NIU football coach Joe Novak is very glad to have offensive guard Matt McGhghy back in school.

The 6-foot-3, 302 pounder, who was suspended for the 2003 season, has bolstered the depth of an already strong Huskies offensive line.

Known as one of the team jokesters, McGhghy adds 16 career starts at NIU.

But there is another reason why Novak is glad to have the Keokuk, Ia. native back on the field.

“I recruited Matt McGhghy, I was in his home, I brought him here with his folks, and I want to do everything I can to see that young man graduate,” Novak said. “If we didn’t do this, I’m not sure he’d finish school.”

Two years ago, graduation looked like a long shot for McGhghy as he left the team.

“He was suspended by the university for one year,” Novak said. “We have a rule with felonies: If you are ever convicted of a felony, you’re done [with the team]. He had two misdemeanor charges.”

In the fall of 2002, McGhghy turned himself into authorities on an aggravated battery charge, which was later lowered. At the time, he was already on probation from an arrest in June 2002.

After being suspended, McGhghy had a decision to make.

“Basically I had a choice: I could have gone to a smaller 1-AA school or come back,” McGhghy said. “And I decided to come back after my one-year suspension. I wanted to be with my teammates and my friends for the final year.”

Novak accepted McGhghy’s decision and told him he wanted him to come back in shape. McGhghy had no problem with that request as he worked out every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at his local YMCA at 6 a.m. to stay in shape.

“It means the world to me,” said McGhghy about being back on the squad. “Now I get another chance to graduate, to play football again – which I love – and just be around my friends and teammates.”

Since his return, McGhghy has been replaced by his former backup Jake Ebenhoch, who started 11 games last season.

“When he got kicked off the team, we weren’t sure what was going to happen because he had started the whole year,” said fellow NIU’s right tackle Jake VerStraete. “He played next to me, so it was disappointing for me because I was used to how he played.”

McGhghy, who is listed as the No. 2 right guard, did play in Saturday’s season opener but didn’t start.

“I just wanted to give him a chance to come back, and it’s not like he’s an all-American -he’s not even a starter,” Novak said. “But I want him back here, I want him back playing football because I know that will motivate him to finish school.”

McGhghy said he learned a lot from his time away from the field. This past year was particularly tough as he sat at home while the team rose in the national rankings.

“I sat at home on the couch and a lot of times I couldn’t stand to watch it hurt so bad,” McGhghy said. “I knew I had made a mistake and I had to live with it. It hurt. I can’t explain it and most the people I talk to can’t believe how bad I felt sitting out.”