Joaquin Gonzalez Selected as September Academic All-Star

Sept. 7, 2000

Joaquin Gonzalez, a junior offensive tackle on the football team, has been selected as the Athletic Department’s September Academic All-Star.

He will be looking to complete his undergraduate degree in Business Marketing this December, before enrolling in the business school’s MBA program in the spring. Entering the fall semester, Gonzalez has recorded a grade point average of 3.79.

Coming out of the Columbus School in West Miami, Gonzalez was regarded as his team’s top offensive lineman and turned away offers to Ivy League schools, along with Louisville, UCF and Wake Forest to attend the University of Miami.

Gonzalez walked onto the team prior to the 1997 season and took a redshirt that first season. As a redshirt freshman in 1998, Gonzalez emerged to be the Hurricanes starting right tackle for all 11 games. That season, Gonzalez was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, becoming the first offensive lineman in league history to win the honor. Additionally, Gonzalez was listed on nearly every freshman all-american list.

The 1999 season, Gonzalez’ second as a full-time starter, saw him appear in all 12 games. Among his statistics were giving up just one sack the entire season, while leading all linemen in the “Pancake” statistic category. He was also named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star list along with GTE Academic All-America honors.