FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAPMAN CLEANS UP ON ESPN ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM

ORANGE, Calif. – A quartet of Chapman University football players has been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VIII team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The foursome matches Chapman’s previous high with four players also honored in 2002.

Seniors Lance Carter and Ian Galanis each earned the award for the second time in their careers, while junior Garrett Earls and sophomore Bob Burton were named for the first time.

Carter, a wide receiver, was named to the All-District team for the second straight year after compiling 292 receiving yards on 24 catches, including three touchdowns. The senior averaged 12.2 yards per catch in 2007 and currently has a 3.82 GPA in political science. Meanwhile Galanis, who last earned the award as a sophomore in 2005, was Chapman’s top rusher in 2007 with 438 yards and nine touchdowns. He has a 3.59 GPA in business.

Earls had a breakout year for Chapman in the secondary, leading the team with 65 tackles, 54 solo tackles and four interceptions. The free safety also had five pass breakups and a QB sack. He currently has a 3.40 GPA in finance. In addition, Burton was selected after finishing third on the team in tackles (51) and tackles for loss (six). A starting defensive end, Burton has earned a 3.40 GPA in film.

Chapman has had 27 players selected to the Academic All-District teams since 1996.

The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000 member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, student-athletes must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports. Chapman is a member of the District VIII College Division, which includes Division II, III and NAIA schools from throughout the Western United States.

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