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Swallow brothers had Hall of Fame careers
Swallow brothers had
Hall of Fame careers
By Curtis Pulliam
Bobby Swallow’s football future looked bleak.
He played through a separated right shoulder as a West Branch High School junior, but still was projected as a Mid-American Conference recruit.
But after another injury as a senior — Swallow tore ligaments connecting his collarbone to his sternum — Division I college football was out.
All, however, was not lost. Before the second injury, Swallow attended a quarterback camp in Canton. Among the coaches in attendance was Washington & Jefferson’s Mike Sirianni, who remembered Swallow and brought him to Washington, Pa.
Swallow wasn’t able to get to the MAC, but he did become perhaps the most prolific quarterback the Presidents ever had.
He set numerous Washington & Jefferson passing records, including touchdowns (104) and career completion percentage (.681).
On Sept. 6, Swallow was inducted into the Washington & Jefferson College Hall of Fame.
“It means a lot,” said Swallow, who graduated in 2009. “It’s definitely humbling to think out of all the other athletes at W&J, they felt that I was worthy enough to be in on the first ballot.”
Swallow was a three-year starter for the Presidents and is the NCAA Division III record holder for lowest interception percentage among quarterbacks with at least 1,000 pass attempts. He threw just 15 interceptions in 1,023 attempts.
“The record shows I took care of the ball,” Shallow said. “Also, the number of wins I had over my career because it shows the type of team that I was on and how successful we were as a unit.”
Swallow led the Presidents to 32 victories, including a NCAA quarterfinal appearance in 2008.
The No. 19 Presidents defeated No. 3 Millsaps College, 35-20, to reach the quarterfinals.
“It was the biggest upset win in the school’s history, so that sticks out,” Swallow said.
Swallow threw a school-record 46 touchdown passes against just three interceptions as a junior.
Swallow is one of two Washington & Jefferson players to been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team twice in a career.
Despite all the success, Swallow gives credit to his older brother Ben for introducing him to football.
“Growing up, I went to all his sporting events,” Swallow said. “I was just trying to emulate my big brother.”
Ben was a quarterback at Division III Geneva College.
“We are very close,” said the elder Swallow. “From an early age, I could always kind of tell he got the itch from watching me play.”
Ben says the quarterback mentality started when they were young.
“Although our dad [Larry] didn’t play football [in high school], he always coached us,” Ben Swallow said. “I think as a coach’s son, at least back then, it was always the coach’s kid wanting to playing quarterback.”
Ben also played at West Branch and was inducted into the West Branch Hall of Fame on Sept. 26.
“I was very honored and humbled to be inducted with so many other inductees,” Ben Swallow said. “Out of all my awards and honors throughout my career, this one means the most to me.”
Bobby may not have been able to play Division I football because of injuries, but has no regrets with his career at W&J.
“Not only did I get to continue playing football, I got a great education and I made life-long friends that I wouldn’t trade for another experience,” he said.