DREW SMITH NAMED ONE OF TEN FINALIST FOR GAGLIARDI TROPHY

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (November 21, 2007)–Hampden-Sydney senior receiver Drew Smith (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) has been named one of ten finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy.  On the season, Smith caught 110 passes for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns.  The senior is both a leader in the classroom and on the football field.  Smith is a candidate as both an All-American and an Academic All-American.  Smith was named the ODAC Offensive Player of the Year and has also a first team Academic All-District selection. 

College football fans will have the opportunity to add their collective vote to that of the national selection committee in deciding this year’s Gagliardi Trophy. The Gagliardi Trophy is awarded each year to honor an outstanding NCAA Division III football player. Sponsored by Jostens and the Saint John’s University, Minnesota, J-Club, the Gagliardi Trophy recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. 

The winner of the Gagliardi Trophy is selected by a national selection committee comprised of coaches, sports writers, community leaders and former Division III student-athletes enshrined in the National Collegiate Football Hall of Fame.  For the first time, fans will be able to rank the 10 finalists and cast an electronic ballot that collectively will be added to the 30 votes of the national selection committee.  Ballots may be cast immediately through Monday, Dec. 3 through two web sites:  www.d3football.com and www.usafootballnews.com.   Fans may only vote one time.

“NCAA Division III football is growing in popularity and status,” said John Abel, marketing director, Champion Sports, Jostens.  “We are pleased that fans will now have the opportunity to join the Gagliardi selection committee and Jostens in determining the nation’s best small college football player who also embodies the Division III philosophy of the well-rounded student-athlete.” 

The 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 453 career victories, as of Nov. 17, in 59 seasons. Gagliardi set the all-time win record on Nov. 8, 2003.

The 15^th annual Gagliardi award will be presented on Thursday, December 13, in Salem, Va., as part of the festivities leading up to the Division III national championship game played in Salem on Saturday, Dec. 15.

This year’s ten finalists include:
Justin Beaver – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Derek Blanchard – Mount Union College
Jason Boltus – Hartwick College
Thomas Brew – Case Western Reserve University
Eric Dube – Dickinson College
Paul Keeley – Alfred University
Alex Kofoed – Saint John’s University
Adrian Pynenberg – Wabash College
Drew Smith – Hampden-Sydney College
P.J. Theisen – University of St. Thomas

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-