November 25, 1998
LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior punter Joe Kristosik was named first-team All-America by both the Walter Camp Football Foundation and The Football Writers Association of America.
The Las Vegas native and graduate of Bishop Gorman High School is the sixth UNLV football All-American since the school moved to NCAA Divison I in 1978, the first since 1993 and the first first-team honoree since Randall Cunningham was named 15 years ago. He also is the fourth Rebel punter honored nationally.
As an FWAA All-American, Kristosik will travel to an awards banquet in Columbus, Ohio, before spending a weekend in New Haven, Conn., to be honored with the Walter Camp award.
A former walk-on who became college football's top punter this season, Kristosik leads the nation with an average of 46.2 yards per kick. Of his school-record 76 attempts this fall, an amazing 27 went 50 yards or longer and eight traveled 60 yards or longer. He twice was named the WAC's Mountain Division Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 28 & Oct. 12) after no Rebel had ever received such an honor since UNLV joined a conference in 1982.
During a game at BYU on October 10, Kristosik punted 13 times to tie the school record for most in one game and produced an average of 52.5 yards per attempt. Against the Cougars, Kristosik kicked eight punts longer than 50 and four longer than 60, which included two season-long boots of 67 yards.
A four-year letterwinner for the Rebels, Kristosik was named the squad's Special Teams Most Valuable Player at the annual awards banquet Nov. 22. His work also helped UNLV lead the nation this year in net punting with an average of 41.4.
One of 14 semifinalists for the Mosi Tatupu Award, which is given to the nation's top special teams player, Kristosik also was named as one of college football's Top-10 Special Team Players by Sports Illustrated in the Nov. 9 issue.
A former quarterback in high school, Kristosik also completed a seven-yard pass for a first down on a fake punt that led to a touchdown vs. Rice.
At least three other All-America teams will be released over the next two weeks.
JOE KRISTOSIK'S 1998 STATISTICSATT YDS AVG LG 50+ 60+76 3509 46.2 67 27 8
UNLV DIVISION-I ALL-AMERICANS YEAR PLAYER POS 1998 Joe Kristosik P (Walter Camp - 1st Team, FWAA - 1st Team)1993 Brad Faunce P (Football News -- 2nd Team, AP - 3rd Team)1992 Brian Parvin P (Football News -- 2nd Team)1984 Randall Cunningham P (AP - 2nd Team)1983 Randall Cunningham P (AFCA - 1st Team, Kodak - 1st Team, AP - 2nd Team)1981 Jim Sandusky WR (AP - 2nd Team)
