Spud Dick is Finalist for Gagliardi Trophy, D-III Football's Top Award

Cast Your Vote for 2009 Gagliardi Trophy Winner

November 25, 2009, Greencastle, Ind. — Spud Dick, the senior quarterback who rewrote DePauw University's football record book over a stellar four-year career, is one of ten finalists for the 2009 Gagliardi Trophy, NCAA Division III football's most prestigious individual honor. The award, presented to the outstanding football player in Division III, honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service. This year's winner will be introduced Thursday, December 17, in Salem, Virginia, as part of the 2009 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl festivities.

For the third year in a row, fans are being invited and encouraged to vote for the Gagliardi Trophy winner. Each individual computer is allowed one vote by clicking here. The award is voted on by a national selection committee. The combined result of fans' votes will comprise one of the final ballots to determine the winner.

The Gagliardi Trophy is named for St. John's coach John Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history with 471 career victories.

Besides Dick, the other 9 finalists are: Mount Union linebacker Judd Lutz, Susquehanna running back Dave Paveletz, Union linebacker John Peters, UW-Whitewater kicker Jeff Schebler, Mississippi College quarterback Adam Shaffer, Monmouth quarterback Alex Tanney, Augustana tackle Blaine Westemeyer, Case Western Reserve quarterback Dan Whalen and Central running back David Zachary. Tanney is a junior, while the rest are seniors.

Dick rewrote DePauw's all-time passing records and finished his career with 9,312 passing yards which surpassed the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference record of 9,295 established by Millsaps' Juan Joseph (2005-08). In 38 career starts, he set school career records for passing yards (9,312), completion percentage (65.5%), pass attempts (1,195), pass completions (783), touchdown passes (76), pass efficiency (145.11), total offense yards (9,293) and total plays (1,322).

In leading the 7-3 Tigers this season, he broke his own school record for completion percentage at 71.3 percent which also established an SCAC mark. His eight 300-yard passing games were also a school record. He earned All-SCAC First Team honors this year after garnering second team selections each of the last two seasons.

Through six semesters, Dick has posted a 3.59 cumulative grade point average while majoring in economics. A Management Fellow at DePauw, Dick has been named to the SCAC Academic Honor Roll three times and was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection earlier this month.

Dick has also participated in the football team's community service projects which includes volunteering at the Indiana Women's Basketball Special Olympics State Championship which is hosted annually at DePauw. He has joined the team in visiting children hospitalized at Riley Hospital for Children and participated in a local reading program for K-2 grades.

He's also been active in the fall break service marathon with the local senior center which provides services for those in need in the community. Last summer, he volunteered at the U.S. Men's Senior Golf Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

For more information, visit the official home of Tiger football.

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