Video links:
- Matt's official CBS bio page for Survivor: Redemption Island
- Matt's pre-game interview with EW's Dalton Ross
- Matt's CBS pre-game interview (on YouTube)
Collection of images from the pre-game and circa Ep1-era footage provided with the cast release videos:
Vidcap gallery: Click on thumbnails to expand; use arrow keys to navigate between large pics.
TV Guide Channel preview:
"He's a smart young man, seems very principled, but has a kid-like enthusiasm."
CBS cast assessment video:
"I like Matthew. He seems to be pretty introspective. But you'd better watch out, that smile might be a mask, hiding a bit of a wolf."
Vidcap gallery: Click on thumbnails to expand; use arrow keys to navigate between large pics.
From his EW photo caption:
"This Fabio lookalike feels that — like the season 21 winner — he is a secret weapon waiting to explode. 'I believe I'll be an underestimated player out here when in reality I'm probably one of the most dangerous. Because I believe I'm much more intelligent than I appear. And I think I'm going to use that to my advantage. I'm athletic and I've got a good social game and I think everybody's going to have a hard time not liking me. They might see the long blond hair and just say 'Oh, he's just a surfer guy and doesn't really have a thought going through that head of his,' but in reality I'm measuring everybody up and I'm gonna know what's going on.'"
From his official CBS bio page:
"Personal Claim to Fame: My decision to lead my own life.
Inspiration in Life: I think that there are so many people worthy of being deemed "a hero" in everyday life that are overlooked. So, I'm going to say people who put others before themselves.
Pet Peeves: People who act out for attention.
3 Words to Describe You: Mysterious, impulsive and deep. (Seriously?)
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like: Any contestant who has played the game with honesty and integrity.
Reason for being on Survivor: I've always wanted to live off the land and I think it would be a fun experience to compete on the show.
Why you think you'll 'survive' Survivor: I know what it takes to be a winner.
Why you think you will be the sole Survivor: I'm athletic, amicable and intelligent. I can also hold my own socially."
Apparently Matt was an exceptional running back in high school (at 6' 0", 190 lbs.), setting records at Nashville's David Lipscomb High School between 2004-2006.
Because, as we all know, only ex-football players are eligible to be Survivor contestants. No baseball players! Except for the occasional soccer players, but that's also football.
- Local news article from October 13, 2010 says his high school rushing record is still intact (although in reach): "Reaching 4,000 [rushing yards], a total attained only by Matt Elrod (2004-06), is within reach." (Source: Nashville City Paper).
- He was good enough to receive a college scouting score from ESPN in 2007. That score is 40, below the level of "Player does not show the physical tools or skill set at this point to project at the major college level, but could contribute at mid-major or FCS programs." (Perhaps because he didn't play in 2007?)
- He won the "Admiral William P. Lawrence" award from the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame, Middle Tennessee Chapter in 2006.
Sucks posters pageantsurvivorfan and dictatorship got the ball rolling by noticing that several non-Maine/-pageant people seemed to be mutual facebook friends with previously spoiled Survivor 22 contestant Ashley Underwood, including Matt Elrod, Mike Chiesl and Natalie Tenerelli.
Among the evidence Matt was a contestant is this 9/3/2010 post by a friend on his facebook wall (in Discussions/Just others): "Matt Elrod will not be at Lipscomb University during the Fall 2010 semester. He is in Costa Rica."
As noted by pageantsurvivorfan, Matt is also active in elected office at his college, Lipscomb University (a Church of Christ-affiliated school in Nashville, TN). Or at least as active as "Vice President of the Student Alumni Association" would be expected to be.
