Football: Clay Matthews is building fan base

At Agoura High, they love watching Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, the NFL leader in sacks with 8.5 in his second year in the league.

Matthews is a 2004 Agoura graduate who showed up as a freshman standing 5 feet 7 and weighing 130 pounds.

Now he's 6-3, 255 pounds.

"He's amazing to watch," Agoura Coach Charlie Wegher said. "I think the kids enjoy watching him."

And Matthews has become known for his long blond hair that sticks out of his helmet and rests on his shoulders.

Asked if he'd let his own players have hair that long, Wegher said, "If they'll play like that, I'm OK with it."

So now Agoura players know what it will take to get their coach to approve a change in hair styles. Play like Clay Matthews.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Photo: Clay Matthews. Credit: Rafael Suanes / US Presswire