H. Res. 62

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

January 18, 2007.

Whereas on December 16, 2006, the Grand Valley State University Lakers of Allendale, Michigan, won the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II 

Football National Championship by defeating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats by a score of 17 

to 14, defeating the Bearcats for the second consecutive 

year in the championship game; 

Whereas in the championship game, quarterback Cullen 

Finnerty completed 15 of 33 passes for 225 yards and 

rushed for 115 yards on 22 carries for 340 yards of total 

offense, becoming the first quarterback in the history of 

the NCAA Division II Football National Championship to 

pass for more than 200 yards and rush for more than 

100 yards, and Bill Brechin made 4 pivotal plays, including 2 first-quarter interceptions that kept the Lakers in 

the game; 

Whereas the Lakers completed the season with a perfect 15–

0 winning record, becoming just the second team in 

NCAA Division II football history to finish the season 

15–0; 

Whereas the Lakers have won 28 consecutive games, the 

longest football winning streak in any NCAA division; 
2

•HRES 62 EH 

Whereas the Lakers also won the NCAA Division II Football 

National Championship in 2002, 2003, and 2005; 

Whereas the American Football Coaches Association named 

Coach Chuck Martin the NCAA Division II Coach of the 

Year for the second consecutive year; 

Whereas Martin has compiled a 3-year head coaching record 

of 38–3, including a 10–1 postseason record; 

Whereas the Lakers’ seniors finish their 4 seasons with a 52–

4 record, which makes them the all-time most winning 

senior class in all of NCAA history; 

Whereas 5 Lakers earned Associated Press Little All-American honors, with seniors Finnerty, Eric Fowler, and 

Mike McFadden earning first-team honors and juniors 

Brandon Barnes and Brandon Carr earning third-team 

honors; 

Whereas the Lakers dominated the 2006 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-American Football team by placing 6 players 

(Fowler, Barnes, McFadden, Finnerty, Carr, and Anthony Adams) on the first team; 

Whereas in the 2006 season, Finnerty was selected to 3 AllAmerican teams (the American Football Coaches Association, Daktronics, and the Associated Press) and finished 

second in the Harlon Hill race, an award given to the top 

player in Division II football; 

Whereas Finnerty closes a college football career with a 51–

4 record as a starter, including a record of 14–1 in 

postseason play, to become the most winning quarterback 

in NCAA history; 

Whereas Finnerty was named the 2006 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Football Player of the 

Year, Barnes was named Offensive Lineman of the Year, 
3

•HRES 62 EH 

and McFadden was named the Defensive Lineman of the 

Year for the second consecutive year; 

Whereas McFadden also won the Gene Upshaw Award for 

the second consecutive year; and 

Whereas Grand Valley State University’s student athletes 

have displayed great strength, ability, and perseverance 

this season and have again made the citizens of the State 

of Michigan proud: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) congratulates the Grand Valley State University 

Lakers for winning the 2006 NCAA Division II Football 

National Championship; and 

(2) recognizes all the players, coaches, and support 

staff who were instrumental in this achievement. 

Attest:

Clerk.