University of Tennessee Athletics
SWAIN LEADING BY EXAMPLE
September 15, 2006 | Football
Sept. 15, 2006
By Austin Ward, UT Sports Information
He's not a captain.
But that's only because Tennessee no longer appoints season-long captains.
He is a leader.
But that's only because Jayson Swain will do whatever it takes to for the Vols to win.
Through two games, that's all the Vols have done. The senior wide receiver wouldn't have it any other way.
Swain has caught a pair of touchdown passes - two more than he had during all of the disappointing 2005 campaign - but those around the program said it's been more than his on-field success that has No. 1 UT erasing the memories of last season.
To hear other Vols tell the story, Swain undoubtedly leads by example. But he has also gone from relatively quiet to positively everywhere this season, talking to the media, his teammates, his coaches - anybody who wants to talk about football, really - both of which are major factors is his becoming the de facto leader on and off the field this year for UT.
Ask anybody.
Quarterback Erik Ainge and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor - just in case you don't believe them - said a poll of the entire locker room would erase any doubt.
"Even though we don't have captains elected, you could ask anybody on this team," Ainge said. "Jayson Swain is definitely the leader on this football team."
"To me, a leader is a guy that leads by example," Taylor said. "If you asked anybody, they would tell you that he is a captain on this football team."
Anybody? What about, say, Jayson Swain?
"Everybody's a leader, I think, in their own right," Swain said. "Whether you're a sophomore, junior or senior, everybody has a leadership role and leadership qualities about them.
"We've been doing a good job of having everybody step up as team leaders, and we don't need any team captains and or to be on the front of the media guide. That doesn't matter."
For the record, Swain is on the cover of the media guide. But you can also find him in the film room. Or the weight room. Or on Mondays and Tuesdays chatting with the media.
If it has anything to do with UT football, Swain will be there.
"A lot of guys can lead with words," Ainge said. "They can be 'Rah-rah, go-team-go' type of guys, but the ones that are most important and the ones that you get the most out of are the ones that lead by example.
"The ones that go out there everyday, even when they're hurt, and are playing full-speed. The ones that are always watching film, they're saying and doing the right things - that's Jayson."
Swain doesn't call himself a leader, but he has said that he find the challenge of being a leader "fun." He generally deflects any praise thrown his way - pretty much the opposite of any footballs coming in his direction - but he hesitated when his quarterback was doing the tossing. As humble as the Huntsville, Ala., native may be, he doesn't want any drops when it comes to Ainge.
"Erik said that?" Swain said. "Coming from Erik, that means a lot. We've been through it all together, the low valleys and now starting to get back to where we're making plays and doing well on the offensive side of the ball.
"It makes it more important to go out there and work hard for him, make plays and make him look good every Saturday."
Swain and Ainge have looked good on both Saturdays so far this season, but that's due mostly to the work done on the other six days of the week - and more than a few Saturdays since last December.
Swain worked through the offseason to try to become not only a better receiver, but also to become more comfortable in a leadership role.
"When I first got the wide receivers position, I got with him and tried to make him understand that we're only going to go as far as he was going to take us," Taylor said. "It's something that I demand of him.
"He took it personal, and he's really tried to make it a team effort. The temperament that he has, the ability that he has, and the mindset that he has is that he's going to bring everybody, not just himself, along with him."
He's brought the entire offense - stagnant a year ago but super against California and Air Force - along with him so far.
He's brought along Ainge - who has already thrown for more touchdowns this season than all of last year and has set new career-highs for passing yards in both games - and he's helped Robert Meachem explode by giving enemy defenses more than one target to worry about.
"The thing that Swain brings to the table is that he can line up at every spot and he brings calmness on the field," Taylor said. "Those other guys look and see him in the huddle, and they feel pretty good about it.
"When we look like we're unsettled, he'll step up and tell the guys, 'Just relax and execute.' You'll hear him talk about no wasted plays. You'll hear him talking about alignment and assignment. When he starts speaking the same language that you do as a coach, that's when you know you have them going the right way."
He's speaking the same language as the coaches, but the fact that he's so willing to speak at all is a major step in Swain's development as a leader.
"It's night and day," Taylor said.
"Jayson is more comfortable now talking in front of the team, and that's going to help him out in every way to be a leader of this team," Ainge said. "He fits the mold, and he knows he fits the mold, so he's taken it upon himself to try to lead this football team."
So Swain is talking. Mostly about football - "He may text-message me and ask me a question about a coverage at 11 at night," Taylor said - but Swain said it could be about anything.
He wants to be there for his teammates, and more importantly, he wants to do whatever is necessary to make the Vols a better team.
"I've got to go out there and make plays, and do the right things on and off the field. I'm trying to take on that responsibility every single day," Swain said. "I talk to the team every day about doing what it takes to win. Build a house. Take them out to dinner. Feed the dog. Do your homework. It probably won't be right, but I'll do it if I have to do it to win.
"Whatever it takes to win, than that's what I'm going to do. I want to make sure that everybody else around me is doing the same thing."
It's what a captain would do.
It's what a leader does.
