FOOTBALL KICKER TOM MANNING NAMED CoSIDA/ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT

DURHAM, N.H.—It was announced today that senior kicker Tom Manning (Rome, N.Y.) of the University of New Hampshire football team was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for his efforts in the classroom and on the playing field.
    Manning, a Business Administration/Marketing major at UNH, posted a grade point average of 3.45 through the spring semester.
    He has connected on 13 of 17 field goals this season with a long field goal of 54 yards at Hofstra, which broke the UNH record for longest field goal in a game. The previous best was 53 yards made in 1977. It was also a Shuart Stadium record kick.
    Manning was a key factor in two wins this season, as he kicked two late field goals in UNH’s victory over then-No. 2 ranked Villanova and did it again with two late three-pointers in the Wildcat win at Hofstra. As a result of his heroics, he received CAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors following both conference victories.
    Manning leads the Wildcats in scoring this season with 65 points. He has made 12 of his last 13 field goals dating back to Sept. 26 and he has put 26 of 29 PAT kicks through the uprights in 2009.
    His ability to score points as a kicker has helped keep UNH in the top 10 of the national polls all season long and the Wildcats are presently ranked No. 8 in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 national poll.
    Manning will now be included on the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America national ballot, and the team will be released on Nov. 24, 2009.