COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) today named Saint John’s University senior defensive back
Dominic Haik (Minneapolis, Minn./Totino-Grace) as one of the 154 semifinalists for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy), endowed by HealthSouth. The 154 semifinalists are also candidates for the NFF 2009 National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Haik is one of only two football student-athletes from the MIAC to be honored by the NFF. The other is defensive back T.J. Ridley from Gustavus Adolphus.
A political science major (pre-law emphasis) with a 3.75 grade-point average, Haik (hake) is a three-year starter at cornerback for the Johnnies. He is a three-time Academic All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and a member of SJU’s Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. A Hispanic Studies minor, Haik studied abroad in Spain during spring semester 2009, where he taught English to elementary students and used the Spanish language exclusively for four months. He has also volunteered for organizations such as Children’s Cancer Research and the Special Olympics.
Haik has 105 career tackles (68 solo) and four career interceptions in 39 games (26 starts) entering the Johnnies’ contest Saturday, Oct. 3 versus Bethel. Saint John’s, ranked No. 6 in the latest American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) poll, is 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Renamed this fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post- graduate scholarship.
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2009 NFF National Scholar- Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Campbell Trophy winner, who will have his scholarship increased to $25,000, will be announced live at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
This year's semifinalists maintain a 3.64 average GPA in a diverse assortment of majors. Sixty-five players have earned all-conference recognition on the field and 98 have served as captains. Offense outscored the defense with 85 to 61 hopefuls. Eight special teams aspirants completed the contingent. Nominees hail from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, including 54 contenders from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and 34 from Division III.