FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATKINS NAMED NESCAC FOOTBALL CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

LEWISTON, Maine - For his impressive performance in the Bates College football season opener, sophomore tailback Sean Atkins of New York, N.Y., has been named co-offensive Player of the Week by the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Making his first career start, Atkins carried the ball 25 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns in Bates' 46-34 loss to Trinity College. He also caught three passes for 91 yards. Atkins' 309 total yards rushing and receiving were the second most in Bates history, surpassed only by the 351 yard performance on Oct. 24, 1987, by Chris Hickey (class of 1988), while the 218 yards rushing were the most since P.J. McGrail (class of 1998) rushed for 231 yards against Bowdoin on Nov. 4, 1995.

Atkins scored twice in the first quarter, including a career-long 80 yard run that came on the first play after a Trinity touchdown, tying the game, 14-14, with five minutes left in the quarter. His third TD of the first half also came right after a Bantam score, when a 66-yard carry cut the Bobcat deficit to 30-24 with 3:04 left in the half. Atkins also scored three touchdowns in a game last season against Bowdoin College, earning NESCAC Rookie of the Week honors Nov. 4, 1999.

The Bobcats' 34 points were the most Bates has scored against Trinity in 33 meetings, and were more than any other team in the NESCAC scored on Saturday. Trinity quarterback Greg Ward shared co-Player of the Week honors with Atkins.

Atkins is a 1999 graduate of Darlington School, Rome, Ga. He is the son of Keith Atkins, New York, N.Y.

For more information on Bates football, please visit our web site at http://www.bates.edu/sports/football.html