(Portions of this story were taken from the D3football.com
website)
SALEM, Va. - The 10 finalists for the 2009
Gagliardi Trophy have been selected as contenders for Division III
football's most prestigious individual honor and DePauw
University senior quarterback Spud Dick is among the 10.
Dick finished his career with 9,312 passing yards which surpassed
the SCAC record of 9,295 established by Millsaps' Juan Joseph
(2005-08).
The
award, presented to the outstanding football player in NCAA
Division III, honors excellence in athletics, academics and
community service. The award program is sponsored by Jostens, Inc.
and conducted by the J-Club of St. John's in Collegeville, Minn.
This year's winner will be introduced Thursday, Dec. 17, in
Salem.
The Gagliardi Trophy is named for St. John's coach John
Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history with
471 career victories.
The 10 players who are on the ballot: DePauw quarterback Spud
Dick, Mount Union linebacker Judd Lutz, Susquehanna running back
Dave Paveletz, Union linebacker John Peters, UW-Whitewater kicker
Jeff Schebler, Mississippi College quarterback Adam Shaffer,
Monmouth quarterback Alex Tanney, Augustana tackle Blaine
Westemeyer, Case Western Reserve quarterback Dan Whalen and Central
running back David Zachary. Tanney is a junior, while the rest are
seniors.
Mount Union quarterback Greg Micheli received the award in
2008.
The award is voted on by a national selection committee, of which
Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan of D3football.com are members.
Voters vote on all 10 players, ranking them from 1-10.
For the third year in a row, fans can vote for the
Gagliardi Trophy winner as well. The combined result of fans'
vote, tallied by Jostens, will comprise one of the final ballots to
determine the winner.