Dick Swatland
| No. 64 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | October 8, 1945 Stamford, Connecticut,U.S. | ||||
| Died: | April 9, 2022(aged 76) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Stamford (CT) | ||||
| College: | Notre Dame | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1968/ round: 8 / pick: 195 (byNew Orleans Saints) | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
| |||||
| Career AFL statistics | |||||
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Richard Thomas Swatland(October 8, 1945 – April 9, 2022) was anAmerican footballguardwho played one season in theAmerican Football League(AFL) for theHouston Oilers.He playedcollege footballatNotre Dameand was selected in the 8th round (195th overall) of the1968 NFL/AFL Draftby theNew Orleans Saints.Swatland also spent time with theBridgeport Jetsof theAtlantic Coast Football League(ACFL), theWashington RedskinsandNew England Patriotsof theNational Football League(NFL), and theHamilton Tiger-Catsof theCanadian Football League(CFL).
Early life and education
[edit]Swatland was born on October 8, 1945, inStamford, Connecticut.[1]He attendedStamford Catholic High School,where he was named all-state andAll-Americanas aseniorin 1963.[2]
Swatland playedcollege footballatNotre Dame.As afreshman,he missed the entire football season.[3]In his second year, Swatland became the team's startingright guard,though he could also play at left guard.[4]In 1966, he was a starter on Notre Dame'sundefeated national championship team.[5]As a senior in1967,Swatland was named second-teamAll-Americanby theCentral Press Association.[6]
Professional career
[edit]Swatland was selected in the 8th round (195th overall) of the1968 NFL/AFL Draftby theNew Orleans Saints.[7]He signed a contract with the Saints in early June.[8]He was released by the Saints in mid-August, but was recommended to play with their farm team, theRichmond Roadrunners.[9]
Rather than play for the Roadrunners, Swatland signed a practice squad contract with theHouston Oilersalong withJim LeMoine.[10]He was later promoted to the active roster to be the backup toTom Regner,one of his teammates at Notre Dame.[11]Overall, Swatland appeared in four games in the1968 season,starting none.[12]He wore number 64 with the Oilers.[12]
Despite being "almost assured of a job" afterSonny Bishopretired, Swatland was released as part of the final roster cuts in1969.[13]On October 6, it was announced that he had joined theBridgeport Jetsof theAtlantic Coast Football League(ACFL).[2]
In1970,Swatland was signed by theWashington Redskins,but did not make their final roster.[14]
In1971,Swatland signed with theNew England Patriots,but was placed on the injury waiver list and was released in August.[15]
After being released by the Patriots, Swatland signed with theHamilton Tiger-Catsof theCanadian Football League(CFL), but quit midseason.[16][5]"On my way home I stopped atNiagara Fallsand threw myspikesover the falls. I had enough, "he later said.[5]
Later life and death
[edit]Swatland later became a real estate lawyer.[5]He died on April 9, 2022, at the age of 76.[17]
References
[edit]- ^"Dick Swatland Stats".Pro Football Archives.
- ^ab"Bridgeport Jets Sign Lineman Dick Swatland".The Bridgeport Post.October 7, 1969. p. 23 – viaNewspapers.
- ^Doyle, Joe (November 22, 1967)."13 N.D. Seniors Await Final Game".The South Bend Tribune.p. 31 – viaNewspapers.
- ^Doyle, Joe (October 19, 1965)."Irish Defense Faces Busy Week Getting Ready for Trojan Runs".The South Bend Tribune.p. 18 – viaNewspapers.
- ^abcdRothenberg, Fred (December 13, 1979)."A Look at the 1966 Notre Dame Offense Today:Some Made it to the Pros, Others Didn't Bother Trying ".Lancaster New Era.Associated Press.p. 69,73– viaNewspapers.
- ^Johns, Walter L. (November 28, 1967)."West Coast Dominates All-American".The Circleville Herald.Central Press Association.p. 13 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"1968 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.
- ^"Dick Swatland To Join Saints".The South Bend Tribune.June 2, 1968. p. 37 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"Cowboys Receive Saints' Simmons".The Springfield News-Leader.Associated Press.August 25, 1968. p. 25 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"Houston Adds Cab Squad Duo".The Bangor Daily News.United Press International.September 9, 1968. p. 9 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"Regner might switch guards".Kenosha News.November 23, 1968. p. 16 – viaNewspapers.
- ^ab"Richard Swatland Stats".Pro-Football-Reference.
- ^"Dick Swatland Cut By Houston Oilers".Del Rio News Herald.United Press International.September 10, 1969. p. 9 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"Waivers Asked On Vet Rutgens".The Montgomery Advertiser.Associated Press.August 6, 1970. p. 41 – viaNewspapers.
- ^Fitzgerald, Ray (August 6, 1971)."For Pats, a quiet day; Superfoot taxied away".The Boston Globe.p. 21,26– viaNewspapers.
- ^Levett, Bruce (September 25, 1971)."Quarterbacks are big questions at Toronto".The Leader-Post.p. 22 – viaNewspapers.
- ^Kaufman, Richard (April 11, 2022)."Obituary: Richard T. Swatland, 76, Of Stamford".Patch.
- 1945 births
- 2022 deaths
- American football offensive guards
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players
- New Orleans Saints players
- Houston Oilers players
- Atlantic Coast Football League players
- Washington Redskins players
- New England Patriots players
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
- Sportspeople from Stamford, Connecticut
- Players of American football from Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Connecticut lawyers