Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Football's John Crowther Named Second-Team Verizon Academic All-American

Dec. 2, 2002

Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame senior long snapper John Crowther was named today to the Verizon Academic All-America football second team. To be eligible, a player must be a starter or significant contributor, at least a sophomore academically, play in 75 percent of the team’s contests and have a 3.2 grade-point average or higher. It is the first time Crowther has won the award and he becomes the first Notre Dame player to be honored as part of the Verizon team since center Mark Zataveski earned second-team accolades in 1994.

Crowther, from Edina, Minn., played in all 12 games for the Irish this season as the snapper on field goals, PATs and punts. He was a key component in the success of Irish senior punter Joey Hildbold, a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, who finished the season with 29 kicks inside the 20-yard line and 11 inside the 10. Hildbold also is fifth in Notre Dame history averaging 40.5 yards a punt.

The 6-2, 240-pounder who was a walk-on until this season also has been instrumental in the success of senior kicker Nicholas Setta. A Lou Groza Award nominee, Setta set a Kickoff Classic and Notre Dame record with five field goals, including a career-high 51-yarder, against Maryland in the season opener. Setta earned Kickoff Classic most valuable player honors for his efforts.

Enrolled in the MBA program after graduating in May with both finance and computer applications degrees from the Mendoza College of Business, Crowther has a 3.7 grade-point average and has been on the Dean’s List seven of eight semesters at Notre Dame.

Crowther becomes the 41st Notre Dame player to earn Academic All-America honors. The 41 citations are second only to Nebraska.