Live Online Webcast Today Of Harlon Hill Trophy Announcement At 3 PM (ET) Or Join The 'Dawgs At BW3 In Grand Rapids
Click Here To Watch Live Webcast (3 PM ET)
Big Rapids, Mich. - The 2014 Harlon Hill Trophy will be awarded today (Dec. 19) and Ferris State University Athletics will hold a special "Harlon Hill Watch" gathering at Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Grand Rapids.
Ferris State junior quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Frankfort, Ill./Chicago Christian), who had a record-breaking season in leading the Bulldogs to the 2014 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship and the NCAA Division II Playoffs, is among nine national finalists for the prestigious award presented to NCAA Division II's top player. The award is the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Those fans unable to attend the gathering in Grand Rapids can also watch the live online webcast at this link: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/una/
Bulldog alumni and fans along with the general public and West Michigan media outlets are invited to join Jason, his family and the Bulldog Football coaching staff to watch the live announcement at Buffalo Wild Wings in Grand Rapids as this year's winner is selected. No RSVP is required and fans will be responsible for their own food & beverages.
Fans are invited to Buffalo Wild Wings at 8 Ionia Avenue NW in Grand Rapids near Van Andel Arena beginning at 1 p.m. (ET) and leading up to the live webcast at 3 p.m. (ET). Vander Laan is considered one of the favorites for the Harlon Hill Award and the event will also serve as an opportunity to celebrate his accomplishments along with the Bulldogs' gridiron success this fall.
"Regardless of the outcome, this is an opportunity for Ferris State to celebrate the accomplishments of an amazing young man and an outstanding leader and football player," said FSU head coachTony Annese. "We are very appreciative that Jason and his family are willing to travel back to Michigan during the semester break and share this opportunity with teammates, coaches, player families, the Bulldog Nation and any local media that are interested in this announcement."
The event will take place at Buffalo Wild Wings, which is owned and operated by Ferris State alumni and former FSU football players Brian & Jeff Carmody. The online webcast will include a brief video history of Harlon Hill, the Hill Trophy and its previous winners, information on the 2014 voting process and this year's finalists along with the announcement of the winner.
"This is an individual award, but yet it's really not about me," said Vander Laan. "If I happen to win the Harlon Hill Award then I will do so on behalf of my teammates and coaches and I could not think of a better way to celebrate than to do so while being surrounded by my family, teammates, coaches and a lot of fellow Bulldogs. This is exciting and at the same time I wish the other nominees the best of luck."
Vander Laan quarterbacked the Bulldogs to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular season in 106 years of Ferris State Football this fall. In 2014, Vander Laan compiled a squad-best 1,466 rushing yards with 20 scores while completing 183-of-275 passes for a career-high 2,381 yards and 30 touchdowns. He ranked as the nation's top rushing quarterback at all levels and was among the top signal callers in the country in passing efficiency (177.8) along with points responsible (300) as FSU ranked among the top five teams nationally in total offense, scoring and rushing.
Since the season concluded, the three-year starter has achieved recognition from numerous sources. He was voted the Daktronics National Player of the Year and the GLIAC Player of the Year along with earning regional Offensive Player of the Year recognition from Daktronics, Beyond Sports Network and Don Hansen's Football Gazette among other sources. He was also the only one of the nine Harlon Hill finalists named to the 2014 American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team and chosen yesterday as the quarterback on the Associated Press Little All-America Team recognizing the best players in Division II, III and NAIA football. His play led the Bulldogs to the school's first GLIAC Championship in 15 years, first NCAA Playoff appearance in 18 years and best overall record in 19 years.
The 29th winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy is determined based on a vote of the 168 sports information directors at the NCAA Division II level. No Ferris State player has ever won the prestigious award. Along with Vander Laan, the other national finalists include LIU Post (N.Y.) quarterback Steven Laurino, signal caller Sean McCartney of West Chester (Pa.), running back Andy Hibbett of Carson-Newman (Tenn.), QB Tyler Sullivan of Delta State (Miss.), QB Anthony Abenoja of Pittsburg State (Kan.), QB Kevin Rodgers of Henderson State (Ark.), tailback Anthony Bilal of Lake Erie and QB Mark Miller of Ohio Dominican.
Along with fans, both regional and statewide media are also invited to attend the event with both Vander Laan and FSU head coach Tony Annese available for interview opportunities.
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/una/
Note To Media: For more information or special requests pertaining to the Harlon Hill Watch, please contact Assistant Athletics Director Rob Bentley in the Ferris State Athletics Communications Office at (231) 591-3821 or via cell phone at (231) 349-1934. He can also be contacted via e-mail at bentleyr@ferris.edu