Nov. 17, 2004

NEW ORLEANS - Four Tulane football players have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VI teams, including first-team selections Joe and Matt Traina, the Green Wave starting center and left guard, respectively. They were joined by junior linebacker Anthony Cannon and sophomore defensive end Michael Purcell, who were named to the Academic All-District second team.

The Academic All-District first-team honor is the second straight for Matt Traina, who owns a 3.77 grade point average in Tulane's A.B. Freeman School of Business, where he is a double major in finance and marketing. A three-year starter at left guard, Matt plays alongside his twin brother Joe, the Wave's starting center, who was selected to the first team in 2004 after earning second-team All-District honors as a sophomore. Joe is also a double major in finance and marketing with a 3.80 cumulative grade point average.

The pair's selection marks the fourth straight season that a Tulane offensive lineman has earned first team Academic All-District honors. The Coral Gables, Fla. natives are now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Cannon, a junior from Stone Mountain, Ga., earned Academic All-District honors for the first time with a 3.28 gpa. The Green Wave's leading tackler with 90 stops on the season, Cannon is majoring in organizational information technology. He also leads Tulane in quarterback sacks with four and has forced four fumbles in 2004 for the 4-5 Green Wave.

Purcell is one of the Green Wave's most inspirational stories as the sophomore has overcome multiple knee injuries to play defensive end for Tulane while carrying a 3.39 grade point average. A product of Dripping Springs, Texas, Purcell ranks third on the Green Wave team with 6.5 tackles for loss and has made 28 tackles despite seeing limited action due to his knees. He is a double major in finance and accounting in the A.B. Freeman School of Business.

"It's a great honor for our program for four players to be recognized for their accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom," said Tulane Head Coach Chris Scelfo. "They are great representatives of Tulane University and exemplify the type of student-athlete we have on this football team."

District VI is comprised of schools in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The team is selected by a vote of District VI members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

-- Roll Wave --