Lewis and LeBude Garner 2005 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Football First Team Honors

Dec. 1 - (WALTHAM, Mass.) – A pair of Carnegie Mellon football players, junior defensive back Aaron Lewis (Englewood, OH/Northmont) and senior offensive guard Bryan LeBude (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), earned First Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). CoSIDA recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments by honoring deserving athletes with All-Academic recognition.

Lewis and LeBude were named to the First Team All-Region All-Academic District II team in November allowing their names to be placed on the national ballot. Carnegie Mellon was one of seven schools to place two athletes on the Academic All-America first team.

The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Lewis grabbed first team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) honors for the third straight year leading Carnegie Mellon and the UAA in tackles with 115 (61 solo). He also had six interceptions, recovered a fumble for the Tartans and ranked second in interceptions in the UAA. Lewis recorded double-digit tackles six times, including a career-high 22 in the November 12th game against #18 Thiel. Aaron was also named UAA Defensive Athlete of the Week four times during the 2005 season and named ECAC Defensive Player of the Week twice. In 2004 he was named to the District II Academic All-District Second Team. Lewis currently holds a 3.95 grade point average and is a Business Administration major.

LeBude started in every game at guard in helping the Tartans to an average of 219.8 rushing yards per game, ranking 27th nationally. He has led an offensive line that has only given up 13 sacks and headed the offensive attack to a first place ranking in the UAA in rushing offense and sacks against. They were also ranked second in scoring offense and total yards.

This season, Carnegie Mellon finished 5-5 and in third place in the UAA. It was the 31st consecutive non-losing season for the Tartans, which coincides with the time Head Coach Rich Lackner has been a part of the football program.