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| Chadron State sports information |
Chadron State is no humdrum Division II football program.
The Eagles have averaged nearly eight wins a season since 1987. With long-time head coach Brad Smith, Chadron State has won 71 percent of its games and developed into a football powerhouse in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Under third-year head coach Jay Long, Chadron State went 9-3 in 2012 and finished the season ranked 18th in the country. Last year, Long and the Eagles went 8-3.
Long is guiding the Eagles through a tumultuous moment in the program’s history. Chadron State is on probation after determining its former football coach, Bill O’Boyle, had secret bank accounts and doled out extra benefits for players.
Chadron State isn’t banned from the playoffs nor did it lose any scholarships, but it’s a dark moment for a program that’s proud of its all-time leading rusher, current San Diego running back Danny Woodhead.
O’Boyle was abruptly fired in October 2011 after the school discovered some issues in fundraising.
According to the Division II Committee on Infractions' report, O'Boyle opened a private bank account in 2009 for proceeds from the football program's golf tournaments. He used the account for football and personal expenses, including paying a traffic ticket. He also used two other outside accounts to pay concession workers and for recruiting expenses.
O'Boyle was questioned by school officials but didn't reveal the location of the golf tournament money and the existence of the outside bank accounts.
O'Boyle also gave an athlete $150 to settle a school bill and another $100 to an athlete so he could purchase health insurance. The committee said O'Boyle should have known he violated rules by giving money to athletes.
The Eagles also were penalized for using an ineligible player in 2011.
Chadron State's probation runs until November 2016, its six wins in 2011 and nine wins in 2012 have been forfeited, and the school has been fined $5,000.
Regardless of the sanctions, Idaho State head coach Mike Kramer is wary of the Eagles. In Kramer’s first three seasons, ISU has played two teams from the RMAC, Western State and Black Hills State.
The Bengals whipped Western State in 2011 (44-7) and in 2013 (29-3) and downed Black Hills State 38-5 in 2012.
But Chadron State, Kramer says, is a more dangerous squad.
“I think our fans will recognize a good-looking team when they watch Chadron State’s offense roll onto the field,” Kramer said. “They are a very, very good looking football team from head to toe.”
The Eagles’ offensive linemen range from 6-foot-1 to 6-7 and average 290 pounds. In Chadron State’s season-opening victory the O-line cleared the way for 212 yards on the ground and averaged 6.2 yards a carry. Seven different Eagles toted the rock in the 42-25 victory over Missouri S&T.
The Eagles can attack through the air, too, and they rely on a two-quarterback system. The starter is senior Jonn McLain, who threw for 260 yards and a touchdown a week ago.
Chadron State goes to senior Patrick O’Boyle for a change of pace. O’Boyle is 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and is the Eagles leading rusher.
“They’re a pretty dangerous team on offense,” said ISU sophomore running back Hayden Stout, “so we’re going to have to come out and play just like we did against Utah State.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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