 Schwammel was one of the key players in the now illegal "Pyramid Play" where the Beavers hoisted 6'7" Clyde Devine atop the shoulders of 6'2" Schwammel and 6'2" teammate Harry Shields in order to block a placekick.The play was first successfully used in a game against the University of Oregon, and a picture of the play published in the "Saturday Evening Post" brought the team — and the play — national attention, leading to the pyramid technique being banned by the NCAA's rules committee shortly thereafter.Schwammel was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity during his time at Oregon State.