Matthew Cook solidifies a future spot in UNI Hall of Fame as football program’s all-time leading scorer

CEDAR FALLS — It likely would have happened anyway, but Northern Iowa All-America kicker Matthew Cook cemented his future in the UNI Hall of Fame two weeks ago.

Cook punched his ticket by passing former All-America running back David Johnson as the program’s all-time leader in points scored with his third PAT in the Panthers’ 50-6 win against Western Illinois.

“Matt has come in the door and been consistent the whole time he’s been here. He works that hard at it everyday,” UNI football coach Mark Farley said. “He’s a captain for a reason. It’s hard to be a captain as a kicker — and that’s because he’s in the weightroom with the guys all summer long just as much as he’s on the field with his specialists group.”

Farley wasn’t the only one eager to offer praise for Cook. Senior defensive tackle Khristian Boyd has witnessed nearly all of the time and effort the Cedar Falls native has invested.

“Matt is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen since I’ve been here,” Boyd said. “He’s always been a leader. I’ve seen the time and effort that he puts into his craft, and in the weightroom, and everything that he does.

“It’s really not surprising, because he don’t miss. It’s a great accomplishment.”

For Cook, the time since passing Johnson – someone he grew up watching – has been surreal.

“I’m not really sure how the Hall of Fame stuff works, but some of my roommates have been telling me,” Cook said. “It’d be just another dream come true (to) come back to my hometown and be able to show my kids someday, ‘this is what I did in college.’ That’d be a crazy feeling. But, right now, we’re just focused on Saturday.”

With his collegiate career nearing its end, it’s hard to allow himself time to think about anything but what’s happening now, specifically Saturday’s win-or-go-home game against North Dakota State. Whether Saturday’s game is or isn’t Cook’s last as a Panther, he’s hopeful he’ll get the chance to kick professionally.

“I’m willing to play any type of football,” Cook said. “Anything I can do to play the game I love just for a little bit longer and maybe make a living out of it, that'd be a crazy dream.”

As for now, after an upset loss at Missouri State last Saturday, Cook and the Panthers face a must-win against the Bison this week and he shared how he’s leading right now as a team captain headed into such a high-stakes game.

“I don’t plan on making this Saturday my last game. I keep saying that to everybody,” Cook said. “Just giving other people confidence. I’ll go up to (quarterback) Theo (Day) — I know he’s going to have his best game — I keep telling him just go do your thing, we all know you’re capable of greatness and all you need to do is believe in yourself and you can do it.”