Given his choice of one thing to do on a day all his own, there would be no debate for R. Michael James Professor of Accounting, Business and Finance Dr. Philip Swicegood — fly-fishing. 
 
“There’s a certain beauty to it,” he says. “I sometimes think if I had only a day left to do what I want to do, I would be in the mountains on a little stream fishing for little brook trout. There’s a beautiful, fun rhythm to it. It resonates deep in my heart.” 
 
Swicegood takes his love for wilderness fishing a step beyond, sharing it with Wofford students. He and the Rev. Dr. Ron Robinson ’78, Perkins-Prothro Chaplain and Professor of Religion, have led several Interim groups on fishing trips, expeditions designed both for those with experience and first-time flycasters. 
 
The Interim classes start on campus with basic instruction on casting and the art and science of chasing the elusive trout. Flies are tied and plans are made. Then the class is off to North Carolina mountain streams for several days before a week-long trip to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Fishing both foreign and domestic. 
 
“I’ll ask the students why they want to take the class,” Swicegood says. “Sometimes it’s because they want to get better. Several students have said they want to fly-fish because their dad or uncle has talked about how they love to do it, and they want to learn something they can do together for the rest of their lives. And that’s tremendous. 
 
“As much as I love to fly-fish, the fun part is taking the students. It takes it to a whole new level. I want to capture their interest and imagination, and the rest takes care of itself. I’m more of a coach than anything else. I just light the fire a little.” 
 
Swicegood grew up on a farm in North Carolina and fished for bass and bream as a child. Fascinated with the concept of fly-fishing, he saved $100 from jobs mowing lawns, bought his first rod and reel and a dozen flies and left on a journey that continues today.