The Bobcat Nation

MSU football: Former WSU QB Swogger likely to drop 'Cats from list of possible schools

By Howie Stalwick, Special to the Chronicle

Montana State beat Montana on the football field this year, but the Bobcats might be on the verge of suffering a major loss to the Grizzlies off the field.

Former Washington State starting quarterback Josh Swogger said Sunday night that Montana is a late addition to the shrinking list of candidates for his services. Swogger also said he'll drop the Bobcats if they hold to their demand that he make a decision on his new school by today.

Swogger, contacted at his Pullman, Wash., home after returning from a weekend visit to Montana State, said, "I liked the coaches, and I really like their offenseŠbut it wouldn't be good for Montana State if I made my decision tomorrow, because the answer would be, 'No.'"

Swogger said he simply needs more time. Matters are complicated by the fact that his wife, Angela, will remain at Washington State next semester to complete her degree.

"Missoula's not that far from PullmanŠBozeman is really far away," Swogger said.

Swogger said the four schools he's still looking at are Montana State, Montana, Eastern Washington and Youngstown State (near his hometown of Vienna, Ohio). All are NCAA Division I-AA schools. Swogger will be a fifth-year senior next season, so he can't transfer to a I-A rival of Washington State, since transfers between I-A schools must sit out a year, and he would be out of eligibility.

Swogger said he's eliminated Idaho State of the Big Sky because "it's just too far away" from Pullman. Swogger made a last-minute decision to visit Eastern Washington last Wednesday, and he's now scheduled to visit Montana this weekend.

Grizzly coach Bobby Hauck and assistant coach Ty Gregorak drove through a snowstorm to meet with Swogger in Pullman last Thursday.

"That says something to me," Swogger said.

Swogger, a former Ohio high school player of the year, saw little action at Washington State this season behind sophomore Alex Brink. Swogger started the first six games in 2004 and had some success, then broke his foot and missed the remainder of the season.


Sounds like Bobby is pretty desperate! Think what will happen the next year when he has to start a Redshirt freshman again with no previous experience (Selle). I suppose he can go out and get another one year wonder....look how much luck he had this last year! I agree with the ultamatim Kramer gave Swogger...makes me think he isn't real worried about getting a dropdowm QB.

I bet Carroll is anxiously awaiting this...just think they will have the choice of Stapp, Berquist, Hedrick, maybe Washington, and a few others!

I thought the same thing when I read the article. I say let Bobbie have him sounds to me like their attitudes match. Beside how much of his attention will we really get if his wife is in another state going to school. I think his focus will be split.

Helcat, I think you are an idiot. Hedrick is nonscholarship, and has already decided to transfer to Rocky. Washington has decided to leave the program becuase he knows that he will not be ahead of Cole or Stapp. If Swogger does indeed become a Griz, the one that might be a little bent out of shape would probably be Cole, as Stapp will be a redshirt Freshman with 3 years left after Swogger leaves, and hopefully someone he can learn from. Cole really struggled, and I believe many think he is not the answer. So if Swogger does become a Griz, that means that the following year, Stapp a redshirt sophomore and Selle, a redshirt freshman, will battle for the starting spot. So if Carroll is in a dire need for a quarterback, maybe Cole is the guy, but I am sure that even if Swogger comes, they will all battle for the job.

And Kcatz, why do you think Swogger has a bad attitude. Just because he did not want to be pressured by Kramer to decide right away, or because he might want to be closer to his wife, so she can make it to games a little easier? Just wondering why you feel as though he is a problem.

MSU football: Former WSU QB Swogger likely to drop 'Cats from list of possible schools.

Best news I heard all day.

Indahouse, again, quit embarrassing Griz fans. You have absolutely no proof that Washington is leaving. He has not left yet, and you're getting your info from that stpid sugar coater message board who censors objectivity, but allows lies and innuendoes to flourish.

Maybe Hauck can use all of his empty schollies on QBs. I'm sure he can find ONE good enough to play at thisl level that way.

Wolfman wrote:Indahouse, again, quit embarrassing Griz fans. You have absolutely no proof that Washington is leaving. He has not left yet, and you're getting your info from that stpid sugar coater message board who censors objectivity, but allows lies and innuendoes to flourish.

Maybe Hauck can use all of his empty schollies on QBs. I'm sure he can find ONE good enough to play at thisl level that way.

Wolfy, you have no idea where I am getting my info from, so do not speak about what you do not know.

Wolfman wrote:Indahouse, again, quit embarrassing Griz fans. You have absolutely no proof that Washington is leaving. He has not left yet, and you're getting your info from that stpid sugar coater message board who censors objectivity, but allows lies and innuendoes to flourish.

Maybe Hauck can use all of his empty schollies on QBs. I'm sure he can find ONE good enough to play at thisl level that way.

One more derogatory reference to another message board, and it's all over.

And Kcatz, why do you think Swogger has a bad attitude.

I keep hearing Cat fans say that too about the bad attitude. Would it have been better if he just came out and said he doesn't like Kramer or the facilities are sub par or he doesn't see the Cats making the playoffs? Sounded like his excuses were lame to me too, so maybe he was just trying to sugar coat it so he didn't have to say anything bad about the Cat program.
I don't think we need him, but who ever gets him, IF they make it to Chatty and we don't, then I'll be pissed we didn't get him.

I think what it comes down to is that this kid wants the royal treatment. He is going to drop us from consideration because he doesn't want to give up the spotlight. We have more pressing needs than a 1 yr qb. Too bad for him but in my opinion that's why the search was expanded from MSU and Youngstown to the present list. So when it boils down, Bobby is licking up our scraps in an attempt to reclaim his "glory". Now go back to egriz

grizindahouse wrote:

Wolfman wrote:Indahouse, again, quit embarrassing Griz fans. You have absolutely no proof that Washington is leaving. He has not left yet, and you're getting your info from that stpid sugar coater message board who censors objectivity, but allows lies and innuendoes to flourish.

Maybe Hauck can use all of his empty schollies on QBs. I'm sure he can find ONE good enough to play at thisl level that way.

Wolfy, you have no idea where I am getting my info from, so do not speak about what you do not know.

again the "invisible no named source" rears its ugly head on the internet...

Has anyone on this board actually seen Swogger play? I have not, so I am just curious what his upsides are. It seems like the Youngstown fans on AGS have been pretty excited about the fact that they may get him, yet neither Cat or Griz fans are too excited about him. Whats the deal?

I think the difference between us (Cats & Griz) and Youngstown fans is that he is a hometown boy with a high school pedigree. He was Mr Ohio football five years ago and they are projecting that. We, on the other hand, have no connection to him and two stables full of young QB's with potential

The deal is that fans pooh pooh any player who they think will not sign with their team. If the Griz really thought that they could sign Swogger, then he would be the next coming of Joe Montana. However, since he may become a Cat, he is dog meat. Same for the Cat fans. They do the same.

Don't you know that the only great players are the ones that play for your team? I am amused at the banter surrounding the recruitment of Montana high school kids. If the Cats sign a kid out of Montana, the Griz fans immediately lable that kid as "not that good", or "Hauck didn't want him anyway".

Give me a break! Frontrunning equals stupidity.

I don't see an attitude problem. I see coach Kramer trying to close him ("make your decision by today") before he is ready to make a decision. So as respects MSU, Coach K made it for him.
I've seen Swogger in action. If he goes to another BSC school he will probably be the best QB we face all season...including Colorado. The wild card is his ability to stay healthy.
Like I said before, if our coaches feel we have the talent on board to compete at a high level without him, I'm comfortable with that.

grizindahouse wrote:Helcat, I think you are an idiot. Hedrick is nonscholarship, and has already decided to transfer to Rocky. Washington has decided to leave the program becuase he knows that he will not be ahead of Cole or Stapp. If Swogger does indeed become a Griz, the one that might be a little bent out of shape would probably be Cole, as Stapp will be a redshirt Freshman with 3 years left after Swogger leaves, and hopefully someone he can learn from. Cole really struggled, and I believe many think he is not the answer. So if Swogger does become a Griz, that means that the following year, Stapp a redshirt sophomore and Selle, a redshirt freshman, will battle for the starting spot. So if Carroll is in a dire need for a quarterback, maybe Cole is the guy, but I am sure that even if Swogger comes, they will all battle for the job.

And Kcatz, why do you think Swogger has a bad attitude. Just because he did not want to be pressured by Kramer to decide right away, or because he might want to be closer to his wife, so she can make it to games a little easier? Just wondering why you feel as though he is a problem.

You just proved my point...I didn't say anything about scholarship or non scolarship players....just the fact that all of these kids seem to waste a year or so standing on the sidelines at Washington Griz just to run out the tunnel. If they really wanted to play football they would go to Carroll, Rocky, Western, Tech or Northern right out of high school. So they use up a couple of years of their eligibility on a pipe dream... and Bobby lets them do it! At least Kramer tells them whether he thinks they have a chance of playing at MSU. This is the main reason UM has so many Montana players.

Just because Swogger was Mr. Football Ohio 4 years ago, it doesn't mean that he would be able to change offenses in 6 months and become a starter next year - no matter what school he transfered to.

I question whether, or not, Swogger has the ability to effectively grasp and then run the offenses of the FB programs he is considering within the time frame that he has. If he had such aptitude, he would most likely be starting for the Cougs. If it were me as HC, I think the smart move would be to pass. The best choice seems to either be Cheney or YSU, in my opinion, given his desires.

anacondagriz wrote:Has anyone on this board actually seen Swogger play? I have not, so I am just curious what his upsides are. It seems like the Youngstown fans on AGS have been pretty excited about the fact that they may get him, yet neither Cat or Griz fans are too excited about him. Whats the deal?

I've seen him play twice. He's a monster for a QB (6'4"-6'5" and ~250 lbs) and he has a terrific arm. However, since he broke his foot a little over a year ago, he hasn't been the same. His mobility issues as a result of that injury, in my opinion, are what lost him the starting QB nod to Brink at WSU. I'm sure there were other factors too, but that's more the surface issue and to me it's pretty significant.

Swogger is a great talent. In the Apple Cup a couple of years ago, The Cougs were playing the Huskies and winning. Swogger threw an ill advised jump ball that Cooper intercepted which led directly to the Huskies beating WSU. Coug fans will never forgive him, but then again Coug fans are idiots. He has a strong arm--I would love to see him as a Bobcat--If the Griz get him, or anybody else, it is our loss.

Swogger has had a lot of playing time at WSU--the 2003 team was on the verge of the Rose Bowl--until that loss to Washington.

His stats are okay, too.

My position on Swogger hasn't changed.

I don't think he is anything special and he is lead-footed. Good luck to him where ever he ends up.