Springfield, Mass. -- December 5, 2012 -- Joel Altavesta of the Springfield College football team, has been named a Beyond Sports Network (BSN) First Team All-American for his outstanding 2012 season. The senior fullback led the Pride in rushing this past year with 949 net yards as an individual.A criminal justice major from Tewksbury, Mass., Altavesta helped SC to an 8-3 overall record, including victories in its last five consecutive games, and to an ECAC Division III Northeast Bowl championship when the squad defeated Alfred, 31-8, in its season finale on Nov. 17.
Altavesta played in all 11 games. In 171 carries, he ran for a net of 949 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry and 86.3 yards per game. That last figure led the Liberty League, and currently ranks him 81st nationally in Division III.
He was named First Team All-Liberty League as a fullback. In September, he was named the Liberty League's Offensive Performer of the Week for his efforts against Rochester in a 44-14 victory. In that game, he rushed for a career-high 214 yards and three TD's (of 68, 2, and 24 yards).
Altavesta leads a team that is ranked second nationally in Division III in rushing offense at 340.91 yards per game.
Michael C. “Mike” DeLong ’74 enters his 32nd season as a head football coach in the fall of 2013. He enters his 30th year at Springfield College alone. For the past 28 years, he has been the head coach at Springfield, his alma mater. Mike had also been the head coach at Maine Maritime in Castine, Maine in 1979 and 1980. Read more.
