Damaschke named National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete
IRVING, Texas – Concordia University Wisconsin senior quarterback Austin Damaschke has been named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, presented by Fidelity Investments, the organization announced. He also receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship for the award.
He is the first Falcon to be named a NFF National Scholar-Athlete and just one of two NCAA Division III student-athletes on the list this year. Damaschke maintains a 3.67 grade point average as a biomedical science major.
"I am honored to be named a NFF National Scholar-Athlete," Damaschke said. "I am proud to represent the football program and CUW with this award that recognizes academic excellence. It is difficult to be a student-athlete, especially in a sport as demanding as football."
Along with the honor, he is a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Past winners of the Campbell Trophy are Tim Tebow (Florida), Steve Young (BYU) and Doug Flutie (Boston College). Damaschke will fly to New York for the 57th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at historic Waldorf Astoria on Dec. 9.
"Austin is a great leader for our football team and is well deserving of this recognition," head coach Greg Etter said. "Austin is an example of how hard a student-athlete works in the classroom and on the football field."
He is also a three-time Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Scholar-Athlete and on the CUW Scholastic Honor's List. Damaschke concluded his career with a 24-13 record as the starting quarterback, which included an undefeated NACC title and a trip the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
"We have been blessed to have Austin as our quarterback and team leader for the past four years," Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill said. "On the field he has rewritten the record books and off the field he has been a young man that exemplifies integrity, character and academic success."
Damaschke is the CUW and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference's all-time leader in total offense (11,691), passing yards (9,963), passing touchdowns (85), pass completions (821), pass attempts (1,364) and completion percentage (60.2). He also holds a multitude of CUW and NACC single season and game records.
The Falcon team captain was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (NCAA Division III's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy) last season, and won the NACC's Offensive Player of the Year, All-NACC First Team and WFCA Private College Player of the Year awards. Last year, a pair of NFL scouts were on CUW's campus to talk with Damaschke and view his abilities.
