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BEREA, OHIO --The standard of excellence within the Baldwin-Wallace College football program begins in the classroom. Football players at B-W are students first. John Snell tells them that fact on the first day of practice the same way that Ray Watts told his Yellow Jackets in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, Lee Tressel in the 1950s, 60s and 70s and Bob Packard in the 1980s and 90s. "Our players are here first and foremost to get a great, quality education," said Snell, a 1987 graduate of the College. "We want our players to strive to be leaders both in the classroom and on the football field. In addition, we want them to give back to the community. Each aspect is important in their development as people." For the past 35 years, the Yellow Jacket football program has developed a standard of excellence on the field that can only be matched by its record of Academic All-American student-athletes and football players. An outstanding example of that tradition is current senior and returning first-team Verizon Academic All-American education major (history) and offensive lineman Matt Kish (Brook Park/ Midpark High School).
Since CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America) began its Academic All-America program in 1970, 15 Yellow Jacket players have earned either GTE (1970-1999) or Verizon (2000-2002) Academic All-America accolades a total of 19 times. Four players, offensive guard John Yezerski (1972 and 1973), punters Shawn Gorman (1987 and 1988) and Tom Serdinak (1990 and 1991) and defensive end David Coverdale (1993 and 1994) have earned the honor twice. This fall, Kish can join that distinguished group if he is selected again. In addition, B-W also has another GTE/ Verizon Academic All-America first. Today, Farrow is doing his residency at the Cleveland Clinic as an orthopaedic surgeon and enjoys talking with young Yellow Jackets about being the next Academic All-American. |
Kish, who carries a 3.9 grade average in the classroom, headlines of a list of 12 Yellow Jacket players who are candidates for 2002 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. The 12 B-W nominees are the most ever in a single season. The others are junior offensive guard and 2001 Verizon Academic All-District IV player Joe Harbour (Upper Sandusky H.S./ 3.9 in education), senior outside linebacker Bryan Parobek (Berea H.S./ 3.317 in business administration and accounting), senior running back Randale Richmond (Akron/ North H.S./ 3.37 in education), senior wide receiver Dave LaBahn (Strongs-ville H.S./ 3.059 in business administration and finance), sophomore defensive back Justin Andes (Canton Central Catholic H.S./ 3.62 in pre-med and biology), sophomore wide receiver Dave Ehrman (Strongsville/ 3.69 GPA in business administration), senior defensive end Brady Myers (Wellington/ 3.205 in business administration and finance), junior outside linebacker Nathan Mitchell, (Butler, Pennsylvania H.S./ 3.47 in sport management and business administration), junior defensive safety Jeff Fox (Willoughby South H.S./ 3.62 in education and mathematics), sophomore defensive tackle Jason Ludwig (East Liverpool H.S./ 3.18 and undecided) and junior placekicker Kevin Hills (Willoughby Hills/ Lake Catholic H.S./ 3.459 in secondary education).
"We are very proud of the academic success that these young men have had and want them to continue to strive to be leaders on our campus, in our classrooms and on the football field," said Snell. "These young men are a part of what is great about collegiate athletics. They are in school and playing football because they love it. We want more young men in our program and those who will be recruited in the future to be just like these 12 young men."
275 Eastland Rd.