The Observer, April 21, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 25
Legendary football coach brought Jack McIver to Western Reserve University
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Pat Rodjam enjoyed a marvelous season for the men's swim team this year, garnering UAA Swimmer of the Year honors. It will probably be a season that he will never forget.
However, in the 1950s, prospective swimmers at Western Reserve did not have the opportunity that Rodjam had this year to show off their skills. The school did not have a team.
That all ended, though, with the arrival of Jack McIver. McIver, with the help of legendary football coach Eddie Finnigan, brought swimming to Western Reserve.
"When I came to Western Reserve, there was no swim team," he said. "So I went to Eddie Finnigan and asked him if we could start a swim team. He said yes, if I could get eight to 10 guys together to start a team. It took a couple of years, but by 1959, we got enough together to start a team."
McIver immediately made an impact, setting multiple records in freestyle events during his two years on the team. During his senior season, he was captain of the squad and finished as the top point scorer.
McIver was impressed with the way the team competed so quickly.
"We actually won two meets that first year," he said. "I thought that was quite an accomplishment."
While McIver had an influential career in the pool at Western Reserve, football was the sport that he loved the most.
"I felt that it was my sport," he said. "Swimming was secondary. Football was what brought me to Western Reserve in the first place."
His passion for the game showed in his results on the field, as he was a co-captain and earned both team most valuable player and All-Presidents' Athletic Conference first-team honors in 1959. He was also named All-American Special Mention by Street & Smith's Football Magazine that same year. He also helped lead the team to the conference championship in 1958.
Coming to Western Reserve and starring in both football and swimming were not givens during his high school career, though. McIver was not even living in the Cleveland area until his senior year of high school. He previously lived in Kentucky, outside of Louisville, before moving to northeast Ohio. Not surprisingly, he was considering a variety of colleges besides Western Reserve. It was not until he met with Coach Finnigan that he decided to attend the school.
"Finnigan came to my high school and insisted that I come," McIver said. "Not having definite opinions on where to go, I decided to go."
The decision was one that McIver would not regret. As for Finnigan, he had quite an influence on McIver during that initial meeting, and McIver continued to admire the coach during his playing career.
"He really influenced my life and my future as it is today," he said. "He was a very influential person and an excellent coach. I was very fortunate to have him as a coach. He was a master of sayings and clichés, and to my estimation, he lived up to every one of them."
Using the knowledge that he gained from Finnigan, McIver has plenty of wisdom to impart upon today's young athletes. He advises today's student-athletes to take full advantage of their playing careers while they still can.
"I would tell them to make the most of their four-year athletic endeavors," he said. "In all likelihood, when they finish, they will not go any further. Therefore, they should make the most of it while they have it."
Evidenced by his prowess in the pool and on the football field, it is clear that McIver took advantage of his athletic endeavors at Western Reserve. McIver achieved further success in other realms after graduation, starting his own dental practice while also becoming a nationally ranked racquetball player.
Sporting a wide variety of accomplishments, it is safe to say that Jack McIver will be one of the more well-rounded members of the athletic hall of fame.
