Southern Illinoise University Athletics
LB Tony Rinella Named Academic All-District
11/11/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Nov. 11, 2004
Southern Illinois University linebacker Tony Rinella was named to the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District V team, the organization announced Thursday.
The junior from Marion, Ill., has started all 10 games for the 9-1 Salukis and ranks among the team leaders with 49 tackles. The former walk-on also has one sack and a pair of tackles for loss. Rinella is majoring in history and carries a 3.41 cumulative grade point average.
The Saluki defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation among NCAA I-AA teams in points allowed per game (11.3). The team is also ranked No. 1 in nation in both the I-AA coaches and media polls.
District V includes all Division I-A and I-AA football teams in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Rinella will advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.
CoSIDA Academic All-District V First Team Offense
JOSH HALDI, QB, Northern Illinois, Sr., 3.89, Accountancy
KEVIN KNUTSON, WR, Valparaiso, Sr., 3.476, Chemistry/Biology
DAN SHELDON, WR, Northern Illinois, Sr., 3.26 Communication
CHARLES DAVIS, TE, Purdue, Jr., 3.37, Organizational Communication
SCOTT BLAIR, TB, Ball State, Sr., 3.59, Industrial Technology
JAKE SHIELDS, TB, Indiana State, Sr., 3.38, Business Administration
PERRY COX, C, Western Illinois, Jr., 3.966, Management
GREG ESLINGER, C, Minnesota, Jr., 3.57, Inter-College Program
TYLER MOORE, OG, Purdue, Sr., 3.34, Fine Arts
JOE THOMAS, OT, Wisconsin, So., 3.78, Business
JAKE VerSTRAETE, OT, Northern Illinois, Sr., 3.45, Manufacturing Engineering Technology
JUSTIN LANGAN, K, Western Illinois, Sr. 3.666, Biological Sciences
CoSIDA Academic All-District V First Team Defense
TOM BRILLHART, DT, Indiana State, Sr., 3.51, Social Studies
KYLE BUDINSCAK, DE, Notre Dame, Sr., 3.591, Finance
LUIS CASTILLO, DT, Northwestern, Sr., 3.53, Economics
MARK LOSLI, DE, Minnesota, Jr., 3.67, Finance/Management Info. Systems
Tony Rinella, LB, Southern Illinois, Jr., 3.41, History
JASON SIEMAN, LB, Ball State, Jr., 3.531, Business
DOMINIQUE SIMS, LB, Minnesota, Sr., 3.23, Animal Science
JEFF BACKES, CB, Northwestern, Jr., 3.80, Psychology (Pre-Medicine)
CHRIS DANIELS, DB, Valparaiso, Sr., 3.249, Finance
ROB LEE, CB, Northern Illinois, Sr., 3.64, Political Science
JIM LEONHARD, FS, Wisconsin, Sr., 3.44, Kinesiology
WILL MEYERS, S, Indiana, So., 3.75, Accounting
