Swinton Weathers Academic Difficulty at Washington State

While he was making the grade on the football field last fall, Washington State’s Rich Swinton was posting unsatisfactory grades in the classroom. But after a semester on academic probation, the former National Merit Scholar from Montclair Prep said that the crisis is over.

“I got caught up in the college life--partying--and I lost sight of my goals,” he said. “It took this big kick in the rear to wake me up. I’m awake now.”

Last fall, Swinton became only the sixth ballcarrier in Washington State history to rush for more than 1,000 yards, running for 1,018 yards and 12 touchdowns as the Cougars posted a 9-3 record and earned an Aloha Bowl bid. But WSU’s best performance on the field since 1930 did not carry over into the classroom, where the team’s grade-point average dropped to 1.94.

Five players, including Swinton and fellow 1,000-yard rusher Steve Broussard, did so poorly that the school’s academic review board placed them on probation. In order to qualify for reinstatement to the university, the players had to sit out spring practice, which concluded with Friday’s intrasquad game.

Washington State’s spring semester ends this week, but Swinton already has taken two finals that, he says, he “passed with flying colors.”

“I’m going to be around here whether they want me back or not,” Swinton said by phone from Pullman, Wash.

Swinton graduated from Montclair Prep with a 3.4 GPA and considered attending Harvard before joining high school teammate Tim Stallworth at Washington State. Stallworth was held out of Friday’s game for failing to complete his football physical.

Swinton, who redshirted his freshman year, will be a junior next season. He changed his major from business to sociology this semester after his college GPA dropped to “about two.”

“Last semester damaged my GPA a little bit, but when the new grades come in, it will be in the mid-two range,” Swinton said. “I’m OK. I’m no longer in the red.”

Swinton, an honorable mention All-Pacific 10 selection last fall, will remain in Pullman to attend summer school and to get ready for the football season.