It isn’t just folks in Pocatello who are taking notice of Idaho State’s turnaround in the football program.
Bengals coach Mike Kramer has been named one of 20 finalists for the 2014 Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the FCS coach of the year.
With one game left in the regular season, Kramer has led the Bengals to a 5-2 record in the Big Sky Conference and Idaho State is threatening to reach the postseason for the first time since 1983.
This year’s list of finalists includes one past winner, 2005 recipient Sean McDonnell of top-ranked New Hampshire. There are five finalists in their first season as their school’s head coach — Clint Conque of Stephen F. Austin, Broderick Fobbs of Grambling State, John Grass of Jacksonville State, Chris Klieman of North Dakota State and Everett Withers of James Madison.
ISU’s seven wins this season are more than the Bengals have had since 2003. Kramer won six games total in his first three years at Idaho State.
Key to Idaho State’s turnaround has been its high-octane offense that leads the nation in passing and first downs and is averaging a Big Sky-high 42.7 points per game.
Twelve of the finalists have led their teams into The Sports Network Top 25, a poll the Bengals have not been able to crack. ISU has 153 points in the TSN top 25 and would be No. 27.
Eastern Washington’s Beau Baldwin joins Kramer as the lone other finalist from the Big Sky.
A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Robinson Award, now in its 28th year. The winner will be announced Dec. 15 at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation.
The 2014 Eddie Robinson Award finalists:
Beau Baldwin, Eastern Washington (Big Sky Conference)
Rod Broadway, North Carolina A&T (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Clint Conque, Stephen F. Austin (Southland Conference)
Marty Fine, Bryant (Northeast Conference)
Broderick Fobbs, Grambling State (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
John Grass, Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley Conference)
Dean Hood, Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference)
Russ Huesman, Chattanooga (Southern Conference)
Chris Klieman, North Dakota State (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Mike Kramer, Idaho State (Big Sky Conference)
Dale Lindsey, San Diego (Pioneer Football League)
Sean McDonnell, New Hampshire (CAA Football)
Joe Moglia, Coastal Carolina (Big South Conference)
Tim Murphy, Harvard (Ivy League)
Tony Reno, Yale (Ivy League)
Mike Sanford, Indiana State (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Brock Spack, Illinois State (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Mark Speir, Western Carolina (Southern Conference)
Joe Susan, Bucknell (Patriot League)
Everett Withers, James Madison (CAA Football)
No comments:
Post a Comment