Sept. 28, 2005

By: Joey Mullins
Samford Sports Information

When asked what brought him to Samford, senior free safety Cortland Finnegan says it was out of his hands.

"When people ask me why I came to Samford, I say, `I didn't choose Samford, Samford chose me,'" Finnegan said. "God showed me that he cared more for me as a person than as a football player. I was put in a great atmosphere that helped me grow in my faith."

Finnegan did say there were certain things that got his attention when he visited the Samford campus.

"It was a just a great atmosphere, and great coaches as well," Finnegan said. "The program was coming up with a new coach, and it just felt like a good fit for me."

Finnegan's freshman season at Samford in 2002, was the first full season for head coach Bill Gray. Finnegan saw playing time right away, seeing action in all 11 games that season, starting the last seven contests. He had 46 tackles, broke up nine passes and intercepted two passes.

Finnegan said there were some things that were tough about moving from high school football to college football, but for the most part it went well.

"The speed of the game was different," Finnegan said. "Overall, though, I think it ended up working out pretty well."

As a sophomore in 2003, Finnegan had a break-out year. He led the team, and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), averaging 9.8 tackles per game. He tallied 108 total tackles, including 56 solo tackles. He also intercepted three passes that season. At the conclusion of the season, Finnegan, in addition to being named to the first-team All-Conference team for the OVC, was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

"The coaches put me in the right spot, and luckily I made some plays," Finnegan said of his sophomore season. "You need all 11 players with the whole team working as one, and it just so happened I was able to make some plays."

In addition to his conference accolades, Finnegan was named third-team All-American by the Sports Network as a sophomore.

Heading into his junior season, Finnegan was one of four players to be named captain for the season. Finnegan, again, led the team in tackles despite missing two games with a broken arm. He tallied 86 total tackles as a junior, including 37 solo stops. He also picked off three passes as a junior, and he was named first-team All-OVC for a second year in a row.

Prior to his senior season this year, Finnegan was voted preseason All-OVC, and preseason third-team All-American by I-AA.org. Finnegan was also named one of the team's captains for the second year in a row, an honor voted on by the Samford players.

"This is definitely an honor, no doubt about it," Finnegan said of being named captain. "Guys look up to you because you can play the game, but also for what you stand for. You have to be a leader on and off the field, and that is one of the hardest things you'll find about being a captain." After the first three games of the 2005 season, Finnegan was tied for second on the team with 20 total tackles. He also had one pass break-up and one forced fumble.

The 2005 season marks the final chance for Finnegan and the rest of the seniors to win a conference championship, something they have been shooting for since Samford joined the OVC in 2003. "I'd definitely like to win an OVC title," Finnegan said. "God has blessed me with some accolades that I didn't think I would get, but this is a team game. You want to win a championship."

After he finishes at Samford, Finnegan said he would like to try a career in professional football. But if that doesn't work out, the family studies major says he knows he'll have a good education to fall back on.

"I'm open to whatever door God opens for me," Finnegan said. "I have prayed about it a lot and I want to try my hand at the next level. If that doesn't work out, I'll always have my degree and can go work in the real world."