December 8, 1998

STAMFORD, Conn. - The GTE Academic All-America Football Team was announced today in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The 48 players on the first teams have an average Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.83 on a 4.0 scale.

University of Georgia offensive lineman Matt Stinchcomb, who made the University Division first team for the second straight year, was named the Division's GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. A senior from Lilburn, Ga., Stinchcomb has a 3.96 GPA as a finance major.

The University of Missouri's Jake Stueve was the first-team selection at tight end. The Kansas City native is a graduate student who graduated last May with a 3.89 grade-point average in biology. He plans to enter medical school next fall. Stueve is the 11th Academic All-American at Missouri, and the first since Matt Burgess in 1993. Earlier this month he and MU quarterback Corby Jones became the eighth and ninth players in school history to be first-team academic all-conference selections for three consecutive years.

The University of Nebraska had three student-athletes named to the first team - running back Joel Mackovicka (3.83/biological sciences), a senior from Brainard, Neb. who also made the first team in 1997; defensive lineman Chad Kelsay (3.63/finance), a senior from Auburn, Neb.; and punter William Lafleur (3.52/history), a senior from Norfolk, Neb. The Huskers will face Arizona in the Holiday Bowl on December 30.

The College Division includes wide receiver Darin Kershner of Mount Union (3.88/business administration), a senior from Rocky River, Ohio. The Purple Raiders are 13-0 and will go for their third consecutive Division III title against Rowan this Saturday. The Division's Team Member of the Year was quarterback Corte McGuffey of Northern Colorado (3.81/biochemistry), a junior from Riverton, Wyo. McGuffey, who led Division II in passing efficiency, is a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which goes to the Division II player of the year.

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.

With revenues of more than $23 billion, GTE is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services. In the United States, GTE provides local service in 28 states and wireless service in 17 states; nationwide long-distance and internetworking services ranging from dial-up Internet access for residential and small-business consumers to Web-based applications for Fortune 500 companies; as well as video service in selected markets.

GTE is also the official Telecommunications Consultant to the NCAA as well as the Pacific-10, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. Following is a list of the GTE Academic All-America Football Teams in the University Division.

UNIVERSITY DIVISION FIRST TEAM

 
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown GPA/Major
QB Chad Pennington Marshall Jr. Knoxville, Tenn. 3.70/Journalism
WR Justin Olsen Montana Sr. Helena,Mont. 3.78/Microbiology
WR David Patterson New Mexico St. Sr. Artesia, N.M. 3.92/Math
TE Jake Stueve Missouri Grad. Kansas City, Mo. 3.89/Biology/Pre-Med.
RB Jacob Jones Dayton Sr. VanWert,Ohio 3.85/Biology/Pre-Med.
RB Joel Mackovicka Nebraska Sr. Brainard, Neb. 3.83/Biological Sciences
OL Nick Batalis Butler Sr. Noblesville, Ind. 3.80/Pre-Med./Biology OL Eric de Groh West Virginia Sr. Huron, Ohio 3.89/Biology/Pre-Med.
OL Mike Newell Colorado St. Sr. Littleton, Colo. 3.77/Horticulture/Landscape Mgmt. OL Matt Stinchcomb Georgia Sr. Lilburn, Ga. 3.96/Finance*
OL Shawn Stuart UCLA Grad. Saugus, Calif. 3.62/Sociology
K Alex Sierk Princeton Sr. Bettendorf, Iowa 3.97/Molecular Biology
DB Scott Auerbach San Diego St. Sr. Loomis, Calif. 3.88/Cellular/Molecular Biology
DB Anthony Pannunzio Youngstown St. Sr. Canfield, Ohio 3.70/Civil Engineering
DB Chad Smith New Mexico Sr. Springville, Calif. 3.99/Biology/Pre-Med.
DB Jeff Zurcher Kentucky Grad. Berne, Ind. 4.00/Diplomacy
LB Brian Brown Wyoming Sr. Columbus, Mont. 3.84/Finance
LB Matt Farabaugh St. Fran., Pa. Sr. Carrolltown, Pa. 3.79/Biology
LB Nate Kvamme Colorado St. Sr. Windsor, Colo. 3.70/Civil Engineering
DL Jarrod Everson Liberty Sr. Bonaire, Ga. 3.68/Exercise Science
DL Mike Goletz Butler Jr. Crown Point, Ind. 3.96/Chemistry
DL Chad Kelsay Nebraska Sr. Auburn, Neb. 3.63/Finance
DL Dan Poulsen Buffalo Sr. N.Tonawanda, N.Y. 3.84/Physical Therapy
P William Lafleur Nebraska Sr. Norfolk, Neb. 3.52/History

* GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - University Division

UNIVERSITY DIVISION SECOND TEAM

Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown GPA/Major
QB Giovanni Carmazzi Hofstra Jr. Sacramento, Calif. 3.96/Business Mgmt.
WR Mike Hutchings Western Mich. Sr. Salt Lk. City, Utah 3.50/Communications
WR Vince Tweddell Austin Peay Sr. Evansville, Ind. 3.32/Mass Communications
TE Jason Illian TCU Sr. Lk. Hav. City, Az. 3.95/Finance
RB Terry Jackson Florida Sr. Gainesville, Fla. 3.60/Business Marketing
RB Mike MacKenzie Eastern Wash. Sr. Vancouver, B.C. 3.44/Physical Education
OL Mark Baniewicz Syracuse Jr. Penfield, N.Y. 3.80/Finance
OL Patrick Goodman Western Ky. Sr. Cecilia, Ky. 3.66/Civil Engin. Technology
OL Jon Jansen Michigan Sr. Clawson,Mich. 3.27/Kinesiology/Phys. Ed.
OL Matthew Reischl Iowa Sr. Greendale, Wis. 4.00/Finance Economics
OL Mike Wynne Massachusetts Jr. Somerdale, N.J. 3.96/Accounting
K Travis Brawner SW Miss. St. Jr. Branson, Mo. 3.95/Biology
DB Tait Johnson Drake Jr. Rhinelander, Wis. 3.75/Actuarial Science
DB Kirby Smart Georgia Sr. Bainbridge, Ga. 3.57/Finance
DB Patrick Stephen Northern Ill. Sr. Brampton, Ont. 3.76/Biological Sciences
DB Jeffrey Thompson New Mexico St. Sr. Stephenville, Texas 3.75/Journalism
LB Dusty Renfro Texas Sr. Alvarado, Texas 3.70/Finance
LB Jerry Rudzinski Ohio St. Sr. Centerville, Ohio 3.48/Finance
LB Brian Shaw Nebraska Jr. Deweese,Neb. 4.00/Animal Science
DL Voncellies Allen Ga. Southern Jr. Douglas, Ga. 3.57/Chemistry/Pre-Med.
DL Eric Brezina Drake Jr. Toledo, Iowa 3.85/Biology
DL Nick Martucci Lehigh Sr. Brodheadsville, Pa. 3.40/Accounting
DL Rob Renes Michigan Sr. Holland,Mich. 3.62/Literature, Sci. & Arts/Sec. Ed.
P John Baker North Texas Jr. Brenham, Texas 3.76/Business