St. Edward's Finnane says yes to Army
St. Edward senior Shane Finnane will continue his football career as a preferred walk on at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
The son of Jim and Susan Finnane of Elgin, Shane was a four-year starter on both sides of the ball who helped lead St. Edward to the state playoffs in 2009 for the first time in six seasons.
The 6-foot, 240 pound linebacker/offensive lineman was named Class 4A all-state honorable mention, earned all-Suburban Christian Conference honors and was a member of the 2009 Daily Herald All-Area Football Team.
He finished his senior season at middle linebacker with 100 total tackles, 2 sacks, 7 defended passes, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. As a right guard he helped pave the way for an offense that gained 3,676 total yards.
Finnane was nominated to West Point by Illinois Representative Bill Foster (D) of the 14th District. He will have to earn his way onto the Army football roster, but proving himself is nothing new.
"I've always been kind of underestimated as a player, so it's a challenge to me," Finnane said. "I've always wanted to play football at the highest level possible. After schools like Indiana and Colorado dropped off, one school kept talking to me and that was Army. I looked at it and I thought, 'Wow, this is the best school I could possibly go to anyway.'"
Finnane said Army coaches envision him as an inside linebacker, a rush end or a flex tackle, the latter of which requires the speed of a linebacker and the strength of a defensive lineman. Finnane was clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash last summer. His coach at St. Edward said Army is getting a leader and a winner.
"This is a huge honor for a kid like Shane, who has worked harder in the weight room than any kid I have ever seen," Green Wave coach Mike Rolando said. "That's pretty awesome. It couldn't happen to a better kid."
The appointment to West Point requires five years of active military service and three years in the reserves after college.
"Service is something I know comes with going there, and I'm sure I'll be ready
for it," Finnane said.
He will report to West Point in June.