Gonzalez Earns Top Scholar-Athlete Award
Nov. 1, 2001
Morristown, NJ – Chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Jon F. Hanson announced its 2001 class of National College Scholar-Athletes, which represents 16 of the nation’sfinest college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football.
Since 1959, when the first class was selected, 602 scholar-athletes havebeen awarded this high honor based on superior academic performance,outstanding football ability, strong leadership, and citizenship. Eachscholar-athlete will be awarded an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and willbe honored at the Foundation’s 44th Annual Awards Dinner held at theWaldorf-Astoria in New York City, December 11, 2001.
This year’s class has an average grade point average of 3.72 on a 4.0 scale.They are:
DIVISION I-A
Andre Davis – Virginia Tech – Wide Receiver – Property Management -Niskayuna, NY,Vernon Fox – Fresno State University – Strong Safety – Sociology – LasVegas, NV,Joaquin Gonzalez – University of Miami – Offensive Lineman – Marketing -Miami, FL,Christopher Hope – Florida State University – Free Safety – Communications -Rock Hill, SC,Jeff Kelly – Univ. of So. Mississippi – Quarterback – BusinessAdministration – Hattiesburg, MS,Patrick Ramsey – Tulane University – Quarterback – Accounting & Finance -Simsboro, LA,Tracey Wistrom – University of Nebraska – Tight End – Mathematics – WebbCity, MO,Kyle Young – Clemson University – Center – Secondary Education – Clemson, SC,
DIVISION I-AA
Vince Huntsberger – University of Montana – Strong Safety – Biology /Pre-Medicine – Missoula, MT,Peter Lee – Yale University – Quarterback – Economics – Chicago, IL,Adam Waugh – Illinois State University – Linebacker – Political Science -Cullowhee, NC,
DIVISION II
Curry Dawson – Angelo State University (TX) – Defensive Tackle – AnimalScience – Water Valley, TX,Eddie Key – Univ. of Southern Arkansas – Quarterback – Economics – Chicago,IL,
DIVISION III
Travis Ahner – Carroll College (MT) – Defensive Back – Sociology – Helena,MT,Timothy Hess – Widener University (PA) – Defensive Back – Accounting -Brookhaven, PA,
NAIA
Eddie Eviston – Georgetown College (KY) – Quarterback – Accounting – Ft.Thomas, KY,
To be eligible for a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Famepostgraduate fellowship, the nominee must be a senior or graduate student inhis final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 ona 4.0 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, haveoutstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstratedstrong leadership and citizenship.
“With 172 outstanding candidates competing for this year’s awards, theselection of the scholar-athletes was a difficult challenge for the AwardsCommittee. The committee chose what it feels is a sensational group thatrepresents the ideals of the Foundation with great distinction,” statedRobert E. Mulcahy III, chairman of the Awards Committee and director ofathletics at Rutgers University.
According to National Football Foundation Chairman Jon F. Hanson, “For 43years, these prestigious awards have placed the spotlight on only a chosenfew who have excelled above all in the area of scholarship, citizenship andathletic performance. We are delighted to have this opportunity to honorthese outstanding young men for all of their achievements.”
At the Awards Dinner on December 11, one scholar-athlete will receive theVincent dePaul Draddy Trophy. Often termed the “Academic Heisman,” thisaward provides the winner with a $25,000 scholarship towards theirpostgraduate studies. Since 1990, 11 scholar-athletes have been fortunateto walk away from the Awards Dinner with this much-acclaimed trophy. Pastwinners include Peyton Manning from the University of Tennessee and DannyWuerffel from the University of Florida.
One of the nation’s top offensive tackles and a major factor in an offensiveline that yielded only three quarterback sacks in 2000, Joaquin Gonzalezepitomizes the term “scholar-athlete.”
The 6-foot-6, 298-pound Dean’s List member is a three-time Arthur Ashe Jr. SportsScholar Team member, being named to the First Team in 2000. Gonzalez is athree-time BIG EAST Academic All-Conference selection and was an Iron Arrowinductee in 2000 (the highest academic honor bestowed to any UM student orstaff member). He has already received a Bachelor’s Degree in BusinessAdministration and is currently enrolled in Miami’s MBA program.
Athletically, Gonzalez’s accomplishments are equally impressive. TheFootball Writers Association named him First Team All-America in 2000, whilethe Associated Press and collegefootballnews.com named him to the SecondTeam. Gonzalez was selected to the First Team All-BIG EAST in 2000 and BIGEAST Rookie of the Year in 1998 – becoming the first recipient of the awardto earn All-Conference Academic honors in the same season.
Gonzalez is extremely active in the community as well, serving as amotivational speaker at local elementary schools and participating in the”Read To Win” program.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is anot-for-profit educational organization comprised of more than 11,000members in 118 chapters nationwide, dedicated to the promotion of amateurfootball, scholarship, citizenship, and superior athletic performance.Through various programs and initiatives, such as Play It Smart and theNFL/NFF Coaching Academy, the Foundation endeavors to promote the positivevalues learned through participation in sport.
The College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana serves as the shrine where those who exemplify the Foundation’s ideal of excellence both on and off the field areimmortalized.
