Q and A With Greg Lachaud and Matt Mangini

By Sean Wallis
Sports Information Student Assistant
Washington University in St. Louis

How did growing up in arguably the most competitive football state (Florida) in the country help lead you into playing the sport during your childhood and high school?

Greg Lachaud: Unlike most people, I really didn’t start playing football until well into high school. With such a relatively late start and living in an area with such talent and speed it really pushed me to become better. Looking back at my high school team, it’s amazing how many of us are still playing (about a dozen) today, especially considering there are no DIII schools in Florida.

After having a reserve role on the field your first two years at WASHU, last season you had a couple big plays including a 73-yard catch against Wabash and a game-winning reception against Carnegie Mellon. How much more exciting and fun was it to contribute in a significant way on the field last season?

GL: My first two years I was backing up an experienced H-Back in Scottie Guthrie who taught me the small tricks of the trade at the position. Unfortunately, when I felt as though I had a firm grasp of the position my sophomore year, I pulled my hamstring and it kept me out the majority of the season. My junior year though I was able to stay healthy and I was finally playing the way I always knew I could. Last year set me up for this year -- I am excited and expect even more from myself.

Being an H-Back, which do you enjoy more: getting the ball on the ground or in the air?

GL: The other running backs on the team will tell you, I’m a tailback at heart. I love getting the ball on the ground knowing 11 guys on the other side are trying to stop me -- it is almost like a challenge for me to make a play. I’d take turning a seemingly dead play, making people miss and turning it into a big play over catching a long bomb any day.

What are you looking forward to most about this upcoming season? What are your expectations for yourself and the team?

GL: I am pumped for my last year playing the sport I love. My whole career I have fealt as though my talent has been doubted, since I started playing late in high school, and that I haven’t been given a chance to truly shine where I believe I can, that’s why my personal goal is to leave everything out on the field and prove those who didn’t believe in me wrong. As for the team, we have great potential to do things that haven’t been done here at WASHU and not living up to our potential will be a disappointment in my eyes.

Being from Florida, I have to ask: Seminoles, Gators, or Hurricanes?

GL: Gators hands down. Ever since I was in elementary school I’ve been following the Gator football team. A few guys from my high school also play/played for the team, and I was actually considering trying to walk on there had I decided to go to school in Gainesville. I probably own more shirts and hats than my friends that actually go to UF.

You seem to go by G-Reg around campus, how did that nickname come about?

GL: G-Reg stands for Glenn Regum my alter ego. In high school, I was a “closet nerd”, everyone knew me as a football player and funny guy, but not as a scholar. No one really knew I was fairly intelligent kid, so when one of my best friends asked me what my class ranking was junior year they were shocked at how smart but “unnerdy” I was and came to the conclusion that I was two different people, the smooth “G-Reg” at school and then the bifocal and suspensor wearing Gregory at home. The name instantly stuck, and its funny because since then, people have given me hats with “G-Reg” on them as presents and even my coaches and parents even called me G-Reg.

How difficult has it been to balance the Pre-Med curriculum at WASHU with your commitment to the football program? What are your plans after graduation?

GL: It’s been quite a struggle having to go through this rigorous pre-med regiment at WASHU while also dedicating a significant amount of time to being a member of a varsity sport. Time management is crucial to excelling in both areas, and if you don’t take it one step at a time your work can pile up on you quickly. I can attest to several exams I have gone into not nearly as prepared as I should have been but that’s the sacrifice that we make as student-athletes. I’m not certain exactly what I plan to do after graduation. I know I’m taking a year off before medical school, but my options are open. Right now I’m leaning towards laboratory research or clinical shadowing.

How did growing up in arguably the most enthusiastic college football city (Columbus, Ohio) in the country help lead you into playing football during your childhood and high school?

Matt Mangini: Growing up in Columbus played a huge part. My dad took me to all the Ohio State games starting when I was about six years old and that really exposed me to the enthusiasm and passion of college football. From my first game on, whenever I was playing football in the backyard I always told my parents I was going to play in college football someday.

You had some impressive high school statistics and performances, including leading your team to a state runner-up finish your senior year as a captain and quarterback. What was it like competing for a state championship in Ohio in your last year of high school football?

MM: It was an awesome experience. High school football throughout Ohio is such a great tradition, especially at my high school. Getting to be part of that tradition and play in front of 10,000 people with my best friends was priceless even though the outcome wasn’t exactly what we hoped for.

In just your first year at WASHU you were able to immediately contribute on the field, earning a second team all-UAA selection as a punt returner. Even though you jumped on the field as a freshman was it tough making the transition to being a role player from being such a standout in high school?

MM: Not really. My attitude has always been that I’ll do whatever I can to help the team so coming in as a freshman I was happy to contribute in anyway I could. The hard part was transitioning to a punt returner because I never really got to do that as a quarterback in high school.

Your sophomore and junior seasons you really started adding to the team offensively and became a key target as a wide receiver. Was it tough to make the switch to wide receiver?

MM: It wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be. I had pretty good hands from playing receiver in my family’s annual Thanksgiving Day games, which would get pretty intense, and I was an option quarterback so I was used to running with the ball. Also I think knowing the kinds of things that go through a quarterback’s head helps me as a receiver.

Last season it seemed like QB Buck Smith and you had a good connection on the field—will it be difficult making a transition to a new quarterback this season?

MM: It’s always tough getting the little things adjusted when you play with new people but all of our QBs get reps in practice so we’ve caught passes from all of them. We’ve done lots of work both on the field in the spring and preseason and in the film room so I don’t think it will be an issue.

Gotta ask—what do you think is the Buckeye’s fate this season? Get over the hump and win a national championship?

MM: I think they will surprise people and have a great shot at finishing the season undefeated. As far as a national championship goes, they may need help to get into the game because of the Big Ten’s perception if there are other undefeated teams, but [Terrel] Pryor is going to be special so if they get there I think they’ll have a shot.

Your teammates give you a hard time saying you aren’t ‘athletic’ enough to be a wide receiver—clearly the average fan would disagree—but do you agree or disagree?

MM: I disagree. I think most of if comes from me not being the typical wide receiver build, and I joke about it as much as anyone, but what I’ve learned is that speed and size aren’t as important as everyone thinks they are. You get open and make plays doing little things that may go unnoticed.

How difficult has it been to balance the Pre-Med curriculum at WASHU with your commitment to the football program? What are your plans after graduation?

MM: It was difficult at first but I’ve gotten used to it over the years. Next year I’m taking a year off and planning on teaching and coaching high school football and baseball for a year and attending medical school the following year. Hopefully getting into orthopedics so I can stay close to sports the rest of my life.