Dec. 14, 2007

WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior center Chris Smith (Buffalo, N.Y.), a member of the Holy Cross football team, has been selected to the 2007 Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. A total of 51 student-athletes from schools around the nation were named to the team.

Smith started all 11 games at center this season, as a key part of an offensive line which paved the way for Holy Cross to lead the Patriot League in scoring (35.9 points per game), total offense (463.4 yards per game) and passing offense (335.2 yards per game). He also helped the Crusaders to allow just 14 sacks all season, while the team attempted 497 passes (just one sack for every 36.5 times the team dropped back to pass). In the classroom, Smith has posted a 3.53 grade point average with a double major in economics and accounting.

The Academic All-Star team consists of players with a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study, who are also starters or key players with legitimate athletics credentials. A special review committee of Football Championship Subdivision athletics directors was responsible for selecting the All-Star Team.

Holy Cross concluded the 2007 season with an overall record of 7-4, and placed second in the Patriot League with a 4-2 mark in conference games.

A complete list of the 2007 FCS Athletic Directors Academic All-Star Team follows.

2007 FCS ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ACADEMIC ALL-STAR TEAM

Name                School                               Position            Yr.  GPA
Jefferson Adcock    Samford University                   Quarterback         Sr.  3.44
Kevin Adleman       Wofford College                      Linebacker          Jr.  3.66
Nick Altomare       Hofstra University                   Safety              Jr.  3.62
Pierre Banks        Appalachian State University         Linebacker          Jr.  3.24
Elliot Barnhart     Montana State University             Offensive Lineman   Sr.  3.71
Joshua Brite        Delaware State University            Punter              Sr.  4.00
Mike Byrne          University of Delaware               Offensive Lineman   Sr.  3.55
Adam Casper         Southeast Missouri State University  Linebacker          Sr.  3.44
Travis Cherry       Western Illinois University          Linebacker          Sr.  3.53
Brandon Cramer      University of Dayton                 Safety              Sr.  4.00
Justin Curry        Eastern Kentucky University          Linebacker          Sr.  3.25
Andrew Dete         Dartmouth College                    Linebacker          Jr.  3.75
Marcus Dixon        Hampton University                   Defensive Lineman   Sr.  3.22
Parker Douglass     South Dakota State University        Placekicker         Sr.  3.78
Wes Doyle           University of San Diego              Wide Receiver       Sr.  3.56
Nick Ellis          Charleston Southern University       Placekicker/Punter  Sr.  3.75
Matt Engle          University of California Davis       Quarterback         Sr.  3.42
Jerome Felton       Furman University                    Fullback            Sr.  3.28
Patrick FitzGerald  Davidson College                     Defensive Back      Sr.  3.42
Ray Fiumefreddo     Marist College                       Fullback            Jr.  3.84
Johnny Flowers      Southeastern Louisiana University    Offensive Lineman   Sr.  3.56
Bryan Giannecchini  University of Rhode Island           Placekicker/Punter  Sr.  3.69
Kole Heckendorf     North Dakota State University        Wide Receiver       Jr.  3.82
Craig Hormann       Columbia University                  Quarterback         Sr.  3.33
Daniel Jordan       Georgia Southern University          Punter              Sr.  3.76
Brian Kelly         University of Dayton                 Linebacker          Sr.  3.59
Cory Koenig         South Dakota State University        Running Back        Sr.  3.77
David  Kovalcik     Duquesne University                  Punter              Sr.  3.88
Cory Long           Stephen F. Austin State University   Placekicker         Jr.  3.87
Brett Lowe          Dartmouth College                    Tight End           Sr.  3.65
Tom McAndrews       Eastern Washington University        Tight End           Sr.  4.00
Wes McDermott       Morehead State University            Linebacker          So.  3.61
Nick Mozal          Bucknell University                  Offensive Lineman   Sr.  3.77
Anthony Orio        Northeastern University              Quarterback         Jr.  3.84
Bob Perez           Youngstown State University          Safety              Sr.  3.84
Myles Potter        Davidson College                     Wide Receiver       Jr.  3.58
Nicholas Richmond   Delaware State University            Offensive Lineman   So.  3.62
Jacob Rochester     Virginia Military Institute          Linebacker          Jr.  4.00
Tyler Roehl         North Dakota State University        Running Back        Jr.  3.23
Jordan Senn         Portland State University            Linebacker          Sr.  3.86
Matt Sherry         Villanova University                 Wide Receiver       Sr.  3.84
Chris Smith         College of the Holy Cross            Offensive Lineman   Jr.  3.53
Justin Smith        Columbia University                  Defensive Back      Sr.  3.55
Matt Stansfield     Duquesne University                  Offensive Lineman   Sr.  3.46
Torrey Thomas       University of Montana                Free Safety         Sr.  3.72
Bradley Thompson    Tennessee Tech University            Defensive Lineman   So.  4.00
Rob Valletti        Iona College                         Offensive Lineman   Sr.  3.78
Jim Verlanic        Murray State University              Offensive Lineman   Jr.  3.71
Kevin Walsh         Monmouth College                     Defensive Lineman   Jr.  3.34
John Webb           Towson University                    Linebacker          Sr.  3.31
Tom Zetts           Youngstown State University          Quarterback         Sr.  3.68