Football Alum Gonzalo Barinaga Wins Bob James Award
August 20, 2009 | Football
Gonzalo Barinaga, a senior member of the 2008 Ball State University football team, has been named the recipient of the Mid-American Conference Bob James Award.
The award is in its 20th year and recognizes one female and one male student-athlete who have achieved a minimum grade-point average of 3.5, and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The student-athletes are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 postgraduate scholarship is awarded in honor of Bob James, the second commissioner in MAC history who served the league from 1964-71.
Barinaga, a two-time Academic All-MAC selection, managed a 3.68 grade-point average on Ball State's 4.0 scale as a pre-med major. Also a 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V choice, Barinaga played in 42 games in his Ball State career. He started three games as a senior and seven contests in his career, while earning four letters for the Cardinals. Barinaga also registered 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack in his career. He was a two-time recipient of Ball State's Football Academic Award, and completed his playing career with appearances in back-to-back bowl games for the Cardinals. Barinaga helped Ball State to a 12-2 overall record, the MAC West Division Championship and an appearance in the GMAC Bowl as a senior.
Barinaga joins a list of former Ball State student-athletes who have won the award in the past. The list of former Ball State winners is as follows:
2004 Travis Barclay (Football)
2000 Laura Szczepanski (Gymnastics)
1998 Janelle Tranquillo (Field Hockey)
1997 Sarah Mikrut (Gymnastics)
1990 Denny Rieman (Baseball)
1989 Rick Winegardner (Swimming)
