Alex Bell '05

Jeff Bruckman '05

Tony Clemente '06

December 9, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—Three Hobart College football players recently were honored by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Junior offensive guard Alex Bell (Wallkill/Modena, N.Y.) earned a place on the All-East second-team, while junior tackle Jeff Bruckman (Churchville Chili/Churchville, N.Y.) and sophomore linebacker Tony Clemente (Troy/Troy, N.Y.) garnered third-team praise.

One of the most dominant blockers in Division III, Bell was a first-team All-UCAA selection this season, starting 10 games without allowing a sack. The Statesmen, who averaged 156.6 yards rushing and 186.2 yards passing per game, ran the majority of their rushing plays behind the blocks of Bell. A third-team All-East selection a year ago, Bell and his fellow linemen were named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week after Hobart rushed for 248 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-25 regular season ending upset of previously unbeaten Rensselaer.

Bruckman is also an outstanding blocker, protecting the blindside of Hobart’s quarterbacks. He was named first-team All-UCAA this season after earning honorable mention in 2002. Bruckman helped the Statesmen rush for a season-high 316 yards and two touchdowns in Hobart’s 34-18 win over Norwich in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl. He is a two-year starter after spending his first season on the defensive side of the ball.

Clemente was named the UCAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He started 10 games this season, making a team-high 70 tackles (34 solo) including 1.5 sacks. Clemente was named the UCAA Defensive Player of the Week and earned a spot on the D3Football.com Team of the Week following a loss at then 18th-ranked Ithaca. He posted a career-high 16 tackles, including eight solo, and forced a fumble, as the Statesmen defense limited the Bombers to just 14 points, 15.7 points below their season average. Clemente’s 16 stops are the most by a Hobart player since Sept. 28, 2002.

The Statesmen finished the season with a 6-4 record, including a 3-1 mark in the UCAA. League Champion for the second straight season, Hobart won its first ECAC bowl this year, after earning an NCAA Tournament berth in two of the previous three seasons.