*All athletes have that one game, that one contest, that ranks as the most unforgettable of their lives. It can be memorable because of a personal or team achievement, a dramatic finish, a sentimental moment, or a number of any other factors.
Continuing a series begun last summer, Packers.com caught up with the members of the 2008 draft class to ask them about the game they'll never forget. It could be a game at any level of competition that took place at any time. They're all hoping their new NFL careers will give them new memories and new games to cherish, but for now, these rank at the top.*
Brett Swain had posted just one 100-yard receiving game in his college career heading into his senior season at San Diego State.
But just a few games into that senior campaign, Swain had the game of his life.
Playing against Portland State on Sept. 22, 2007, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Swain caught six passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Aztecs to a 52-17 rout and putting himself on the NFL prospect map in the process in the game he'll never forget.
"It was pretty amazing," Swain said. "Up until that point I was a pretty good receiver, but I wasn't an over-100-yard type of guy. But once I had that game, it kind of just set the tone for the rest of the season and turned my whole viewpoint on what's going to happen with football."
Swain went on to surpass 100 yards only one other time, two weeks later with 111 at Colorado State. But he did rack up three other 90-plus yard efforts and another 80-plus as his career wound down, and they were enough to get him drafted in the seventh round by the Packers (217th overall).
Asked whether he thought the 224-yard outburst had an impact on his future possibilities, Swain didn't hesitate.
"I think it did," he said. "It got my name out there that I had a good game, and people noticed me. It was definitely a big game for my career."
It came about primarily because Swain and his quarterback, Kevin O'Connell, who was drafted in the third round (94th overall) by the New England Patriots, noticed something on film while studying Portland State that they figured they could exploit.
"Throughout the week we saw they ran a certain coverage and allowed the slot receiver to come free in the middle of the field," Swain said. "We put in a special check and an audible for that, and I was able to get that check and audible, and the play was open and I was able to take the middle of the field. We hit on it a couple times, so that was good."
Swain's second touchdown of the night, a 53-yarder, was on that type of slant from the slot. All three of Swain's TDs actually came within a span of just over 10 minutes through the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second.
On three consecutive San Diego State possessions, Swain hauled in TD passes of 30, 53 and 75 yards, putting the Aztecs ahead 28-14 with 10:04 left in the second quarter. Swain had five of his catches for 188 yards in the first half.
{sportsad300}"Like always I was preparing myself the whole week," Swain said. "I knew I was going to be able to get open and make plays down the field. It was all about preparation and studying and working hard during the week, and it paid off in the end."
Speaking of preparation, that's what led to what Swain calls the most memorable single play of his career. As a sophomore playing at "The Horseshoe" at Ohio State, Swain hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass on the very first play of the game, momentarily silencing the crowd of 90,000-plus in attendance.
Swain would love nothing more than to make some of those eye-opening types of plays during preseason games this summer, as he tries to secure a roster spot within the most crowded and talented receiver group the Packers have possessed in recent memory.
A game with 224 yards will be nearly impossible to top, but then again, Swain never imagined he'd have one like that to begin with.
"It felt great," he said. "Being a senior, you know it might be your last football season, and having a big game like that it turns your outlook on the whole season around. It makes you feel good inside and you look forward to the next week, because you're trying to do it again.
"It gives you a lot of confidence and puts you on a cloud that's hard to reach all the time."
