Bucknell's Nissley Named Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Bucknell's Nissley Named Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Junior LB is First Bison to Earn Honor Since Kevin Eiben in 2000

Travis Nissley

Nov. 24, 2009

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell junior LB Travis Nissley (Mount Joy, Pa./Manheim Central) was named the Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday. Nissley is the first Bison to earn the honor since Kevin Eiben in 2000. Overall, Bucknell now has claimed seven Scholar-Athletes.

Nissley, a mechanical engineering major who carries a 3.94 cumulative grade-point average, posted GPAs of 3.91, 4.0 and 3.95 and 3.92 in his first four semesters at Bucknell. He was elected to Tau Beta Pi, a National Engineering Honor Society, was a recipient of the Charles F. White Memorial Prize for scholar-athletes and is a member of the Bucknell Classics Club. Additionally, Nissley has volunteered with Toys for Tots and the National Marrow Donor Program.

On the football field, Nissley proved to be one of Bucknell's top defensive players in 2009. He started nine of 11 games and finished second on the team with a career-high 93 tackles. Nissley posted five double-figure tackle games, including three in a row entering the season finale against No. 13 Holy Cross. Against Lafayette, Nissley accumulated a career-high 15 tackles. He made 86 tackles in his nine starts and placed sixth in the Patriot League with 8.5 tackles per game.

Nissley now has 193 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups in his 33 career games. He will enter his senior campaign with 14 career starts under his belt.

Bucknell's seven football Scholar-Athletes ranks the Bison tops among all league schools. To be eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen are not eligible for the honor. The award is voted on by the league's football sports information directors.

Nissley is the second Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Bucknell, following Lindsay Smith of the volleyball team, who was recognized earlier this year.