Spartan Profile: Matt McQuaid
11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Hanna Sprague, MSU Athletic Communications
Kneeling alongside the scorers table with sweat dripping down his forehead and determination shining in his eyes, Matt McQuaid was ready to make his Spartan debut. It was Nov. 4, 2015 and the countless hours McQuaid had spent in the gym were about to pay off on the hardwood at the Breslin Center.
"I was just thinking that I needed to let the game come to me," said McQuaid. "That was surreal. This is one of the biggest programs in the country, and it's just an honor to be a part of it."
At the 16:30 mark, McQuaid's name was called.
"I hit a layup and everyone was going crazy," said McQuaid. "I started running back, and I was like, ‘Dang! Alright! Now I gotta get back on defense.'"
This wasn't the first time MSU fans have cheered him on. McQuaid, a native of Duncanville, Texas, was playing in a tournament in Dallas the same weekend as the 2015 Cotton Bowl, and when strangers in the Green and White started showing up to his games, he got a taste of the support woven in Spartan family.
"Spartan fans have come to a couple of my games, so that was really cool to see," said McQuaid. "After the game, they were talking to my parents and I walked over there and they were like, ‘Hey Matt, we're big Spartan fans!' and I remember thinking ‘Wow, this is pretty crazy.'"
McQuaid's sense of family has only grown since arriving on campus last summer, forming relationships with teammates that are just as influential off the court as they are on the court.
"Everybody was going to do their thing for the 4th of July, and then [Matt] Costello was like, ‘Hey, you need a ride anywhere?' and I asked him if he could take me to my grandma's house," said McQuaid. "We bonded in the car a little, he played some country music, and we got a little closer."
The transition to college on the opposite side of the United States is something that has been nearly seamless for McQuaid with the help of the men's basketball program.
"They've definitely helped the process a lot," said McQuaid. "I was getting dinner one night and coach was like, ‘You're doing alright? You're not homesick?' and I was like, ‘No, I'm good, Coach.' It was real nice to have him check on me like that. Everyone on the team makes sure I'm good. It's genuine."
Though McQuaid was born and raised in Texas, he has made the trip to Midland, Michigan many times to visit his grandparents in his dad's hometown.
"My grandpa passed away in February, so my grandma is kind of lonely," said McQuaid. "I don't think she's ever seen me play a basketball game, so she'll actually get to see me play a couple of games up here."
The McQuaid family was well represented at Midnight Madness and got a little taste of what their DI athlete would be experiencing in the years to come.
"Walking down the stairs and seeing everyone and my family, it was more than I could've imagined," said McQuaid. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime."
His sister, who is currently playing professional volleyball in Switzerland, had the chance to meet up with the team on their journey through Italy last summer.
"When we were in Rome, she and I took a trip to the Spanish steps and got some gelato and hung out a little," said McQuaid. "That was definitely a trip of a lifetime."
Traveling the world is something few people lay claim to, but, with a program headed by some of the best masterminds in collegiate athletics, the Spartans made it possible.
"My favorite part was probably playing against the teams with those pros," said McQuaid. "When we played the Russian team, they were a really good passing team, and they always made that extra pass. We took a lot from that because coach really liked how they moved the ball."
Athletics has provided the McQuaid family with life-changing opportunities, but the road to East Lansing is something that McQuaid paved himself.
Fifty form shots, 50 midrange shots, shoot some 3s and then work on creating a shot off the move. That was the daily routine for the 6 foot 5 inch guard who averaged 17.8 points, nine rebounds and nearly three 3-pointers per game as a senior at Duncanville High School.
"I've been going to the gym since I was a baby," said McQuaid. "My dad showed me discipline and work ethic. He showed me that if you continue to put hours in in the gym, good things will happen to you and your game will have to improve. Quality is better than quantity."
The push from his dad is something that has translated well to the program in East Lansing, continuing to shape him into the athlete he aspires to be.
"It motivates you more to be around guys who want to improve every day," said McQuaid. "They push you, and you push them. When I'm just shooting by myself and Zel and Bryn are working out, they ask me to jump in with them. We've all got the same goal."
The 2015-16 goal, which is openly talked about amongst the team, is what most programs and athletes can only dream about. This team has a chance to write its own history.
"I want to win a National Championship," said McQuaid. "That's always been my dream. I didn't win a State Championship, and that's been bothering me. Now it's time to win a National Championship."
Basketball season has yet again returned to East Lansing, and, as thousands of fans pour into Breslin Center each week, the focus and energy within the 16-man squad is seemingly unbreakable.
"I'm really looking forward to playing more games at Breslin," said McQuaid. "There's no better feeling than putting on that Spartan jersey and going out there with everyone. It's definitely home."
