Connor Galvin: Improving technique, Decision to stay, Eric Mateos coaching

Senior offensive lineman Connor Galvin answers questions submitted by Athlete+ members.

Athlete+: What are your thoughts on the importance of culture when it comes to performance on the field?

Connor Galvin: Culture is important because, if you have a strong culture and the team is bought in, when times get tough the team is able to perform how they need to.

Athlete+: I am deeply thankful that you chose to come back another year at Baylor, but given that you won the B12 offensive lineman of the year and we won the Big 12 itself, I would have thought last year would have been a prime time for you to head to the NFL. What made your mind up to stay? What are you hoping to accomplish on the field this year that you didn't last year?

CG: There was a lot that went into but after talking to my coaches and my family we thought that it was in my best interest to stay and put another really good year of play on tape.

Athlete+: We onlookers tend to envision the OL as one big happy family, but I'm sure that is an oversimplification. Are there subgroups of the OL that tend to run in packs? If so, what pack are you in?

CG: We are one big happy family and there are no subgroups in the OL. We spend the most time together, so we are one big happy unit.

Athlete+: Will you get your graduate degree before leaving Baylor? If so, what is it in?

CG: I am graduating in a few weeks with my undergrad in HKLS and then have to make a decision on what I am going to do academically next.

Athlete+: Without disparaging his predecessors, what makes Eric Mateos special?

CG: Coach Mateos is a really good coach because he really knows what he is talking about and always has an open mind to coaching. He always does his best to teach what we learn in multiple different ways so everyone understands what he is teaching and he individually can tweak things here and there so we can each individually perform at our best.

Athlete+: Also, can BU be the best OL in the Big 12 this year with the continuity and maturity of this group?

CG: Yes, we have a lot of experience returning this season which is helping us as a unit grow our knowledge of this system. But its also help the younger guys on the OL develop and learn

Athlete+: Will blocking for Tay & Squirrel be different than Abram & Ebner? Or is it more “same scheme, same job”?

CG: Ultimately it is our job as an OL to make holes for the backs to run through and give them as many opportunities as we can to run the ball. 

Athlete+: What will be your biggest takeaway from the experience of playing for Baylor, Aranda, and winning a Big 12 Championship?

CG: A really big takeaway I have gotten from this past season is how you handle the little details in everything that you do will all turn into big things in the moments you need them most.

Athlete+: Favorite place on Baylor campus to hang out? 

CG: The sub because it has all the food.

Athlete+: Best cut of meat to grill, smoke, and eat?

CG: I have not gotten into smoking meat yet I still have to work on the grilling but I really enjoy grilling up some ribeye steaks. As always, I have to shout out Blake Blackmar for always helping me when I need it.

Athlete+: Every player has strengths and weaknesses. What have been your weak areas and how have you worked to overcome them?

CG: This past season I struggled on the front side of our widezone scheme and in pass pro landing my hands where they need to be and knowing what technique I need to use when. So, I really focused on those things during spring ball.

Athlete+: What other "person over player" moments can you tell us about when it comes to this team staff?

CG: This team and staff is a very “person over player” team and that showed how we played on the field but I believe that it really showed how we conducted ourselves off the field.

Athlete+: What advice would you give to a high school sophomore who would like to play college football as a lineman?

CG: My biggest advice would be to really focus in on the little details that do not require talent such as your effort, how you execute your technique your coach teaches you, and how well you know your plays and offense. The strength and speed with come with time and work in the offseason and weight room.

Athlete+: Is there an OL player at the next level that you enjoy watching and learning from?

CG: I really enjoy watching Taylor Lewan and Trent Williams, I love how they play the game of football and I watch a lot of their film to learn as much as I can.

Athlete+: Better unit on our team this year: OL or DL?

CG: One side is not better than the other. As a front we are putting in as much work as we can to play the best football so we can put our team in a position to be successful.

Athlete+: Least favorite defensive player on our team to go up against?

CG: I enjoy going up against our defense because we have so many guys that bring a lot of different things to the table, and going up against those guys every day makes the entire team better as a whole.