BUFFALO, NY - Josh Violanti has been named to the 2009 Football Academic All-MAC team. The sophomore center is a political science major with a 3.83 grade point average.
The Lackawanna product appeared in all 12 games and started the final eight of the season. He was part of an offensive line that paved the way for an offense that averaged 405 yards per game - the highest average in UB's Division I-A era. He blocked for a running back that had a 100-yard game six times. The Bulls only allowed 20 sacks, their lowest total in six seasons.
A political science major, Violanti was named to the Academic All-MAC team in his first year eligible.
In addition, honorable mention honors went to Robert Colpoys,Bruno Lapointe and Andrew West. Colpoys, a biology major, has a 3.23 GPA. Lapointe has a 3.28 GPA as an engineering major. West is a management major with a 3.28 grade point average.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.