Two Panthers footballers named as Academic All-Americans

Middlebury has long prided itself on its dual status as a prestigious liberal arts college as well as a powerhouse in the world of Div.-III sports. Student athletes are expected to live up to these rigorous expectations, and successfully balance the demands of their schoolwork with a strong commitment to their team, which is no easy feat. This past Tuesday, two Panther football players received recognition for embodying this excellence in the classroom and on the playing fields –– Anthony Kuchan ’11 and David Reed ’11 were named District I Academic All-Americans by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors Association).

To be eligible for the honor, the student athlete must maintain a GPA of 3.30 or higher and be a starter or important reserve on their team. CoSIDA members nominate potential candidates from the academic institution with which they are affiliated.

The two seniors made significant contributions to the Panthers’ football program, with Kuchan finishing his career 19 of 24 in field goal attempts (a nearly 80 percent completion record) and Reed accumulating 79 receptions for 782 yards. Between the two of them, they contributed 160 points to the team over the course of their four years.

Perhaps even more significantly, Kuchan and Reed upheld the standard of excellence that Middlebury demands of its students, helping to maintain the College’s impressive reputation. Reed holds a solid 3.65 GPA as an economics major, and Kuchan, a political science and economics major, holds a 3.47 GPA, well above the required minimum.

“I’ll bet Reggie Bush didn’t have a double major,” said Kuchan, a line that highlights a widely acknowledged difference between Division III and major D-I programs –– at a D-III school it’s more common for the athlete to have the chance to pursue legitimate and rigorous courses of study. While Kuchan’s dual degrees might not earn him as much as Reggie Bush’s salary, he is at least well poised to succeed in “the real world” post-graduation.

The Academic All-American honor represents a fitting conclusion for the incredibly successful careers of these two senior athletes.