Penn State Again Leads Nation With Three First Team ESPN Academic All-Americans
For the third consecutive year, the Penn State Football program is at the head of the class on the ESPN Academic All-America® Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Senior guard Stefen Wisniewski (Bridgeville, PA), senior linebacker Chris Colasanti (Leonard, Mich.) and sophomore defensive end Pete Massaro (Newtown Square, PA) earned first team ESPN Academic All-America® honors as Penn State’s three selections again led all institutions in the University Division.
Wisniewski becomes the first Penn State Football student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® accolades three times, having been a first team selection last year and a second team choice in 2008. Owner of a superlative 3.91 grade point average, Wisniewski becomes the ninth Nittany Lion to earn first team Academic All-America® honors twice.
The Penn State football team has had a least one first team ESPN Academic All-American® in each of the past seven seasons. Penn State has had 11 Academic All-Americans® the past three years, with 10 first team selections. Purdue was the only other Big Ten institution that placed a squad member on the first team.
The Nittany Lions’ 15 Academic All-Americans® over the past five years (13 first team selections) leads the nation. Within the University Division, South Dakota State is second with 10 honorees from 2006-10, followed by Dayton with 8. Among Football Bowl Subdivision institutions, Notre Dame and Ohio State have five selections and Nebraska has four over the past five years after Penn State’s 15 honorees.
During Coach Joe Paterno’s tenure, Penn State has had 47 Academic All-Americans®, with 37 earning first team honors. The Nittany Lions' all-time total of 49 Academic All-America® football players ranks third among all FBS institutions and leads all Big Ten institutions.
This is what Joe Paterno loves most about football, seeing that something is learned in the process. That is why he wants to coach again in 2011.
Paul in PA
Along with Nebraska (No. 1) and Notre Dame (No. 2) these schools have produced over 660 Academic All-Americans, counting all sports, since the early 1950's.
Too bad many other schools don't place more emphasis on this aspect of college sports.
Penn State still has a ways to go to catch either Nebraska or Notre Dame in all time numbers.
1. Nebraska 277
2. Notre Dame 216
3. Penn State 167
4. MIT 165
5. Stanford 144
6. Augustana (Ill.) 134
7. Bucknell 119
8. Texas 119
9. Emory 116
10. UCLA 112
Penn State pretty much started when Paterno got there. Contrary to some that was not that long ago. That is a lot of years head start.
Paul in PA
