Football: WVU's Justice Big East Scholar Athlete
February 13, 2006 03:31 PM | General
February 13, 2006
 |
||
| Garin Justice |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - West Virginia senior offensive tackle Garin Justice is the winner of the 2005-06 BIG EAST/Aéropostale Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. He receives a $2,000 scholarship which may be applied to graduate or professional studies. Justice also leads a group of 67 student-athletes named to the 2005 BIG EAST All-Academic Football Team, the league announced.
The BIG EAST/Aéropostale Scholar-Athlete Awards were established to recognize student-athletes who have achieved success in the classroom and on the field. The Female and Male Scholar-Athlete Awards will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 14 and Wednesday, Feb. 15, respectively. The Men's and Women's Basketball Scholar-Athletes of the Year will be announced prior to the BIG EAST Men's & Women's Basketball Championships on March 3 and 7. Aéropostale, Inc. is a fast growing, mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 11 to 18-year old young women and men. The company provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion basic merchandise at compelling prices. Aéropostale and the BIG EAST Conference have been partners since 1999. The company Web site can be found at www.aeropostale.com.
A native of Gilbert, W. Va., Justice excels both on and off the field at West Virginia. A three-year starter at offensive tackle, he has played in four straight bowl games for the Mountaineers, including a 38-35 victory over Georgia in the 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl. This past season, Justice - a WVU team captain - was selected as an All-America Second Team performer by The Sporting News and was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. In addition, he received ESPN conference honors and All-ECAC accolades.
"These individuals are outstanding student-athletes, who have accomplished many great feats on the field and in the classroom," Commissioner Michael Tranghese said. "The BIG EAST is extremely excited to be able to honor Garin Justice and the entire academic team."
Justice has an impressive resume in the classroom and in the community as well. An education major with a 3.58 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, he has already completed his degree requirements and is in the process of student teaching. Justice was a member of the Dean's List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll from 2001-05. In 2005, he was a member of the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Justice is also extremely involved in the community at West Virginia. He volunteers to work with the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Special Olympics and the Children's Hospital. In addition, he is an officeholder in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Eleven repeat selections from 2004 were included on this season's BIG EAST All-Academic Football Team. Four players - Brian Leonard (Rutgers), Jay Henry (West Virginia), Justice (West Virginia) and Dan Mozes (West Virginia) - were honored for the third time.
Eleven players who received All-BIG EAST honors on the gridiron in the fall also made the all-academic squad. Louisville's Brian Brohm, Travis Leffew and Jason Spitz, Rutgers' Ryan Neill and West Virginia's Justice, Mike Lorello and Mozes were All-BIG EAST First Team selections. Brohm, a sophomore quarterback for the Cardinals, was also named the 2005 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. All-conference second team members on the all-academic team included Connecticut's Rhema Fuller, Pittsburgh's Tyler Palko, Rutgers' Brian Leonard and West Virginia's Phil Brady.
West Virginia had the most academic honorees on this year's squad with 20. The Mountaineers have the most all-time selections with 131 in 15 seasons of BIG EAST play.
West Virginia players selected include:
The All-Academic Team recognizes letterwinners who have posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Student-athletes who have completed a minimum of two semesters of academic work and earned a letter are eligible. It is the 14th consecutive season the BIG EAST has honored its student-athletes with an academic team.
