[Sly Fox]

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.

And here is their description of Coach Rocco ...

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.

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[RagingTireFire]

If there's more than 16 candidates, I would expect us to be left out again.

[Fumblerooskies]

If there's more than 16 candidates, I would expect us to be left out again.

Post of the day!

[Cider Jim]

Rocco doesn't stand a chance. Look who else is up for it...

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.

[ROBBED08]

If there's more than 16 candidates, I would expect us to be left out again.

Again post of the day! Hands down!

Seriously he is the best Coach in the nation and I hope he is honored for that from 1-10 to 10-2 nobody can argue with that resume!

[Rooster Cogburn]

Unfortunately whether it is an award or just recognition, I fear Coach Rocco will be overlooked by the FCS snobs just like our team was.

It is sad.

He is a phenominal coach. He has basically re-created our program and taken it to unreal heights in a very short period of time. I mean taking a 1-10 team to 10-2 is unbelievable.

Hey Coach, we love you!

[Sly Fox]

I would just as soon he not get this type of recognition. Selfishly I don't want the big boys knowing how awesome he is. I want him to stay a LONG time.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Good point!

[JMUDukes]

I hope MM wins it again. if he wins the NC.