Men's swimmer Ted Brisson is the quintessential student-athlete.

January 7, 1999

When the hyphenated term student-athlete was first coined some decades back by some athletic administrator, coach or media member, the person that first used the phrase must have been thinking of Ted Brisson.

Of course that person didn't know it then. After all, Brisson wasn't born until April 8, 1978 in Enid, Oklahoma of all places. But Brisson grew up to be the prototype of the modern day collegiate student-athlete. Look in a dictionary for the phrase, a Brisson's handsome mug shot probably lurks in an adjacent position.

When Brisson, who now calls Goldsboro, N.C. his hometown, entered the University of North Carolina as a peach fuzz faced 17-year-old freshman in August of 1995, no one could have predicted the success this kid would achieve.

Coming out of the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Brisson wasn't necessarily highly recruited. Still the Tar Heel swimming program was lucky to land him. North Carolina head coach Frank Comfort sensed potential.

That potential ended up being greater than anyone in Chapel Hill anticipated. As a freshman in 1996, Brisson surprised almost everyone by winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in the 100-yard backstroke and earning honorable mention All-America honors. As a sophomore, he merited honorable mention All-America honors once again. As a junior, he set the Atlantic Coast Conference record in the 100-yard backstroke at 48.10 while winning the league championship. In the process his athletic prowess and versatility has made him one of the ACC's best relay swimmers. To list all his statistics and all his records would be a futile venture in a treatise this limited. Just take my word for it. This kid is really good.

But as robust as Brisson's efforts in the pool have been, it is his out-of-Speedo exploits that make him that quintessential student-athlete. Of course, now a senior, he is a team tri-captain. A team first kind of individual, Brisson treasures the three ACC championship rings he has received as a Tar Heel. His senior year will not be complete unless he earns a fourth. He will be the first to admit that.

While focusing on leading his teammates to the promised championship land his senior year, Brisson has another dilemma. He has to decide whether he wants to go to medical school next year at Harvard, Johns Hopkins or Carolina. Oh, to have those kinds of choices in life.

A double major in chemistry and economics, Brisson maintains a 3.805 cumulative grade point average as he enters his final semester at Carolina. He has made the Dean's List at UNC each of his first seven semesters here. He has made the ACC Academic Honor Roll each of his first three years at Carolina. As a junior, he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

As a sophomore and a junior the College Swimming Coaches Association of America named him an Academic All-America. Last year, he made the even more prestigious GTE/College Sports Information Directors of America At-Large Academic All-America, competing against athletes in 11 Olympic sports nationwide for one of the precious few spots on that team.

And yet Brisson's humility is mind-boggling. Credit Dave and Edie Brisson with doing one of the best jobs of parenting ever. Ted takes his success in stride, never sports a bigheaded attitude and has grown >from a shy teenager into a personable young man.

"Ted Brisson is a true joy to be around every day," says Carolina head swimming coach Frank Comfort. "There isn't a phase of his life in which he doesn't give 100 percent. As good as his collegiate experience has been, you are staggered by the potential of his career."

While Brisson has matured greatly during his four years in Chapel Hill, he still looks like an impish high schooler with a scheming smile. He sports his trademark bow tie at every opportunity he can find to don dress-up togs.

It is unfortunate in this day and age that so much attention is focused on student-athletes who are troublemakers. Stories are rarely written about the Ted Brissons of the collegiate athletic world. That is a sad fact of life.

"When I look back at things, I couldn't be happier with the decision I made to attend Carolina," says Brisson. "My experience here has been wonderful. I don't think I ever envisioned the success I have had in the pool and in the classroom. But I share those experiences with my family and all the friends I have made here.

"While I am looking forward to medical school next year, I will have to admit that there are many aspects of the undergraduate experience that I will dearly miss."

"I am so thankful that Ted Brisson decided four years ago to become a Tar Heel," adds Comfort. "He has brought great honor to our program. He is the type of young man who makes the experience of working in college athletics so rewarding."

Dave Lohse Director of Media Relations - Olympic Sports