Dec. 2, 2003

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri senior offensive tackle Rob Droege added to his growing collection of national awards as he was named a 1st-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (Co-SIDA) yesterday.

Droege, a native of St. Louis, Mo., earned his award for his work in the classroom as well as his stellar play on the football field. He carries a grade point average of 3.85 in social studies education, and is a driving force behind the Tiger rushing attack that has MU ranked 7th nationally in rushing (236.25 yards per game).

Droege has already been named a recipient of the prestigious National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, which is an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship awarded annually to only eight Division I-A student-athletes.

This represents the 12th time that a Tiger football player has earned 1st-Team Academic All-American honors. Here's a listing of those who have earned the distinction:

MU 1st-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL AMERICANS
*1962	Tom Hertz, G
*1965	Bill Powell, DT
*1966	Dan Schuppan, DE
*1966	Bill Powell, DT
*1968	Carl Garber, G
*1970	Nip Weisenfels, LB
*1972	Greg Hill, K
*1976	Chris Garlich, LB
*1981	Van Darkow, LB
*1993	Matt Burgess, C
*1998	Jake Stueve, TE
*2003	Rob Droege, T