Finnerty Said He Was "Scared" Before DisappearanceFinnerty Said He Was "Scared" Before Disappearance

5/28/13 - What would have scared a former NFL quarterback from Livingston County who has been missing since Sunday? That’s a question authorities in northern Michigan are trying to answer after 2001 Brighton High School graduate and star quarterback Cullen Finnerty went missing while on a fishing trip over the weekend near Baldwin, 65 miles north of Grand Rapids. Lake County Sheriff Bob Hilts says that Cullen phoned his wife Sunday and told her he was afraid. Hilts told the Ludington Daily News that Finnerty "went fishing (Sunday) night and suffered some kind of a nervous episode and went running off into the woods." Finnerty was fishing alone Sunday on the Baldwin River near the Bray State Forest where his family owns a cabin. Hilts says Cullen told his wife and in-laws to come and pick him up, but they arrived at his last known location, all they found was his small pontoon boat and fishing pole. However, his waders and other equipment were missing. Police used a helicopter and search teams to look for Finnerty, with additional searches planned today. Finnerty, who lives in Howell with his wife and two children, led Grand Valley State University to three national championships, including back to back titles in 2005 and 2006. Meanwhile, a bus full of Grand Valley State football players, staff and others is heading north in Michigan to join the search for Finnerty. Athletic department spokesman Tim Nott said the contingent will help look for Finnerty "until he is found ... or the sun goes down." In addition to the current players, dozens of former players and coaches are also lending a hand including former Grand Valley coach and current Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin. (JK)