MCNICHOLAS, NICODEMUS EARN FOOTBALL GAZETTE HONORS

Named to Honorable Mention All-American Team

EDINBORO, PA - Edinboro University football players Sean McNicholas (Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) and Brandon Nicodemus (Altoona, PA/Altoona) have been recognized as honorable mention All-Americans on the 2001 Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America Team.

The duo helped Edinboro finish with a 4-6 record under second-year head coach Lou Tepper. While the record was not what Tepper had hoped for, the Fighting Scots proved a far more difficult adversary than in 2000, including posting a 17-7 win over Slippery Rock, ranked 17th in Division II at the time.

The improvement is also apparent in the postseason honors received by the Scots. Eight players were accorded All-PSAC West honors, including five on the first team. Now comes the Football Gazette recognition for a pair of juniors who are expected to lead the way to Edinboro's first winning season since 1996 this coming fall.

A year ago the offensive line was much-maligned. In a true indicator of how far the unit came, three of the line's five members were accorded All-PSAC honors, with Nicodemus now landing a spot on the honorable mention All-American unit. A 6'3", 284 lb. junior, Nicodemus has started all 32 games in his career at left guard. That streak was even more impressive this year after suffering a separated shoulder midway through the season. He played a major role in Edinboro's ability to run the ball against some of the best defenses the PSAC had to offer, including Indiana (PA), Slippery Rock and Clarion. Edinboro averaged 183.7 yards per game on the ground, including a season-high 315 yards against East Stroudsburg. Nicodemus was earlier accorded first team All-PSAC West honors.

McNicholas boomed long punt after long punt until he had been named the PSAC West's first team punter. He finished second in the PSAC in average at 41.4 yards on 51 punts. That figure also ranks second all-time at Edinboro. He averaged 40-or-more yards in seven games, including 49.8 yards on six boots at Indian(Pa.), 45.8 yards on four punts vs. Gannon and 45.0 yards on six kicks vs. Clarion. The junior finished with 20 kicks inside the 20, and had eight kicks of 50-or-more yards and four of 60-or-more yards. His long kick was a 65-yarder against Gannon.

~ Fighting Scots ~

Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index

Created on ... 1/23/02