Dec. 13, 2001
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette senior tight end Stewart Kupfer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) has earned a spot on the 2001 Verizon national Academic All-America team as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Kupfer earned a spot on the all-district team this season for the third straight year.
A business and economics major with a 3.36 cumulative grade point average, Kupfer has been named to Lafayette's Dean's List three times. He is a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are then named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level.
Earlier this week, Kupfer was selected as the 2001 recipient of the prestigious Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. He is a recipient of the 2001-02 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Lehigh Valley Chapter Scholar-Athlete Award and is a nominee for the 2001 Division I-AA Athletic Directors Association academic all-star team. Kupfer is also involved in numerous community service activities through Lafayette's Community Outreach Center.
On the gridiron, Kupfer started 32 consecutive games and was named a second-team Patriot League all-star this season. He had 42 receptions for 441 yards and four touchdowns, which ranked second on the Leopards and was first among Patriot League tight ends. He also contributed on special teams, registering 10 tackles and one fumble recovery. His 2001 season highlights included serving as team captain this season against Georgetown, scoring three touchdowns in a 31-14 victory over Columbia and catching seven passes for 84 yards against Harvard.
Kupfer finished his career first among Lafayette tight ends in receptions (81), receiving yards (951) and touchdowns (9) and ranks 11th all-time among all Leopards' receivers in receptions.
Lafayette concluded its 120th season of college football and second under head coach Frank Tavani. The Leopards held a lead in each Patriot League game this season, losing four contests by 10 points or less.
