The Bobcat Nation

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Former Cats Take the Stage this Weekend
MSU Bobcats Bobcat Football News : 2004-08-13 : Bozeman, MT
By Bill Lamberty


Brent Swaggert and Joey Thomas will begin living their NFL dreams this weekend
Jason McEndoo knows what Brent Swaggert is going through.

Swaggert, an All-America offensive tackle for the Bobcats last year, and 2003 All-Big Sky cornerback Joey Thomas make their NFL preseason debuts this weekend. Swaggert will suit up for the San Francisco 49ers against Oakland, while Thomas' Packers play Seattle at Lambeau Field.

McEndoo, Montana State's second-year offensive line coach, remembers the feeling of facing that first preseason game. "It starts to hit you the day before and in the hotel before the game," says McEndoo, who played for Seattle against Dallas in his preseason debut. "The bus ride over (to the stadium) seems the same, because that's the routine you followed in college, but it really hits you when you walk in an NFL locker room and see your jersey hanging in the locker. Right then, you know you're in the NFL."

Swaggert and Thomas are progressing well with their current teams, but the two ex-Bobcats are facing different odds. "It's an uphill climb when you're an undrafted free agent," says MSU coach Mike Kramer, "but every year undrafted guys make teams. Scouting, like recruiting, is an inexact science, and in the NFL you're looking for the players that can help you win, period, no matter how you got them."

Swaggert joined the Niners as an undrafted free agent shortly after the NFL draft, in which the Green Bay Packers picked Thomas in the third round. Thomas is Green Bay's second right corner entering the preseason opener, while Swaggert is considered a second or third tackle. San Fransico has been plagued by offensive line injuries during camp, and Swaggert has benefited from that with extra repetitions. Thomas, as a high draft choice at a position of need for the Packers, was tabbed on draft day to provide immediate help.

McEndoo and members of MSU's offensive coaching staff traveled to San Francisco to observe several days of training camp earlier this summer. Swaggert more than held his own, Swaggert said. "The first two practices we saw he was with the third team, and the next two he was with the second team," McEndoo said. "He played really well. He more than held his own in team situations."

While Swaggert's and Thomas's alma mater may look unusual next to players from Michigan and Notre Dame when perusing an NFL roster, the players fit right in on an NFL field, said MSU offensive coordinator Don Bailey. "Brent looked like any other guy out there," Bailey said. "He's gotten bigger and stronger, and he held his own and did a good job."

Likewise, Thomas is competing favorably in Green Bay. "Joey had a real good summer," said Bobcat defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. "They like what he's doing."

According to McEndoo, a lesson in the escapades of Swaggert and Thomas applies to Bobcat football players, and to all players in the Treasure State. "You look at Brent out there in practice and he's just another NFL player," he said. "And that's the point I'm trying to make with our players, it doesn't matter what school your from. It doesn't matter if your from Circle or Billings. What matters is how hard you're willing to work and what you get done on the field."

BTW: Kudos to Bill Lamberty for throwing us a bone during this LOOOOONG of season. I think he's done a great job of keeping everyone updated and excited about Bobcat Football. It's too bad the chronicle isn't as on the ball as Lambo is. Thanks Bill!

Did anybody see the 49ers-Raiders game this weekend? Did Swaggert get and playing time and if so how did he do?

I saw a good bit of the game, and thought Swaggert did well. His guys got the quarterback one time, that I saw, but that was more a function of the qb taking too long to get rid of the ball. Did good on run blocking too.

Also saw McFarland from UM with the Bills last night, and thought he looked very solid.

Snyder from UM kicked a 50 yd FG for Detroit, and Casey Fitzsimmons caught a TD pass for the Lions also.

Anyone have any other word on other Big Sky Conf or Montana athletes? How about Jared Allen with KC?

I hope this is just a mistake, but I took a look at the 49ers roster tonight, and Swaggert is no longer listed. He had been earlier this week. I don't see anything in the transactions for today, but maybe we will see some bad news come through tomorrow.

I hope I am just starting a false rumor. Things seemed to look good for him numbers-wise as they were getting down to a pretty low number of OL guys left. On the other hand, I didn't notice him getting a lot of reps during the last game for the short piece of the game that I watched.

Grizzle on E grizz said he was cut as well as the cat with the cowboys. Grizzle has good info.

He's back!

From MSU SID:

Brent Swaggert, a 2003 First Team All Big Sky Conference and Third Team
AP All America Left Tackle from Montana State, has rejoined the San
Francisco 49ers as a member of its practice squad after being cut from the 49ers three weeks ago prior to the start of the NFL regular season. Swaggert is represented by NFL Player Agents Tom White and Bob Huebner.


I was actually wondering if he might get a call back when watching the 49ers this week. I think they lost one lineman already and were shuffling guys around. They only had 3 backup linemen total, so it makes sense that they would want to be grooming some guys for the future. Congrats, Brent!

BAC: Thanks for the update-that is greaqt news. i have met Brent and he is really a nice kid and I hope he does well. Since you are in the Bay area, please continue to post any news on Swaggs!

BAC thanks for the update. Somehow I hadn't heard he got cut. The niners are in Seattle this Sunday and I was hoping to see him in action. My seats are about 15 rows up behind the visitors bench. I spend a lot of time doing amature psychological and socialogical studies on the opponent coaching staff. Over the years I've come to have the highest degree of regard for Dick Vermiel. He's coaching the entire game. It's interesting how he can adjust his technique from moment-to-moment, depending on who he's talking to. One second he's chewing a$$, the next he has his arm around somebody, counseling them like a kindly uncle. Just thought I'd throw that in. It may be why Kramer handles Lulay the way his does. Not everyone reacts well to getting hammered.

Great point, raincat. Kramer seems to have found a way to motivate his players in the past, even if us fans and boosters didn't like seeing players like Ryan Johnson get chewed out in the newspaper. He (and the whole team) seemed to respond pretty well from that, so maybe we have to give Coach just a little credit that he knows what he is doing. Point taken.

I too met Brent last winter and had the chance to visit with him regarding his new career. He is a great kid, in spite of going to the wrong school, and I wish him well in the NFL!

This article spells out the 49ers OL situation in a little more detail:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... 8SJ3N1.DTL