Swogger slides over two states, now a Grizzlie

Sunday, August 20, 2006 Only Idaho stands between the former Ursuline quarterback and his old university. By JOHN KOVACH VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF MISSOULA, Mont. — Josh Swogger, a native of Vienna and an Ursuline High graduate, has joined a winning football program at the University of Montana for his senior season. Swogger, who spent the past three seasons at Washington State before transferring to Montana earlier this year, won the regular job at quarterback for the Grizzlies during spring practice and will be the starter in their season opener at Iowa Sept. 2. Montana has compiled a 29-11 record and has won three straight Big Sky Conference championship the past three years under coach Bobby Hauck, who guided the Grizzlies to successive records of 9-4 (5-2 in Big Sky), 12-3 (6-1) and 8-4 (5-2) from 2003-05. The Grizzlies also have made the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs the past three years, including the championship game in 2004 and their 13th straight appearance last year. Transferred for opportunity Swogger said he left Washington State last year after the fall semester and then transferred to Montana in the spring for the opportunity to play in his final season. "I wasn't getting the playing time that I thought I should have had at Washington State," said Swogger, who didn't play at all last year and only about half of the 2004 season. "I started my sophomore year [2004] the first five games, then broke my foot and missed the rest of the year." And when he returned to the team last year, "they started another kid so that's the reason I left," he explained. Swogger said he played nine games as a freshman in 2003, but didn't start any of them. "I played a lot the last four games as a freshman. We had a quarterback who had a lot of injuries," he said. One of six quarterbacks Swogger is one of six quarterbacks on the Montana team, but Hauck clearly gives him the nod over all the others. "Josh is an experienced guy. He's mature, and he's got a lot of leadership abilities to go along with a big arm and his understanding of the game," Hauck said. "Josh brings something to the table that some of the younger players can't, and we're hoping for him to take the [reins] and lead our team this fall." Hauck called Swogger "a proven commodity" backed by a lot of depth and starting experience at his position. "Behind [Swogger] we've got Cole Bergquist who started eight games," said Hauck. "Clint Stapp is charging forward as well, and Andrew Selle is potentially the best quarterback that we've recruited, and then we've got Jason Washington who started four games back for us," said Hauck. Bergquist, a sophomore, posted a 5-3 record as a starter last year, while Washington, a senior, started four games and Stapp, a redshirt freshman, has the potential to play. Another candidate is Andrew Selle. "I like our quarterbacks," said Hauck. Swogger is veteran Swogger said his experience helped him to win the starting job last spring, noting that "coming in I had an understanding of the offense. I just kind of got a handle on the program pretty early. I learned it fast. I learned the offense, and we looked good this summer." The son of Jeff and Andrea Swogger, Swogger said he would like to play in the NFL after graduation. "I'm hopeful I can keep playing football and then get into coaching and administration. I am hoping for a shot at the NFL," said Swogger, who is majoring in history and will graduate in December. But he said he will transfer his final credits from Montana to Washington State. "I am actually going to graduate from Washington State," he said. Swogger believes the Grizzlies will continue to succeed this year. "I think so," he said. "We won the Big Sky eight years in a row. We look pretty good. We have a lot of good receivers — two good transfers and two of three from Montana who are pretty good." kovach@vindy.com