Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2017 13 UNDER THE DOME Amidst a 4-8 football season, bright spots still can be found among the Fighting Irish student-athletes. One of them was junior safety Drue Tranquill. On Dec. 1, the Fort Wayne, Ind., native was named to the 2016 Academic All-America Divi- sion I Football Team, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America Since the first such team was named in 1952, Tranquill became the 60th Notre Dame player to earn the honor (third only to Nebraska and Penn State), and the first since wide receiver Corey Robinson in 2014. There are three requirements to be named an Academic All-American: • First is to be a starter or key reserve. Tranquill started all 12 games and led the team with 52 solo tackles (two for loss) and ranked second in total tackles with 79. He added two passes broken up and an interception. • Second, he must maintain a cu- mulative grade point average of at least 3.30 on a scale of 4.00. Tranquill posted a 3.74 GPA in the College of Engineering as a mechanical engi- neering major and has been on the Dean's List twice in his first four se- mesters. His 12-semester credit hours this fall were in Design of Machine Ele- ments (how to construct engines and their functionality), Fluid Dynam- ics (the movement of fluid through pipes), AutoCAD (essentially draw- ing up parts and computers) and Fundamentals of Engineering and Business Practice, which focuses on high-level executive work that in- cludes reading financial statements and account summaries. • Finally, he must at least be a sophomore and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Beyond the gridiron and class- rooms, Tranquill also is involved in numerous off-the-field community service programs, including serving as a mentor for the Core Leadership Team for Lifeworks Ministry, is a member of Notre Dame Christian Athletes, Team Fellowship and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and Rosenthal Leadership Academy. Tranquill overcame season-ending ACL injuries to his knees in 2014 and 2015. While his body and mind have led him to Notre Dame, it is his spirit that is the foremost bedrock of his life. "It's my faith in my Lord and Sav- ior Jesus Christ," Tranquill said this August of his determination to re- turn. "It's just a perspective in life. I have the opportunity to come back and enjoy this great game of football, whereas a lot of people sometimes — whether they're born with something or come down with cancer — they are not afforded that opportunity. "I just consider myself extremely blessed to be out here again, being able to play this game, and I'll defi- nitely cherish that. I was able to keep a perspective on what I was going through and keep a certain reference point, and that really helped me." From that, Tranquill also this sea- son launched the "5th Quarter" post- game event, which shares his story of perseverance with the South Bend community at the Granger Oasis Church. Tranquill posted a 3.74 GPA in the College of Engineering as a mechanical engineering major and has been on the Dean's List twice in his first four semesters. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Drue Tranquill Named Academic All-American NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL TICKETS ALL COLLEGE AND NFL GAMES AVAILABLE 1-800-925-2500 www.NotreDameTickets.com