Title | Division I Men's Basketball Championship First & Second Rounds |
Creator (LCNAF) |
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Publisher | National Collegiate Athletic Association |
Date | March 15, 1990 - March 17, 1990 |
Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
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Subject.Name (LCNAF) |
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Subject.Geographic (TGN) |
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Genre (AAT) |
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Language | English |
Type (DCMI) |
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Original Item Location | ID 2009-006, Box 7, Folder 7 |
Original Collection | Athletics Department Records |
Digital Collection | University of Houston Sports Championship Publications |
Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/champ |
Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
Use and Reproduction | Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by the content creator, author, artist or other entity, and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the copyright owner. For more information please see UH Digital Library Fair Use policy on the UH Digital Library About page. |
File Name | index.cpd |
Title | Page 19 |
Format (IMT) |
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File Name | champ_201306_035_019.jpg |
Transcript | Not Your Average Joe College Top-Flight Student-Athletes Pursue Unusual Academic Interests By JACK EBLING Lansing (Mich.) State Journal T his is not about basketball. And it is not about basket-weaving classes or basket cases in the classroom. It is about four student-athletes who took the rough road instead of rapid transit academically. It is about priorities, commitment and incredible time-management skills. And frankly, it is about time people like Alec Kessler, Tony Jones, Matt Anderson and Brian Oliver were recognized for the numbers on their transcripts, not just the ones they wear on their backs. Each has a special field of study. But then, each is a special person. Kessler, a 6-11 forward and center from Georgia, was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1989 by the United States Basketball Writers Association. The fifth-year senior has a 3.91 grade- point average in microbiology and should finish his career as a three-time academic all-America. "I try to never take a whole day off," Kessler said. "When I have a day off from basketball, I put a lot of emphasis on my studies. The nights before games, I leave open for basketball." Opponents have left him open enough to give him a 15-foot jump shot at becoming the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer. But last season's Southeastern Conference rebounding king is just as big a bulldog when it comes to his academic interests. While teammates spend their time on planes playing cards or listening to music, Kessler keeps his books by his side. If there is a test in immunology to take, he is anything but immune to the need to study. "My teammates respect me athletically," he said. "And they separate the athletic end from my academics. But we have some pretty good students on this team now. A lot of them are conscientious." Kessler always has been. His diligence in the weight room turned a lightly-recruited prospect who scored only 34 points as a high school junior into a probable future pro. aXklCT0TZ"£rei™ ^,ec„Kesster °«"K a 3.91 grade-point-average in microbiology ana ranks as one of the school's all-time leading scorers. 18 |