Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Asaph Schwapp: 1987-2013 Asaph Schwapp, one of the last fullbacks in Notre Dame history, died May 8 after a yearlong battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 26. The 6-0, 257-pound Schwapp enrolled at Notre Dame in the summer of 2005 after earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Connecticut. Schwapp became an inspiring story, and a beloved teammate, because he made the most of his talents after his mother, Evelyn, died from cancer when he was 9 years old. Raised by an aunt and uncle, Schwapp grew up in the rough inner-city of Hartford, Conn., but was ranked among the top five students in his senior class at Weaver High School and was one of the strongest freshmen ever to attend Notre Dame, bench-pressing 455 pounds upon his arrival. "My whole thing is trying to make my family proud," Schwapp said during his first month at Notre Dame. "That is driving me, and that is part of why I chose Notre Dame. It doesn't get much better." His first start as a freshman came in the 34‑31 loss to No. 1 USC. Notre Dame finished the regular season 9‑2 and No. 5 in the nation before losing 34‑20 to No. 4 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Schwapp's main role was to be the lead blocker for 1,000-yard rusher Darius Walker, and his 111:35 playing time that season was four times more than any other Irish freshman that year. A knee injury sidelined Schwapp in 2006 after he started the first two games, but he was the regular starter at fullback again in 2007 and 2008. He finished his college career with 98 yards on 44 carries, and also caught eight passes for 62 yards. The fullback position was gradually phased out in recent years, especially with the game going toward more multiple-wideout sets and spread alignments. Schwapp became an inspiring story, and a beloved teammate, because he made the most of his talents after his mother, Evelyn, died from cancer when he was 9 years old. photo courtesy notre dame media relations Schwapp, who earned his degree in the Mendoza College of Business, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2009, but was cut before the regular season began. He played with the Hartford Colonials in the UFL in 2010 before becoming a free agent and taking a position as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in Hartford.