RELEASE DATE: 12/19/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JOE BENNETT, DAN HOLLAND AND POOHBEAR McNEAL EARN DAKTRONICS ALL-NORTHEAST REGION HONORS

MANSFIELD – Dan Holland (Scranton/Bishop O’Hara), Earnest “Poohbear” McNeal ( Orlando , FL /Lake Highland Prep) and Joe Bennett ( Horseheads , NY /Elmira Notre Dame) were selected to Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Northeast Region honors. The Daktronics All-Northeast Region Team is selected by the Northeast Region sports information directors and was released today.

Holland repeated as a first team selection while McNeal was one of just two freshmen selected to first team honors. Bennett was named to second team honors.

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 finalists 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).

Bennett, a first team All-PSAC East selection, led the PSAC in reception yardage (1,184) and receiving touchdowns (17) while ranking among the nationally leaders in each category.

The Northeast Region consists of 49 schools. First team honorees move on to the national Daktronics All-American ballot.

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