MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – November 26, 2008 - College football fans will once again 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. This will be the second year fans will be able to rank the 10 finalists and cast an electronic ballot that collectively will be added to the 35 votes of the national selection committee. Ballots may be cast immediately through 12:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, December 9 at www.d3football.com. Fans may only vote one time.
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 461 career victories in 60 seasons. Gagliardi set the all-time win record on Nov. 8, 2003.
The 16th annual Gagliardi award will be presented on Thursday, December 18, in Salem, Va., as part of the festivities leading up to the Division III national championship game played in Salem on Saturday, Dec. 20.
This year’s 10 finalists include:
• Jordan Berg (Sr., QB) – Augsburg College
• Jason Boltus (Sr., QB) – Hartwick College
• Justin Feaster (Jr., QB) – Hardin-Simmons University
• Juan Joseph (Sr., QB) – Millsaps College
• Greg Micheli (Sr., QB) – Mount Union College
• Jack Rafferty (Gr., QB) – Otterbein College
• Chad Rupp (Sr., QB) – Franklin College
• Dominic Sulo (Jr., RB) – North Central College
• Bobby Swallow (Sr., QB) – Washington and Jefferson College
• Dan Whalen (Jr., QB) – Case Western Reserve University
About Jostens
Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people inspire achievement and preserve memories. The company’s products include school yearbooks and memory books, OurHubbub™ brand MemoryBooks, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational publishing markets.
About Saint John’s University J-Club
Founded in 1959, the Saint John’s University J-Club is a dues-based booster organization of former Johnnie student-athletes, parents and fans, and plays a key role in support of the SJU varsity programs, intramurals and club sports.
