This week, we were fortunate to catch up with Duke midfielder and faceoff specialist Brendan Fowler (right; photo credit Duke Athletics).
Fowler, who was named the NCAA Tournaments Most Valuable Player after his dominant performances in the postseason, helped lead the Blue Devils to their second National Championship in 2013. His extraordinary efforts culminated in a 20-for-28 output from the faceoff dot against Syracuse in the Championship Game on Memorial Day. During the season, he set NCAA faceoff records in both wins (339) and draws taken (526).
Below is our Q&A with Brendan, who discusses Dukes run to the Championship, his unusual path to the Duke lacrosse team as a two-sport athlete and the traits he values most in players and teammates.
On what enabled Duke to win the National Championship this season:
This year, everybody really bought in and everyone was really on a mission — especially toward the end of the year. We had a really good senior class. The last few years, the seniors were a bit jumbled due to some recruiting classes and other things. But this year, we had a solid group of 10-12 seniors who really led the way. I think those guys were a huge reason we were able to win it this year.
On what made this years seniors so successful and the role their leadership played on the team:
It played a huge role. Seniors set the bar for a team. Our seniors were always working really hard. They were always out there early, and really took care of everything on and off the field. They set the bar for everyone else; everyone else kind of followed them. I got to live with a few of our seniors this year, which was awesome. Living with Jake Tripucka and David Lawson, you get to see the perspective of those guys, knowing it is their last chance in college lacrosse. You see how much it means to them. You see how important it is to them to win. I think that helps everyone else.
On his exceptional performance in the National Championship Game and his team battling back from an early deficit in that game:
Our team played from behind in a lot of games this year. I think we were losing in every tournament game. We had been there before. It was still really early in the game. Even though we were down by a lot, I knew we could make it tight by halftime. Everyone relaxed. I had a few violations early. This year, I got better facing off as the games went on. I would feel out the other guy. I would feel out the refs and just get into a better flow. So I knew I would get myself together. I felt it coming. Our whole team we took a timeout and got ourselves together. We talked about how we had played from behind before. Against North Carolina in the ACC semi-finals, we ended up losing, but we must have been down nine goals or so and only lost by a goal. So we had been there before. We obviously had the guys and firepower; everyone just needed to relax and get their stuff together.
On being named the NCAA Tournaments Most Valuable Player:
It is cool to be recognized like that, but, a lot of things with facing off I might get the credit but I dont think enough goes to the wing guys. Will Haus, Luke Duprey, Greg DeLuca, Brian Dailey those guys boxing out on the wing. Your average person watching might not recognize that, but those guys are a huge part of my success. It was obviously very cool, but winning the game meant a lot more to me than the award. I think [I won] the award was because of a lot of people.
On the atmosphere during Championship Weekend and how it compares to other venues:
It is great playing there. The biggest thing about it before you even get there is knowing it is your last weekend as a team. At most, you have three days left together before everyone splits up. It is crazy knowing this is the last time you will play with this group of guys, be it one or two more games if you are lucky enough to win in the semi-finals. The buzz is awesome. A big advantage we had this year was that guys had been there before, so for us, we were just playing a game and were not caught up in the atmosphere. I have been there three straight years, the seniors four, and the sophomores twice. I think guys were just focused on the game and not the hype. But the buzz and all of the people there is definitely awesome. I think our team handled it well this year, which helped.
On being a two-sport athlete at Duke and how he ended up on the lacrosse field:
I was recruited for a while coming out of high school for lacrosse, but I just wanted to play college football. That was my dream. So I pushed off lacrosse for a while. I was down between two places, and Duke popped up for football. So I decided I was going to come here. My high school coach told me once I made the decision that I had to try to play both and play for Coach Danowski, with whom he has a relationship. I said absolutely, they got in touch, and we went from there. After football season, I decided to play my freshman year. So its not like I was never recruited for lacrosse I played in high school and got some looks from some places. But I have gotten a ton better in college. Our college staff has taken me from where I was to where I am now.
On the transition from the high school to the college game:
It is way more intense. We practice at a much higher tempo. Guys are focused. We get a lot more done in the same amount of time than you do in high school. You are running from drill-to-drill. Everything is very organized. In college, guys have better stick work for the most part, so you can run through things faster. So I think the tempo of practice, the intensity, and that everyone on the field is a stud. Everyone on the field can play. I think that is the biggest difference from high school to college.
On what traits are valuable as a player:
My whole life, the number one thing I judged in a player is if someone is tough. I think that is the most admirable trait. A lot of people think of having a great shot [or something similar]; but if you ask most people on the team, they look for someone who is a tough guy and a tough player. So I think that is the number one thing. After that: Hard work. You watch guys work hard, and usually those two qualities go together. To me those not so much still skills or this or that those kind of traits are what made our team good and what I look for most in a player.
A big thanks to Brendan for his time!
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