A bus full of Grand Valley State football players, staff and others made its way north in Michigan on Tuesday to join the search for ex-quarterback Cullen Finnerty, who went missing over the weekend while on a fishing trip.
Athletics department spokesman Tim Nott said Tuesday the contingent will help look for Finnerty “until he is found ... or the sun goes down.”
According to Lake County Sheriff Robert Hilts, Finnerty had a “nervous episode” and ran into the woods. The 30-year-old has been missing since Sunday night.
“He phoned his wife and explained he was afraid,” Hilts said. “He left his equipment and ran off into the woods.”
An undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2007, Finnerty signed on with the Denver Broncos on March 27, 2008, then later was released by the Broncos on June 13, 2008 – the extent of Finnerty’s NFL career.
Finnerty was fishing alone Sunday on the Baldwin River northeast of Baldwin, Mich. His family owns a cabin near Bray State Forest. Police said he called his wife and in-laws to come and pick him up. When they got there they found his small pontoon boat, but he was gone.
The sheriff said authorities had been tracking Finnerty’s cellphone “until it went dead.” Searchers found a small pontoon boat Finnerty was using to fish, but no other trace of the 6-3, 230-pound athlete.
Searchers will have their work cut out for them, Hilts said.
“This is the last river that I’d pick to fish,” he said, citing logjams and dense brush. “And it’s a very tough river to navigate.”
In addition to the current players, dozens of former players and coaches have made the trip to lend a hand. Current head coach Matt Mitchell said former Grand Valley head coach and current Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin is among those who drove to Lake County.
Finnerty quarterbacked the Lakers to NCAA Division II championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly was head coach at Grand Valley State in Finnerty’s freshman season.
“It’s very chilling,” Kelly said Tuesday afternoon. “He led me to a national championship as a true freshman and led Chuck Martin to two more after I left. My heart goes out to the family and his beautiful wife, we’re just praying and hoping and sending all of our thoughts, wishes to the family and hope that this matter resolves in a positive way.”
Mitchell was a defensive assistant during Finnerty’s days as a player.
“He’s held in very high regard,” Mitchell said of Finnerty. “He was the starting quarterback on national championship teams. But he’s more than that: He’s one of the most loyal teammates we’ve ever had.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department said crews from the Michigan State Police and area fire departments are assisting in the search. The department also has used search dogs and an aerial unit.
Daniel Uthman of The Associated Press and WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, Mich., contributed to this report. © USA TODAY. All rights reserved.
