Sept. 4, 2008

Note - The Patriot League is profiling one student-athlete from each of the seven football-playing institutions ahead of the 2008 season. The interviews were conducted at the 2008 Patriot League Football Media Day on July 31. Stories will be released in alphabetical order by school.

Lehigh's McGowan Looks for Rebound Season
By Matt Dougherty, Patriot League Media Relations Director

There were surely plenty of disappointed Lehigh players, coaches and spectators when the Mountain Hawks fell to 3-4 for the year and 0-2 in the Patriot League on October 20 of last season.

But there may not have been a more anguished onlooker than Lehigh senior running back Matt McGowan, who had to miss the first seven games of the 2007 campaign with a leg injury.

"It was probably the toughest experience of my life," McGowan said. "It's painful to watch all of my friends out there, knowing that I would do anything to get out there."

McGowan did get out there for three games last season, and played well in his limited action. He rushed for a career-high 128 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in his first appearance of the year in a victory over Georgetown, and also scored in the rivalry game against Lafayette.

McGowan enters the 2008 season with a clean bill of health. He'll be a key cog for the Lehigh running game, and a leader on and off the field as one of four Lehigh captains.

"The guys have selected four of us for the captain spots and have done an excellent job. We all just want to represent our team well," McGowan said.

The captains will have the task of leading the Lehigh squad in a rebound season after last year's 5-6 finish and 2-4 record in the Patriot League. It was the first time since 1997 that Lehigh had a losing overall or Patriot League record, but McGowan sees a team that is ready to bounce right back in 2008.

"There is a really strong supporting cast throughout the entire team," he said. "It's the best offseason we've had since I was at Lehigh, and we're going to come back stronger.

McGowan did not start off at Lehigh, but transferred from the University of Richmond before the 2005 season. He wanted to get closer to his Hazleton, Pennsylvania home, and was very familiar with the Mountain Hawk program.

"Lehigh was about an hour drive from my hometown, and I was recruited by Lehigh in the original process," he said. "It was just a good fit and has worked out well."

Now, McGowan wants the 2008 season to work out well for a successful swan song. That would mean an improved overall year for the Mountain Hawks, and ending a four-game losing streak to rival Lafayette when the two meet up for the 144th game in College Football's Most-Played Rivalry in Easton on Nov. 22.

"The rivalry is really hyped up a lot," he said. "It's exciting to be part of as a player and events go on all week to really pump it up."

"But we need to beat them finally."