Great new article on Swanigan

[pharoutengineer]

This is a must read. Also, check out the video of Biggie in 8th grade at 360 pounds, wow.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-hoops-caleb-swanigans-rough-road-to-purdue

 

[yaheardwithPUrd]

Dang...rough life behind Biggie. Breaks my heart to hear about those kinds of situations, especially when for every biggie that gets out, there are dozens more that never get lifted from that poverty and struggles. If you didn't already have enough reasons to want biggie to succeed, this will surely give you some. Thanks for the post!

 

[FinallyABoilerFinal4]

Dammit, I got emotional. I hate getting emotional this early. I'll be worthless today. All that project talk was a nice setup for Candyman tonight.

 

[FirstDownB]

This is a must read. Also, check out the video of Biggie in 8th grade at 360 pounds, wow.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-hoops-caleb-swanigans-rough-road-to-purdue

Great read! Sheds a lot of light on the Barnes situation. Also underlines the importance of a father or a father figure in a young man's life.

 

[punaj]

Wow, great article. I'd read bits and pieces about Caleb's past, but never had the entire picture. Barnes sounds like a pretty great person as well.

 

[SnowLeopard]

Roosevelt Barnes may have overtaken Wooden, Brees, Cardinal, Hummel, Griese.......heck, even Armstrong as my favorite Purdue alumnus

What a great human being.

The article also suggests there is absolutely no truth to the MSU sour grapes casting Barnes as a greedy sports agent who stole Biggie from his parents and steered him to Purdue for selfish monetary reasons. If the man adopted Biggie when he was that short and fat, there is no way you can project that fat kid into an NBA payday.

Its not about what Biggie can do for Barnes, but what Barnes have done for Biggie

One more reason to root for this team - good people doing things the right way



"He's a manufactured basketball player," Lucas says. "There's no way you could've predicted that a 6'2", 360-pound 14-year-old was going to turn into a McDonald's All-American. He worked hard and made himself into what he is today.

"Roosevelt deserves a lot of credit. I hate to think where [Swanigan] would be right now if he wouldn't have rescued him. It probably wouldn't be pretty."

Still, there are those who believe Barnes had ulterior motives when he took Swanigan into his home more than four years ago.

"If I was going to go out and get a kid for basketball reasons, I'd go find a Chris Webber or a Shaquille O'Neal—a freak," Barnes says. "The only thing freakish about Biggie was how many calories he could devour. Maybe if I wanted to develop the next hot-dog-eating champion, the next Joey Chestnut, people would have a legitimate gripe.

 

[tjreese]

This is a must read. Also, check out the video of Biggie in 8th grade at 360 pounds, wow.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-hoops-caleb-swanigans-rough-road-to-purdue

there are no words that I haven't already expressed in other forums or previously made here to compensate for not reading the article. What a journey and what an example of discipline, perseverance, and attitude. an example for all to meet the challenges in front of them. Impressive and an article I'm much better for having read.

 

[woggy718]

I came here to post that same article. All I can say is WOW. I love stories like this where people refuse to accept their circumstances as their future reality. All to many times, people see guys like Biggie on top of the mountain and they think they just landed there. Everyone loves the rags to riches story but nobody likes to read the book. This is a special kid and God Bless Rosie for going over the top to rescue this kid.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

Can we retire Mr. Barnes' jersey number and hang it in Mackey? To me, this is more significant than just playing honors. This is life and death stuff. I bow to this man.

 

[Erock_94]

wow, just wow. Powerful stuff. I had no idea how driven this man must be..

 

[cgnops]

Caleb has amazing willpower to persevere through such a difficult upbringing. I will be rooting hard for his success here and beyond.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

I read it again. This is like the poster child for someone who could fall off the fence on the right side or the wrong side. Too often people don't get a chance or the help they need to make the right choices, especially when they are young and lost. Thank the Lord someone answered this kid's cry for help. And also that he accepted the help. Every once in a while you read about something that turned out right. Sadly, too often it goes the other way and you read about it in the news when it's too late.

This could be a Christmas movie.

 

[tjreese]

I read it again. This is like the poster child for someone who could fall off the fence on the right side or the wrong side. Too often people don't get a chance or the help they need to make the right choices, especially when they are young and lost. Thank the Lord someone answered this kid's cry for help. And also that he accepted the help. Every once in a while you read about something that turned out right. Sadly, too often it goes the other way and you read about it in the news when it's too late.

This could be a Christmas movie.

We should remember his older brother to understand what awaited Caleb. He deserves a lot of credit for starting the process to save his brother...

 

[BoilerDaddy]

This is a must read. Also, check out the video of Biggie in 8th grade at 360 pounds, wow.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-hoops-caleb-swanigans-rough-road-to-purdue

I see that Swanigan tweeted a thank you to the author of the story. It was a classy response by Swanigan.

Kudos to Matt Painter for making an exception to the no social media policy.

 

[tjreese]

I see that Swanigan tweeted a thank you to the author of the story. It was a classy response by Swanigan.

Kudos to Matt Painter for making an exception to the no social media policy.

yeah.. I caught that as well. Matt probably said ONE tweet...make it good.

 

[woggy718]

Does this story remind anyone of the Michael Orr story? The story that the movie "The Blind Side" is based on.

 

[tjreese]

Does this story remind anyone of the Michael Orr story? The story that the movie "The Blind Side" is based on.

Actually that was a conversation moments ago at Bob Evans as I prepare to head over to God's country.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Does this story remind anyone of the Michael Orr story? The story that the movie "The Blind Side" is based on.

The similarities are really amazing, including both young men ultimately choosing the school that their adoptive fathers/guardians played for.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Bumped for Da Bull.

 

[purdue4sure]

Bumped for Da Bull.

It might be tough to find someone in her trailer park to read it to her.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

It might be tough to find someone in her trailer park to read it to her.

Just tryin to keep the conversation "lively."

 

[mathboy]

It might be tough to find someone in her trailer park to read it to her.

I got to stick up for Da Bull. He is usually a pretty good poster. I think he just could not resist the temptation to pounce on this NCAA eligibility issue. I wouldn't be too harsh. I think I would have followed the same rabit into the hole if the situation was reversed.

 

[purdue4sure]

I got to stick up for Da Bull. He is usually a pretty good poster. I think he just could not resist the temptation to pounce on this NCAA eligibility issue. I wouldn't be too harsh. I think I would have followed the same rabit into the hole if the situation was reversed.

Me too. But I wouldn't have gone to the li'l peegie's board to do it.