Sunday, April 02, 2000
Purcell star to play football at Purdue
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's a rags-to-riches story that 18-year-old Purcell Marian senior Doug Swann II still finds hard to believe.
In less than 24 hours, Swann, an outside linebacker and back-up tight end, landed a college football scholarship from Purdue University.
“I haven't slept since Wednesday, the night before I visited Purdue,” Swann said. “I wanted to play college football, but I never imagined this would happen.”
Every spring, Cavaliers coach Tom Stickley sends out highlight films to colleges, focusing on the top junior prospects.
Purdue received a video, which included a 1999 season highlight film put together by Rasheen Crowley, a Purcell Marian graduate.
“I got a call from (Purdue assistant) Greg Olson, who noticed Doug on the highlight film,” Stickley said. “He wanted to know more about him, because they had two scholarships remaining.”
Stickley informed Swann and his parents, Doug and Pam, of Purdue's interest. On Thursday, the Swann family made an official visit and accepted the scholarship offer.
“Miami invited Doug to walk on and try out for the team,” Stickley said. “The Purdue people couldn't believe none of the MAC schools had offered Doug a scholarship.”
A three-sport athlete, Swann also was a backup forward/cen ter for the Division II state runner-up basketball team and runs hurdles in track.
Academically, Swann has reached the required scores on both college entrance tests (SAT and ACT).
“I told the coaches at Purdue that the only downside to Doug is that he hasn't had time to work on the weights because of playing three sports,” Stickley said.
That problem already has been remedied.
During the visit, Swann was given a packet by Purdue's trainer that included a detailed lifting schedule designed to improve upper-body strength.
“I was nervous during the visit, because I didn't know what to say,” Swann said. “I think all they wanted to see was my size. They didn't put me through any workouts.”
At 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Swann will get an opportunity to start as a freshman.
“I was also the long snapper for the team,” Swann said. “They told me the long snapper had graduated and the position was wide open. They promised me a shot at it.”
Like Swann, Stickley was overwhelmed.
“This is the third consecutive year that one of our players has gone to a Big Ten school,” Stickley said. “Austin King (1999) is at Northwestern, and Tom Gholston (1998) plays for Penn State.”
The youngest of four children, Doug Swann is the only sibling to earn a major-college scholarship.
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