Cougs tie for most All-Academic honorees

EAT YOUR HEART out Stanford. Better luck next time, Cal. On Tuesday, Washington State and Oregon State tied for the most honorees named to the Pac-10 Conference All-Academic team.

To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and be either a starter or significant substitute.

Fifteen Washington State football players were selected to the Pacific-10 Conference All-Academic team, it was announced Tuesday.

Cougar DL Matt Mullennix, a senior, was selected to the all-academic first team for the second time in his career. Sophomore safety Chima Nwachukwu joined Mullennix as a first team selection from Washington State.

Earning second team honors were four linemen -- offensive tackles Joe Eppele and Micah Hannam, and defensive tackles Matt Eichelberger and Adam Hineline.

Nine Cougars earned honorable mention; C Kenny Alfred, Jr.; OG Steven Ayers, RFr.; WR Daniel Blackledge, RFr.; OG Brian Danaher, So.; TE Devin Frischknecht, Sr.; OLB Hallston Higgins, So.; DE Kevin Kooyman, Jr.; OT Vaughn Lesuma, Sr.; TE Ben Woodard, Sr.