Matukewicz packs the house at first community-wide prayer breakfast

Every chair was filled this morning for Cape Girardeau's first community-wide Men's Prayer Breakfast, as Southeast Missouri State University head football coach Tom Matukewicz spoke about living well and growing closer to God.

After breakfast was served at Ray's Plaza Banquet Center, the Rev. Ron Watts, senior pastor at La Croix Methodist Church, and the Rev. Mark Anderson, senior pastor at Lynwood Baptist Church, led the opening prayer before Matukewicz began his speech before more than 400 people.

"Coaches can't stand still for five minutes, let alone 20," Matukewicz said as he loosened the microphone from its stand and began pacing the stage, talking about his background and ideals while cracking a few jokes, too.

Matukewicz has been married to his wife, Lenna, for 16 "seasons" and now has two children, ages 7 and 2. The couple decided to wait to have a family, but now, at age 41 and still changing diapers, the coach quipped that he doesn't know what he was thinking.

With that, he quickly segued into more serious matters. He said the four cornerstones of his brick-by-brick approach to life and work are attitude, effort, discipline and passion.

Coach Tuke, as he is called by fans and friends, recalled his first day meeting his players after winter break 2014. He said it was one of the hardest days in his professional career, having to make several staffing changes and letting the players know how he intended to run things.

"I don't judge a player by how hard they work on the field," Matukewicz said, but by their aptitude. "Our team has the highest GPA, 2.91, that we've had in 110 years."

This goes into the effort part of Matukewicz's daily life plan. Third, he discussed discipline.

"Everything you do is a statement of who you are," he said.

Matukewicz said he expects his players to be held to a higher standard, to make an effort in the community and to be positive role models for others. The coach also mentioned the growth his players achieve from being held to that higher standard.

He paused and addressed the audience directly, saying that because of the large attendance, the men before him clearly were dedicated to growing and becoming better in 2015. "You wouldn't have come out here in minus-10 degree weather if you didn't," he said.

Matukewicz shared a favorite quote of his by well-known motivational speaker Charlie "Tremendous" Jones: "You're the same today as you'll be in five years, except for the people you meet and the books you read."

The coach attributed his knowledge of this quote to Dave Ramsey, a New York Times best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio host who speaks about money management and business and whom Matukewicz unabashedly announced as his "man crush."

Matukewicz challenged his audience to continue growing and becoming "difference makers" for others. His last cornerstone about passion took on a more serious tone, and it was one that resonated the most with audience member Dennis Kimble, who attends the same parish as Matukewicz.

"The fact that I have a bunch of difference makers in my life really touched me, how we all need to stand up and make a difference in someone else's life besides our own," Kimble said.

Matukewicz encouraged everyone to continue the tradition of coming together in faith and said he hopes to see the prayer breakfast become an annual event.

The Rev. David Hulshof of St. Vincent de Paul Parish led the closing prayer and encouraged all who attended to go out and share Matukewicsz' message within their respective ministries.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644