RICHMOND, Ky. – "It's been a long journey to get here."
 
That is an understatement when describing Eastern Kentucky University's Matt Morrissey's path to EKU.
 
It has been a journey that has taken him through ups and downs and to now three different Division I programs, culminating in a final season here in Richmond with the Colonels nearing a First Round FCS Playoff matchup against No. 11-seed Villanova on Saturday.
 
A product out of Elmhurst, Illinois, 30 minutes outside of Chicago, Morrissey's collegiate journey began in the JUCO ranks at Trinity Valley Community College.
 
In one season with the Cardinals, Morrissey lit it up throwing for 1,523 yards and 13 touchdowns earning NJCAA All-American honors and a spot with Northern Iowa heading into 2021.
 
"I am thankful for my time at JUCO," said Morrissey. "It was challenging, but it helped prepare me for what was to come in the rest of college journey."
 
His success at the JUCO ranks did not translate to the FCS level initially, however, he only saw action in five games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Panthers.
 
He then took an opportunity to transfer to Western Illinois with the vision of gaining playing time and earning wins.
 
While he got one of those wishes, starting all 11 games in 2023 at WIU, the Leathernecks failed to win a single game, going 0-11 while being the most sacked quarterback in all of FCS a season ago.
 
"It was the most difficult season I have ever had playing any sport," said Morrissey. "It's hard not to give into the negative thoughts and doubts that creep into your head after a season like that."
 
Following the tumultuous season for the Leathernecks, the coaching staff that brought Morrissey in was fired so the journeyman was once again looking for an opportunity and decided to roll the dice one more time in the transfer portal.
 
"Going into the portal for my final season of eligibility was scary," said Morrissey. "I just told myself to keep my faith in God and trust in His plan for me. I knew what I was looking for though, I wanted a place that had a coaching staff that was established and been there for multiple seasons and had shown the ability to develop and coach high-level quarterbacks."
 
Morrissey found his answer in Richmond, Ky. at EKU led by head coach Walt Wells who was entering his fifth season at the helm of the Colonels alongside offensive coordinator Andy Richman.
 
The two coaches were looking for an answer of their own heading into the offseason after 2023 with the departure of long-time starter and Colonel legend Parker McKinney and decided to take a shot on the 6-4 veteran with something to prove.
 
For Morrissey though it was an opportunity that had to be earned and not given.
 
"The coaches told me up front that I was going to have to battle in Spring and Fall camp to earn the starting spot. That is what I wanted though; you don't want to be given a starting job. I had to work for everything else in my career and I knew I was tough enough to do it."
 
His internal toughness is something the quarterback attributes not just to the trials in his career, but also to how he was raised.
 
"I got to give a lot of credit to my family for making who I am today," said Morrissey. "Growing up with my brothers we were always competing and making each other better, and my Dad was someone who made a point to ensure his sons were tough and resilient."
 
It was that toughness that helped Morrissey not only win the starting job ahead of the 2024 season but also earn the right to be a team captain as voted on by his teammates.
 
"Being named captain was a huge honor," said Morrissey. "Being a new guy to the team, it meant a lot that they would put their trust in me and chose me to be one of their leaders."
 
His journey and tribulations began to bear fruit in EKU's home and UAC opener against West Georgia on Sept. 14.
 
Morrissey led the Colonels with 277 passing yards and two touchdowns, in a 26-7 win over the Wolves.
 
The win was Morrissey's first as a starter in 1,224 days dating back to May 8, 2021, when he was still at Trinity.
 
"That win felt amazing," said Morrissey. "It felt like I had a burden taken off, it had been so long doubt started to creep in, but getting that win was a special moment for me."
 
EKU then strung two more wins together over Morehead State and Robert Morris at home, before a tough two-game skid at Southern Utah and eventual conference champions Abilene Christian despite throwing for seven touchdowns over those four games.
 
"Sitting at 3-4 after the ACU game, a lot of people outside of our program probably gave up on us," said Morrissey. "But we knew as a team we had more in us, and that if we wanted a shot at the playoffs we were going to have to win out, but that we could."
 
The Colonels bounced back with a 28-17 win on Homecoming over Utah Tech before going on the road and upsetting then-No.7 Tarleton State, 17-13 despite Morrissey throwing for less than 100 yards in either of the wins.
 
With less-than-stellar numbers over the two games, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that the quarterback would begin to get frustrated, not Matt Morrissey.
 
"I texted the coach after the Tarleton game and told him I didn't care what my stats were. I just want to win," said Morrissey. "I just want to win, all that stuff about stats and all that is my own personal rat poison. I am going to go out there and do whatever it takes to help us win games, I do not care what that looks like."
 
 
Morrissey and the Colonels have done that, winning five games straight to close out the regular season with Morrissey at the helm the entire way.
 
"I think Matt is a great leader," said running back Joshua Carter. "He sets the tone about doing whatever it takes because you don't see too many quarterbacks being willing to get out on run plays and throw blocks both as a lead and on the backside."
 
In the regular season finale against North Alabama, Morrissey found a signature moment in his time at EKU.
 
Trailing 15-14 midway through the fourth quarter, on third-and-14 from his own 33, Morrissey extended the play with his feet and found freshman Marcus Calwise Jr. over the middle at the UNA 43. The Georgia native sprinted to the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown, that proved to be the game-winner.
 
"I didn't even see Marcus catch the ball, to be honest," said Morrissey. "I had to scramble out and saw him open downfield and knew I had to deliver a good ball despite getting hit, so after I released it the next thing, I saw was the turf, but I heard the crowd go crazy and I looked up and saw Marcus running in for the score."
 
The win secured EKU's spot in the FCS Playoffs, where the Colonels will meet No. 11-seeded Villanova this Saturday.
 
When they do, they will have a fearless and experienced leader under center that is as tough as they come.