Topic: Herd great Brian Swisher inducted in OVAC Hall of Fame

[W0lfman]

Brian Swisher

(Sistersville, 1982)

The 5-foot-7, 145-pound wide receiver/kick returner became the first three-time first team All-W. Va. football honoree from Tyler County when he led Sistersville High to back-to-back state Class A championships in 1980-81.

Swisher led the Tigers to a 13-0 record in 1981 as he set an Ohio Valley and W. Va. record for scoring by a lineman with 26 touchdowns (receiving, rushing, returns) and 156 points. He was runnerup for the Kennedy Award as state player of the year but earned the Hunt Award as state Lineman of the Year.

He set season and career pass receiving marks in the Ohio Valley and averaged 39.2 yards on kickoff returns and 20.2 yards on punt returns. Swisher set an Ohio Valley record by catching passes in 36 consecutive games - every game he started.

His career regular season totals were 126 receptions for 2,174 yards and 23 TDs. He led the valley in regular season pass receiving yards for 1980 (681 yards on 47 catches) and 1981 (906 yards and 14 TDs on 53 receptions). As a sophomore, he landed 26 passes for 582 yards.

Swisher was a three-time All-OVAC and All-Valley honoree as well as all-state three times.

In the spring, he competed in track as a 100 and 200-meter sprinter, long jumper and relay member. He won eight individual medals in three state Class AA meets - a first in the 100 as a sophomore, six seconds and a third - and was a member of a astate champion 4x100 relay team. He tied a state meet A-AA 100-meter record with a 10.9-second clocking in the 1981 trials.

He signed a football scholarship with Marshall and played four seasons including three years as a starting wide receiver. He landed 106 passes from 1982-85 for 1,617 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was Marshall's leading receiver in 1983 with 32 catches for 560 yards and three scores. He also was a Herd track sprinter.

Swisher currently resides in Lewis Center, Ohio.

http://news-register.net/sports/story/0612202005_spt01.asp

[HerdHead]

Fuzzy Filliez was also mentioned in the article as a member of this years OVAC Hall of Fame class.

[carolinaherdfan]

Fuzzy Filliez was also mentioned in the article as a member of this years OVAC Hall of Fame class.

If some of our more recently talented receivers, would have played with the same intensity, dedication, and wreckless abandon as these two fellows, our record last year would have been at worst 9-3. We would never have gotten to the level we are on today, without the type of all out play, of these type players, who donned the "kelley."

Congratulations, and Best Wishes to them Both,

Carolina,

 :smile: