Eastern Michigan’s obscure link to the NBC Sports Network

Eastern Michigan will finally make its NBC Sports Network debut when it faces Wisconsin on Saturday, thanks in part to NBC’s relegating the game to their streaming platform Peacock– making it eligible for airing on the revived NBC Sports Network.

However, despite not appearing on NBC Sports Network's original run from 2005 to 2021, Eastern still has a connection to the channel.

The original NBC Sports Network aired the Medal of Honor Bowl, a college football all-star game in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2014 and 2015. The Eagles sent a player to the inaugural edition in 2014, when defensive back Mycal Swaim played in the 2014 game after a two-year career with Eastern Michigan.

Swaim arrived in Ypsilanti in 2012 after beginning his college career at Butte College, playing in eight games and collecting 20 tackles in his first year at Eastern Michigan before a breakout 2013 season.

Swaim made 81 tackles and had 1.5 tackles for a loss, while intercepting a pass and breaking up another in the 2013 campaign. Swaim played his best in the Eagles’ two games against BCS automatic qualifying teams, with seven tackles and an interception against Penn State and eight tackles the following week against a Rutgers team that nearly won the Big East.

The Medal of Honor Bowl took notice and invited Swaim. He did not disappoint, making four tackles for the American side, good for second on the team in a 20-3 win. Swaim parlayed this into a free-agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but did not make the team.

Eastern Michigan fans may find it odd that their team is appearing on NBC Sports Network, but Swaim’s connection adds an obscure element to Saturday’s game against Wisconsin.

The game is scheduled for kickoff at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Special thanks to Eastern Michigan‘s Football Media Guide for its integral part in this research. You can check it out here.