Matt Walters Named BIG EAST Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jan. 30, 2003
Providence, R.I. (BIG EAST Conference) – Miami’s Matt Walters heads a group of 69 student-athletes named to the 2002 BIG EAST All-Academic Football Team, the league announced. The senior defensive tackle is the winner of the BIG EAST/A?ropostale Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. He receives a $2,000 scholarship which may be applied to graduate or professional studies.
A native of Melbourne, Fla., Walters excelled in all aspects at Miami. A team captain, he has played in every game for the Hurricanes the last two seasons. The senior, touted by his coaches as the squad’s best defensive lineman, finished sixth on the squad overall with 64 tackles. He posted a 4.9 tackle average, fifth among BIG EAST defensive linemen. He also had 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hurries. He was named to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team at the end of the regular season along with teammate Jonathan Vilma.
In the classroom and off the field, Walters is also impressive. He is on course to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has produced a 3.48 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. He is a four-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team and has also been chosen for the Miami Provost and Athletic Director’s honor rolls. He is one of four Hurricanes (Jim Wilson, Joaquin Gonzalez, Michael Stewart) to be named to the BIG EAST academic squad four times. Walters has also been active in the community as a United Way Fundraising Volunteer and as part of “Canes On Patrol”, a program administered in conjunction with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He has also participated in “Red Ribbon Week”, an anti-drug youth program at Miami.
The BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Awards were established to recognize student-athletes who have achieved success in the classroom and on the field. The BIG EAST Male, Female and Men’s and Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes will be announced prior to and in conjunction with the BIG EAST Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships on March 7 and 11. Opened in 1987, A?ropostale, Inc. is a fast-growing, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories that targets both men and women. The company provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion basic merchandise at compelling values in a high-energy, entertaining store environment. As of January 2003, A?ropostale operated 365 stores in 35 states. The company also has a web site at www.aeropostale.com.
Forty-one repeat selections were included on the BIG EAST All-Academic Football Team. Five players – Walters and Jim Wilson of Miami, Pittsburgh’s Brian Beinecke and A.J. Nastasi and Lance Nimmo of West Virginia – were honored for the fourth time. Their honors increased to 24 the total of four-time winners in BIG EAST history.
“These players are the top student-athletes BIG EAST football has to offer,” Commissioner Michael Tranghese said. “We are very proud to honor them with these selections.”
Fourteen additional players were named for the third time in their careers, while 22 earned recognition for the second time. Six players lauded for their play on the field in the fall made the academic squad. Miami’s Ken Dorsey (offense) and Nate Jones of Rutgers (special teams) shared their respective Player of the Year awards. Both were on the All-BIG EAST First Team along with Vilma, Nimmo and UM’s Brett Romberg. Boston College’s Sandro Sciortino was picked for the all-conference second team.
Boston College, Miami, Pittsburgh and West Virginia tied for the most honorees with 10. The Mountaineers have the most all-time selections with 91 in 12 seasons of BIG EAST play.
The All-Academic Team recognizes letterwinners who have posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Student-athletes who have completed a minimum of two semesters of academic work are eligible. It is the 11th consecutive season the BIG EAST has honored its student-athletes with an academic team.
2002 BIG EAST ALL-ACADEMIC FOOTBALL TEAM
Name, School Class Pos. Major HometownDoug Bessette, Boston College Grad. Student SS Accounting Raynham, Mass.Francois Brochu, Boston College Junior LS Finance St. Augustin, Quebec, CanadaDuJuan Daniels, Boston College Grad. Student WR Higher Education Admin. Indianapolis, Ind.Augie Hoffmann, Boston College Senior OG English Parkridge, N.J.Kevin McMyler, Boston College Grad. Student P Psychology Dallas, TexasQuinton Porter, Boston College Sophomore QB Arts & Sciences Portland, MaineSandro Sciortino, Boston College Senior PK Communications Markham, Ontario, CanadaGreg Toal, Boston College Senior FB English Wyckoff, N.J.Shaun Toof, Boston College Grad. Student WR Administrative Studies Millis, Mass.Derek Webley, Boston College Junior WR Accounting Methuen, Mass.
Ken Dorsey, Miami Senior QB Marketing Orinda, Calif.Alejandro Garcia, Miami Sophomore OL Information Technology Miami, Fla.Quadtrine Hill, Miami Redshirt Fr. RB Business Administration Sunrise, Fla.Kelly Jennings, Miami Redshirt Fr. DB Finance Live Oak, Fla.Joel Rodriguez, Miami Sophomore OL Communication/ Miami, Fla. News JournalismBrett Romberg, Miami Senior C Graduate Studies/ Windsor, Ontario, Canada Sports AdministrationJames Sikora, Miami Junior OL Civil Engineering Marathon, Fla.Jonathan Vilma, Miami Junior LB Finance Coral Gables, Fla.Matthew Walters, Miami Senior DT Mechanical Engineering Melbourne, Fla.Jim Wilson, Miami Senior OT Biomedical Engineering Davie, Fla.
Brian Beinecke, Pittsburgh Senior LB Physical Therapy Youngstown, OhioVincent Crochunis, Pittsburgh Sophomore DL Political Science Schuylkill Haven, Pa.Brian Guzek, Pittsburgh Senior DL Mechanical Engineering Library, Pa.Daniel LaCarte, Pittsburgh Junior OL Business Management Charleroi, Pa.Brandon Miree, Pittsburgh Junior RB Public Administration Cincinnati, OhioChad Reed, Pittsburgh Senior C Communications & Rhetoric Latrobe, Pa.Yogi Roth, Pittsburgh Junior WR Political Science Dalton, Pa.Daniel Stephens, Pittsburgh Sophomore DL Urban Studies Wheeling, W. Va.Gary Urschler, Pittsburgh Senior DB Business Accounting & Finance Pittsburgh, Pa.Kris Wilson, Pittsburgh Junior TE Economics Lancaster, Pa.
Jerry Andre, Rutgers Sophomore WR Undeclared Miami, Fla.Jereme Baker, Rutgers Junior RB History Jacksonville, N.J.Mike Clancy, Rutgers Sophomore OL Undeclared Dover Township, N.J.Nate Jones, Rutgers Junior CB Finance Scotch Plains, N.J.Chris Loomis, Rutgers Sophomore TE Undeclared Maple Shade, N.J.Ray Pilch, Rutgers Junior FB Criminal Justice Piscataway, N.J.Mark Segaloff, Rutgers Sophomore OL Undeclared Toms Rivers, N.J.Alfred Peterson, Rutgers Sophomore DE Undeclared Opa-Locka, Fla.Marty Pyszczymuka, Rutgers Senior C Economics Newton, N.J.
Tim Carignan, Syracuse Redshirt Fr. OG Physical Education Belmont, N.J.Lenny Cusumano, Syracuse Junior TE Physical Education West Paterson, N.J.Dave DeAmato, Syracuse Junior LS Policy Studies Wilmington, Mass.Ray Hennings, Syracuse Senior OL Political Science/Economics Newport, N.Y.Nick Romeo, Syracuse Junior C Mechanical Engineering Tarpon Springs, Fla.Rich Scanlon, Syracuse Junior LB Health & Exercise Science Orangeburg, N.Y.Matt Tarullo, Syracuse Sophomore OG Psychology Albany, N.Y.Josh Thomas, Syracuse Junior DE Psychology Orchard Park, N.Y.
Dan Bosnic, Temple Sophomore TE Secondary Education Uniontown, Pa.Eric Carpenter, Temple Sophomore TE Computer & Lebanon, Pa. Information SciencesJared Davis, Temple Senior PK Broadcasting, Saunderstown, R.I. Telecommunications & Mass MediaJohn Gross, Temple Redshirt Fr. OT Environmental Studies Slatington, Pa.Jason Johnson, Temple Redshirt Fr. DE Honors International Camp Hill, Pa. Business Admin.J.D. Nichols, Temple Senior LB Finance Phoenix, Ariz.
Jacob Gibson, Virginia Tech Junior OG History Rocky Mount, Va.Billy Hardee, Virginia Tech Senior ROV Foods, Nutrition & Exercise Winter Haven, Fla.Ken Keister, Virginia Tech Senior LS Physical Education Radford, Va.Jeff King, Virginia Tech Redshirt Fr. TE Finance Pulaski, Va.Chris Shreve, Virginia Tech Junior SE Human Nutrition, Foods Mouth of Wilson, Va. & ExerciseJordan Trott, Virginia Tech Redshirt Fr. LB Business Torrance, Calif.
Zack Dillow, West Virginia Senior C History Smithfield, Pa.Mark Fazzolari, West Virginia Senior P Athletic Coaching/Education Washington, Pa.Scott Fleming, West Virginia Sophomore LS Sport Management Plano, TexasTodd James, West Virginia Junior PK Accounting Bentleyville, Pa.Adam Lehnortt, West Virginia Sophomore LB Business Management Oil City, Pa.Geoff Lewis, West Virginia Junior OG Physical Therapy Fairview, Pa.A.J. Nastasi, West Virginia Senior WR Sport Management Woodbury, Pa.Lance Nimmo, West Virginia Senior OT Finance New Castle, Pa.John Pennington, West Virginia Sophomore WR Accounting Charleston, W. Va.Justin Williams, West Virginia Sophomore OG Business Management Moorefield, W. Va.
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