Arby's Student-Athlete Spotlight Of The Week: Dave Bliss

DAVE BLISS

David Bliss is a senior from Wausau, Wisconsin. He is a member of the UGA men's basketball team.

In May, Dave graduated with honors with a degree in Political Science and is working on a second degree in Real Estate.

He’s been named to the Dean’s list multiple times and is an SEC Honor Roll recipient. Dave volunteers for a number of organizations in the Athens community. He has read to students at Fourth Street Elementary. He visited with patients at St. Mary's Hospital and assisted with a food and money drive for Hurricane Katrina victims. He served as a volunteer coach and referee for the Boys and Girls Club 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

BIOGRAPHY:

Heady, dependable center for the Bulldogs who has also been a rock of stability for a program under construction the past three years.
The team’s top student-athlete, a Dean’s List honoree who completed his undergraduate degree (Honors program in Political Science) in just three years.
Teammates laud him for his competitive spirit and an appetite for physical play.

2006-07 (Jr. year)
After two years on the first unit, Bliss found early-season prosperity as a reserve. Turned in some of his best performances of last season coming off the bench.
Returned to the first team by Christmas, and he stayed there for much of the sesaon’s remainder.
Perhaps his best outing of the season came against Vanderbilt, where he doubled his seasonal averages getting 10 points and eight boards.
His nine rebounds vs. Alabama A&M were one shy of matching his career best.
Missed the 2nd Kentucky game after suffering a hip pointer injury in practice the day before.

2005-06 (Soph. year)
Team co-captain along with senior walk-on Jay McAuley.
Withstood the pain from a herniated disk in his back ever since late summer of 05. Remained all season at only partial strength and, in fact, could only play in small bursts. Coaches figure that he missed more practice time last season than he participated in.
Put together three solid performances in a mid-season series of SEC games, scoring over his average and playing above-average minutes, too.
Scored one of the game’s biggest buckets, a reverse layup in the final 90 seconds, in Georgia’s win at Vanderbilt.
Solid performance in the Bulldogs’ win over Georgia Tech, getting nine points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes.
A member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

2004-05 Season (Fr. year)

28-game starter at the low post position for the Bulldogs. One of two Bulldogs (Newman was the other) to have played and started in every game.
Had a solid freshman campaign, leading the Dogs in rebounding and field-goal percentage. Was the no. 3 rebounder among all freshmen in the SEC.
Scored in double digits for the first time of the SEC schedule Feb. 2 vs. LSU .
The first Georgia freshman to pull down 100 rebounds in a season since Jumaine Jones in 1998.
Some of his best efforts of the SEC season came against the top competition: 12 pts., 5 rebs. vs. LSU; 11 pts., 7 rebs. vs. Kentucky; and 10 pts., 7 rebs. in the regular-season matchup against Miss. State.
Perhaps his best game of the season was in the finale, when he picked up 14 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes against a strong Mississippi State front line.

High School (Wausau West)
Valedictorian of the Wausau West graduating class of 2004.
Went virtually unnoticed by the national recruiting dragnet until a strong senior season.
Averaged 19.2 points and 14.1 rebounds during senior season, as West posted a 14-8 record.
Scored 863 career points and established eight Wausau West records.
Third-team all-state pick in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2004.
Also named MVP of the Wisconsin state prep All-Star game.

Personal
Full Name: David John Bliss
Birthdate/Birthplace: April 28, 1986 in Wausau, Wis.

Career Bests
Category No. Opp./(Date)
Points.............17..........Gardner-Webb (12/08/04)
Rebounds......10..........W. Ky. (11/23/04) & Ala. A&M (12/1/04)
Assists............4...........3 games (recent: Alabama, 2/1/06)
Blocks.............3...........Nevada (11/26/04), Sav. State (12/28/04)
Steals..............2...........Six times (recent: Kentucky, 1/24/07)
Minutes..........32..........Stetson (12/31/04)

PLEASE PRINT THIS PAGE TO VALIDATE THIS COUPON AT YOUR LOCAL PARTICIPATING ARBY'S

University of Georgia Athletics

Arby's Student-Athlete Spotlight Of The Week: Dave Bliss

Related News

Related Videos