Chancellor's Most Colorful Personality, Both On and Off the Field

Charger Athlete Interviews - E.J. Fields

By: Greg Wolfe

A great personality on and off the field, E.J. Fields brought energy and passion to his work. His parents, Meshell and Gary Fields were huge influences in his life along with the people he slapped the pads on with every Friday night. He plans to attend Shenandoah University next Fall, looking to continue with his huge interest in film. Football still runs in his blood, and after 3 years of starting on Varsity as an offensive and defensive tackle he will look to find ways to incorporate himself into Shenandoah's football program. I sat down with E.J. this past week, and we talked about both the past and the near future.

(Regular lettering - E.J. Fields, Maroon Lettering - Greg Wolfe)

Alright, since your senior year of football has ended, I've seen that you moved on to film and theater arts. What's that like?

You know it's weird, because I've been playing football since 6th grade, so when football season comes around it'll be a bit weird. But film is like my passion, so going from something I love to what I absolutely love will make that transition easy. I'd do anything film related, but I just want to produce it to where people will appreciate it because I love making people happy and smile. If I can make film to where people will enjoy it, that's going to be great going forward.

So is that where the interest came from, wanting to make people happy?

Yeah, like I noticed back in middle school I tried to make these pictures (like edits, funny images, etc.) and put them online but that didn't really work out. And after that I was like "No", I gotta find something that will make people want to watch it and really enjoy it. So I figured I'd start doing Vines and people loved that, and I really started to get a visual of what I wanted to do.

How big of an influence has your family been during your life?

Oh, they're the only influence, a huge influence. My brothers on the field Yetur (Matos) and George (Brown) were part of that, but my mom and dad are the biggest influences on my life. If they think film is the best thing for me, they're going to go out and buy me a camera, or a tripod, or whatever. And with football it was going to summer classes, buying cones for training. My family pushes me to do the best I can, their support was huge. Yeah, my dad's past career playing also was something that I                                                                                                   wanted to replicate and do.

Do you see yourself doing anything sports related in the future? Like coaching or getting back into it some other way?

Oh yeah, I was thinking like if I ever get a break I'd definitely come down to Chancellor and record some stuff for them and put some edits together. Being a production type guy would be awesome, sitting on the side of the field like they do in the big games and being able to capture everything. I might do that, because I'm still in love with football so if I could incorporate the two that would be awesome. 

What was your favorite moment for your senior year of football?

Oh I got you, I think the best moment was the last game against Eastern View when I got the last sack on third down and the student section started chanting my name. That was like a surreal moment when I really started to realize it may be the last Friday night game I'd play. Yeah I loved that, I'll never forget that.

(Pictures from E.J.'s favorite moment)

So how big of a moment was that? To end not just what was a good game for you, but what had been a great career must've been great.

Yeah that was huge, to be honest my emotions were starting to break. The stadium was against us and it was a rough game, everything seemed to be going the other way. Once I got through the line and got that sack and stopped them from moving down the field, that was a huge moment because I really thought we could do this and it put some life back into our light. You know?

Yeah that moment definitely did the same for me in the press box, it was exciting to watch! So what's your mindset for a big game like that? Serious or joking?

If you asked any of the other football players, they'll tell you that I don't like to be talked to, I don't like to be touched, don't even look at me don't breath my air! (He said that all while laughing) Once we go into a big game I've got my headphones on and I'm focused. I don't want to joke around, that's my time to get my mind set and in the game. You can't go into a game being silly or anything because then you ain't gonna take it as seriously. So my mindset is to get focused, visualize what you're going to do, and then do it.

So you definitely brought the intensity this year, where'd that come from?

The guys around me, my football family. I've been around these guys since I was younger, learned how to play football with them and everything. So I treated games like it was the last time I was going to play with these guys. We're playing Massaponax for the last time and I knew we had to go all out on them, same with Riverbend and Courtland. So yeah, having my family always around me was what fueled me.

So are there like competitions between you and the other players during the game?

Oh definitely, yeah! Like for example when we played Courtland and all came back to the locker room for halftime, I was saying none of us had a sack yet. So we made a deal that the first person who got a sack would have breakfast paid for him by the other two. We made the deal, I got the first sack, got Chick-Fil-A breakfast from both of them and I was pretty happy.

For freshman who are coming into Chancellor's football program, or any football program that is, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to enjoy the four years. When I came in as a freshman, people were saying senior year was going to come fast but I ignored that. It feels like just last week I was a freshman, so my advice is to soak it all in. Don't do anything stupid, enjoy playing for the football team and being with your brothers. It'll go by so fast, and you'll wish you had taken more time to step back and enjoy it.

Would you do it all over again if you had the chance?

Man! I'd do it so many times over again. The relationships I've made with the guys around me is incredible, that's the number one reason I'd do it all again. I remember when my grandma passed away, I texted George (Brown) and he stayed up with me that whole night just talking to me. Because he's my brother, and we've got each other. I would do it all over again for the experience of football and Chancellor. I wouldn't even think of going to Riverbend I'd still transfer to Chancellor like I originally did ever single time. Build this football team up with my family, it'd be awesome.

Thanks, it was good talking to you man!

No problem!

E.J. Fields (left) and Yetur Gross-Matos (right)

Everybody at Chancellor High School, and even most of its last four graduating classes, knows E.J.. It's impossible to miss him while walking in the hallways, and he quite literally makes everyone feel welcome. Whether it's sitting and talking with the kid who's alone at lunch, or tackling somebody in the hallways, he has that energy and influence that's impossible to replicate. This is E.J. Fields, the class clown senior superlative winner who also destroys his competition on the field.