Jan. 17– Junior defensive tackle Eric Power (Farmington, Minn.) sacked his way to become the first player in school history to be named to an NCAA D-II All-American team when he was named to the 2005 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA D-II All-America second team.  Senior quarterback James McNear (Des Moines, Iowa) earned honorable mention honors to wrap up his storied career for the Golden Bears.

Power ranked in the top-50 in the nation and led the conference in sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (16.5). His tenacious play helped anchor one of the best run defenses in the nation as Concordia held opponents to just 87.3 yards per game on the ground, 7th in NCAA D-II. The Golden Bears had the best total defense and run defense in the Northern Sun as well.

McNear, who will play on the CU baseball team this spring, set every major passing record at Concordia and became the first player in NCAA D-II history to reach 9,000 passing and 3,000 rushing yards in a career.  He finished his career as the second all-time leader in career total offense in NCAA D-II history with 12,447 yards.

The last time a Concordia football player received honorable mention honors was in 1985 when Tim Walther earned his second consecutive selection as an NAIA D-II All-American.  CU had one other player earn that honor, Ronald Hilk in 1973.

Concordia University jumped from NAIA D-II to NCAA D-II prior to the 1999-2000 academic year.

This marks the 18th year Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, a recognized authority on small college football, has selected an NCAA Division II All-America team. The national publication selected All-Region teams with the first-team and second-team All-Region players from each of the four geographic regions (Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest) making up the national ballot, which was voted upon by a 25-member national panel.

A total of 155 players earned some form of Football Gazette All-America honors. Players from 68 of the 150 football-playing schools in Division II earned Football Gazette All-America accolades. A pair of NCAA-II playoff qualifiers – North Alabama and North Dakota – led the way by placing three players apiece on the first-team All-America squad.

<2005 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-America press release>