Josh Brehm: The Best in DIII Football
Josh Brehm Wins 2006 Gagliardi Trophy
as Outstanding NCAA Division III Football Player
Josh Brehm, senior quarterback at Alma College, is the recipient of the
14th annual Gagliardi Trophy, given annually to the outstanding
football player in NCAA Division III.
The award was presented Thursday, Dec. 14, at a luncheon in Salem,
Va., to kick off Stagg Bowl festivities. The national championship game
was played on Saturday, Dec. 16, between Wisconsin-Whitewater and
Mount Union, Ohio.
The award, sponsored by Jostens, Inc., and administered by the Saint
John's University J-Club in Collegeville, Minn., recognizes excellence
in academics, athletics and community service.
Brehm is the seventh overall and second consecutive quarterback to win The Gagliardi Trophy.
Hailing from Ithaca, Mich., Brehm led NCAA Division III in three
categories: total offense (4,084), passing yards (3,448) and passing
yards per game (344.8).
The 2006 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Offensive
Most Valuable Player, Brehm completed 66 percent of his passes (305 of
462 passing) with 30 touchdowns, a 148.8 passing efficiency rating, and
was intercepted only three times in 10 games this season. Brehm set an
NCAA record with 288 consecutive pass attempts without an interception,
and set the NCAA Division III record with 10 consecutive games of 300
yards of total offense or more.
This season, Brehm had five games with over 400 yards of total offense,
and in his career, he had 10 games with over 400 yards of total
offense. In addition, Brehm posted nine consecutive 300-yard passing
games. He was selected to participate in the East Coast Bowl on
Saturday, Nov. 25 in Petersburg, Va., and went 20 of 28 passing for 240
yards, one touchdown and added another on the ground.
Brehm is the holder of 15 school records including passing yards
(10,706), pass completions (919) and touchdown passes (85). A two-time
All-MIAA first team selection, Brehm collected 12,247 career yards of
total offense and was honored as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week
seven times in his career. Brehm was a four-year starter and a two-time
captain for the Scots.
The Gagliardi 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 443 career victories in 58
seasons. Gagliardi set the all-time win record on Nov. 8, 2003.
In addition to his expertise and agility on the football field, Brehm,
a double major in business and psychology, has a 3.78 GPA. He has had
three consecutive semesters with a 4.0. This past year, Brehm was named
to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team. An
active member of Alma’s Students in Free Enterprise, Brehm has
dedicated countless hours of service in area schools.
Brehm was nominated by Saundra Tracy, president of Alma College, who
wrote, "He is a very effective leader in athletics, campus
organizations, volunteer activities and in the classroom. In fact, he
is so well respected on campus that we selected Josh to describe his
Alma experience on our recent fundraising campaign video.”
Alma head coach Jim Cole, in his letter of support for Brehm’s
nomination, wrote, "Brehm is the finest young man I have ever been
associated with in my 33 years of coaching…he is a humble, quiet leader
who is a true gentleman and the ultimate team player.”
College presidents nominate their top student-athletes for the award.
The J-Club Board of Directors narrows the field to 10 finalists and a
national selection committee selects the winner. For the first time in
the trophy’s existence, the initial 10 finalists were narrowed down to
four regional finalists this year. The trophy features a sculpture of
Gagliardi and a player in a classic one-on-one sideline consultation.
The sculptures are hand cast in bronze and mounted on a polished wood
base. Designed by Jostens, the trophy stands nearly two feet tall and
weighs 64 pounds.
Click here to read more about Josh Brehm and his Alma College accomplishments.
Click here to read what others are saying about Josh Brehm.
Posted: Tue, December 12th, 2006 at 1:34PM
