Nov. 15, 2006

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State senior quarterback Cullen Finnerty (Brighton, Mich.) has been named one of 24 nominees for the 2006 Harlon Hill Award it was announced Monday by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee. The list includes six players each from the Southeast, Northeast, Southwest and Northwest Regions.

Finnerty, the national leader in pass efficiency rating (173.5), has guided Grand Valley State to an 11-0 regular season mark and the number one seed in the NCAA DII playoffs. GVSU will host a second-round game Saturday, Nov. 25 at Lubbers Stadium.

Finnerty has completed 135-of-228 passes for 2,154 yards and 29 TDs, while rushing for 328 yards and six TDs on 81 carries. He has accounted for 2,486 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns this season.

"Cullen Finnerty has had an outstanding year and is deserving of his nomination for the Harlon Hill Award," said third-year GVSU head coach Chuck Martin. "Cullen does whatever it takes to win a football game, regardless of what it might do to his statistics," added Martin.

Finnerty, the all-time winningest QB in college football history in terms of wins (47-4), became the GVSU all-time leader and moved into fourth all-time in DII career total offense with 11,970 yards. Cullen is 10th in DII history in career passing TDs with 98 and second in GVSU annals, while his 9,849 passing yards is 17th in DII history.

"It is truly an honor to be mentioned among the top players in the country, but more than anything, this is reflective of our team," said Finnerty. "We have a team filled with outstanding players and balance is they key to our success."

Finnerty is the fifth Grand Valley State football player to be among the Harlon Hill Nominees. Curt Anes won the award in 2002 after finishing second in 2001. Jeff Fox finished third in 1998, and Eric Lynch was sixth in 1990 and eighth in 1991. Michael Tennessee was a regional finalist in 2003.

In addition, Finnerty was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts at Northern Michigan last Saturday. Cullen completed 13-of-18 passes for 296 yards and a Superior Dome single-game record six touchdown passes in the Lakers' 47-17 victory. The win was the 24th straight for GVSU, the longest active streak in college football.