University of Minnesota Duluth senior outside linebacker Russ Rabe (Lake Holcombe, Wis.) garnered national honors this week as he was selected to participate in the 2005 Cactus Bowl, an event recognized as the United States’ Division II football all-star game. Since 1995, more than 100 players who have participated in the Cactus Bowl, or the Snow Bowl as it was known prior to 2001, have gone on to play in the NFL.

Rabe will be the fourth player in Bulldog football history to participate in a national post-season all-star game joining offensive tackles Vern Emerson, UMD’s Outstanding Senior Athlete in 1968, and Dave Viaene, an Eighth Round draft pick of the Houston Oilers in 1988. Viaene was the only non-Division I athlete selected to participate in the 1988 East-West Shrine Bowl. UMD center and long snapper Tim Rohweder was the third Bulldog post-season all-star, gaining an invite to the 1999 Snow Bowl.

Rabe, who finished his Bulldog career as the University’s all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 29, was one of just five players selected to the Cactus Bowl roster from the North Central Conference and was the only player selected from a Minnesota-based NCC team. Recently tabbed First Team All-NCC, Rabe led the conference in tackles for a loss and was named to D2Football.com’s All-Northwest Region Second Team. He concluded his UMD career with 224 total tackles including 45.5 tackles for a loss.

“I feel privileged and honored to have played at UMD,” said Rabe. “The memories and experiences I have enjoyed here can’t be beat. Being selected to play in the Cactus Bowl is a great honor and another great opportunity to play the game.”

The 2005 Cactus Bowl will be held Jan. 7, 2005 in Kingsville, Texas. The game will be telecast live at 6:35 p.m. on Fox Sports Net Southwest.

“It is great to see Russ get an opportunity to play with and against the best in Division II football,” said UMD head coach Kyle ‘Bubba’ Schweigert. “He is well deserving of this honor and will represent the University of Minnesota Duluth and the North Central Conference very well.”

Media members with questions should contact Jayson Hron, UMD’s Assistant Director of Sports Information, at (218) 726-8937 or by e-mail at jhron@d.umn.edu.