorator and won an Emmy in 2007 for set decoration for a TV special involving singer Tony Bennett. His parents divorced when he was 14. He has two brothers and a sister. Older brother Jack is a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, after playing last year for the Houston Astros. Younger brother Justin is a pitcher in the Chicago White Sox farm system, for the Birmingham (AL) Barons, at the Double-A level. Younger sister Amanda is finishing her senior year at Long Beach State.

His paternal great-grandfather was R.G. Cassel, who was a Texas Ranger and his paternal grandfather was Joe B. Cassel, who won the Distinguished Flying Cross as a B-17 bomber pilot in World War II. He later went on to breed horses and earned a spot in the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Cassell is married to the former Lauren Killian, who was captain of the Southern Cal women’s volleyball team that won a national championship in 2002. She’s pictured below meeting with President George Bush in the White House with the rest of her team. Matt and Lauren were married in February 2007.

Grew up: In Northridge, where the family home was devastated in the January 17, 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Some 72 people died in the quake that left devastation estimated at more than $25 billion. The three Cassel brothers had to lift a fallen marble column off their father, who was pinned underneath. The family had a small four-acre ranch and had horses, which the boys took care of by getting up early each morning to feed and groom them.

As a youngster, he was the first baseman on the Northridge Little League team that reached the Little League World Series final, before losing to Venezuela. The team earned the name “Earthquake Kids.”

High School: At Chatsworth High School, he played baseball and football. He led the Chancellors to the city baseball championship game that was played in Dodger Stadium, and he quarterbacked the team to a divisional game in the playoffs at the Los Angeles Coliseum. He was a good enough student that he was heavily recruited by Ivy League schools to play football.

College: At Southern Cal, Cassel spent his first football season (2000) as a red shirt quarterback. The next season, he appeared in seven games as a wide receiver and special teams player. He played quarterback briefly in one game. In the 2002 season for the Trojans, he was the primary backup to Carson Palmer, appearing in 10 games of mop up duty. He completed three of four passes for 27 yards. The next year, he was in competition or the starting quarterback job with Matt Leinart. On the final day of spring practice in ‘03, USC coach Pete Carroll named Leinart the starter. That season, Cassel appeared in eight games, completing six of 13 passes for 63 yards. As a senior in the 2004 season, he played in nine games, completing 10 of 15 for 97 yards. His highlight came on special teams, where he recovered an onside kick to seal a 29-24 victory over arch-rival UCLA.

USC Pro Day/Spring 2005: The moment when Cassel’s life changed. After posting college numbers of 20 of 33 for 192 yards, Cassel was not on NFL radar screens as teams got ready for the ‘05 Draft. But he impressed everyone with his performance in the Pro Day and a few weeks later, the Patriots selected him in the seventh round with pick No. 230.

Patriots: In his first three seasons, Cassel appeared in 14 regular season games and four post-season games. Going into the 2008 season, he was 22 of 39 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He did not throw a pass in his short playing time in the playoffs. He was the No. 3 quarterback in ‘05 behind Brady and Doug Flutie. In ‘06 he was No. 2, but the Patriots did sign Vinny Testaverde to serve as an emergency QB. In ‘07 Cassel was the backup.

Then came Bernard Pollard hitting Tom Brady’s knee and his life was changed completely.

The most difficult game for him came on November 14 against the Raiders in Oakland. Starting just a few days after his father’s very unexpected death at the age of 57, Cassel hit 18 of 30 for 218 yards and four touchdowns in the Patriots victory.

Other stuff: During his first two years at USC, he shared living quarters with Palmer and current Steelers safety Troy Polamalu … He played one season of baseball at Southern Cal (2004) and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the June 2004 free agent draft … coming out of high school, one national recruiting service had him rated as the eighth best prep quarterback and 53rd best player available.

**Tribal Warfare** · 03-01-2009, 01:03 AM

This kid is hollywood

Mecca · 03-01-2009, 01:05 AM

Well wheres the picture I wanted to see if his wife was hot.

Deberg_1990 · 03-01-2009, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Well wheres the picture I wanted to see if his wife was hot.

You just dont like him because hes not Mexican.

Mecca · 03-01-2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

You just dont like him because hes not Mexican.

LOL, well I do like tacos.

**Tribal Warfare** · 03-01-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Well wheres the picture I wanted to see if his wife was hot.

Mecca · 03-01-2009, 01:11 AM

His wife is like 6'2 freaky.

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-01-2009, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

This kid is hollywood

Not that I'm aware of

Mecca · 03-01-2009, 01:23 AM

I wonder if someone will not like him because "hes from USC and is Hollywood" you know the inferiority complex tends to come up at some point or another.

**Tribal Warfare** · 03-01-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Not that I'm aware of

touche

milkman · 03-01-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

His wife is like 6'2 freaky.

Hell, her face looks like 6'2" freaky.

**SAUTO** · 03-01-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

Hell, her face looks like 6'2" freaky.

Mecca · 03-01-2009, 01:28 AM

Does his wife have a receding hairline?

Saccopoo · 03-01-2009, 01:42 AM

Personally, I find his wife quite attractive based on my own set of ideals that I set forth for myself in a visual social setting, but then, I'd be hesitant to say so based on the fact that he's 26, 6'3", 230 lbs., in really good shape, and most of his buddies are even bigger, are prone to physical violence and want to make sure that their quarterback is kept happy in life. So, in retrospect, I would be somewhat hesitant to make any type of comment about Mr. Cassell's spouse in any term, be it generalized or specific.

Hammock Parties · 03-01-2009, 01:43 AM

Matt likes candlelight dinners, long walks on the beach, and anal sex.

03-01-2009, 01:03 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	Gretz:Getting to Know Matt Cassel Getting to Know Matt Cassel February 28, 2009 - Bob Gretz \| Matthew Brennan Cassel Born: May 17, 1982 in Northridge, California Family: Father Greg was a Hollywood scriptwriter who passed away last November. Mother Barbara is a Hollywood set decorator and won an Emmy in 2007 for set decoration for a TV special involving singer Tony Bennett. His parents divorced when he was 14. He has two brothers and a sister. Older brother Jack is a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, after playing last year for the Houston Astros. Younger brother Justin is a pitcher in the Chicago White Sox farm system, for the Birmingham (AL) Barons, at the Double-A level. Younger sister Amanda is finishing her senior year at Long Beach State. His paternal great-grandfather was R.G. Cassel, who was a Texas Ranger and his paternal grandfather was Joe B. Cassel, who won the Distinguished Flying Cross as a B-17 bomber pilot in World War II. He later went on to breed horses and earned a spot in the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Cassell is married to the former Lauren Killian, who was captain of the Southern Cal women’s volleyball team that won a national championship in 2002. She’s pictured below meeting with President George Bush in the White House with the rest of her team. Matt and Lauren were married in February 2007. Grew up: In Northridge, where the family home was devastated in the January 17, 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Some 72 people died in the quake that left devastation estimated at more than $25 billion. The three Cassel brothers had to lift a fallen marble column off their father, who was pinned underneath. The family had a small four-acre ranch and had horses, which the boys took care of by getting up early each morning to feed and groom them. As a youngster, he was the first baseman on the Northridge Little League team that reached the Little League World Series final, before losing to Venezuela. The team earned the name “Earthquake Kids.” High School: At Chatsworth High School, he played baseball and football. He led the Chancellors to the city baseball championship game that was played in Dodger Stadium, and he quarterbacked the team to a divisional game in the playoffs at the Los Angeles Coliseum. He was a good enough student that he was heavily recruited by Ivy League schools to play football. College: At Southern Cal, Cassel spent his first football season (2000) as a red shirt quarterback. The next season, he appeared in seven games as a wide receiver and special teams player. He played quarterback briefly in one game. In the 2002 season for the Trojans, he was the primary backup to Carson Palmer, appearing in 10 games of mop up duty. He completed three of four passes for 27 yards. The next year, he was in competition or the starting quarterback job with Matt Leinart. On the final day of spring practice in ‘03, USC coach Pete Carroll named Leinart the starter. That season, Cassel appeared in eight games, completing six of 13 passes for 63 yards. As a senior in the 2004 season, he played in nine games, completing 10 of 15 for 97 yards. His highlight came on special teams, where he recovered an onside kick to seal a 29-24 victory over arch-rival UCLA. USC Pro Day/Spring 2005: The moment when Cassel’s life changed. After posting college numbers of 20 of 33 for 192 yards, Cassel was not on NFL radar screens as teams got ready for the ‘05 Draft. But he impressed everyone with his performance in the Pro Day and a few weeks later, the Patriots selected him in the seventh round with pick No. 230. Patriots: In his first three seasons, Cassel appeared in 14 regular season games and four post-season games. Going into the 2008 season, he was 22 of 39 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He did not throw a pass in his short playing time in the playoffs. He was the No. 3 quarterback in ‘05 behind Brady and Doug Flutie. In ‘06 he was No. 2, but the Patriots did sign Vinny Testaverde to serve as an emergency QB. In ‘07 Cassel was the backup. Then came Bernard Pollard hitting Tom Brady’s knee and his life was changed completely. The most difficult game for him came on November 14 against the Raiders in Oakland. Starting just a few days after his father’s very unexpected death at the age of 57, Cassel hit 18 of 30 for 218 yards and four touchdowns in the Patriots victory. Other stuff: During his first two years at USC, he shared living quarters with Palmer and current Steelers safety Troy Polamalu … He played one season of baseball at Southern Cal (2004) and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the June 2004 free agent draft … coming out of high school, one national recruiting service had him rated as the eighth best prep quarterback and 53rd best player available.
Posts: 42,032

03-01-2009, 01:03 AM	#2
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	This kid is hollywood __________________
Posts: 42,032

03-01-2009, 01:05 AM	#3
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	Well wheres the picture I wanted to see if his wife was hot.
Posts: 110,768

03-01-2009, 01:11 AM	#7
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	His wife is like 6'2 freaky.
Posts: 110,768

03-01-2009, 01:23 AM	#9
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	I wonder if someone will not like him because "hes from USC and is Hollywood" you know the inferiority complex tends to come up at some point or another.
Posts: 110,768

03-01-2009, 01:28 AM	#13
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	Does his wife have a receding hairline?
Posts: 110,768

03-01-2009, 01:42 AM	#14
Saccopoo Kindness in words... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zion Casino cash: $10025483	Personally, I find his wife quite attractive based on my own set of ideals that I set forth for myself in a visual social setting, but then, I'd be hesitant to say so based on the fact that he's 26, 6'3", 230 lbs., in really good shape, and most of his buddies are even bigger, are prone to physical violence and want to make sure that their quarterback is kept happy in life. So, in retrospect, I would be somewhat hesitant to make any type of comment about Mr. Cassell's spouse in any term, be it generalized or specific.
Posts: 15,450

03-01-2009, 01:43 AM	#15
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4750478	Matt likes candlelight dinners, long walks on the beach, and anal sex. __________________ Chiefs game films
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