Nov. 21, 2007

Petersburg, VA - The East Coast Bowl Committee has announced that Wagner senior RB Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/ Henninger) has been selected to be a member of the North squad in the seventh annual East Coast Bowl Game which takes place on Saturday, November 24 at Noon. Butler will join Wagner teammates Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ/ Keyport) and Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL/ American) on the North roster.

The East Coast Bowl Committee selects the top 75 Division I-FCS, II, III and NAIA athletes. Players will spend the holiday making various community visits as well as taking part in practice sessions for NFL scouts. The game itself is a scholarship event with all of the revenue generated directed to a fund for a local high school senior who plans on attending a Division I-FCS, II or III college. For more information, visit www.petersburgsports.com

Butler put an exclamation point on his brilliant season and career with a 238-yard, two-TD effort in Wagner's 41-27 season-ending triumph at Jacksonville. The victory lifted the Seahawks to a 7-4 record, Wagner's first seven-win season since 2002.

Fittingly, the 6-1, 180-pound Butler raced 41 yards for a TD on the final carry of his career to seal the victory. In just his second season as a RB, after being converted from safety, Butler finished the season with 1,713 yards, second on the all-time NEC single-season rushing list behind Justise Hairston of Central Conn. State who gained 1,847 yards in 2006.

In a fact that gained mention in the Nov. 19 edition of The USA Today, Butler rushed for 100 or more yards in all 11 games this season, becoming the first NEC player to do so. Butler ended the regular season ranked third in the nation in all-purpose yards (197.36/game) and fourth in rushing yards (155.73/game).

Butler's 238-yard outing was the second-highest total he has amassed in a game (career high is 269 vs. La Salle on Nov. 3), and marked the third 200-yard game of his season and career as he went for 201 yards (and four TDs) in a win at Monmouth.

In addition to achieving the second-highest rushing total in NEC history, Butler's 1,713 yards is second on the Wagner all-time rushing list behind Terry Underwood, who gained 1,809 yards in 1988. Butler also finished the season with 316 rushing attempts, which is a Wagner single-season school mark.

A DB before being converted to RB prior to the 2006 season, Butler finished with 2,448 career yards in just 22 games, which is sixth on the Wagner all-time list. A three-time NEC Offensive Player of the week, Butler was also the ECAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. Monmouth.

The East Coast Bowl has partnered this year with American Football Alumni (AFA). The AFA is an association of former players and coaches of all levels to support the sport of football and give back to the game. More information about the American Football Alumni can be obtained at www.11on11.com