Oklahoma State University Athletics
Around The Horn With... Jared Swart
February 23, 2006 | Cowboy Baseball
From your bio, it says you've always liked OSU. How much did it mean to you to put on the uniform?
Ah, it was great. It was a great feeling. I remember when they were recruiting me and asked me to come here, the first thing I said was, “Sign me up. I'm not looking anywhere else.” I've been a huge fan all my life.
Who on this team have you really bonded with since you got here?
Me and (Oliver) Odle went to school together our freshman year (at Connors State), and we had some classes together this past fall, so we've known each other and had a pretty good bond. I would have to say everybody on the team, really. It's been great. Everybody on the team gets along, and you can hang out with anybody.
Right now baseball takes up a ton of your time, but what do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time (laughs)? I like to watch TV and hang out. I like to be around the teammates, really.
What's your major, and what do you want to do after college?
I'm a physical education major, and I would like to teach and coach.
You claim that your favorite team is the Dodgers and your favorite player is Jason Schmidt. How does that work since he doesn't play for them?
Well, it's him or Jake Peavy. I think I kind of throw like Peavy.
But he doesn't play for the Dodgers either. So why them?
(laughs) Shawn Green used to be my favorite player, and he got traded to the Dodgers and now he doesn't even play for them. My high school was blue and white, so honestly, I kind of like the colors.
The team's goal is Omaha (College World Series), but what are your personal goals?
Man, I don't know. I would like to go 8-2 or something like that. I mean, 10 wins would be great, but seven or eight wins would be good. I'd like to keep my ERA under 2.80 because that's what I had last year (at Cowley County CC).
What was the last book you read that was not required reading for a class?
I used to read a lot of movie books, but I read the Resident Evil series for fun.
Do you have any pre-game rituals that you do?
I am pretty superstitious, but before a game, I just kind of try to keep it loose and not let my mind try to get the best of me.
So then what are some of your superstitions?
Oh, man. Doubling up everything. I know it sounds stupid, but I do one thing and then cancel it out. (laughs) It's bad. It's almost like obsessive compulsive. There are certain TV shows that you watch when you're doing good, but if you do bad, you X them out and don't watch them anymore. You stick with one kind of shampoo. Man, it's rough.
What about stepping over the foul line?
Oh, I never step on the foul line. I always hop over it with the right foot.
Have you ever met anyone that's as superstitious as you?
I don't really talk about it because I don't want to feel -- I don't know anyone that's as bad as I am.
— By Tim Landes, OSU Media Relations
