Issued: December 20, 2002

BESTUL, NEWTON NAMED FOOTBALL GAZETTE ALL-AMERICANS

COLUMBUS, OH - UW-Eau Claire offensive lineman Mike Bestul (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) and tight end Brad Newton (Sr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) have been named Third Team Offense Football Gazette All-Americans.

Both players were named First Team Football Gazette All-West Region selections earlier this week.

A unanimous First Team All-WIAC selection and WIAC Co-Scholar Athlete Award winner in 2002, Bestul anchored an offensive line that saw the Blugold offense rank third in passing offense (207.2 yards/game) and fourth in scoring offense (26.7 points/game) and total offense (352.8 yards/game). Bestul is a two-time Verizon Academic All-America First Team selection.

Selected to the 2002 Aztec Bowl and a unanimous First Team All-WIAC honoree, Newton ranked eighth in the WIAC with 39 receptions and ninth with an average of 45.7 receiving yards per game in 2002. A Football Gazette First Team All-West Region and Honorable Mention All-American selection in 2001, Newton ranks 12th on the Blugold career receiving list with 78 receptions.

A total of 74 players were chosen for the Football Gazette All-American team by sports information directors for the 13th straight year. All-Region teams were selected from each of the NCAA's four football regions with first and second team selections moving on to the All-American ballot.