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Robinson Award candidates announced
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Twenty candidates, including five former winners, were named Monday to The Sports Network's Eddie Robinson Award ballot.
That ballot, along with ballots for the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan awards, will be released and distributed to voters later on Monday. Voting will be conducted this week and winners will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 18 during the 22nd annual Sports Network awards dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Chattanooga, TN, the night before the NCAA Division I Football Championship game.
Jerry Moore, the coach of the three-time defending national champion Appalachian State Mountaineers and the 2006 Robinson Award winner, is one of five former winners vying to repeat as the Robinson Award honoree.
Mickey Matthews, the coach of No. 1-ranked James Madison and the 1999 winner of the award, is another coach looking to be the first to win a second Robinson Award.
Other former winners on the list include: 2007 recipient Mark Farley of Northern Iowa, 2003 winner Mike Ayers of Wofford and 1997 winner Andy Talley of Villanova.
Joining the former winners on the list are Kerwin Bell of Jacksonville, Dick Biddle of Colgate, Clint Conque of Central Arkansas, Jack Cosgrove of Maine, Rich Ellerson of Cal Poly, Phil Estes of Brown, Bob Ford of Albany, Henry Frazier of Prairie View, Bobby Hauck of Montana, Dean Hood of Eastern Kentucky, Dale Lennon of Southern Illinois, Ron McBride of Weber State, Buddy Pough of South Carolina State, Danny Rocco of Liberty and Joe Taylor of Florida A&M.
Listed below are the accomplishments of each candidate:
Mike Ayers, Wofford - Bringing back a team that lacked experience following the 2007 Southern Conference co-championship and a run to the quarterfinals, Ayers and his veteran staff developed a team that blended veteran talent and youngsters into a squad that finished 9-2 in the regular season. He took the Terriers to second place in the Southern Conference and a No. 8 ranking nationally. The team earned back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since moving to FCS in 1997.
Kerwin Bell, Jacksonville - In just his second year at Jacksonville, Bell led the Dolphins to the Pioneer Football League title and a berth in the Gridiron Classic against Northeast Conference champion Albany. Jacksonville went from a 3-8 record in 2007 to 8-3 this season. The Dolphins had the biggest turnaround of any team in FCS this season with their five-win improvement.
Dick Biddle, Colgate - Overcoming a rash of injuries, Biddle held his Colgate squad together and developed some young talent to lead the Raiders to the Patriot League championship. After Colgate dropped two of its first three games, Biddle helped the Raiders turn things around with eight consecutive victories, including a 28-27 win over Holy Cross in the final regular-season game to claim the PL title. The nine wins were the most for the Raiders since they went 15-1 in 2003 and finished as national runner-ups. Colgate finished the regular season ranked 16th nationally, its highest ranking since 2003.
Clint Conque, Central Arkansas - In just their third year as an FCS program and their second as a Southland Conference team, Conque led the Bears to the top of the league standings a 10-2 record and the No. 11 ranking in The Sports Network poll. It was the highest ranking ever for Central Arkansas in FCS. UCA is 24-10 since moving from Division II.
Jack Cosgrove, Maine - Taking a team that was expected to finish in the middle of the pack in the Colonial Athletic Association, Cosgrove built the Black Bears into a tough unit that won six of its final seven games to go 8-4 overall and finish second in the CAA's North Division. Maine, which was 4-7 last season, earned its first playoff bid since the 2002 season and finished the regular season ranked No. 20.
Rich Ellerson, Cal Poly - Facing a schedule that featured games against two FBS opponents to bookend the season, Ellerson guided the Mustangs to an 8-2 record, the Great West Conference title and a No. 3 national ranking. Cal Poly beat San Diego State and came within missed kicks of beating Montana and Wisconsin to finish with a perfect regular-season record.
Phil Estes, Brown - Picked in the preseason to finish third in the Ivy League, Estes led the Bears to a co-championship and a 7-3 record. Brown also beat Harvard, the team it tied for the Ivy League crown, in head-to-head competition. Brown won its first Ivy League crown since 2004.
Mark Farley, Northern Iowa - Rebuilding a team that lost plenty of talent from the 2007 club that went 12-1, won the Gateway Conference championship and was ranked No. 1 in the regular season, Farley took the Panthers to a 10-2 regular-season mark and earned a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title. The Panthers also won a seed in the playoffs (No. 3) for the second year in a row, and were ranked No. 4 in the top-25 poll.
Bob Ford, Albany - This veteran coach continued transforming the Great Danes from a non-scholarship model to a scholarship program and won another Northeast Conference title with an 8-3 regular-season record. Continuing to upgrade Albany's schedule, Ford's only losses this year were to UMass, Delaware and New Hampshire of the CAA. The 35-year Albany veteran led the Great Danes to their fourth league title in the past seven years, and their third straight berth in the Gridiron Classic.
Henry Frazier, Prairie View - A year after leading the Panthers to their first winning season since 1976, Frazier did something even more amazing in 2008, taking Prairie View to its first back-to-back winning years since 1966-67. The 9-1 record gave the program its most wins since 1964's 9-0 mark, and helped Prairie View earn its first-ever ranking in The Sports Network poll at No. 25 in the final regular-season balloting. The Panthers also have a chance to finish tied for first in the SWAC's West Division and to play in the SWAC championship game.
Bobby Hauck, Montana - Directing his youngest team ever in six years at Montana, Hauck took the Grizzlies to a surprising 11-1 record and a share of the Big Sky title for the 11th straight year. Montana made the playoffs for an NCAA record 16th consecutive season and tied Eastern Kentucky with its 19th overall NCAA tournament bid. The Grizzlies earned a No. 3 seed in the playoffs and a No. 5 ranking nationally.
Dean Hood, Eastern Kentucky - Taking over a program that had won the Ohio Valley Conference title in 2007 under current Purdue coach Danny Hope, Hood kept this traditional FCS powerhouse at the top of the league with another conference title, and led the program to its record-tying 19th FCS playoff berth overall. Hood took the Colonels to an 8-3 record that included a 33-31 win over Tennessee-Martin in a game for the OVC title and a No. 21 national ranking.
Dale Lennon, Southern Illinois - Moving from North Dakota, Lennon replaced 2004 Robinson Award winner Jerry Kill and faced the task of rebuilding a squad that had graduated much of the talent from a 2007 team that advanced to the semifinals. Lennon and his new staff built the 2008 squad around defense, and the Salukis sailed through the season with a 9-2 record and won the automatic bid in the tough Missouri Valley Football Conference. SIU was ranked ninth in the final regular-season poll.
Mickey Matthews, James Madison - Overcoming a devastating loss in the first round of the 2007 playoffs to Appalachian State, Matthews led his Dukes to a 10-1 regular season, a CAA championship and the No. 1 ranking in the national polls. JMU won its most games since going 13-2 to win the 2004 national championship, and captured a No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the first time.
Ron McBride, Weber State - In his fourth season at the helm of the Wildcat program, McBride led Weber State to a first-place tie in the Big Sky Conference for the first time since 1987, and its first recognized league title since 1968. The former Utah coach guided the Wildcats to their most wins (9) since WSU went 10-3 under Mike Price in 1987. WSU made the playoffs for the first time since 1991, and finished 12th in the final regular-season poll.
Jerry Moore, Appalachian State - Facing the challenge of rebuilding after losing some major components of three straight national championship teams, Moore worked his magic again with a young but talented squad. The Mountaineers went 10-2 in the regular season and were ranked No. 2 nationally, with the only losses coming to defending BCS national champion LSU and the top-ranked team in FCS, James Madison. Moore also led ASU to a share of its fourth- straight Southern Conference title, its 14th playoff berth in his 20 years at the helm and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Buddy Pough, South Carolina State - Pough helped the Bulldogs earn their first playoff berth since 1982 and their first MEAC championship since the 1994 season. South Carolina State finished 10-2 in the regular season, the most wins for the Bulldogs since 1994. The Bulldogs, whose only losses were to FBS opponents Clemson and Central Florida, finished 13th in the final regular- season poll.
Danny Rocco, Liberty - Rocco and his staff continued to develop the Flames program by winning a second straight Big South Conference title and going 10-2 for the most wins in school history. Liberty won three games against teams from automatic bid leagues, including a 26-3 victory over Elon in the final game of the season that had the Flames being discussed for the 16-team playoff field. Liberty's No. 14 finish in the national poll was its highest-ever finish.
Andy Talley, Villanova - Talley and his veteran staff continued on the improvement started in 2007 to move the Wildcats to the brink of a CAA championship. Only a Hail Mary TD pass on the final play against James Madison prevented Villanova from winning the CAA title. Talley showed his ability to adapt as the Wildcats switched from their finesse style of offense to more of an aggressive power game. Villanova finished the regular season with a 9-2 record, won its first game ever against a No. 1 ranked team (Richmond), and placed sixth in the final regular-season poll.
Joe Taylor, Florida A&M - This classy veteran moved from Hampton and took over a once-proud Rattler program that had fallen on hard times with a 3-8 record in 2007 and an eighth-place finish in the MEAC. He immediately instilled his brand of discipline and organization to the program and produced a 9-3 record and a tie for second place in the MEAC. He also had the Rattlers in the playoff discussion for the first time since they last participated in the postseason in 2001.
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Twenty candidates, including five former winners, were named Monday to The Sports Network's Eddie Robinson Award ballot.
That ballot, along with ballots for the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan awards, will be released and distributed to voters later on Monday. Voting will be conducted this week and winners will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 18 during the 22nd annual Sports Network awards dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Chattanooga, TN, the night before the NCAA Division I Football Championship game.
Jerry Moore, the coach of the three-time defending national champion Appalachian State Mountaineers and the 2006 Robinson Award winner, is one of five former winners vying to repeat as the Robinson Award honoree.
Mickey Matthews, the coach of No. 1-ranked James Madison and the 1999 winner of the award, is another coach looking to be the first to win a second Robinson Award.
Other former winners on the list include: 2007 recipient Mark Farley of Northern Iowa, 2003 winner Mike Ayers of Wofford and 1997 winner Andy Talley of Villanova.
Joining the former winners on the list are Kerwin Bell of Jacksonville, Dick Biddle of Colgate, Clint Conque of Central Arkansas, Jack Cosgrove of Maine, Rich Ellerson of Cal Poly, Phil Estes of Brown, Bob Ford of Albany, Henry Frazier of Prairie View, Bobby Hauck of Montana, Dean Hood of Eastern Kentucky, Dale Lennon of Southern Illinois, Ron McBride of Weber State, Buddy Pough of South Carolina State, Danny Rocco of Liberty and Joe Taylor of Florida A&M.
Listed below are the accomplishments of each candidate:
Mike Ayers, Wofford - Bringing back a team that lacked experience following the 2007 Southern Conference co-championship and a run to the quarterfinals, Ayers and his veteran staff developed a team that blended veteran talent and youngsters into a squad that finished 9-2 in the regular season. He took the Terriers to second place in the Southern Conference and a No. 8 ranking nationally. The team earned back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since moving to FCS in 1997.
Kerwin Bell, Jacksonville - In just his second year at Jacksonville, Bell led the Dolphins to the Pioneer Football League title and a berth in the Gridiron Classic against Northeast Conference champion Albany. Jacksonville went from a 3-8 record in 2007 to 8-3 this season. The Dolphins had the biggest turnaround of any team in FCS this season with their five-win improvement.
Dick Biddle, Colgate - Overcoming a rash of injuries, Biddle held his Colgate squad together and developed some young talent to lead the Raiders to the Patriot League championship. After Colgate dropped two of its first three games, Biddle helped the Raiders turn things around with eight consecutive victories, including a 28-27 win over Holy Cross in the final regular-season game to claim the PL title. The nine wins were the most for the Raiders since they went 15-1 in 2003 and finished as national runner-ups. Colgate finished the regular season ranked 16th nationally, its highest ranking since 2003.
Clint Conque, Central Arkansas - In just their third year as an FCS program and their second as a Southland Conference team, Conque led the Bears to the top of the league standings a 10-2 record and the No. 11 ranking in The Sports Network poll. It was the highest ranking ever for Central Arkansas in FCS. UCA is 24-10 since moving from Division II.
Jack Cosgrove, Maine - Taking a team that was expected to finish in the middle of the pack in the Colonial Athletic Association, Cosgrove built the Black Bears into a tough unit that won six of its final seven games to go 8-4 overall and finish second in the CAA's North Division. Maine, which was 4-7 last season, earned its first playoff bid since the 2002 season and finished the regular season ranked No. 20.
Rich Ellerson, Cal Poly - Facing a schedule that featured games against two FBS opponents to bookend the season, Ellerson guided the Mustangs to an 8-2 record, the Great West Conference title and a No. 3 national ranking. Cal Poly beat San Diego State and came within missed kicks of beating Montana and Wisconsin to finish with a perfect regular-season record.
Phil Estes, Brown - Picked in the preseason to finish third in the Ivy League, Estes led the Bears to a co-championship and a 7-3 record. Brown also beat Harvard, the team it tied for the Ivy League crown, in head-to-head competition. Brown won its first Ivy League crown since 2004.
Mark Farley, Northern Iowa - Rebuilding a team that lost plenty of talent from the 2007 club that went 12-1, won the Gateway Conference championship and was ranked No. 1 in the regular season, Farley took the Panthers to a 10-2 regular-season mark and earned a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title. The Panthers also won a seed in the playoffs (No. 3) for the second year in a row, and were ranked No. 4 in the top-25 poll.
Bob Ford, Albany - This veteran coach continued transforming the Great Danes from a non-scholarship model to a scholarship program and won another Northeast Conference title with an 8-3 regular-season record. Continuing to upgrade Albany's schedule, Ford's only losses this year were to UMass, Delaware and New Hampshire of the CAA. The 35-year Albany veteran led the Great Danes to their fourth league title in the past seven years, and their third straight berth in the Gridiron Classic.
Henry Frazier, Prairie View - A year after leading the Panthers to their first winning season since 1976, Frazier did something even more amazing in 2008, taking Prairie View to its first back-to-back winning years since 1966-67. The 9-1 record gave the program its most wins since 1964's 9-0 mark, and helped Prairie View earn its first-ever ranking in The Sports Network poll at No. 25 in the final regular-season balloting. The Panthers also have a chance to finish tied for first in the SWAC's West Division and to play in the SWAC championship game.
Bobby Hauck, Montana - Directing his youngest team ever in six years at Montana, Hauck took the Grizzlies to a surprising 11-1 record and a share of the Big Sky title for the 11th straight year. Montana made the playoffs for an NCAA record 16th consecutive season and tied Eastern Kentucky with its 19th overall NCAA tournament bid. The Grizzlies earned a No. 3 seed in the playoffs and a No. 5 ranking nationally.
Dean Hood, Eastern Kentucky - Taking over a program that had won the Ohio Valley Conference title in 2007 under current Purdue coach Danny Hope, Hood kept this traditional FCS powerhouse at the top of the league with another conference title, and led the program to its record-tying 19th FCS playoff berth overall. Hood took the Colonels to an 8-3 record that included a 33-31 win over Tennessee-Martin in a game for the OVC title and a No. 21 national ranking.
Dale Lennon, Southern Illinois - Moving from North Dakota, Lennon replaced 2004 Robinson Award winner Jerry Kill and faced the task of rebuilding a squad that had graduated much of the talent from a 2007 team that advanced to the semifinals. Lennon and his new staff built the 2008 squad around defense, and the Salukis sailed through the season with a 9-2 record and won the automatic bid in the tough Missouri Valley Football Conference. SIU was ranked ninth in the final regular-season poll.
Mickey Matthews, James Madison - Overcoming a devastating loss in the first round of the 2007 playoffs to Appalachian State, Matthews led his Dukes to a 10-1 regular season, a CAA championship and the No. 1 ranking in the national polls. JMU won its most games since going 13-2 to win the 2004 national championship, and captured a No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the first time.
Ron McBride, Weber State - In his fourth season at the helm of the Wildcat program, McBride led Weber State to a first-place tie in the Big Sky Conference for the first time since 1987, and its first recognized league title since 1968. The former Utah coach guided the Wildcats to their most wins (9) since WSU went 10-3 under Mike Price in 1987. WSU made the playoffs for the first time since 1991, and finished 12th in the final regular-season poll.
Jerry Moore, Appalachian State - Facing the challenge of rebuilding after losing some major components of three straight national championship teams, Moore worked his magic again with a young but talented squad. The Mountaineers went 10-2 in the regular season and were ranked No. 2 nationally, with the only losses coming to defending BCS national champion LSU and the top-ranked team in FCS, James Madison. Moore also led ASU to a share of its fourth- straight Southern Conference title, its 14th playoff berth in his 20 years at the helm and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Buddy Pough, South Carolina State - Pough helped the Bulldogs earn their first playoff berth since 1982 and their first MEAC championship since the 1994 season. South Carolina State finished 10-2 in the regular season, the most wins for the Bulldogs since 1994. The Bulldogs, whose only losses were to FBS opponents Clemson and Central Florida, finished 13th in the final regular- season poll.
Danny Rocco, Liberty - Rocco and his staff continued to develop the Flames program by winning a second straight Big South Conference title and going 10-2 for the most wins in school history. Liberty won three games against teams from automatic bid leagues, including a 26-3 victory over Elon in the final game of the season that had the Flames being discussed for the 16-team playoff field. Liberty's No. 14 finish in the national poll was its highest-ever finish.
Andy Talley, Villanova - Talley and his veteran staff continued on the improvement started in 2007 to move the Wildcats to the brink of a CAA championship. Only a Hail Mary TD pass on the final play against James Madison prevented Villanova from winning the CAA title. Talley showed his ability to adapt as the Wildcats switched from their finesse style of offense to more of an aggressive power game. Villanova finished the regular season with a 9-2 record, won its first game ever against a No. 1 ranked team (Richmond), and placed sixth in the final regular-season poll.
Joe Taylor, Florida A&M - This classy veteran moved from Hampton and took over a once-proud Rattler program that had fallen on hard times with a 3-8 record in 2007 and an eighth-place finish in the MEAC. He immediately instilled his brand of discipline and organization to the program and produced a 9-3 record and a tie for second place in the MEAC. He also had the Rattlers in the playoff discussion for the first time since they last participated in the postseason in 2001.
