01news issue 4

Page 1

Volume 51 Issue 4

southblueprint.com

Downers Grove South High School

@DGSBlueprint

@DGSBlueprint

Feb. 5, 2015

@DGSBlueprint

Four star varsity offensive tackle Erik Swenson seeking new college home Two days after the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Florida Gators 41-7, Swenson received the call. He was told After having his scholarship pulled to reopen his recruitment and to look for by Michigan University, senior offensive other schools. A day later, and nearly a tackle Erik Swenson has found a new month before national signing day, the home at the University of Oklahoma. He University of Michigan pulled Swenson’s announced his final decision on his Twit- scholarship. He described his initial ter on Jan. 30. thoughts after hearing the unexpected Before committing to become a Okla- news. homa to become a Sooner this fall, Sw“I was shocked. It was a month until enson had been committed to Michigan signing day, and when they tell commits since 2013, making him the longest com- they should go look at other schools, usumitted athlete in the class of 2016. ally that’s a red flag,” Swenson said. “I Over the past four years, Swenson has never really saw it coming. A few other been well known for his 6’7” 310 pound commits have experienced this, but I frame dismantling opposing defensive guess some of them were warned about linemen under the Friday night lights. a month before my [incident] happened. In the past few weeks, Swenson has been I was never warned before that time.” caught under the spotlight of ESPN and The incident quickly caught the attena numerous amount of major sports net- tion of sports networks such as ESPN, works after decommitting from the Uni- Bleacher Report and even the Chicago versity of Michigan after the university Tribune. He admitted he has been conrevoked his scholarship. tacted on other occasions to be featured On Jan. 20, Swenson announced he on some networks, but politely rejected was reopening his recruitment with a them. statement via Twitter. “It’s pretty crazy. I’ve had a lot of peoThe 4-star prospect had been commit- ple call me up to be on SportsCenter and ted to Michigan since Nov. 2013 before everything, but I don’t really want to do receiving a call from Michigan’s Offen- that -- it’s not my thing. I don’t want to sive Line coach Tim Drenovo in early keep dragging it through every newsJanuary. caster I can,” Swenson. Drenovo had kept in touch with SwenHis mother, Diana Swenson, talked about her son and her family being constantly pestered by media and recruiters. She also explained how all of this attention has impacted the Swenson family. “After the news broke of Erik decommitting, there was a lot of attention pointed towards him and our family. We had reporters calling us non-stop that day and our phone still rings every hour with colleges [on the other line]. Most people were really supportive and encouraging towards Erik,” Diana said. “However, there were some die-hard Michigan fans who wrote false articles and claimed Erik and my family as ‘liars.’ Very few people believed those articles, though. Overall everyone has been really positive.” As the reports and stories swirled around the media, Senior Erik Swenson posted this statement on his Twitter to reopen his recruitment on Jan. 20, 2016. some have speculated that Michigan’s former player Photo screenshots by Joe Stellato and first year head coach Jim son while he was a commit. They spoke Harbaugh had an impact on the deciwith each other on a weekly basis and sion. According to Erik, he reached out developed what Swenson described as “a to Harbaugh, but did not have the opporgreat relationship.” The two-year com- tunity to speak with the coach directly. mit received a routine call from his coach Harbaugh did not answer any phone two days before his team competed in calls from the Blueprint. the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Before decommitting this past month, Jan. 1. Swenson was the longest committed athBy Joe Stellato, Editor-in-Chief Print

lete in the class of 2016 for committing in late 2013. Although he received offers from other schools such as Notre Dame, Ohio State and Alabama, he planned on keeping his promise to become a Wolverine for this coming season -- until he was told to seek out other schools. He explained what qualities he saw in the university that motivated him to commit to them so early in his high school career. “[They have] a great football team, great academics; it’s kind of a mixture of both. Their football team is very successful and academics just back it up. [They also have] great culture. The fan base is awesome. There’s a lot of tradition at U of M, so I kind of just fell in love with the school. The coaches were obviously just the icing on the cake. It was a good fit for me, I thought, and it’s what I wanted all around [in a university],” Swenson said. Sophomore Kate Swenson is Senior Erik Swenson reopened his football recruitErik’s younger sister. She reflected ment on Jan. 20, 2016 after being commited to the on her and the family’s adoration University of Michigan since Nov. 2013. they had for Photo Courtesy of DGS Athletic Department Michigan when Erik first announced his commitment. North Carolina, Virginia, South Caro“When Erik first committed to Michi- lina and Texas Tech. The transition from gan, it felt like a perfect fit. Our whole being dedicated to Michigan to searching family loved the school and the coaches for a new school has become easier for at the time. The school and its sports him to cope with. “I was shocked in the beginning, but I kind of got over it and now I’m just really looking for a new school and trying to go in with an open mind at all places,” Erik said. One of the factors contributing to dealing with his recent setback emotionally is his support from his family, who he hopes will play a dominant role in Swenson commited to the University of Oklahoma on Jan. 30, 2016. his final decision on a college. management program was great, so we “I’m sure I’ve shed a few tears, I don’t felt like there were no other schools out want to admit that, but it happens. My there that could compare,” Kate said. family has been great. My parents have “Therefore, we were all really proud of been supportive as any parents would him and excited for him when he first be. My sister has been looking at all the committed. However, that all changed in cool sides of schools so she’d look up the a blink of an eye.” uniforms, their facilities, their record... Following these events, Erik has spent she’s more into that while my parents the past few weeks meeting with recruit- are more [into] academics. It’s definitely ers and visiting to other schools in hopes a good blend between each one,” Erik of finding a new home. Some universi- said. ties that have expressed interests in acContact Joe at quiring him include Oklahoma, Mizzou, jste1881@csd99.org


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