New Phoenix Head Coach Jason Swepson had a lot more to say in his interview with The Magazine of Elon - we just ran out of space to print it all. Read on for more from Swepson - including how he found his calling to coach and the real story behind Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis' visit to Elon in April.
How and when did your love affair with football begin?
My favorite day, except for the days my kids were born or when I got married, was August 1, 1979. That’s when I was able to join the Pop Warner football league in Seekonk (Mass.). I haven’t missed a single season yet. My brother played in it before me, and I had to wait to join for five years.
We were one of the first African-American families in our neighborhood, and there was definitely some racism that my brother, especially, faced. Sports were an area that we began to fit in. My brother was a phenomenal athlete, he ran track and played football at the high school. But there were days he’d come home and say, “Yeah, I got into another fight today.” His experience opened a lot of doors for me.
(Editor’s Note: At Seekonk High School, Swepson starred at running back for the football team and also for the track team, becoming a Massachusetts state champion in the 100 meters and a New England champion 200 meters. He was named a high school All-American in both sports and has been inducted into of the Seekonk Hall of Fame for his athletic achievements.)
How did your coaching career get started?
Coach (Tom) Coughlin came in and took over Boston College my senior year, and I’ll never forget the day he had us run the 40-yard dash. I was coming off of my fourth knee surgery, and I ran it in 4.85 (seconds). When I entered BC, I was running it in 4.45. I knew my playing days were over. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
In about mid-April that year, my roommate asked me what I was going to do, as graduation was coming up in May. I said, “Well, I miss the game, and I’m thinking of becoming a graduate assistant,” even though it was too late in the year to really be looking for those jobs.
For some reason, that Sunday, my roommate picked up the Boston Globe. He was from Detroit, so there really was no reason for him to buy the Globe, but he did, and inside was an ad that said: “Internship: Bates College Football.”
I went up there to interview, and I got a few recommendations from the coaches at BC, and they offered me a job at $7,500. My mother thought I was crazy to even consider it, because I had a degree from BC and job offers from the Red Sox and Coca-Cola. I chose Bates because, at that time in my life, I thought that if I could make it coaching in Lewiston, R.I., I could make it anywhere.
What’s the most underrated perk of coaching college football?
Your hat changes every couple of months, and that keeps it fresh. When you’re tired of coaching, the season’s over and you hit the road recruiting. After a few months on the road, you come back and become an office worker. After a couple of months of that, you get a vacation, and then it’s preseason and it all starts again.
Where’s an unexpected place you find motivation?
The ability to provide for my family. When you start coaching, you’re usually young and single and you think you’re invincible. But there’s an old saying that you’re not really a football coach until you’ve been fired. I haven’t been yet, but every night, I look at my three kids and my wife and I know I don’t want to be out on the street looking for a way to support them. I know I’ve always got to bring my best.
Inquiring minds want to know: How did you get Ray Lewis to visit Elon for the spring game?
One of Ray’s personal assistants grew up in Reidsville (N.C.) and has seen the development of Elon, both as a school and as a football program. In early February, I got a call from him saying that Ray would be in town in April, and asked if we would like him to visit. Of course, I said, “Yes, that’d be great!”
Then, in the next couple of weeks, I got calls from two other NFL players’ assistants. One asked for money in return for his appearance. I asked some other coaches I knew about this and heard that it was a scam that some people were running. I tried to get in touch with Ray’s assistant and the Ravens to confirm his visit, but I never got calls back.
Two hours before were were going to kick off (for the spring game on April 16), I got a call from Ray’s assistant saying, “Do you still want us to come by?” I said, “Sure.” Now, when I need to come up with a big motivating speech, I’ve got a great video and all I have to do is push “play.”
Want to see Swepson in action? Check out a game at Rhodes Stadium this season – click here for the 2011 Elon football schedule!