Three Football Panthers Earn CoSIDA Academic All-District Honors

11/11/2004

Belarski, Crochunis and Stephens are lauded for their academic and athletic achievements.

      Three University of Pittsburgh football players have been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 2 Football Team.

      Pittsburgh?s 2004 Academic All-District honorees include center Justin Belarski, nose tackle Vince Crochunis and defensive tackle Dan Stephens.

      All three players, in addition to being football standouts, have already earned their undergraduate degrees and are now pursuing graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh.

      To be eligible a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. He must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at the institution and completed at least one full academic year at the school. Sports information directors vote on the team.

      All-District honorees are now placed on the national ballot for Academic All-American consideration.

      Belarski (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) has been Pittsburgh?s starting center in all eight contests this year. He is a three-time recipient of the coaching staff?s Blocker of the Game award, including the Syracuse, Temple and Ohio contests. Owning a 3.3 GPA, he earned his bachelor?s degree in history and is now enrolled in Pitt?s Graduate School of Education.

      Crochunis (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./ Schuylkill Haven Area) was honored on the All-District Team for the third consecutive year. He earned Academic All-America honors each of the last two seasons and has the opportunity this year to become the first three-time Academic All-American in Pittsburgh history. Crochunis has started 34 consecutive games at nose tackle and has 30 stops this season. He graduated with a rare triple major in history, political science and communication and rhetoric. Crochunis owns a 3.92 grade point average and is enrolled in Pitt?s Graduate School of Education.

      Stephens (Wheeling, W.Va./Linsly School) is also a three-time All-District Team honoree and a 2003 Academic All-American. A staple on the Panthers? defensive front the last three seasons, he owns 37 career starts and has 21 tackles this year. Owning a bachelor?s degree in urban studies, Stephens has a 3.77 GPA while pursuing his master?s in Pitt?s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

University of Pittsburgh Athletics

Three Football Panthers Earn CoSIDA Academic All-District Honors

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