ESPN The Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) formally announced an association with the Academic All-America Teams Program. The premier nationwide college scholar-athlete awards program will now be branded
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America, as selected by CoSIDA, and will have additional presence on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU (launching March 2005), ESPN.com and in
ESPN The Magazine.
Created in 1952 by CoSIDA, the program recognizes 816 student-athletes annually in Division I, II, III, NAIA and Canadian Colleges, covering all NCAA championship sports.
"ESPN The Magazine has always resonated with the college community, and this is a great way for us to honor those who excel both academically and athletically,” said Geoff Reiss, senior vice president, ESPN Consumer Products, who oversees ESPN The Magazine. “The Academic All-America program is a coveted honor, and we look forward to being a part it for years to come.”
Added Rod Commons, Washington State University sports information director and CoSIDA president, “The Academic All-America program is the premier program of its kind, showcasing all that’s good about college athletics. We couldn’t be happier to have ESPN, a leader in its own right, as our partner in this program.”
To be eligible for the program, a student-athlete must:
Have minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale;
Be a starter or key reserve on a varsity athletic team;
Have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution;<
Have received a nomination by the athletic department’s sports information director.