It is not an easy task for student athletes to balance academic and athletic commitments. For James Farrimond, a senior Sport Management major and member of the football team at Rice University, he's excelled at this balance as he has been named to the 15-man 2014 Conference USA (C-USA) All-Academic Football Team.
The 15-man 2014 C-USA All-Academic Football Team is voted on by the league’s sports information directors. Players are selected for not only their performance on the field, but off the field as well.
Farrimond has been the Owls' punter for the last two years, and this year he ranks 5th in C-USA with a 42.2 yard average. He has also been the place kicker for part of the year hitting 8/11 field goals along with hitting all 25 point after attempts (PATs). He ranks second on the team in scoring with 49 points. Farrimond is also successful in the classroom with a 3.64 GPA and a double major in Economics and Sport Management.
“Academics have always been an important part of my life,” Farrimond said. “My parents raised me to believe that hard work in any aspect of your life can take you far.”
Two other Owls were chosen for the 15-man 2014 C-USA All-Academic Football Team. This is the third time that three Owls have been chosen for the team, the previous years being 2009 and 2010.
Junior defensive end Brian Nordstrom and graduate student kicker James Hairston were the other two Owls named to the team. Nordstrom is a civil engineering major with a 3.63 GPA and is 10th ranked nationally for tackles for loss. Hairston is mastering in statistics with a 4.0 GPA and has converted 4/8 field goals and all 19 PATs.
Evan Rutter, a junior from Spring, TX, is majoring in Sport Management.