University of Connecticut Athletics
Shaun Feldeisen Named CoSIDA Academic All-America
12/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
December 1, 2003
STORRS, Conn. - University of Connecticut senior wide receiver Shaun Feldeisen was named second team CoSIDA Academic All-America on Monday.
Feldeisen was UConn’s leading receiver in 2003 with 65 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. The 65 receptions represent the sixth-best seasonal total in UConn history. As a tri-captain, he has helped guide the team to a 9-3 record, pending a potential bowl game, in just its second full-fledged season at the Division I-A level. Feldeisen also maintains a 3.63 grade point average as a marketing major and has been a fixture on both the Dean’s List and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll throughout his time at UConn.
"I’m very happy to earn this honor," Feldeisen said. "When I was selected for the District team I really began to appreciate just what this award means and now to earn national recognition is incredible. It honors model student-athletes and I’m happy to be included in that discussion on a nationwide level and as a captain, hope this can serve as a point of inspiration for some of my teammates. Academic All-Americans can’t merely be good. They have excelled both on the field and in the classroom and that can be a tough thing to do, as I know very well. I appreciate this recognition as I know there’s some tough competition. Once again, I’d just like to thank the CPIA (Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes) staff, along with the coaches and my family, for helping make this possible."
"Shaun is a more-than-worthy recipient of this great honor," head coach Randy Edsall said. "He is just a pleasure to coach and served as an excellent captain for us this fall, not only with his playing ability as our leading receiver, but also as an ideal role model. This award is given to the elite student-athletes in America and Shaun is cast from that mold. To earn this honor, you have to be more than just a good football player and more than just a bright student. You have to combine everything and do it with a restrictive daily schedule that offers very little free time due to all of these commitments. Shaun has done a remarkable job of balancing his commitments and as his coach I am extremely honored to see him recognized for that."
A clutch performer under pressure, 50 of Feldeisen’s 65 catches this fall were good for a Husky first down. Of his 65 receptions, 25 came on third down and five more were critical fourth down grabs. Feldeisen played his best in big games this year, including his efforts in UConn’s 51-17 win at Wake Forest on Nov. 15 when he set career highs with 10 receptions and 129 yards. He also led UConn with seven catches apiece in road games at Virginia Tech (Sept. 27) and NC State (Oct. 11) and had a team-high six grabs against Boston College on Sept. 13. Nine of his 10 receptions against the Demon Deacons went for a first down.
Feldeisen’s second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors came alongside of P.J. Fleck on Northern Illinois who made 77 catches for 1,028 yards for the 10-2 Huskies while posting a 3.43 GPA in elementary education. The first-team wide receivers were Kyler Randall of Eastern Washington (64. rec., 818 yards, 3.88 GPA) and John Standeford of Purdue (3.65 GPA), the Big Ten’s career leader in receiving yardage.
Feldeisen is the second football Academic All-America selection in UConn history. In 1978, William Leahy was also named to the Academic All-America second team as an offensive lineman. UConn has not had a first-team Academic All-American in football since CoSIDA created the award in 1952.
To be nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore starter or significant reserve on his team with a 3.20 cumulative GPA. Feldeisen qualified for the national ballot after earning Academic All-District I honors on Nov. 13. The District I team was compiled from all Division I-A and I-AA teams in New England and New York.
This is not the only award that UConn has earned for it’s work off of the field. In June, the program was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for having a 90-percent or better graduation rate. UConn was one of only seven Division I-A schools to be so honored, and the only public institution amongst the group.
