The NCAA News - Briefly in the News

October 11, 1999

While he doesn't live in Philadelphia, John Swofford, the Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner, could tell people a thing or two about brotherly love.

This summer Swofford donated bone marrow to his older brother, Bill Swofford, who has cancerous lymphoma.

"My brother was an inspiration to me," Swofford said. "I have three older brothers, but he was closest to me in age, which is why I was asked first to be tested for a match."

Swofford's marrow matched, and he traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, in May to donate the marrow, a procedure that is much more invasive than simply donating blood.

In a procedure that requires the donor to be under anesthesia, the doctors used a long needle to scrape bone marrow from his hip. They then transferred the marrow intravenously to Bill.

"There was no hesitation to give it," John Swofford said. "Nor do I think there would be on most anyone's part for someone you love, someone who has meant as much as Bill has to me."

The two brothers are particularly close because they lost their father to cancer when he was only 53. At the time, Bill was a high-school senior while John was in the eighth grade.

"I think I drew strength from my brother," John Swofford said. "He was an all-state football player, but he didn't accept any of the (football) scholarship offers."

Instead the older Swofford chose music as his livelihood. Under the name "Oliver," Bill Swofford had a pair of hits in 1969: "Good Morning, Starshine" and "Jean."

The younger Swofford chose athletics and athletics administration. John Swofford played football at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and he was the athletics director at North Carolina before he became commissioner of the ACC.

The first test of the transplant's success or failure was August 22, 100 days after the procedure. So far, so good. If there were going to be initial rejection problems, Bill Swofford should have had them by then -- and he had none.

Doctors will keep an eye out for the lymphoma and its tumors, and if it doesn't return within the next two years Bill Swofford will be considered cured.

"I imagine that will be a pretty big day," said Bill Swofford. "I'll have to call John and say 'thank you.' That's all I've done, tell him thank you all the time. There's nothing monetarily I can give that would mean enough for what he's done."

Is this football or the mile

Brian Rafferty, a senior at Hiram College, did a little extra running in the Terriers' football season opener against Bluffton College.

Rafferty set a Division III football record when he returned a blocked extra-point attempt 100 yards for a defensive extra point. The previous record was a 97-yard return by Keith Mottram of Colorado College.

Rafferty's return was originally credited as a 95-yard return, but a review of game film revealed that he received the ball three yards deep in the end zone before running the length of the field.

It will go in the records book as a 100-yard return to comply with an NCAA statistics policy on returns made from the end zone.

Swede scores seven goals

The University of Charleston (West Virginia) men's soccer team had a game for the records book in its 16-0 win over Ohio Valley College.

The Golden Eagles' 16 goals tied the Division II record, while sophomore Danny Ritter's seven goals and 15 points also is a Division II mark.

Ritter, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, had nine goals and two assists in the first two games of the season.

Young Naismith visits Hall

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which opened this year in Knoxville, Tennessee, had a recent visitor whose roots go back to the game's founder.

Ian Naismith, grandson of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, stopped in while he was in town to visit with Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt.

Robin Hamilton, director of the hall, pointed out the significance of the younger Naismith's visit. "In 1892, the mother of women's basketball, Senda Berenson, traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts to meet Dr. Naismith and learn about the game of basketball," Hamilton said.

As a result of that trip, the women's game was born.

As a result of this trip, Naismith hopes to tell more people about the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and encourage them to visit.

"I heard about the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opening and thought I should come see it," Naismith said. "I'm overwhelmed by how much it has to offer and how beautiful it is. It is just amazing."

--Compiled by Kay Hawes