Issued: November 19, 2003

ELEVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

MADISON - Eleven members of the 2003 UW-Eau Claire football team have been named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference team, it was announced by conference sports information director Matt Stanek.

Two Blugold defensive players were named to the defensive first team headed by Austin Crow (Sr.-Woodbury, MN) who earns his third All-Conference honors. Crow was a first team member in 2001 and a second team member last season despite playing most of the season with a cast on his hand. In 2003, Crow was a unanimous pick and finished third in the conference in tackles with 94 and quarterback sacks with six, while placing eighth in tackles for loss with 11.

Joining Crow on the first team is defensive back Mike LaBarbera (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial). LaBarbera was a second team member in 2002. This season he compiled 53 tackles with eight passes broken up, one interception and one tackle for loss.

Three Blugolds were named to the defensive second team including Mike Lansing (Jr.-Janesville/Craig) who finished second in the conference in tackles with 97 and tackles per game with 10.8 while also totaling three interceptions, three passes broken up and four tackles for loss.

Also on the defensive second team is Dave Maas (Jr.-Waunakee) who tied for 16th in the conference with 67 tackles and 6.7 tackles per game. He also totaled two sacks, one pass broken up, and one tackle for loss.

Pat Cummings (Sr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) rounds out the Blugolds on the defensive second team. Cummings finished 10th in the conference with 78 tackles while also posting three passes broken up, two forced fumbles, and one tackle for loss.

Three members of the Blugold offense were named to the offensive second team, headed by Erik Ferguson (Sr.-Rochester, MN/Dover-Eyota) who led the conference in receiving yards per game, recording 115.7 yards per game with second place posting just 98.1. Ferguson broke both the Eau Claire single season receiving yards and single season receptions records. He finished with 60 receptions and 1,157 yard, becoming the only Blugold receiver in history to catch for 1,000 yards.

Joe Gast (So.-Waconia, MN) joins Ferguson on the second team. Gast was the Blugolds leading rusher and finished sixth in the conference with 76.1 yards per game. He finished with 120 attempts for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Rounding out the Blugolds on the second team is offensive lineman Brett Etzel (Sr.-Oconomowoc). Etzel anchored the Blugold offensive line that finished fourth in the conference in total offense.

Three Blugolds were also named to the honorable mention offensive team including Matt Evensen (So.-Junction City/Auburndale). Evensen ranked fifth in the WIAC in receiving yards per game with 80.6 while finishing sixth in the conference with 5.7 receptions per game.

Tight end Don Kahl (Jr.-Brookfield/East) joins Evensen on the honorable mention team. Kahl caught 41 passes for 501 yards on the season, including four touchdowns.

Rounding out the Blugolds named to the 2003 All-Conference team is punter Matt Brink (Sr.-Madison/Memorial). Brink finished third in the WIAC with a punting average of 37.3 yards per kick. He finished the season with 49 punts for 1,828 yards.

WIAC All-Conference Release