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STUART SCHWEIGERT Goes Into the Starlight
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Stuart Eric
Schweigert, photo by Richard Curry |
I'm in Orlando on New Year's Day and looking towards the
Purdue Tunnel when Saginaw's own football star Stuart Eric Schweigert
steps onto the field leading out his Boilermakers. As a one-day
photographer for Review Magazine, it could not have been a better day.
We had sunshine & blue skies, 75 degrees, two awesome college bands,
cheerleaders & dance teams, 60,000 over the edge screaming fans and
at least another 1000 cheerleaders from across the nation.
It's good to be the Stu man and the photo man. Stuart didn't just
happen to be here. It took years of intensive training, dedication and
God given ability. He has never lost sight of his education, as he
completed his college degree in three-and-a-half years.
Stuart's sports exploits are legendary. At Heritage High School he
did everything but sell popcorn and tickets at the games. For the Hawks,
Stu participated in basketball, track & field, and football. On the
football team as a senior he rushed 1,502 yards and threw 22 touchdowns
as an option quarterback. He had 500 yards passing and four touchdowns.
On defense Stu recorded 50 tackles, three interceptions, and seven pass
breakups. He was the Detroit Athletic Club Male Athlete of the Year,
Prep Sport All-American and named to the Detroit & Saginaw News
'Dream Teams'. |
Before choosing Purdue he was ranked as the 9th best defensive back and the
78th best player in the country. Stu's mom, Carol, told me Stu is spoiled
rotten, but not that rotten. At Purdue the 6'3", 217 pound football wonder
put up numbers that will get him drafted into the NFL. In four years Stuart
totaled 218 solo tackles, 132 assisted tackles (his 350 tackles rank him
10th all time, 2nd most to Rod Woodson among defensive-backs), and 17
interceptions (an all-time Purdue record).
| On October 5th, 2002 he had 14 tackles at Iowa. He was a
2003 All-American by Playboy. Three straight times he was one of
12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's outstanding
defensive back), 2004 All American third team, first team Big Ten in
2003, and in 2002 and 2001 he was second team All Big Ted, rated the
nation's number one free safety in 2002 by the All-Pro Scouting Service,
Purdue's 2003 Co-Captain, Academic All-American. As a sophomore he was
already a fourth team All American by 'The Sporting News', 2000 true
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman All-American by Football
News, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and one 'Atta Boy' from Saginaw
County Sports Hall of Fame. There is plenty more, but I'm getting
tired punching in the accomplishments on my computer.
Back to the game at hand. It was a lum-puck-a-ronney, a house burner,
a ball buster, a roof-raiser, a Katie bar the door all out battle to the
death 'Capital One Bowl' game. |
Photo by
Richard Curry |
The Georgia Bull Dogs (11-2) stormed to a 24 to zip half time lead. Purdue
Q.B. Kyle Orton back from a dislocated thumb led his team all the way back
to tie the contest 27-all in the last minute of the game. But the Bull Dogs
punched one in, from three inches out to win on their fourth down in
overtime.
For the day Stu had two tackles and eight assisted tackles. His intensity
and drive rallied the Boilermakers (9-3) in the second half. Stuart
Schweigert is living his dream.
Stu has two more Bowl games to go and then the NFL - combine prep program
for testing. This summer Stuart becomes independently wealthy, not Charles
Rogers wealthy, but wealthy.
Stu would look in Silver and Honolulu blue.
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