COLORADO SPRINGS -- The Mountain West Conference recently announced its 2003 All-Academic football team. A conference-high 21 Cougars were selected as part of this year's team.
The team included a MWC record nine four-time selections, including Cougar wide receiver Toby Christensen, who graduated with a degree in communications with a 3.71 grade point average and began course work towards his Master's of Public Administration in the fall. Christensen, a two-year starter, was BYU's leading receiver in 2003, finishing the season with 547 yards and four touchdowns.
Besides Christensen, BYU had eight other repeat selections. Those making the team for the second time were, Bryant Atkinson, John Denney, Scott Jackson, Daniel Marquardt, Kip Nielson, Brandon Stephens, Kyle Wilson and Bill Wright.
"As difficult a job as it is to watch over the academics of the football team, we have a lot of good student-athletes," academics coach Jim Hamblin said. "These guys set the example for the rest of the team."
To be eligible for selection student-athletes must have completed at least one academic term at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and be a starter or significant contributor. Below is a list of Cougars who made the MWC All-Academic team.
Bryant Atkinson*
Justin Carlson-Maddux
Toby Christensen ***
Christopher Hale
John Hodgkiss
***-indicates four-time selection
*-indicates two-time selection