Football Gazette preseason All-American Alex Bell '05

July 22, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College football team won’t officially begin its Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Championship defense for another two months, but junior offensive lineman Alex Bell (Wallkill/Modena, N.Y.) is already collecting awards. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound guard recently was named a preseason All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette.

A second-team selection, Bell was the only UCAA offensive player selected to any of the Football Gazette’s three teams. A two-year starter, he helped Hobart set school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a season, as the Statesmen threw for 2,219 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2002.

Bell was named to the 2002 Football Gazette All-East third-team and the All-UCAA second-team. He also earned second-team All-UCAA honors in 2001. Bell scored two touchdowns on three short yardage carries during his rookie campaign.

Hobart is coming off its second NCAA Playoff appearance in the past three seasons. The Statesmen posted an 8-2 overall record in 2002, including a seven-game win streak to start the campaign and a perfect 4-0 mark in the UCAA.

Hobart returns 29 letterwinners, including 15 starters, from last year’s squad. The Statesmen open their 110th season at 1 p.m., on Sept. 13, at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. Following an off-week, Hobart makes its home debut at 1 p.m., on Sept. 27, against UCAA rival Union College.