RELEASED:  Monday, December 10, 2007

UW-Whitewater’s Beaver Earns Gagliardi Trophy

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior running back Justin Beaver is the 2007 recipient of the Gagliardi Trophy, emblematic of the top football player in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. 

The award is named for the long-time coach at Saint John’s University (Minn.).  The announcement of the selection was made by Thom Woodward, Saint John’s University J-Club secretary and John Abel, sports marketing director for Jostens.  The J-Club coordinates the process and Jostens is the sponsor of the award. 

Beaver, a native of Palmyra, Wis. (Palmyra-Eagle H.S.), will be presented with the trophy on Dec. 13 in Salem, Virginia as part of the festivities surrounding the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III football championship game. 

Beaver has rushed for 2,206 yards this season, averaging 157.6 yards per game and 5.1 per attempt.  He is the only back in UW-Whitewater history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, and he has done it twice.  In 2005, he set the NCAA Division III record with 2,420 yards rushing, when he also led all of collegiate football (any division or level) in total rushing yards.  He holds the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and NCAA Division III single-season record, and is the WIAC career rushing leader.  He is second on the NCAA Division III career rushing list with 6,335 yards.

Beaver has earned numerous honors, including multiple All-America recognition in both 2005 and 2006.  He is a three-time All-WIAC first team pick, and is the 2007 WIAC Player of the Year and the WIAC Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.  Beaver added ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America for the 2007 season.

Beaver has been a key to UW-Whitewater’s three straight appearances in the NCAA Division III championship game.  During that span, the Warhawks have gone undefeated in WIAC play while earning titles three times, and have compiled a 41-3 record.  UW-Whitewater also has a streak of 25 consecutive home game wins.

Beaver is the first individual in WIAC history to claim the Gagliardi Trophy.  He was a finalist for the award in 2005 and is one of 10 individuals eligible for the Melberger Award this season.  The Melberger Award is another prize given to the top NCAA Division III football player in the nation.