Swogger a Bobcat?????

Catz Rock · Post by **Catz Rock** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:05 pm

WSU backup QB Josh Swogger is leaving and the rumor on egriz indicates MSU is on his short list. I know this is not fresh news, but does anyone know any more than what's on egriz???

http://www.egriz.com/GrizBoard/viewtopic.php?t=11843

Cat in SoDak · Post by **Cat in SoDak** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:24 pm

Bad idea to bring in a transfer QB for 1-2 years, IMHO. I'd much rather see Carpenter or Coppack get a shot.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:28 pm

I don't think they should just hand the job over to Swogger-or any 1-A transfer. Let him come in and compete for the job with Carpenter and Coppack. If Carpenter's better he'll beat him out (I think he just might). Besides it might not be a bad idea to pile up some depth at quarterback. We've managed to go 4 seasons without any quarterback injury-we're probably due-thus having a capable backup or two will be important.

P.S. Over on anygivensaturday.com the Youngstown State fans say they're getting Swogger (apparantly he's from Youngstown and has lots of ex-high school teamates playing there).

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:46 pm

How bad do we want a back-up QB from a school that may not even be able to win the BSC.

lifeloyalsigmsu · Post by **lifeloyalsigmsu** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:11 am

gtapp wrote:How bad do we want a back-up QB from a school that may not even be able to win the BSC.

He's transferring to Youngstown State. He grew up in Youngstown.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:43 am

I'm not saying he wouldn't be a good pick, but after watching both Carpenter and Coppack this fall and during practice I think we're in really good shape at QB. If he comes he's going to have to earn the job.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:13 pm

FYI

From the net:

Josh Swogger will be transferring out from WSU Swogger's father confirmed to the the Vancouver, Washington Columbian. Rumors had been swirling all season as to where Swogger would return to WSU after losing his starting spot to Alex Brink at the beginning of the season.

Josh Swogger will transfer for his senior season.

From Youngstown, Ohio, Swogger was arguably the top quarterback in the state as a senior playing for Ursuline High. Swogger was voted a team captain as a sophomore in 2004, and began the season as the starter for the Cougars. After injury sent him to the sidelines midway through the season, Swogger was replaced in the lineup by Brink. Swogger's return was hampered in spring by his inability to fully take part in drills. In August, Swogger appeared to be battling at least even with Brink for the starting spot for the 2005 season. It was something of a surprise when Brink was named the starter for the season, relegating Swogger to the role of backup for his junior year.

Swogger will have one year of eligility and will look to transfer to a Division 1-AA school where he will be able to compete and play right away. The strongest early candidate is hometown Youngstown State where Swogger played his high school games. Eastern Washington, Montana State, and Richmond have all also expressed interest in providing a home to Swogger for his senior season.

This season, Swogger played very sparingly and only when the game had been decided. Last year as a starter, Swogger had 91 completions on 193 attempts for 1,283 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Swogger's best win was against Arizona when he connected with Jason Hill on a game-winning touchdown after it looked like Arizona would be able to run out the clock on the game.

With Swogger gone and Brink very likely to be the starter for 2006, the battle for backup quarterback should be wide open. The primary contenders are expected to be Gary Rogers who saw limited game time this season and Arkelon Hall who redshirted after an outstanding high school career. CougZone wishes the best to Swogger

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:17 pm

And.....

By BARRY BOLTON
Cougfan.com Senior Editor
Date: Nov 23, 2005

FORMER WSU STARTING QUARTERBACK Josh Swogger will transfer from Washington State to a Division I-AA school for his senior year. "Yes, I am going to leave," the 6-5, 247-pound quarterback told Cougfan.com. Josh Swogger talks about his relationships with the coaches at Washington State, Alex Brink, his decision to leave, the schools he's considering and more.

Josh Swogger will not be wearing the crimson and gray next year, but he's leaving on a decidedly gracious and positive note.

"I have a great relationship with all the coaches, there's never been a sour note," said Swogger. "I don't fault them for anything. They did what they thought was best for the program and I understand that as a person, player and competitor. I wish them all the best, but I think it's just time for me to move on."

His role this year turned into being another coach of sorts. Starting and backup quarterbacks are often portrayed as being, at best, cautiously polite to one another but in the case of Swogger and Alex Brink, their friendship actually strengthened over the course of this 4-7 season.

CRIMSON COMMENTARY

"You never wish anything bad on the guy that you're playing with and more than anything, Alex and I, we became closer this year," said Swogger. "I think Alex is going to be a great quarterback here, and we get along great -- we get along better than ever."

Swogger also stressed repeatedly his appreciation for the fans at Washington State, saying he'll take fond memories away from his time in Pullman.

“I don't regret anything I did at Washington State," said Swogger. "I found my wife out here, I'm getting a good education, I had a ton of great experiences, I met a ton of great people."

In his only season as the starter, Josh Swogger threw for 1,283 yards and 13 TDs in six starts before a broken foot wiped out his sophomore season in 2004.

TRANSFERRING WITHIN Division I-A requires sitting out a year -- a year the redshirt junior does not have -- so the D-IAA options for the golden armed quarterback include Youngstown State, Montana State, Idaho State and others. No decision has been reached, with Swogger also saying he hasn't talked to Eastern Washington yet, with the Eagles currently in the midst of a playoff run.

All hold advantages but Swogger said Youngstown State might be the most intriguing, and not just because it's close to home. The talent includes all-world tight end and former Ohio State Buckeye and Ursuline High star Louis Irizarry, and the thought of being part of that on field tandem is compelling. Swogger’s also talked with Cougar Jeremy Thielbar, now coaching TEs at Montana State. Wherever he goes, Swogger expects to work hard to earn a starting job and it will be a family decision, one he hopes to make sooner rather than later.

"The main thing will be can I get a chance to showcase my abilities, and are we going to get a chance to go to the playoffs and compete for a national championship," said Swogger.

Close to receiving his degree, Swogger leaves Pullman this December with wife Angie staying at WSU until May to complete her degree before leaving to join her husband.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, Swogger stated his intention to remain at WSU but after the final four games on the sidelines with no playing time in sight, and with just the one year of eligibility remaining, the decision was made.

"Going through the season, I was holding out to see if something was going to happen, to see if I was going to get a chance to play," said Swogger. "It didn't happen and they stuck with Alex. But there's no animosity or anything."

IN 2004, SWOGGER was pulled in the second quarter of the year's second game against Colorado, and then again for good in the third quarter. Coach Bill Doba said in hindsight, that decision was a mistake, one made too soon. Swogger then started and played the following week and beyond, until surgery ended his season.

Josh Swogger remained the consummate teammate over the course of a disappointing 4-7 season for the Cougs. "You never wish anything bad on the guy that you're playing with and more than anything, Alex and I, we became closer this year," said Swogger.

Last year's decision to change quarterbacks too early might help partially explain the coaching staff's reluctance to insert Swogger in ‘05. Despite Brink’s struggles at times, Doba never appeared close to making a swith -- Swogger appeared in three games after the outcome had been decided.

"It's just not the place for me anymore," said Swogger. “I'm just really thankful for everyone who supported me.”

In watching the year's practices day in and day out, Cougfan.com observed a consummate professional in Swogger. Early on, he did not look especially sharp but it wasn't for lack of effort. His work ethic, attitude and professionalism were all beyond reproach.

In the latter half of the season, however, Swogger had heated up on the practice field, looking very sharp for the remainder of the year. He also stayed late and the younger players, including quarterback Gary Rogers, began to stay after practice right along with him. But his attitude never wavered at any point, whether he was practicing well that day or not. He was the textbook example of a team player, always volunteering to coaches Doba and Timm Rosenbach to do whatever he could to help the coaches, team and Brink.

"I think competition brings out the best in people and I think that brought out the best in Alex and I this year," he said.

Last year, Swogger threw for 1,283 yards and 13 TDs over six starts, despite playing through a variety of injuries including a fractured navicular bone in his foot. That stress fracture-turned-break ended Swogger's season, missing the final five weeks as Brink led the Cougs to a 2-3 record, including an Apple Cup win. Entering fall camp in '05, Swogger remained the starter but Brink was right on his heels, eventually winning the job by what the WSU coaches called a very narrow margin.

Swogger hits Darling in 2003

THE YEAR BEFORE, Swogger burst onto the scene, coming in for an injured Matt Kegel against ASU. The Vienna, Ohio, native looked like a fifth year senior in the pocket, not a redshirt freshman, hitting 14 of 20 for 207 yards including a surreal 22 yard TD strike to Darling under some beautifully cloudy Palouse skies.

On that day, the unflappable Swogger spread the ball amongst six different receivers, hitting virtually every quadrant of the field.

Jaws dropped that day, including that of Cougfan.com Managing Editor, John Witter, as the Crimson Nation imagined Swogger running the WSU attack the next three years.

"I am witnessing the beginning moments of a kid's career who's going to be among the greatest Cougar quarterbacks ever," said Witter by cell phone during the Arizona State win. That praise didn't come lightly, Witter having been in Martin Stadium countless Saturday afternoons watching crimson generals Jack Thompson, Drew Bledsoe, Ryan Leaf, Jason Gesser and a great many more.

AND THAT’S WHAT will gnaw at some Cougar fans, the unanswered questions of what Swogger might have done this year and next. Even with the primary culprit of the 2005 season's demise -- the defense -- would Swogger still have rallied the troops to victory given the five defeats by four points or less? Would WSU under Swogger's stewardship now be making travel plans to warmer climates rather than staying home for the second straight year? They are questions that will never be answered, and 2006 beckons.

Alex Brink threw for 2,891 yards this season, No. 7 all time at WSU, passing marks set by Ryan Leaf, (2,811 in 1996), Jack Thompson (2,762 in 1976) and Drew Bledsoe (2,741 in 1991)

THERE'S MUCH TO like about Alex Brink, and anyone who insists otherwise has their eyes wide shut. There's also much to work on, namely not forcing the ball into blanket coverage, read progression and more. And the tight end was all but abandoned this year until the penultimate game, when a losing season was already in the books.

The execution needs work, but the preparation and recognition are there, and the foundation has been laid. Now it remains to be seen in 2006 if he can build the skyscraper on top of it.

Some of Brink's throws this season were golden. He smartly audibled a number of times, and his command of the Cougar offense was vastly improved. The frequent fumbles of 2004 became a thing of the past -- the spin move of 2004 put into storage where it belonged. There is reason to believe Brink's scrambling ability will win games for the Cougars in the future.

And Brink's arm was stronger this year. While his crimson days remaining now become less than the days that have passed, there's still time to hone the junior-to-be's technique -- much of his arm strength still comes primarily from just the arm. He'll never wing it like Swogger, few can, but arm strength also doesn't necessarily equate to wins, as the history books of college football will attest.

Alex Brink took off running this year, gaining 244 yards before sacks are factored in. And his mobility will help the Cougs win games in 2006.

AND LOST IN THE growing cacophony of voices calling for a quarterback change this season, and despite the Cougar defense being the bigger liability, was this: If Brink had Swogger's cannon, a great many of his critics would, if not overlook, at least extenuate the times he threw behind the receiver or forced it into double coverage.

Everyone loves a strong armed quarterback.

It’s just a shame the one who's leaving town is also such a fine individual, and that none of us will ever know what might have been. It's hard not to think the world of Swogger, both as a football player and as a person. But it's also worth noting that Josh Swogger is dead on when he says what remains at WSU, is also much to look forward to..

As for Swogger, he's looking ahead, too, while still appreciating the relationships forged at Washington State. Among the items on his schedule for today, working out and throwing the football around with Thompson and Gesser.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:25 am

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articl ... wogger.txt

CATS2000 · Post by **CATS2000** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:38 am

Wow - looks like the Cats will have a shot. I think Youngstown State has a sophomore QB they really like which is why he did not finalize his decision yet...

Obzerver · Post by **Obzerver** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:30 pm

Swogger draws interest from Montana State, Idaho State
This story was published Monday, November 28th, 2005

By Howie Stalwick Special to the Herald

Josh Swogger, former Washington State starting quarterback, has received full scholarship offers from four NCAA Division I-AA schools, Swogger's father said Sunday.

Youngstown (Ohio) State, Richmond (Va.), Montana State and Idaho State are actively pursuing Swogger, Jeff Swogger said by phone from the family home near Youngstown.

Jeff Swogger said his son is "95 percent sure" he will transfer to Youngstown State, but he said the Penguins have been the "least aggressive" of the four schools that have offered scholarships.

"Maybe that's because they figure it's sort of a done deal," Jeff Swogger said.

The Penguins, a traditional I-AA power, have a sophomore, two-year starter at quarterback in Tom Zetts. Swogger has a more powerful arm than Zetts, but the Penguins operate a run-oriented offense and will return most of the key players off an 8-3 team.

Montana State and Richmond are losing senior quarterbacks. Sophomore Matt Hagler struggled as the starting quarterback at Idaho State, where former WSU assistant coach Larry Lewis finished 5-6 this season.

Swogger started the first six games of the season for Washington State last season, then underwent surgery for a broken foot. Redshirt freshman Alex Brink replaced Swogger last year, then beat out Swogger for the starting job this year in a close battle in fall camp.

"He just wants to go somewhere and play his senior year," Jeff Swogger said.

"He's a great kid," WSU coach Bill Doba. "We'll do everything we can to help him find a place to play. He deserves it."

Jeff Swogger said his son's only scheduled campus visit is at Montana State next weekend. Three MSU assistant coaches (Jeremy Thielbahr, Jason McEndoo and Jay Dumas) are former Washington State players.

Wolfman · Post by **Wolfman** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:50 pm

I just talked with a buddy from Youngstown who is a big booster for them. He knows the Swoggers personally. The kids' dad is really pressuring him to transfer back home. However, the kid is not sure he wants to go back there.

The fact that Youngstown State has a returning starter at QB is a big factor. This friend said that MSU has a legitimate shot at getting Swogger.

I'll tell you this, if you get him, he will be a stud for the Bobcats. He could have easily been the starter at WSU this season if he had not been injured. He was the player of the year in Ohio, as a high school senior. No easy task in that state.

If you land him, you can count on beating the Griz again next season. One would think that our recruiting genius Hauck would have been able to generate interest from Swogger. But, Swogger is probably aware of the Griz offense, and wants no part of Phenicie-ball.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:24 am

Wolfman wrote:If you land him, you can count on beating the Griz again next season.

I hope that landing this kid would give us more expectations than just beating the Griz...

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:49 pm

This guy is the real deal. A possible problem in getting him is the graduation of nearly the entire wide receiver corp. I'm betting Swogger is looking for input from the two WSU wide receivers who transferred in last year when he visits Bozeman. These things have a way of growing legs. If Swogger decides to come to MSU it makes recruiting higher level JC receivers a better possibility.

Wolfman · Post by **Wolfman** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 5:19 pm

Just talked to Swoggers' dads' buddy again. YSU had not officially offered Swogger a schollie as of today. Looks like they're playing it close to the vest.

When does Swogger visit MSU? I think you can get this kid. I'm pissed too. Kramer re-loads while Hauck sits on his boney arse and fails to get a QB. Makes me wanna puke!

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:23 pm

Wolf: Anytime someone wants to puke on behalf of the griz nobody here is gonna stop them. :wink:

My understanding is Swogger is in Bozeman this weekend.

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:00 pm

What happend to the Hawaii kid?

eguin · Post by **eguin** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:32 pm

Hi I am from Youngstown and run a site called eGuins Penguin Community

Now I went to the same high school as Josh and I know him and his family very well. His father is very open to me about Josh and I can't say his exact words but I'd say I am in the 90% RANGE of saying he is coming to YOUNGSTOWN STATE.

Yes YSU Has offered him a scholarship as someone stated he didn't and you wonder why YSU didn't make the playoffs this year; it was because of the inexpierence at QB vs. UNI and SIU when we had 3-5 drives go into their side of the field in each game to come up with ZERO POINTS..

Also some of Swogger's Teammates from the 2000 Ursuline State Title Team are transferring to YSU. Louis Irizzary; Top 5 TE by Rivals and Scout in 2003; Jimmy Riley; all time leading receiver at Ursuline; and Terrance Graves who rushed for over 2000 yards in 2000 and 2001.

MSU will need to do a lot of braggin and someone is saying Josh is being forced into this spot to go to YSU; trust me when we talked in the past he wanted to come home; and he wants to come home now..[/url]

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:50 pm

If he wants to come home so bad, why is he looking at ten other schools? Not saying he won't end up there at YSU, but clearly Youngstown has something that is holding him back from just going straight there.

Who wants to be a "Fighting" Penguin anyways?!

eguin · Post by **eguin** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:59 pm

BozoneCat wrote:If he wants to come home so bad, why is he looking at ten other schools? Not saying he won't end up there at YSU, but clearly Youngstown has something that is holding him back from just going straight there.

Who wants to be a "Fighting" Penguin anyways?!

Timeout Here. I actully talk with the guy and you donno what you are talking about.

He is looking at 2 other schools besides YSU... MSU is one and I won't name the other but the list is less than the papers are saying.

Lets see here. He wants to win.
1. YSU
2. MSU

He wants to win a championship
1. YSU

He wants to come home and play with former teammates
1. YSU

I found out about Josh after the 3rd game for WSU he was going to transfer... And I found out YSU that day too. Unless he finds something he loves in MSU; is coming to YSU..