FB: Liberty League

[Frank Rossi]

The plot thickens...I believe this is the furthest a Union player has gone in the process for the Gagliardi Trophy.  Congratulations Tom!

Four Regional Finalists Named for 2006 Gagliardi Trophy as Outstanding NCAA Division III Football Player ;

Union's Tom Arcidiacono East Regional Finalist

December 5, 2006

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - For the first time in the trophy's existence, the initial 10 finalists for the 14th annual Gagliardi Trophy were narrowed down to four regional finalists, which were announced on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

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 Saint John's University in Collegeville , Minn. This year's winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 12 and will be presented with the award on Thursday, Dec. 14 in Salem , Va.

The Gagliardi Trophy is named for Saint John's University head football coach John Gagliardi, the first active head coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2006) and the winningest coach in college football history with 443 career victories in 58 seasons following the 2006 season. Gagliardi set the all-time win record on Nov. 8, 2003.

The four regional finalists for The Gagliardi Trophy are:

Tom Arcidiacono, RB, Union College (N.Y.), Senior, Psychology, East Region - Averaged 6.4 yards per carry and 149.7 per game during the regular season...scored 19 rushing TDs...second nationally in scoring in 2006, third in rushing, fifth in all-purpose yards...is an inner-city school tutor and counsels on drug and alcohol awareness.

Josh Brehm, QB, Alma College (Mich.), Senior, Business and Psychology, North Region - Conference MVP with NCAA record 10 consecutive games of 300+ yards passing...threw 288 consecutive passes without an interception...3,448 passing yards in 2006 set school record...active with Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and children's programs.

Ryan Kleppe, DL, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Wis.), Senior, Physical Education, West Region - Top defender on 2005 Division III runner-up and undefeated conference champions in 2006...team is fourth nationally in rushing defense, fifth in scoring defense and currently in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs...named conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year...volunteer in youth sports, Bible camp, cancer fundraising.

Jordan Neal, QB, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas), Graduate, Physical Education, South Region - Third in Division III in passing efficiency at 174.5...threw for 24 TDs with seven INTs...2,317 yards on 166-of-244 passing...now working on master's degree in divinity...volunteers with Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and international ministry.

The Gagliardi Trophy recipient is determined by a 31-member national selection committee, which includes college coaches, former athletes, college administrators, business leaders and members of the media.

The trophy features a sculpture of SJU football coach John Gagliardi and a player in a classic one-on-one sideline consultation. The sculptures are hand cast in bronze and mounted on a polished wood base. Designed by Jostens, Inc., the trophy stands nearly two-feet tall and weighs 64 pounds.

[Tlm]

Congratulations to TA for being named the East Region Finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy.  He had a great season and an outstanding career at Union College. 

It would be nice to see him win the award itself, but all of the regional finalists are very deserving.  In TA's case, while he had a great senior season and often carried the offense early in the year when the WR's were hurting, you almost wish he could switch his junior and senior seasons.  His total stats were better as a junior and the team ended up with a better record at 11-1.  As a senior, playing banged up for the last few games limited his overall production for the season.

[theoriginalupstate]

Congratulations to TA for being named the East Region Finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy.  He had a great season and an outstanding career at Union College. 

It would be nice to see him win the award itself, but all of the regional finalists are very deserving.  In TA's case, while he had a great senior season and often carried the offense early in the year when the WR's were hurting, you almost wish he could switch his junior and senior seasons.  His total stats were better as a junior and the team ended up with a better record at 11-1.  As a senior, playing banged up for the last few games limited his overall production for the season.

Same could be said about mark robinson, as a sophmore he had over 2000yds and 25 tds.  His junior year was cut short due to a shoulder seperation (still had 600yds in his first 4 games) and this year he has to split carries but still has 1400yds and 20plus tds...

[Tlm]

Same could be said about mark robinson, as a sophmore he had over 2000yds and 25 tds.  His junior year was cut short due to a shoulder seperation (still had 600yds in his first 4 games) and this year he has to split carries but still has 1400yds and 20plus tds...

Its hard for any RB to carry the ball 200+ times in a season without getting banged up, worn out and possibly injured.  I think SJF is a better football team this year for having a couple of backs to carry the load rather than featuring only one back. 

[Pat Coleman]

The plot thickens...I believe this is the furthest a Union player has gone in the process for the Gagliardi Trophy.

Probably true, since this is the first time the Gagliardi folks have added this extra layer to the process.

[Frank Rossi]

The plot thickens...I believe this is the furthest a Union player has gone in the process for the Gagliardi Trophy.

Probably true, since this is the first time the Gagliardi folks have added this extra layer to the process.

Boy, Connecticut is rubbing off onto you. :-)  Now, Mr. Smart Guy, I believe the closest anyone else from Union has gotten is 10th place.  Therefore, I should have stated, "This is the best that anyone from Union has performed in the voting process." 

[Pat Coleman]

I've never seen vote totals released, not even to me off the record, since we started tracking in 1999.

[Tags]

Garnet-

+k for the cheerleader tip. Love the picture above caddyshack!

[mattvsmith]

The plot thickens...I believe this is the furthest a Union player has gone in the process for the Gagliardi Trophy.  Congratulations Tom!

Four Regional Finalists Named for 2006 Gagliardi Trophy as Outstanding NCAA Division III Football Player ;

Union's Tom Arcidiacono East Regional Finalist

Outstanding!

[Tags]

Rev- congrats on 200

+k

[PBR...]

btw guru pat...pbr's hat is off to you for living up in conn.....pbr was heading up to new england for some r&r with the family after turkey day and once again got off the merritt parkway to hop onto int. 95 and got crushed in new haven ....every frickin' time pbr comes up this way it is a ritual to get stuck in the traffic and construction in and around new haven....it has been under construction for 10 years it seems...talk about job security....it ticks pbr off to no end and mrs. pbr has to calm me each time we venture thru there...especially nerve wracking when you have a scheduled departure times and your not sure your going to make it...anywho pbr's hat is off to any and all who must endure that nightmare on a regular basis...

[Knightstalker]

PBR, KS remembers the same problems 25 years ago when he was in submarine school.

[Kilted Rat]

PBR, KS remembers the same problems 25 years ago when he was in submarine school.

KR's Chief Petty Officer at Navy Officer training said the following about Navy Submarines and it stuck in KR's head like leather seats to a fat chick's @ss on a 95 degree July day:

"Navy submarines, 150 men go out, 75 couples come back."

[Knightstalker]

Your chief is incorrect, we only had about 116 in our crew.  Tell your chief KS said there are only two types of ships, Submarines and Targets.

[mattvsmith]

Rev- congrats on 200

+k

Muchas Gracias.