UAlbany athletes selected for Academic All-America team

University at Albany�s Victor Camacho and David Parks were named to the 2003 CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA� FOOTBALL TEAM (University Division).

Camacho was a first-team selection, while Parks earned second-team honors. UAlbany joined Northwestern, Nebraska, Syracuse, Louisiana State, Pittsburgh and Dayton as programs with more than one student-athlete on the national squad.

Camacho, a senior inside linebacker from New York, N.Y., has a 3.79 cumulative grade point average in business administration/finance with a minor in sociology. He was ninth among the Northeast Conference leaders in tackles with 94, including 52 unassisted. Picked to the All-NEC second team, he was twice named to the CoSIDA District I all-academic unit and has been a member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll for three years.

Parks, a senior defensive tackle from West Henrietta, N.Y., posted a 3.54 GPA in history with a minor in education. Parks, one of four Great Danes to receive first-team All-NEC recognition in 2003, made 37 tackles and led the team in sacks (7.5) and tackles for a loss (13.0). UAlbany is among the NCAA Division I-AA national leaders in rushing defense (8th), total defense (5th) and scoring against (12th). Parks was also a two-time CoSIDA District I selection and NEC Academic Honor Roll member.

Camacho and Parks are the first UAlbany football student-athletes to be voted to the national academic all-America team in the same season. J.T. Herfurth was a first-team offensive tackle in 2000, while roverback Ryan MacLean was chosen to the second team in 2002.

A student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) to be nominated for the award. University Division incorporates all NCAA Division I-A and I-AA football programs.

Lucas Kurtz (Clarence Center, N.Y.) was also named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-District I Football Team. A junior free safety, who has a 3.65 GPA in mathematics, Kurtz recorded 46 tackles, including 26 unassisted, to go with a team-high 15 pass break-ups in his first year as a starter.

Head coach Bob Ford became the fourth active NCAA Division I-AA coach to record his 200th win this season and UAlbany (7-3) clinched a share of the Northeast Conference championship for the second straight year.  

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