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Former Yellow Jacket Enshrined Into College Football Hall Of Fame

None — As a defensive end for the Georgia Tech "Black Watch", Pat Swilling not only resurrected the Georgia Tech defense, but also ensured that the entire football program would continue to succeed. With Swilling leading the defense, the Yellow Jackets allowed only 10.7 points per game during his senior season.

Swilling's coach at the time, Bill Curry recalls, "He was a dominant force in all the right ways at a time when we desperately needed him to be just that." As a Yellow Jacket, Swilling set the NCAA record for sacks in a game (seven against North Carolina State in 1985) as well as set the Georgia Tech record for sacks in a season (15).

Nicknamed the "bell cow" by defensive coordinator Don Lindsey, Swilling embodied the definition: the lead cow of a herd. One of Swilling's most memorable achievements was the game against N.C. State in which he sacked QB Erik Kramer seven times. Voted First-Team All-America by the Football Writers Association in 1985, Swilling graduated as Georgia Tech's all-time leader in sacks (23) and tackles for loss (37), currently ranking fourth in both categories.

Swilling was selected in the third round of the 1985 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. In 1989 he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, when he recorded 17 sacks. During his extensive NFL career, Swilling also played for the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders.

Named to the Pro Bowl five times, Swilling's career 107.5 sacks place him in the Top 20 all-time sack leaders in NFL history. After his football career, Swilling was elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives, and now works as a real estate developer. In 2000 he was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

"The College Football Hall of Fame is honored to host so many notable contributors to the game in South Bend, celebrating this tremendous accolade," said College Football Hall of Fame Executive Director Lisa Klunder. "Enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame is a rare distinction shared by only the most accomplished players, and our festival boasts a myriad of events to highlight this extraordinary achievement."

**GEORGIA TECH ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS**