December 3 , 2004

Alex Bell will represent the United States in the Aztec Bowl on Dec. 11. (Photo by K. Colton/SportsPics.net)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart senior Alex Bell (Wallkill/Modena, N.Y.) has been selected to play for the American Football Coaches Association’s Division III all-star team that will represent the United States against the Mexican National Team in the 2004 Aztec Bowl on Dec. 11, in Cancun, Mexico.

The 6-foot-3, 317-pound offensive lineman was a four-time All-Liberty League performer for the Statesmen. Bell anchored an offensive line that helped the Statesmen lead the conference in rushing average (199.9 yds/g) and passing efficiency (149.9). He is one of 42 NCAA Division III seniors from around the country who will make up this year’s team.

Bell already has compiled a long list of accolades. In addition to four all-conference appearances, he has been named to the D3football.com and the Sports Information Directors 2003 All-America teams, while garnering Football Gazette All-East honors three times.

Bell is the second Statesman to participate in the Aztec Bowl. Defensive Back Eric Newsome ’01 played in the 2000 game.
This year’s game is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. CST) at Estadio Cancun 86. The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. The game has been played 33 times since 1947 with the last seven contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States is 6-1 in the series. Mexico’s lone victory came in last year’s game, which was also played in Cancun.

Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas, will provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl. Along with the game webcast on December 11, announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Fratangelo will provide 90-minute preview shows on December 8, 9 and 10. The preview shows will originate from the Team USA hotel and will begin each night at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. CST). The preview shows and game webcast can all be accessed via the AFCA’s website at www.afca.com and via the Aztec Bowl website at www.aztecbowl.com. Postgame results will also be available at www.afca.com.

Two former Team USA members, London Fletcher and Clint Kriewaldt, currently plays in the National Football League. Fletcher, who played at John Carroll University and was a member of the 1997 U.S. team, is a linebacker with the Buffalo Bills. Kriewaldt was the Detroit Lions’ 1999 fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and played in the 1998 Aztec Bowl. He is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.