Harper Named Candidate for Robinson Award
11/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Third-year Stephen F. Austin head coach J.C. Harper has been named to the 2009 Eddie Robinson Award ballot announced Sports Network Executive Director Dave Coulson Monday afternoon.
Harper, who took over the Lumberjack program prior to the 2007 season, has pushed SFA into the national spotlight after a 9-2 (.818) campaign that saw the Lumberjacks win a share of their first Southland Conference title since the 1999 season, and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs. The playoff berth is the program first since the 1995 season.
The Lumberjacks more than doubled their win total in 2009 compared to the two previous seasons. SFA recorded consecutive victories against nationally ranked foes McNeese State and Central Arkansas, along the way to a season-long six-game win streak. SFA jumped as high as 11th in the polls, and has been ranked for six consecutive weeks to close out the 2009 regular season.
Harper guides his 12th-ranked squad into the first round of the FCS playoffs Saturday against No. 13 Eastern Washington (8-3). The game against the Eagles, an at-large team from the Big Sky Conference, is slated to kickoff at 2 p.m. from Homer Bryce Stadium.
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