BleacherCoaches.com

Cougars grant release of demoted QB Swogger

Associated Press


PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State has granted the release of junior quarterback Josh Swogger, who started as a sophomore but was a backup to Alex Brink this season.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Swogger said he will transfer to a Division I-AA school for his senior season.

In 2004, Swogger completed 91 of 193 attempts for 1,283 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions before a broken left foot ended his season after six games.

Brink started the final five games and became the starter in fall camp, relegating Swogger to the No. 2 spot this season.

Swogger played in three games this year, completing nine of 18 attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown. In three years at WSU, he threw for 1,978 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Because he used a redshirt year, Swogger would not be able to transfer to a I-A school, where NCAA regulations would make him sit out a year, using up his eligibility. At a I-AA school, Swogger would be able to play his senior season.

Swogger, 22, was a highly regarded recruit out of Ursuline High in Youngstown, Ohio, when he signed with the Cougars in 2001. He was a backup to Matt Kegel of Havre, Mont., his freshman year.

Swogger said he wants to go to a school that has a chance of winning a national championship.

=============================

Okay, so that means you can transfer to a I-A school FROM a I-A school if you did not redshirt? I didn't know that. Anyone have a confirmation on this?

I believe the rule goes like this....you can transfer from D1A to D1A, but you have to sit out a year, which would normally count as your redshirt season. Since Swogger will be a senior and has already used his redshirt, he cannot play at a D1A school. However, anyone in D1 can transfer to another division (D1AA, DII or DIII) without having to sit a year.

You have 5 years to play 4 years. A redshirt year counts as ONE. The sit-out year counts as another. Being on the team another 3 years would equal 5. Therefore NO time left for ONE year at another I-A school. You don't have to sit out a year if you transfer down the ladder, such as I-A to I-aa, or I-aa to Division II. You got to sit out if you transfer UP the ladder ( I-aa to I-A) , or to the same division (I-aa to I-aa). What's the matter with I-aa anyway. The kid can go to the Atlantic-10 conference, or to say Montana, and have a great senior year. And still be noticed by the pros.

National exposure is the only problem with I-AA ball. People still think it's inferior, but the competition is actually fantastic.

Maybe he wants to play in the playoffs that D 1-AA have which are very exciting.

There are alot of I-aa kids in the NFL. Michael Westbrook, Dan Kreider, Marcel Shipp, Jerry Azumah and many, many more. Rich Gannon went to Delaware.