Just for the record: The Gagliardi Trophy is not the Division III equivalent of the Heisman.
The award doesn’t always go to the best player in Division III. The mission of the award is different than the Heisman’s, or, at least, the end results are. The instructions to voters say it all: “Please remember that the winner of the award should be an outstanding football player who, at the same time, exemplifies the Division III philosophy of the well-rounded student-athlete. The winner of the award should exhibit excellence in three areas: football, academics and service/leadership on campus and/or in his community.”
It goes on to give the most salient point, one which I think should be emphasized. “First and foremost, however, it is a football award; you should consider the candidate’s scholastic and extra-curricular records to help you break a tie.”
There used to be a national Division III football award purely for football prowess, the Melberger. However, this award has been mismanaged and marginalized into a regional production. It flamed out rather famously in 2002 and hasn’t been a legitimate award since. We’ve toyed with naming our own Division III football player of the year award (by the way, if you’re looking to sponsor such an award, we’re all ears). This effort gained traction last year when Wooster running back Tony Sutton was not named the Gagliardi winner. However, I think this year Gagliardi voters will agree with us on a winner.
This is a great award. We need an award that exemplifies the spirit of Division III. But we also need to remember that football is part of the award.
Here’s more on each of the 2005 finalists, by the way:
Russ Harbaugh, QB, Wabash College (Ind.), Senior, English and Art – NCAA playoff participant…29 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games this season…3,324 yards, in 11 contests, to break the school’s single-season passing record…NCAC Offensive Player of the Year…football community food drive & freshman orientation community projects.
Adam Knoblauch, QB, Delaware Valley College (Pa.), Senior, Criminal Justice – NCAA playoff participant…one of only seven players in college football history (all divisions) to pass for 10,000 yards and rush for 1,000…has passed for 10,758 yards in his four seasons (sixth all-time in Division III), and run for 1,468 yards…career total offense of 12,226 yards ranks third in Division III history and he is 10th in touchdown passes with 97…semifinalist for Draddy Trophy from the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame……member of move-in team, student athletic advisory committee and visited children’s hospital in Philadelphia.
Brett Elliott, QB, Linfield College (Ore.), Senior, Communication – NCAA playoff participant…passed for 3,105 yards and 41 touchdown passes this season…ranks #1 in Division III in pass efficiency with a 201.08 rating and in touchdown passes/game at 4.56…threw four or more touchdowns eight times this season…worked with the Linfield Review campus newspaper and campus radio station KSLC…served a summer internship with KFXX radio in Portland…served as a speaker at freshman colloquium and volunteered as a weekly tutor and mentor to an at-risk fifth grade student for nine months.
Ross Dillavou, DE, Loras College (Iowa), Senior, Psychology – 2005 team leader in tackles for loss with 12.0 and sacks with eight…ranks 33rd in the nation in sacks per game, third on Loras in tackles and three blocked kicks (1 punt, 1 field goal & 1 extra point)…peer tutor and student teacher…leadership council representative for athletics and fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina relief…mentor at Mass, read to elementary students, did fundraising for Special Olympics and played Santa Claus for local Knights of Columbus benefit.
Dusty Kain, WR, Simpson College (Iowa), Senior, Sports Administration – Broke school records for career TDs with 27, career receptions with 233 and career yards receiving with 3,210 yards…works with retirees at The Village Home in Indianola, served as a team member for Simpson College campus day…helps as a volunteer for the Prairie City-Monroe boys & girls track meets, booster drives & city food drive.
Mitch Tanney, QB, Monmouth College (Ill.), Senior, Math and Spanish – NCAA playoff participant…eclipsed most of the school’s single-season records with 215 completions in 292 attempts for 2,587 yards and 33 touchdowns…academic all-district first team…Dean’s List for six semesters…members of Spanish honor society — Delta Sigma Pi…received honors from the mathematics and modern foreign languages departments…served as volunteer Spanish instructor at local elementary school for second graders…also volunteers for special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club.
Justin Beaver, RB, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Wis.), Sophomore, Physical Education – NCAA playoff participant…rushed for 1,745 yards in 2005…scored 18 TDs, averaged 5.7 yards a carry & 174.5 yards per game…number one rusher in Division III this season…Dean’s List every semester in school…member of the student advisory council and football council freshman year…assisted with Whitewater football camps and passing league official…helped mentor students at Palmyra-Eagle H.S…mentors troubled youth at Lad Lake.
Doug Phillips, QB, John Carroll University (Ohio), Senior, History and Communications – Threw for 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2005…two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week…leads OAC in passing touchdowns and is second in passing yards at 254.3 yards per game…Dean’s List all six semesters…honors program, 2005 National Football Foundation Draddy Award semifinalist…Habitat for Humanity, campus ministry and international children’s games volunteer.
Damien Dumonceaux, DL, Saint John’s University (Minn.), Senior, Biology & Mathematics – NCAA playoff participant…leads SJU with 67 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and four blocked kicks…2005 MIAC Mike Stam Award winner as conference’s top lineman…named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 5 second team in 2005…will graduate with more than 150 credits…member of the biology & mathematics clubs, tutor for comparative anatomy, support staff member for struggling biology students…active member of the St. John the Baptist Parish as a religion education teacher.
Joe Rizzo, DB, Washington University (Mo.), Senior, Finance and Accounting – led team with six interceptions…had 37 tackles this season…Dean’s List, Academic All-UAA and CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District…Give Thanks, Give Back executive board…Phi Delta Theta president, Inter Fraternity Council vice president of campus outreach, campus interview team and varsity football team captain.
“This is a great award. We need an award that exemplifies the spirit of Division III. But we also need to remember that football is part of the award.” This comment, from the originator of this site, strikes me as a direct insult to the Gagliardi Trophy. As if “football” isn’t a part of the trophy? I think anyone assembling a football team would certainly pick all ten candidates for their team. Not only are your comments about the “G” trophy questionable, so is your subtle implication that the players aren’t worthy of consideration as DIII’s best player. Perhaps we should remember that academics are indeed a crucial aspect to the small college game. Naming a tophy for pure football skill is fine… so resurrect the Melberger trophy. Be thankful a group of alumni from the midwest have taken the initiative to establish, support and promote “The Gagliardi” trophy.
Interesting response — I don’t think you got the points of my post:
1) Fans — remember, this award doesn’t just measure football prowess, so don’t refer to it as the Division III Heisman.
2) Voters — remember this year, your voting instructions say to vote on football prowess.
3) This is a great award. We need an award that exemplifies the spirit of Division III.
I made no such implication about this year’s finalist class. I listed the information included on each from the press releases because there was not room to do so on the front page of the site.
I think you’re reading waaay too far into this if you’re searching for potential insults to the award.
No. This was clearly an insult to the award. In fact, I think it was an insult to all awards. And frankly, you hurt those awards’ feelings.
I think you owe them all an apology.
Hmm, alright. Let’s start alphabetically:
Dear American Music Awards,
I apologize for inadvertently hurting your feelings. I’m sure Mariah Carey is much deserving of your most distinguished honor, and in fact, when I’m done rounding up my dogs and collecting the broken glass from listening to her early ’90s work on Memorex, I will be sure to give her the respect she deserves.
Dear Brooks Wallace Award,
I apologize for inadvertently hurting your feelings. Even though I never heard of you before today, I am sure Division I college baseball needs a third (or is it fourth?) player of the year award. The Golden Spikes and Howser Award traditionally get it wrong, and I’m sure you will right those wrongs.
Dear Business Leader of the Year Award,
I apologize for inadvertently hurting your feelings. But Google, duh?
Dear Grey Cup:
I apologize for inadvertently hurting your feelings. I love Canadian football. Seriously.
Dear Nobel Peace Prize:
I apologize for inadvertently hurting your feelings. But Richard Nixon? Give me a break!
… phew, this is going to take some work. Will have to check back later.
LMAO! And while we’re here, here’s hoping Adam Knoblauch wins the Gagliardi. A great player and an even better person.
“by the way, if you’re looking to sponsor such an award, we’re all ears”
I’ll sponser it if I can design what the trophy looks like. I have a vision of some a quarterback with a purple #5 jersey on.
Pat
I must say that I have read and re-read what you wrote and I too think that it appears that you are slapping some former winners. But be that as it may the voters of the award chose those winners. And your statement saying “doesn’t not always go to the best player” does infer that the players aren’t deserving. Sorry that you take offence to that.
How is the statement “doesn’t always go to the best player” infer that they aren’t deserving. They may very well have been deserving of the award under the criteria, they just may not have been the best football player in the country. No slap to former winners, just stating a fact that the award doens’t alway go to the best player. If it went to the best player, there would be no debate on the winner this year and it would have gone to Sutton last year. Considering that football perfomance isn’t the only requirement, I guess it’s open for debate every year. Who’s to say that serving lunch at the soup kitchen three times a month is “better” than reading to kids six times a month…Personally I think the requirements should be performance and lack of a recent criminal record…but it’s their award and they can set whatever requirements they want.
It does infer that about the occasional past awardee, and that’s not accidental. And I do not take offense to that. (I did take offense to the allegations that I cast aspersions on this year’s finalists, which is not the case.)
Rocky Myers is a fine young man and was a great Division III football player but he was not the best Division III football player in 2004. He was a great well-rounded student-athlete, however.
I assume that was who you were getting at …
The players chosen aren’t always deserving of being called the best Division III football player. That’s why I remind people that this is not the Division III Heisman. Myers was, however, quite worthy of the Gagliardi Trophy.
“Doesn’t always go to the best player” doesn’t seem that controversial to me. Hell, the AL Cy Young didn’t go to the best pitcher this year and that’s what that award is supposed to be for. Wasn’t at least part of the point above that criteria of the award are more than just football-related?
More than likely there will always be a difference of opinion on any award given no matter the criteria. Let’s be happy that there are any awards given to any DIII players. And let’s also be happy that we have a forum to voice-type our opinions. Thanks again Pat for that opportunity!!!
I notice that Justin Beaver of UW-Whitewater is one of the finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy. How often do sophomores get named finalists for the award. I see he is the only underclassmen among the ten finalists.
pcole:
I think we’re dealing with some residual hangover from the week 12 results blog. I didn’t infer anything sinister or insulting from your comments and don’t believe you implied such. All the candidates are outstanding student-athletes, judging from the bios. My vote…..Russ Harbaugh…..SOME LITTLE GIANT!!!
Gags,
Should just bring it out with him next week when SJU comes out to Linfield for the West Region Finals. He can present it to Elliott before the game. 🙂
J/K….I do think that Elliott would be an outstanding choice for the Gags.
Just wanted to give a shoutout to Mitch Tanney at MC. Despite his O-line having more holes in it than a block of swiss cheese against the Johnnies, I still think he deserves serious consideration for this award. This kid threw 57 TD’s and only 6 INT’s in 21 starts at MC. He was also a Draddy Award Semi-finalist, Academic All-District, and a volunteer for the Special Olympics and the Boys and Girls Club. MC went 19-2 in his two seasons with the Scots. This kid epitomizes everything the DIII philosophy stands for.
The player of the year award would obviously go to Elliot, but Tanney could be a surprise in the Gag’s voting.
With “tongue in cheek”…
Rockcat: I am not sure who you are speaking of. Who exactly is the past Mount Union quarterback that you are obviously referring to? (“I have a vision of some quarterback with a purple #5 jersey on.”)
Voice: If I could rewind the clock 25+ years (to my college days), “Justin Beaver” would be the #1 choice amongst the Frat Boys (with a snort and a giggle)!!!
To Others: I know that there are awards given in sports, where all other things being equal (or not), the individual who is most responsible for the team being where they are today (or where they ended up at the end of the season), gets the nod.
Go back to the homepage and scroll down. You’ll get a good luck at who I’m talking about.
rockcat: I know, I know. That is why I said “tongue in cheek.” I know where my vote would go.
However, how do I get a “good luck” at what you are talking about???
Being unfamiliar with the process, is there a candidate from each conference in the early going?
No, schools are responsible for nominating their own candidate. I don’t know how many original nominees there are before it is whittled down to the 10 finalists.
Give the award to one of the QBs. I’d like to the Monmouth QB get it, but I don’t think it will happen.
I do think it’s neat that both Russ Harbaugh and Mitch Tanney are nominated for the award, since they were competitors for the same position at Wabash.