From Link
Supreme confidence

 McKinney Courier-Gazette

<!-- <div id="instory">[adsys_ad::instory]</div> --> Published: Thursday, October 18, 2007 3:20 AM CDT Is it cockiness or self-confidence?

No matter how you describe Matt Lipka, there’s no debating the fact McKinney’s star receiver believes in himself.

Just a sophomore, Lipka carries an air of confidence that even juniors and seniors do not possess. It may be a brash attitude, but Lipka says he doesn’t cross the line.

“I’m not really cocky,” Lipka said. “I think confidence is a big part of the game. If you go in there under-confident you may doubt yourself. As long as you’re up there on the line between confidence and cocky, I think you’re okay. Too cocky is a little too much.”

While his approach might rub some opponents the wrong way, his actions almost always back up his words.

Lipka caught only one pass on the varsity team last year after a mid-season call-up from the freshman team in October. But he has made the most of his first full year on the Lions varsity, leading McKinney with 27 catches for 569 yards through six games.

McKinney head coach Bobby Reyes believes Lipka’s ability to adjust to varsity football as a sophomore was due to his success as a freshman on last season’s varsity baseball team. Lipka was named the Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player in District 9-4A last year. McKinney’s sophomore quarterback, Zach Lee, was also a key member of that regional quarterfinalist baseball team.

“I think all that helps,” Reyes said. “I think those guys playing and those guys being key spots in the playoffs were big with the way they handled it as freshmen. First of all, both those guys are talented. The way they handle everything is good. The way they go about doing the things they need to do to be successful is good.”

Reyes also credits baseball for Lipka’s confidence.

“That boy just exudes confidence,” Reyes said. “He feels good about himself. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you don’t believe in yourself then no one else is going to. A lot of that attitude is that baseball mentality. I coached baseball from a long time and that’s just how baseball players are. People call it cockiness, and I wouldn’t call it cockiness so much as self-confidence. You’ve got to have that self-confidence or you’re not going to be successful.”

Lee, who is best friends with Lipka, gets a front-row seat to Lipka’s baseball and football “confidence.” He disagrees with his coaches’ assessment of the brash sophomore receiver.

“He’s one of the cockiest people I’ve ever met,” said Lee with a smile. “He definitely likes to express his feelings. Attitude is confidence, but you can’t get too cocky. Sometimes he gets a little out of hand with his wordage toward other people. I try to keep him in check most of the time.”

The friendship between Lee and Lipka has translated onto the gridiron. The two have connected for seven touchdowns during their first varsity season together as a quarterback/receiver tandem. Lee was promoted to varsity during the same week as Lipka last season, but as a receiver and not a quarterback, but it appears that period did not hurt their chemistry.

Before the freshmen-to-varsity call-ups, Lee was the ninth-grade quarterback. Through six games on that subvarsity circuit, Lee found Lipka 13 times fortouchdowns.

Considering the early production from the pair, Reyes is excited about their future.

“I think it’s good that they’re on the same page of what they’re doing,” Reyes said. “I don’t think it ever hurts when you’re buddies with someone and you play pass with each other. Chemistry always helps. Matt’s going to be a really fine receiver by the time he graduates.”

Lee and Lipka will try and add to their already impressive sophomore stat sheet when they travel to take on the Lobos Friday.