Swaggert Anchors Bobcat Line
8/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Offensive linemen are most commonly judged by the effectiveness of others. When guards and tackles have a good game, quarterbacks and running backs usually end up with the recognition. Last October, though, it was Brent Swaggert’s words that carried the most weight.
“Brent Swaggert was one of the most supportive guys,” said quarterback Travis Lulay, who took over the starter’s role midway through last season as a true freshman. “He was positive the whole time. He told me, ‘The whole offensive line has faith in you, we believe we can win with you, so just go out and play because we’ve got your back.’ That meant a lot.”
Jason McEndoo, Montana State’s first-year offensive line coach, says that he has also benefitted from Swaggert’s presence. “The most important thing about Brent is his leadership, and his ability to talk to the young guys and help them through situations. That really helps me, especially in our situation of having so many new guys in the offensive line. It’s harder for a new coach with a lot of older guys that are entrenched in the system, but that isn’t how it’s been with Brent. He hasn’t fought the change a bit. He’s ready to help every day, and he’s done everything I’ve asked.”
Swaggert earned First Team All-Big Sky honors last year, and has garnered considerable attention as a preseason All-America this summer. He has paved the way for 17 100-yard rushing games, and helped lead MSU to the 2002 Big Sky Championship. For all those accomplishments, though, his most impressive attribute is his consistency. Swaggert has started 35 consecutive games for the ‘Cats at left tackle.
“Brent Swaggert is a rock,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “He’s the foundation. He’s an NFL-caliber offensive lineman. He has all the attributes of the NFL-caliber linemenat that have passed through this league in the last 30 years. He’s not a wicked, savage player like some of those guys have been, which have enhanced their ability to play in the NFL. He is a stylish, classy guy with a tremendous sense of responsibility. That sense of responsibility is what makes him such a great offensive lineman.”
That sense of responsibility manifested itself in Swaggert’s election as a team captain by his teammates last summer. With three starters and three backups that have never played a down at offensive line for the ‘Cats, Swaggert knows that his leadership is crucial. “I have some experience, I’ve played a lot, and I know that there are times I can help them out,” he said. “It’s an important thing to do.”
Swaggert, like his fellow fifth-year seniors such as defensive ends Adam Cordeiro and Jon Montoya, has played since the beginning of his Bobcat career. He was a key cog on MSU’s 0-11 team in 2000. “I think our record that year proves that we were playing way too early,” Swaggert said. “We were so young. But I think that experience has helped us. I know the seniors this year are very close because of what we went through.”
Swaggert endured a bizarre situation during spring drills last April. The Bobcats were without projected starters Mataio Toilolo and Nic Stevenson, as well as the four junior college offensive linemen the MSU staff signed to fill holes left by graduation. The senior from Buffalo, Minn., was asked not only to lead a patchwork group of offensive linemen, which featured four freshmen and a converted tight end, but to also play all five positions along the line at various points during the spring. “He started out at left tackle,” said McEndoo, “then moved to guard, then to center. By the time it was done he’d played every position. When the spring was over, I wanted to give him a Superman t-shirt, because that’s what he was.”
McEndoo credits Swaggert for helping several of the young offensive linemen through a difficult situation, but Kramer said that the veteran, to, benefitted. “I think in many ways the whole situation did as much good for Brent as it did the young linemen. He gained a more universal, big-picture view of what the offensive line is trying to accomplish. Those five guys have to work together for the offensve to work, and understanding what the other guys are trying to do really helps that process. Brent now has that understanding.”
Swaggert agrees. “I’m a lot better off for having gone through that,” he said. “I learned a lot about playing in different spots, and that will do nothing but help in the future.”
MSU’s fourth-year head coach doesn’t even want to think about life next year without Swaggert. “I can’t even
imagine someone other than Brent lining up at Brent Swaggert is THE left tackle at Montana State. In my opinion, he’s the best offensive linemen to play for the Bobcats since Larry Rubens and Jon Borchardt.”
Lulay is less hyperbolic. “Brent’s a warrior. He’s proved that. It’s great to have a guy like that blocking for us.”
“Brent Swaggert was one of the most supportive guys,” said quarterback Travis Lulay, who took over the starter’s role midway through last season as a true freshman. “He was positive the whole time. He told me, ‘The whole offensive line has faith in you, we believe we can win with you, so just go out and play because we’ve got your back.’ That meant a lot.”
Jason McEndoo, Montana State’s first-year offensive line coach, says that he has also benefitted from Swaggert’s presence. “The most important thing about Brent is his leadership, and his ability to talk to the young guys and help them through situations. That really helps me, especially in our situation of having so many new guys in the offensive line. It’s harder for a new coach with a lot of older guys that are entrenched in the system, but that isn’t how it’s been with Brent. He hasn’t fought the change a bit. He’s ready to help every day, and he’s done everything I’ve asked.”
Swaggert earned First Team All-Big Sky honors last year, and has garnered considerable attention as a preseason All-America this summer. He has paved the way for 17 100-yard rushing games, and helped lead MSU to the 2002 Big Sky Championship. For all those accomplishments, though, his most impressive attribute is his consistency. Swaggert has started 35 consecutive games for the ‘Cats at left tackle.
“Brent Swaggert is a rock,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “He’s the foundation. He’s an NFL-caliber offensive lineman. He has all the attributes of the NFL-caliber linemenat that have passed through this league in the last 30 years. He’s not a wicked, savage player like some of those guys have been, which have enhanced their ability to play in the NFL. He is a stylish, classy guy with a tremendous sense of responsibility. That sense of responsibility is what makes him such a great offensive lineman.”
That sense of responsibility manifested itself in Swaggert’s election as a team captain by his teammates last summer. With three starters and three backups that have never played a down at offensive line for the ‘Cats, Swaggert knows that his leadership is crucial. “I have some experience, I’ve played a lot, and I know that there are times I can help them out,” he said. “It’s an important thing to do.”
Swaggert, like his fellow fifth-year seniors such as defensive ends Adam Cordeiro and Jon Montoya, has played since the beginning of his Bobcat career. He was a key cog on MSU’s 0-11 team in 2000. “I think our record that year proves that we were playing way too early,” Swaggert said. “We were so young. But I think that experience has helped us. I know the seniors this year are very close because of what we went through.”
Swaggert endured a bizarre situation during spring drills last April. The Bobcats were without projected starters Mataio Toilolo and Nic Stevenson, as well as the four junior college offensive linemen the MSU staff signed to fill holes left by graduation. The senior from Buffalo, Minn., was asked not only to lead a patchwork group of offensive linemen, which featured four freshmen and a converted tight end, but to also play all five positions along the line at various points during the spring. “He started out at left tackle,” said McEndoo, “then moved to guard, then to center. By the time it was done he’d played every position. When the spring was over, I wanted to give him a Superman t-shirt, because that’s what he was.”
McEndoo credits Swaggert for helping several of the young offensive linemen through a difficult situation, but Kramer said that the veteran, to, benefitted. “I think in many ways the whole situation did as much good for Brent as it did the young linemen. He gained a more universal, big-picture view of what the offensive line is trying to accomplish. Those five guys have to work together for the offensve to work, and understanding what the other guys are trying to do really helps that process. Brent now has that understanding.”
Swaggert agrees. “I’m a lot better off for having gone through that,” he said. “I learned a lot about playing in different spots, and that will do nothing but help in the future.”
MSU’s fourth-year head coach doesn’t even want to think about life next year without Swaggert. “I can’t even
imagine someone other than Brent lining up at Brent Swaggert is THE left tackle at Montana State. In my opinion, he’s the best offensive linemen to play for the Bobcats since Larry Rubens and Jon Borchardt.”
Lulay is less hyperbolic. “Brent’s a warrior. He’s proved that. It’s great to have a guy like that blocking for us.”
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
