Trinity's McGrath Selected as 2008 Boston Globe Gold Helmet Player of the Year

Courtesy Trinity Sports Information

HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity College senior captain QB Eric McGrath (Lynn, Mass.) has been selected as the 2008 Boston Globe Gold Helmet Player of the Year for NCAA Divisions II/III. McGrath will be honored by the New England Football Writers Association at their annual banquet on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Casa Di Fior in Wilmington, Mass. He is the first Bantam football player to be so honored since former NFL quarterback Joe Shield in 1984.

The Bantams, coached by 2008 NESCAC Coach of the Year Jeff Devanney, posted an 8-0 record this fall and have gone undefeated in four of the last six seasons, compiling a 44-4 record during that span. Trinity completed the 11th perfect season in school history with a 38-14 win over the Wesleyan University Cardinals on Nov. 8.

McGrath has earned numerous post-season honors this fall, including All-NESCAC First Team, All-New England Division II/III, and NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year. He started all eight games for the Bantams and completed 163 passes (tied Trinity record) in 282 attempts (57.8 %) for 2,206 yards (new Trinity and NESCAC record) and 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. McGrath finished second in NESCAC with a 134.43 efficiency rating and third in the league with 2,128 yards in total offense. He added one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown.

McGrath earned NESCAC Player of the Week honors in each of his three seasons as Trinity’s starting quarterback, including this fall for his heroic effort in a 28-27 overtime win against Tufts. In that game, McGrath set new Trinity records for completions, passing yards, and total offense in a 28-27 win in overtime against Tufts. He completed 34 of 57 passes for 470 yards and four touchdowns. He threw touchdown passes of 57 yards, two yards, nine yards, and six yards including one that forced the overtime with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter and one that gave the Bantams the win in overtime. McGrath also set a new Trinity record this fall with 470 passing yards in a comeback win at Hamilton and holds the Bantam record for longest pass with a 99-yard touchdown toss in 2007.

A graduate of Lynn Classical High School, McGrath is also a pitcher on Trinity's NCAA Division III National Champion baseball team. He is majoring in economics at Trinity and is the son of Sharon and Pat McGrath.