RELEASE DATE: 12/18/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD’S DAN HOLLAND AND EARNEST “POOHBEAR” McNEAL NAMED TO AP “LITTLE ALL-AMERICAN” HONORS

MANSFIELD – Mansfield University football standouts Dan Holland and Earnest “Poohbear” McNeal were named to AP Little All-American Team honors. The team was released today.

The AP Little All-American team is considered the toughest collegiate football team to be selected to. It consists of all teams at the NCAA Division II and Division IIl levels as well as NAIA teams.

Holland, who was named to Third Team Little All-American honors last season, becomes the first player in school history to earn First Team honors this season. McNeal, a freshman, was named to Second Team honors at running back.

The PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, Holland is also a rare four-time All-PSAC East selection. This season, Holland led the PSAC in tackles (136) and solo tackles (81). He was the third in the nation in solo tackles and sixth in total tackles. He was one of the top eight finalist for the 2003 Harlon Hill Award for the best player in NCAA Division II.

The 2002 NCAA Division II Linebacker of the Year, Holland was a consensus All-American that year after leading the nation in tackles and solo tackles. His 501 career tackles in the most in PSAC history as is his 314 solo tackles.

McNeal, who earlier was named the PSAC East Rookie of the Year and Northeast Region Rookie of the Year. He earned First Team All-PSAC East honors and led the nation in all-purpose yards (2,392/217.5 ypg) while finishing third in NCAA Division II and first in the PSAC in rushing with a school record 1,684 yards. He also set new school marks for rushing touchdowns (17) and touchdowns in a season (19).

It marks the first time in school history two players have been selected to AP Little All-American honors in the same year.

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