It is not easy being a student and an athlete, but baseball player Sean Murray has both roles down to a science.
Murray, who balances his time between being a civil engineering major and the Lobos' first baseman, has been chosen as the 2004 Mountain West Conference Male Student Athlete of the Year.
"I wasn't surprised at all," head baseball coach Rich Alday said. "We thought he had a real good chance. He is an outstanding student."
According to a news release, the Male Student Athlete of the Year Award was created in 1999 to honor students who are the definition of a true student athlete, and it is the highest honor presented by the conference.ˇ
In addition to demonstrating athletic talent, sportsmanship and character, nominees for the award are required to have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Alday said Murray, who has already been recognized as an Academic All-American, has exceeded all minimum requirements. As a senior and University Regent Scholarship recipient, Murray has a 4.22 GPA.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"He is a hard worker," Alday said. "Every time we travel, he has to work.ˇOn the road he was always one of those guys who has to be hooked up to the Internet in the hotel so he could do his schoolwork."
Alday said Murray's academic discipline was beneficial to himself and to the team.
"He brings the team GPA up and motivates the other players," Alday said.
He also said while the team has some players who don't put as much time into their schoolwork during the season, Murray never struggled.
"It is difficult during the season to not get behind, but he never did," Alday said. "He spent as much time with his academics as he did on the field."
And while his schoolwork never suffered, neither did his athleticism. Murray started 51 out of 52 games last season. In 2003, he had the team-high batting average of .383.
Murray's rÇsumÇ also includes commitments to Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and he is the founder of the I Can kids camp for at-risk youth.ˇ Murray was also co-captain of the baseball team and a peer mentor.ˇ
With the title of MWC Male Student Athlete of the Year comes a $2,500 post-graduate scholarship, in addition to the Truman, University Regent and Mountain West Scholar Scholarships Murray has already earned.
Murray is scheduled to graduate in December. Although he will not be playing next season, Alday hopes Murray will still be around.
"He wants to be a student coach," he said. "He is just great."
