Quarterbacks Chad Pennington of Marshall and Corte McGuffey of Northern named to GTE Academic All-America Football Team
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STAMFORD, Conn., December 7 Quarterbacks Chad Pennington of Marshall and Corte McGuffey of Northern Colorado, who combined to throw for 7,187 yards and 73 touchdowns this season, were named to the GTE Academic All-America Football Team announced today in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Pennington was named the Team Member of the Year in the University (Division 1A- & 1AA) Division, while McGuffey earned the same honor in the College (Divisions II & III) Division for the second straight year.
Pennington, a senior from Knoxville, Tenn., completed 68% of his passes for 37 touchdowns and led the Thundering Herd to a 12-0 record and the Mid-American Conference title this season, earning a berth in the Motor City Bowl against Brigham Young on December 27. The broadcast journalism major with a 3.80 Grade Point Average (GPA) is also one of five finalists for the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented on December 11.
McGuffey (3.86/biochemistry) is one of three finalists for the Harlon Hill Award as the Divison II player of the year, with the winner to be announced on December 10. He was the runnerup for the award in 1998. The senior from Riverton, Wyo., completed 63% of his passes this season for 36 TDs and led his team to a record of 11-2 and an NCAA bid, where they lost to Northwest Missouri State in the Division II quarterfinals.
In addition to Pennington, 13 members of the University Divisions first team qualified for postseason play running back Stuart Rentz of Furman, a senior from Pickens, S.C.; wide receiver Troy Walters of Stanford, a senior from College Station, Texas; tight end Josh Whitman of Illinois, a junior from Lafayette, Ind.; offensive lineman Mark Baniewicz of Syracuse, a graduate student from Penfield, N.Y.; offensive lineman Mike Wynne of Massachusetts, a senior from Somerdale, N.J.; offensive lineman Kyle Young of Clemson, a senior from Clemson, S.C.; kicker Travis Forney of Penn State, a senior from Mill Hall, Pa.; defensive lineman Voncellies Allen of Georgia Southern, a senior from Douglas, Ga.; defensive lineman Rob Renes of Michigan, a grad. student from Holland, Mich.; defensive lineman Kyle Vanden Bosch of Nebraska, a junior from Larchwood, Iowa; defensive back Mike Brown of Nebraska, a senior from Scottsdale, Ariz.; defensive back Vince Huntsberger of Montana, a sophomore from Libby, Mont.; and punter Dan Dyke of Georgia Tech, a sophomore from Winter Springs, Fla.
Four players besides McGuffey accomplished similar feats in the College Division wide receiver Mike Krueger of St. Norbert, a senior from Schofield, Wis.; tight end Paul Seberger of Wartburg, a senior from Marshalltown, Iowa; offensive lineman Jason Kepler of Rensselaer, a senior from Palmer, Alaska; and defensive back Dustin Armstrong of Alma, a senior from Sand Lake, Mich.
A complete list of all GTE Academic All-America
Football Teams in both divisions is attached. The GTE Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level. CoSIDA has been selecting Academic All-America Teams since 1952.
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1999 GTE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL TEAM (University Division)
First Team Offense
QB:Chad Pennington*;Marshall;Sr.; Knoxville, Tenn.;3.80/Broadcast Journalism
RB:Jimmy Lee;Dayton;Toledo, Ohio;Sr.;3.23/Pre-Medicine
RB:Stuart Rentz;Furman;Pickens, S.C.;Sr.;3.90/Business Admin./Spanish
WR:Eric Johnson;Yale;Jr;Needham, Mass.;3.64/American Studies/Sociology
WR:Troy Walters;Stanford;Sr.;College Station, Texas;3.21/Communications
TE:Josh Whitman;Illinois;Jr.;Lafayette, Ind.;3.97/Business Administration
OL:Mark Baniewicz;Syracuse;Grad.;Penfield, N.Y.;3.83/Finance
OL:Wes Gallagher;Tennessee Tech;Sr.;Wartrace, Tenn.;3.78/Secondary Education
OL;Brad Meester;Northern Iowa;Sr.Parkersburg, Iowa3.76/Business Management
OL:Mike Wynne;Massachusetts;Sr.;Somerdale, N.J.;3.93/Accounting
OL:Kyle Young;Clemson;Sr.;Clemson, S.C.;3.96/Secondary Education
PK:Travis Forney;Penn St.;Sr.;Mill Hall, Pa.;3.79/Elementary/Kindergarten Ed.
First Team Defense
DL:Voncellies Allen;Ga. Southern;Sr.;Douglas, Ga.;3.62/Chemistry
DL:Michael Germino;Pennsylvania;Sr.;Longmeadow, Mass.;3.54/Economics
DL:Rob Renes;Michigan;Grad.;Holland, Mich.;3.55/Secondary Ed./German & Social Studies
DL:Kyle Vanden Bosch;Nebraska&;Jr.;Larchwood, Iowa;3.78/Business Administration
LB:Dave Brcka;Iowa St.;Sr.9;West Des Moines, Iowa;3.88/Biology
LB:Keith Cockrum Texas Tech;Sr.;Goldthwaite, Texas;4.00/Mgmt. Info Sys./Finance/Econ.
LB:Mike Goletz;Butler;Sr.;Crown Point, Ind.;3.93/Chemistry
DB:Mike Brown;Nebraska;Sr.;Scottsdale, Ariz.;3.24/Business Administration
DB:Ben Green;Harvard;Sr.;Cherry Hill, N.J.;3.34/Anthropology
DB:Vince Huntsberger;Montana;So.;Libby, Mont.;3.87/Biology
DB:Ahmed Plummer;Ohio St.;Sr.;Wyoming, Ohio;3.48/Human Resources
P:Dan Dyke;Georgia Tech;So.;Winter Springs, Fla.;4.00/Aerospace Engineering
Second Team Offense
QB:Drew Brees;Purdue;Jr.;Austin, Texas;3.25/Industrial Engineering
RB:Eric Ferguson;Davidson;Sr.;Canton, N.C.;3.47/Psychology
RB:Chad Morton;USC;Jr.;Torrance, Calif.;3.44/Sociology
WR:Jake Coppola;Canisius;Jr.;Tecumseh, Neb.;3.52/Communications Studies
WR;Elijah Thurman;Howard;Sr.;Severn, Md.;3.20/Communications
TE:Shaun Castillo;Army;Sr.;Willis, Texas;3.76/Engineering Management
OL:Terrence Anderson;Navy;Sr.;Stillwater, Okla.;3.48/Economics
OL:Jordan Caruso;Penn St.;Jr.;Medford, N.J.;3.66/Business Logistics
OL:Patrick Goodman;W. Kentucky;Sr.;Cecilia, Ky.;3.71/Civil Engineering Technology
OL:Wes Hines;McNeese St.;Jr.;Baytown, Texas;3.94/Accounting
OL:Aaron Koch;Oregon St.;Sr.;Keizer, Ore.;3.63/Psychology/Liberal Studies
PK:Travis Brawner;SW Missouri St.;Sr.;Branson, Mo.;3.96/Biology
Second Team Defense
DL:Eric Brezina;Drake;Sr.;Toledo, Iowa;3.82/History
DL:Chris Cain;Portland St.;Jr.;Tigard, Ore.;3.81/Public Health
DL:Tim Englehardt;New Mexico St.;Sr.;Alamogordo, N.M.;3.72/Accounting
DL:Fred Wakefield;Illinois;Jr.;Tuscola, Ill.;3.43/Kinesiology
LB:Chad Carson;Clemson;Jr.;Newman, Ga.;3.90/Biological Sciences
LB:Marion Martin;Furman;Jr.;Columbia, S.C.;3.89/Chemistry
LB:Brian Shaw;Nebraska;Sr.;Deweese, Neb.;4.00/Animal Science/Agricultural Econ.
DB:James Gallagher;Georgetown;Sr.;Norwood, N.J.;3.65/Finance & Human Resource Mgmt.
DB:Tait Johnson;Drake;Sr.;Rhinelander, Wis.;3.60/Actuarial Science
DB;Jeff Killeen;SW Missouri St.;Sr.;Omaha, Neb.;3.88/Chemistry
DB:;Payton Williams;Fresno St.;Sr.;Moreno Valley, Calif.;3.60/Sociology
P:Dallas Neil;Montana;Grad.;Great Falls, Mont.;3.85/Business Administration
*GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year University Division
1999 GTE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
FOOTBALL TEAM (College Divison)
First Team Offense
QB:Corte McGuffey**;Northern Colo.;Sr.;Riverton, Wyo.;3.86/Biochemistry
RB:Mark DeBiasio;Salve Regina;Sr.;North Attleboro, Mass.;3.90/Biology
RB:Ben Smith;Buena Vista;Sr.;Lake View, Iowa;3.73/Criminal Justice
WR:Dan Grant;American Intl.;Sr.;Mechanicsburg, Pa.;3.68/Biology/Education
WR:Mike Krueger;St. Norbert;Sr.;Schofield, Wis.;3.98/Chemistry
TE;Paul Seberger;Wartburg;Sr.;Marshalltown, Iowa;3.94/Physics
OL:Dan Duncan;Gust. Adolphus;Sr.;Ivanhoe, Minn.;3.79/Secondary Math Education
OL:Joe Fox;Austin;Sr.;Plano, Texas;3.76/Economics/German
OL:Jason Kepler ;Rensselaer ;Sr.;Palmer, Alaska;3.92/Aeronautical & Mechanical Engin.
OL:Jeff Shabram;Wayne St.;Sr.;Orchard, Neb.;3.88/Math Ed./Natural Science Ed.
OL:Dave Wonderlick;Susquehanna;Jr.;Shenandoah, Pa.;4.00/Communications/Theatre Arts
PK:Volker Olbrich;Neb.-Kearney;Sr.;Eschwiler, Germany;3.63/Aircraft Systems Management
First Team Defense
DL:Casey Beran;Chadron St.;Sr.;Sargent, Neb.;3.80/Human Biology
DL:Kevin Hedrick Maryville Sr. Sevierville, Tenn. 3.93/Engineering
DL:Nik Kozy MIT Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. 4.4 (5.0 scale) Chemical Engineering
DL:Adam Vossen Moorhead St. Sr. Broooklyn Park, Minn. 3.95/Biology
LB:Joe Conduah Heidelberg Sr. Madison, Wis. 3.84/Comp. Info.Systems/Bus. Admin.
LB:Eric Pederson Moorhead St. Sr. Eau Claire, Wis. 3.87/Chemistry
LB:Craig Pierstoff Wis.-Oshkosh Sr. Rosendale, Wis. 3.99/Biology
DB:Dustin Armstrong Alma Sr. Sand Lake, Mich. 3.78/Exercise and Health Science
DB:Jonathan Dunham Denison Sr. Laramie, Wyo. 3.85/Biochemistry
DB:Angus Huang MIT Sr. Saratoga, Calif. 4.9 (5.0 scale) Elec. Engin./Comp. Sci.
DB:Kevin Otte Wilmington Sr. Maria Stein, Ohio 4.00/Agriculture
P:Matt Mahaffey Wooster Sr. Westerville, Ohio 3.21/Economics
Second Team Offense
QB:Eddie Eviston Georgetown Jr. Fort Thomas, Ky. 3.90/Accounting/Management
RB:Mike Campie Carnegie Mellon Sr. Camanche, Iowa 3.95/Civil Engineering
RB:Anthony Togliatti Kenyon Sr. Independence, Ohio 3.52/Biology/Pre-Med
WR:Kenan McWhorter Georgetown Jr. Richmond, Ky. 3.89/Engineering/Communications
WR:Scott Pingel Westminster Sr. Perryville, Mo. 3.55/Secondary Education
TE:Chad Hermsdorf Mankato St. Jr. Madison, Wis. 3.61/Biology/Pre-Med
OL:Brad Crawford Indianapolis So. LaGrange, Ind. 3.87/Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy
OL:Tim Kusniez Slippery Rock Sr. Gilbertsville, Pa. 3.63/Sport Management
OL:Mark McAdams Truman St. Sr. Kansas City, Mo. 3.91/Accounting
OL:W. Jason Mensing Adrian Sr. Tecumseh, Mich. 3.71/Health/Phys. Ed./Rec./Sec. Ed.
OL:R.J. Starr Cal.-Davis Sr. Thousand Oaks, Calif. 3.61/Managerial Economics
K:Paul Peletz Arkansas Tech Jr. Bentonville, Ark. 3.86/Economics/Finance
Second Team Defense
DL:Keith Akard Carson Newman Jr. Bristol, Tenn. 4.00/Business Administration
DL:Aaron Doonan Washburn Sr. Hoisington, Kan. 3.92/Chemistry
DL:Steve Hudak Luther Sr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 3.85/Biology/Chemistry
DL:Jason Jacobs Southwest St. Sr. Bird Island, Minn. 3.62/Business/Accounting
LB:Chris Gab Pittsburg St. Jr. Independence, Kan. 3.97/Plastics Engineering Technology
LB:Brian Kowalski Rochester So. Liverpool, N.Y. 3.85/Political Science/History
LB:Matt Witmer Widener Jr. Ephrata, Pa. 3.67/Criminal Justice
DB:Nick Gates Albion Sr. Ithaca, Mich. 3.86/Economics/Management
DB:Brant Grimes North Dakota Sr. Bloomington, Minn. 3.83/Financial Management/Economics
DB:Andy Palzkill Wis.-Stevens Pt. Sr. Mineral Point, Wis. 3.92/Sociology
DB:Eric Serbus St. John's (MN) Sr. Bird Island, Minn. 3.81/Social Science
P:Luke DesJarlais Wis.--LaCrosse Jr. Menasha, Wis. 3.40/Accountancy
**GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year College Division