Fernandez Named Academic All-District

    CEDAR CITY, Utah, Nov. 6 ? Southern Utah University defensive tackle Aaron Fernandez has been named to the 2008 University Divisioin CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII squad, it was announced today.
    Fernandez, a senior from Mesa, Ariz. (Red Mountain HS/Mesa CC) carries a grade point average of 3.46 in physical education.
    After missing the first three games of his sophomore season at SUU because of injury, Fernandez has started every game since. This season he leads the team's defensive linemen in tackles with 39 is second in quarterback hurries with four and is third in tackles-for-loss with 10. Last year he finished the season second among defensive linemen, also with 39 tackles, to go with six tackles for loss and four sacks.
    Fernandez was named the Great West Conference's defensive player of the week following the Thunderbirds' 14-7 win over Youngstown State on Oct. 4. That game he tallied eight tackles (four solo), was in on a sack and had 1.5 tackles for losses in the win but his big play came in the third quarter when he scooped up a fumble and rambled 54 yards for what proved to be the winning score.
“Aaron is, like all the guys who get these awards are, ultra-competitive in every environment you put him in,” SUU Head Coach Ed Lamb said. “He's super-competitive on the field which is why he as good on the field stats and it's no surprise to me that he would be super-competitive in the classroom as well. It's great news to hear that he's earned this distinction.”
Selection to the CoSIDA Academic All-District squad is based on voting among the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America. District VIII is comprised of universities in Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Hawaii and British Columbia.

The complete team follows.
District 8 Winners
University Division
FIRST TEAM
Punter    T.J. Conley    IDAHO, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Sr.    Walla Walla, Wash.    3.6    Civil Engineering
Quarterback    Brian Johnson    UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Sr.    Baytown, Texas    3.34    Mass Communications
Receiver    Casey Flair    UNLV    VIII    Gr.    Anchorage, Alaska    3.55, 4.00 (grad)    Psychology and Public Administration
Receiver    Vinny Perretta    BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Sr.    Encinitas, California    3.68    History
Tight End    Colt Sampson    UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Sr.    Pleasant Grove, Utah    3.39    Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Running Back    Vince Pascoe    FRESNO STATE    VIII    So.    Exeter, Calif.    4.0    Mechanical Engineering
Running Back    Richie Brockel    BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Phoenix, Arizona    3.71    Accounting
Offensive Line    David Oswald    BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY    VIII    Sr.    Sandy, Utah    3.85    International Relations
Offensive Line    Chris Thomas    EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Sumner, Wash.    3.77    Biology/Pre-Medicine
Offensive Line    Andrew Jackson    FRESNO STATE    VIII    So.    Grass Valley, Calif.    3.93    Business Administration
Offensive Line    Micah Hannam    WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    So.    Gig Harbor, Wash.    3.57    Civil Engineering
Offensive Line    Derek Hoke    UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Gr.    Pleasant Grove, Utah    3.45, 3.55 (grad)    Family, Consumer and Human Development
Offensive Line    Zane Beadles    UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Jr.    Sandy, Utah    3.48    Mechanical Engineering
Kicker    Louie Sakoda    UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Sr.    San Jose, Calif.    3.73    Business Marketing
Defensive Back    Beau Hadley    WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Taylor, UT    4.00    Technical Sales
Defensive Back    Kellen Fowler    BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY    VIII    Sr.    Kaysville, Utah    3.82    Finance
Defensive Back    Scott Johnson    BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Provo, Utah    3.83    Exercise Science
Defensive Back    Moses Harris    FRESNO STATE    VIII    Jr.    Stockton, Calif.    3.55    Business-Finance
Linebacker    Matthew Bauman    BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Salt Lake City, Utah    3.92    Finance
Linebacker    Mike Nixon    ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Phoenix, Ariz.    4.00    Political Science
Linebacker    Clayton "Biff" Swan    WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Sr.    Jerome, ID    3.72    Technical Sales
Linebacker    Dallas Dobbs    BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY    VIII    Gr.    Las Vegas, Nevada    3.57, 3.88 (grad)    Accounting
Defensive Line    Nick Reed    OREGON, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Sr.    Trabuco Canyon, Calif.    3.44    History
Defensive Line    Christopher Gianelli    SAN DIEGO, UNIVERSITY OF    VIII    Sr.    Rancho Palos Verdes, CA    3.57    Electrical Engineering
Defensive Line    Jacob Kragt    EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY    VIII    Jr.    Ritzville, Wash.    3.85    Biology
Defensive Line    Aaron Fernandez    SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY    VIII    Sr.    Mesa, Ariz.    3.46    Physical education