Getting To Know: Xavier's Matt Stainbrook
March 5, 2015
By SEAN BRENNAN
Special to BIGEAST.com
In our latest installment of "Getting to Know," we go for a ride with the BIG EAST's leading free spirit, Xavier's Matt Stainbrook. The 6-10 Musketeer talks about his budding career as a Cincinnati cab driver, why he chose this unusual side job, why he's convinced he is his parents' favorite son (and not his younger brother Tim, a sophomore forward at Xavier), if he thinks Xavier has already locked up an NCAA tournament invitation and whether or not he will be bringing something called a `Rendezvous' to New York City for the BIG EAST Tournament next week.
BIGEAST.com: So how did this whole Uber cab driver career begin?
STAINBROOK: "After I decided I was going to give my little brother (Tim) my scholarship and I was going to become a walk-on, I thought, `Hey, what's a good way to help pay for some of my expenses? Rent, utilities and all that sort of stuff. I can't get a real job with my basketball schedule. Then I was taking an Uber one night and I thought, `You know, I could do this.' It's really flexible (hours). So I looked into it and found you can work your own hours and there is no commitment to work. So I applied for it and it ended up working out."
BIGEAST.com: So what do tool around in on the streets of Cincinnati in these days?
STAINBROOK: "I have a 2004 Buick Rendezvous."
BIGEAST.com: (By giving up his scholarship to his younger brother, Tim, Matt's parents were able to save almost $30,000. Matt is a graduate student and his tuition is $14,000 while Tim's undergrad tuition at Xavier would have cost $43,000 a year). So what was your parents' reaction when you told them about your scholarship swap idea?
STAINBROOK: "They were very grateful. It was one of those things where it sort of comes full circle and you understand that sometimes things are bigger than basketball. And I think they were very grateful for Tim's opportunity to be on the team and it saved him and my parents college expenses. Overall they were just very happy and grateful for how it worked out."
BIGEAST.com: Did they wait until Tim was out of the room before telling you that you were their favorite son?
STAINBROOK: "(Laughs) No, but they probably should have. But I just assume I'm their favorite son anyway."
BIGEAST.com: Tell me about some of the more interesting rides you've had?
"STAINBROOK: "I've had some awkward rides. One time I picked up a lady and her company had just fired her and she had carpooled to work so she didn't have a ride home. So her company paid for Uber to Uber her home so I had to take her and all her belongings home so that was a little awkward. But I've also had some fun ones where you get some Xavier fans or you get people who love basketball. You meet some cool people. But there are some weird stories. One time I was driving a guy downtown and he owned this label printing company and his company prints all the labels for the Coca-Cola bottles that have those special labels on them. He did all of those labels. It's a pretty obscure thing but I thought that was pretty cool. So you meet a lot of good people."
BIGEAST.com: Do you get recognized a lot by the locals?
STAINBROOK: "I'd say in about one in every two rides someone will say, `Hey do you play basketball for Xavier?' They don't know exactly who I am but I'd say I get recognized one out of every two times."
BIGEAST.com: So you're not driving around in your Xavier jersey hoping to get recognized?
STAINBROOK: "(Laughs) No, no, no. (Or so he says...)
BIGEAST.com: What do passengers say when they see a guy your size - 6-10, 270 pounds - behind the wheel?
STAINBROOK: "It's funny but a lot of times people don't really recognize how tall I am. But then after talking for a while I think people start to notice, `Hey, why are your knees so high up next to the steering wheel?' Then they'll ask me, `How tall are you?' And I'd say 6-10 and they're like, `Oh my gosh, you got to stand up outside the car when we stop because I got to see how tall you are."
BIGEAST.com: Moving on to basketball, how did you make it through Senior Day last week?
STAINBROOK: "It was definitely emotional. It was a big game (Xavier played Villanova last Saturday) and we didn't get the outcome we wanted (a 78-66 loss to the Wildcats) but it was definitely bittersweet. We're getting excited because it's getting closer to the BIG EAST Tournament and I'm excited for what our future holds and what's going to go on next in my life, but it's weird knowing I'm never going to play another game at the Cintas Center and that my career is coming to an end here. So it's weird."
BIGEAST.com: Does it feel like your two seasons at Xavier has flown by?
STAINBROOK: "Oh yeah. I think my sit-out year (as a transfer from Western Michigan) went by pretty fast and then my first year playing (last season) I said, `Wow this year went even faster.' This year feels like the blink of an eye. It feels like the non-conference schedule started a week ago and now here we are almost done with the conference."
BIGEAST.com: How much are you looking forward to what will be your final BIG EAST Tournament?
STAINBROOK: "It's everything. If everything goes well at Creighton on Saturday we can get ready to play some good teams in the BIG EAST Tournament and bolster our resume and vie for a BIG EAST Tournament championship. I'm really excited to be going back to New York City again. I love being in New York and I think our team is going to peak at the right time."
BIGEAST.com: Lots of prognosticators see the BIG EAST sending six teams to the NCAA tournament. Do you guys feel you are in already or do you think you still have some work to do to solidify your chances?
STAINBROOK: "We've talked about it as a team and we feel that we're in. But we also feel we have to take care of Creighton. We will be the sixth seed in the BIG EAST and we'll play the third seed which will be a Top 25 if not a top 15 or 20 RPI team. We think we're in now but we always want to continue to win games and better our position. If we beat Creighton we know we're in so that's our goal right now."
BIGEAST.com: So when you head to New York City for the BIG EAST Tournament, might you be bringing your sweet Buick Rendezvous ride along with you and test your Uber skills against New York traffic?
STAINBROOK: "I would never dare! I mean, driving around downtown Cincinnati is a little iffy but I couldn't even imagine driving in New York City. I wouldn't even trust myself."