Matadors strong safety talks big and backs it up with big plays

Matadors strong safety talks big and backs it up with big plays
By Chris Shaffer - Staff writer Daily Sundial Photo by Maria Ivey
Mar 16, 2003, 4:25am

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#29 Vito Clemente

He may not be the biggest guy, but he sure does have the biggest mouth. Then again, when you can back it up, you can say anything you want.

That's been the life of CSUN football player Vito Clemente. "It's the Sicilian blood in me, I guess. My dad has a big mouth and I must have picked it up from him," Clemente said. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Clemente's big mouth has brought a lot of attention to the Matadors this season, and his leadership has brought unprecedented recent success to a previously dormant football program. Clemente, a fifth-year senior strong safety, admits that sometimes he says things that should not be said, but vows that he is learning to control his mouth.

"I just like to talk. Sometimes I don't know when not to say things. I just say what's on my mind instead of holding it back," Clemente said. "From high school on my coaches have told me I shouldn't talk as much as I do. I should let my actions speak for me, 'cause actions speak louder than words."

Many people would consider Clemente a cocky guy, but he insists it is just a matter of being secure with himself. Secure is an understatement for a person who virtually took over the press conference after Saturday's victory over Eastern Washington. Sometimes reporters have a hard time getting players to talk, but in this case the reporters couldn't get Clemente to stop talking.

"People may perceive me as being cocky, but once people get to know me, they just realize that's who I am," said Clemente, who also returns punts for the Matadors. "As a db (defensive back), if you are not cocky or confident, your not playing at the right level. I'm just a confident individual. I'm just secure with myself."

After his senior year at Crespi High School, in Encino, Clemente walked on at UCLA, where he redshirted his freshman year. Clemente played two years on special teams for the Bruins, earning a full scholarship, before transferring to Northridge in fall 97.

"It was tough. It wasn't that I didn't feel I was good enough to play at UCLA, because I was. For whatever reason it wasn't the right time or place for me. Maybe I should have gone to a smaller school first," Clemente said. "The biggest thing that hit me [when coming to Northridge] was the facilities. I was taken back by that a lot."

After injuring his knee in the preseason, Clemente missed four games last year, but finished seventh on the team in total tackles with 43 (29 solo). He also forced and recovered a fumble.

Clemente is off to a great start this year, placing sixth on the team in total tackles with 15, with one tackle for a loss. Clemente has also recorded three pass deflections and a crucial interception in the Matadors 38-35 victory over Eastern Washington.

"Vito has got a great swagger to him. He's a very intense football player. He trains hard and works hard," defensive coordinator Craig Wall said. "He does talk a lot, but he usually backs it up. He takes responsibility for what he does wrong. I enjoy him, because he has a lot of life in him. He likes to have fun."

Teammate Chazz Moore said it is a joy for him to play side by side with Clemente. "Playing with Vito is great. He's a warrior. He don't quit. I can depend on him to give all he's got," Moore said. "He brings a lot of excitement to the team and he knows a lot about the game."

Clemente, a history major, said he enjoys playing football because of the contact. "You can hit someone as hard as you can and not get in any trouble for it. Nobody is going to call the cops on you," Clemente said. "There's little battles going on in every play."

Clemente has yet to decide what's to come after football, but he's sure whatever he does, he'll be good at it.
"Whatever it is I know I will be successful. I'll put the same work effort I put into football, and I'll be successful at anything I do," Clemente said.