Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Chitty, Pechin to Serve as Bucknell Football Captains
4/10/2019 12:30:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell football head coach Dave Cecchini announced Wednesday that linebacker Sam Chitty and punter Alex Pechin will serve as team captains in 2019.
"I'm proud our team has chosen Sam and Alex as their co-captains for the upcoming season," Cecchini said. "In the short time I have been here, both men have shown incredible leadership in our off-season strength and conditioning workouts as well as during our spring practices."Â
In 2017, Chitty appeared in all 11 games as a valuable member of special teams; at linebacker, he backed up senior captains and All-Patriot League honorees Mark Pyles and Ben Richard. He was the lone freshman to start the 2016 season opener at Marist but lost the majority of that campaign due to injury.
Pechin becomes Bucknell's 11th multi-year captain and seventh since 1950. One of the most decorated Bison in program history, the rising fifth-year senior was recognized on six All-America Teams for his performance during the 2018 campaign. He was honored on the STATS, Phil Steele and Hero Sports All-America First Teams, the Athlon Sports All-America Team and the AP and AFCA All-America Second Teams. Notably, he became Bucknell's first specialist to garner All-America laurels from the AFCA and AP.
Pechin's awards haul in the 2018 off-season was impressive. In addition to his six All-America awards, he earned All-Patriot League First Team accolades for the third time and All-ECAC First Team laurels for the second time. As successful in the classroom as he is on the field, he became the Patriot League's fifth back-to-back Scholar-Athlete of the Year in conference history, was a repeat finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award and made the Academic All-Patriot League Team for the second-straight season.
Pechin owns Bucknell's record in career punting average (43.7) and the program's top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); he also booted the third- (71) and fifth- (70) longest punts in school history over the course of the 2018 campaign. In 2017, he captured STATS Third Team All-America accolades on the strength of his 45.1 punting average, which ranked third in the FCS.
Chitty and Pechin will be recognized for being voted as team captains during Friday's Spring Game, which is set for 7:30 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison kick off their 2019 campaign on August 31 by taking on Temple at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I'm proud our team has chosen Sam and Alex as their co-captains for the upcoming season," Cecchini said. "In the short time I have been here, both men have shown incredible leadership in our off-season strength and conditioning workouts as well as during our spring practices."Â
Chitty was one of seven Bison to start every game in 2018. In his first season as a starter, he posted 74 tackles (36 solo), 13.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery. The team leader in tackles for a loss, he also tied for second in sacks and tied for third in total tackles. An active participant in the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute, the rising senior attended the prestigious United States Naval Academy Leadership Conference in January 2019.We're thrilled to announce our 2019 captains: Sam Chitty and Alex Pechin.
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) April 10, 2019
Story: https://t.co/NNf5IUhisH | #ACT pic.twitter.com/ZoEHNl9GAX
In 2017, Chitty appeared in all 11 games as a valuable member of special teams; at linebacker, he backed up senior captains and All-Patriot League honorees Mark Pyles and Ben Richard. He was the lone freshman to start the 2016 season opener at Marist but lost the majority of that campaign due to injury.
Pechin becomes Bucknell's 11th multi-year captain and seventh since 1950. One of the most decorated Bison in program history, the rising fifth-year senior was recognized on six All-America Teams for his performance during the 2018 campaign. He was honored on the STATS, Phil Steele and Hero Sports All-America First Teams, the Athlon Sports All-America Team and the AP and AFCA All-America Second Teams. Notably, he became Bucknell's first specialist to garner All-America laurels from the AFCA and AP.
Pechin's awards haul in the 2018 off-season was impressive. In addition to his six All-America awards, he earned All-Patriot League First Team accolades for the third time and All-ECAC First Team laurels for the second time. As successful in the classroom as he is on the field, he became the Patriot League's fifth back-to-back Scholar-Athlete of the Year in conference history, was a repeat finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award and made the Academic All-Patriot League Team for the second-straight season.
Pechin owns Bucknell's record in career punting average (43.7) and the program's top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); he also booted the third- (71) and fifth- (70) longest punts in school history over the course of the 2018 campaign. In 2017, he captured STATS Third Team All-America accolades on the strength of his 45.1 punting average, which ranked third in the FCS.
Chitty and Pechin will be recognized for being voted as team captains during Friday's Spring Game, which is set for 7:30 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison kick off their 2019 campaign on August 31 by taking on Temple at Lincoln Financial Field.
"They personify what #ACT is all about."
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) April 10, 2019
Watch as @DaveCecchini introduces Sam Chitty and Alex Pechin as captains. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/7ohNiJV9Yq
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