November 21, 2007
ONEONTA, N.Y. - Hartwick College's
Jason Boltus (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker HS) is among 10 finalists for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy, it was announced Wednesday morning.
The award is in honor of the most outstanding football player in the NCAA Division III ranks. In 2007, the Hawks' signal caller completed one of the most successful single seasons of any student-athlete to suit up for Hartwick. Including his effort in last weekend's 42-21 loss at Curry College in the opening round of the NCAA Division III play-offs, the junior currently leads the nation in total offense (399.7 ypg), passing yards per game average (362.4 ypg), and ranks 19th in the land in passing efficiency (152.0). In 11 games, he threw 38 touchdowns and completed 237 of 443 attempts as he led Hartwick to its first-ever Empire 8 conference title (shared) and first-ever trip to the NCAA play-offs. The Hawks finished 8-3 overall.
Boltus, the Empire 8 Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, joins the other list of finalists - Justin Beaver (UW-Whitewater), Derek Blanchard (Mount Union), Thomas Brew (Case Western Reserve), Eric Dube (Dickinson), Paul Keeley (Alfred), Alex Kofoed (Saint John's), Adrian Pynenberg (Wabash), Andrew Bain Smith (Hampden-Sydney), and P.J. Theisen (St. Thomas).
The Gagliardi Trophy winner is chosen by a national selection committee which is comprised of coaches, sports writers, community leaders, as well as former NCAA Division III standouts, that have been enshrined in the National Collegiate Football Hall-of-Fame. The finalists are not only judged on pure statistics and successes on the field in 2007. Community service and academic achievements also play a part in the judging as well.
The Gagliardi Trophy is named after the Saint John's (Minn.) head football coach John Gagliardi, who is the first active head coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the winningest coach in collegiate football history with 453 career victories, as of November 17, in 59 seasons.
For the first time, fans will have a say in the winner. The public will have a chance to rank the 10 finalists and will have the ability to cast an electronic ballot that collectively will be added to the 30 votes of the national selection committee. Ballots maybe cast immediately through Monday, December 3 at www.d3football.com and www.usafootballnews.com. Fans can only vote once.
The 15th annual Gagliardi Award will be presented on Thursday, December 13, in Salem, Va., as part of the pre 2007 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl festivities. The NCAA Division III title game will be held on December 15.
