Trophy News from Gaylord, Minnesota….
Berg is a Finalist for Gagliardi Trophy
Honors keep piling up for Sibley East graduate Jordan Berg. Last week, the Augsburg quarterback was named one of ten finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy which recognizes the most outstanding student-athlete in NCAA Division III football.
Named after legendary St. John’s University football coach John Gagliardi, the Gagliardi trophy is widely recognized as the premier individual award in Division III football. It honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
Berg, in just a three season college career, shattered many Augsburg records in becoming the top passing quarterback in the school’s history. The Auggies co-captain finished with a school best 8,777 passing yards (292 per game) and completed 796 of his 1,350 passes. Berg also set a new Augsburg record with 74 touchdown passes.
Last month, Berg left his mark on the MIAC record book. In a game at St. John’s, he broke the conference’s career passing yardage record. He finished his career with 7,414 passing yards in only 24 league games.
In his senior campaign, Berg completed 297 of his 499 pass attempts. That completion total set a new single season record at Augsburg. Berg also tossed 25 touchdowns this past season. That was second on Augsburg’s all-time list behind Berg’s own numbers he put up in 2007.
Berg’s lofty throwing records don’t just rank high in the MIAC. He stands second among Division III quarterbacks nationally in completions per game (29.70). Berg was fourth in the nation in passing yardage per game (322), seventh in total passing yardage (3,266), ninth in total offensive yardage per game (314), and 23rd in points responsible per game (17).
In the MIAC this season, Berg led the way in passing yardage per game and total offense in both overall (322, 314) and conference games only (333, 320).
Berg was recently named first team All-MIAC, his second all-conference honor. Last month, he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team.
A physics major with a 3.80 grade-point average, Berg was an Academic All-MIAC honoree last season and will be named to the honor again this year when the awards are announced this spring.
In addition to his athletic and academic feats, Berg has volunteered at local food shelves and volunteer coached at youth basketball camps. He took part in a mission trip to Benton Harbor, Mich. to volunteer at a local Boys and Girls Club and helped refurbish and paint homes for people in need. He has also volunteered for Adopt-a-Highway trash pickup efforts as well as park cleanup for Earth Day.
Berg is also a skilled artist. He has designed logos for the Augsburg football team and painted a mural in the Auggies locker room.
Nominations for the Gagliardi Trophy are made by college presidents with supporting letters and credentials provided by head football coaches. Other nominees include Jason Boltus (Hartwick College), Justin Feaster (Hardin-Simmons University), Juan Joseph (Millsaps College), Greg Micheli (Mount Union College), Jack Rafferty (Otterbein College), Chad Rupp (Franklin College), Dominic Sulo (North Central College), Bobby Swallow (Washington and Jefferson College) and Dan Whalen (Case Western Reserve College).
The 16th annual Gagliardi Trophy will be presented Thursday, December 18th in Salem, VA, site of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (Division III national championship game).
Originally posted in gaylordhub.com.
Tags: championship football, championship football game, football team, football trophies, football trophy, trophies, trophy, Trophy's, youth football, youth football trophies, youth football trophy