Senior Profile: Justin Finnigan

Without the idea of seven college football offers on his mind, senior Justin Finnigan started his freshman year on the football team. He sat shyly during the team’s weekly Thursday night meetings and quietly suited up for varsity games.

In April, Finnigan signed to play at Pitt State University. Four years later on the East team, Finnigan is no longer a shy freshman, but a leader and integral part of the team.

At East, Finnigan’s easy-going, more confident personality was welcomed on the field and during these past years at East, he looked forward to the Thursday night Johnny’s dinners and meetings.

While snacking on senior Milton Braasch’s homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk always supplied by the quarterbacks, Finnigan enjoyed those Thursdays with his team. He saw a more relaxed side of former head coach Dustin Delaney and heard from people like priests, grandparents and veterans – all motivating.

“One time a World War II veteran came and spoke to us and he gave us a story where he went through war and came out in victory,” Finnigan said. “It showed us that you can go through a football game and come out in victory too.”

Since third grade, when he switched from flag to tackle football after being kicked out of games for tackling, Finnigan knew he was meant to play tackle. At East, he was a three-year starter as center on the offensive line. His childhood dreams, coupled with the East program, influenced Finnigan’s decision to commit.

The East program with Coach Delaney helping recruitment and former offensive line coach Andrew Walter has shown Finnigan what true sportsmanship and playing is.

Next year, Finnigan will miss Delaney’s first hour weights class, but also seeing former offensive line coach Andrew Walter. Finnigan will miss seeing him habitually take off his hat every time he is upset and spending the long practices with Walter, a kid at heart according to Finnigan.

“He was extremely, extremely important to our success over the past four years,” Walter said. “Even when he is on the field, he is a very fierce competitor but he never gets overwhelmed. He never gets frustrated and that is one of the things that makes him so good.”

Even though Finnigan won’t have Braasch’s famous cookies to look forward to, after meeting the team and coach, he is extremely confident in his commitment to Pitt State.