Nov. 15, 2006

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State University senior quarterback Cullen Finnerty (Brighton, Mich.) was named the 2006 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football Player of the Year in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. In addition, junior tackle Brandon Barnes (Detroit, Mich./Pershing) was named Offensive Lineman of the Year; while fellow Laker, senior Michael McFadden (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage), earned the League's Defensive Lineman of the Year title for the second consecutive season. GVSU garnered 21 All-GLIAC honors, including 15 first and second team honorees.

Finnerty, the national leader in pass efficiency rating (173.5), guided Grand Valley State to an 11-0 regular season mark and the number one seed in the NCAA Division II Northwest Region. Finnerty completed 135-of-228 passes for 2,154 yards and 29 touchdowns, while rushing for 328 yards and six scores on 81 carries. He accounted for 2,486 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns on the season. Finnerty led the GLIAC in pass efficiency rating (173.5) and TD passes (29), while ranking second in total offense (225.6 ypg) and third in passing yards per game (195.8). Cullen was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week twice during the 2006 campaign and four times in his career. Finnerty, the 2005 GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year and a First Team All-GLIAC honoree, was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2003. The all-time winningest quarterback in college football history with a career record of 47-4, Finnerty finished his career second in GLIAC annals in total offense (9,150) and fourth in passing yards (7,606). Cullen moved into fourth all-time in D-II career total offense with 11,970 yards, 10th in career passing TDs with 98 and 17th in career passing yards (9,839).

Barnes was a key performer for one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the country. The Laker offensive line helped GVSU average 175.4 yards via the ground and 210.8 yards through the air and led the GLIAC in total offense and scoring offense. The GVSU offensive line yielded just 16 QB sacks in 228 pass attempts this season. Barnes, a two-time First-Team All-GLIAC honoree, anchored an offensive line that began the year with four new starters.

McFadden earned the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year award for the second straight season. Mike tallied 43 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss (-41 yards) and 4.5 sacks (-29 yards) in nine games. McFadden was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts at Ferris State when he recorded six tackles, two tackles-for-loss (-5 yards), a QB sack and recovered a fumble. McFadden became the NCAA D-II all-time record holder for career quarterback sacks with 33.5 and moved into fourth all-time in D-II career tackles for loss with 55.5. Mike ranks 15th in career tackles for loss per game (1.11) in Division II history. In addition, McFadden tied the NCAA college football all division record for consecutive games with a sack with 17 earlier this season -- a streak that included the final game of 2004, all 13 games in 2005 and the first three games in 2006. Mike is a two-time First-Team All-GLIAC performer.

Finnerty, Barnes and WR's Eric Fowler and Antione Trent were named to the All-GLIAC First-Team, while RB Astin Martin, OC Billy Eisenhardt and PK Todd Carter earned second-team plaudits. Joining McFadden on the defensive first-team were DL Derrick Jones, LB Anthony Adams, CB Brandon Carr and punter Justin Trumble. DT Ryan Gaydosh, LB Kirk Carruth and CB Bill Brechin were second-team performers. GVSU tallied nine on the All-GLIAC First-Team and six on the second-team. WR Mark Catlin, OL Jacob Henige, FS Buster Larkins, WR Terry Mitchell, DL Dan Skuta and OL Sean Stevens were honorable mention.

Grand Valley State will host the winner of South Dakota at Northwood Saturday, November 25 at Lubbers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.