To easily say South Dakota State has earned its undefeated season below first-year coach Jimmy Rogers seems like an understatement.
Carrying a bull’s-eye because the defending Division I FCS nationwide champions, the Jackrabbits have dealt with each problem, after which some, whereas sustaining the No. 1 nationwide rating and incomes the highest seed within the playoffs.
It’s all led to Rogers being voted by a nationwide panel because the 2023 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS nationwide coach of the 12 months and is offered by FedEx Floor.
Now in its thirty seventh season, the award is called for legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson. Rogers, who was one in all 20 finalists, shall be honored on the Stats Carry out FCS Nationwide Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS championship sport.
As of Oct. 21, South Dakota State was the one FCS staff out of 128 total and not using a loss, and it hasn’t modified since then. The Jackrabbits swept their strategy to a second straight Missouri Valley Soccer Convention title, and their schedule didn’t even embrace the three lowest finishers within the 12-team standings. Add in a victory over non-conference energy Montana State and Rogers’ squad defeated six High 25 groups – two greater than another FCS staff – whereas going 11-0.
South Dakota State (12-0) added a seventh High 25 win by shutting out Mercer 41-0 within the second spherical of the playoffs final Saturday. It was the Jackrabbits’ twenty sixth straight triumph since final season, matching the third-longest profitable streak in FCS historical past.
Rogers was a linebacker and staff captain on SDSU’s first FCS playoff qualifier in 2009 in addition to a 10-year assistant coach in this system and the defensive coordinator of the 2022 nationwide championship staff. He was elevated to move coach after his mentor John Stiegelmeier’s retirement final January.
In Rogers’ first season guiding this system, South Dakota State is the one staff to rank within the prime 10 of the FCS in common factors and yards gained per sport and fewest factors and yards allowed per sport.
Just like the Robinson Award, the winners of the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive participant of the 12 months), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive participant of the 12 months), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman participant of the 12 months) and FedEx Floor Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Yr Award shall be honored on the nationwide awards banquet.
2023 Eddie Robinson Award Voting Outcomes
Following is a breakdown of the voting outcomes. A primary-place vote was price 5 factors, a second-place vote 4 factors, a third-place vote three factors, a fourth-place vote two factors and a fifth-place vote one level. The ultimate quantity is the mixed level complete.
1. Jimmy Rogers, South Dakota State: 16-8-8-2-4-144
2. Greg Gattuso, UAlbany: 9-10-11-6-0-130
3. Bobby Hauck, Montana: 10-12-7-3-1-126
4. Bob Nielson, South Dakota: 8-7-9-3-4-105
5. Willie Simmons, Florida A&M: 3-1-4-5-5-46
6. Chris Wilkerson, Japanese Illinois: 2-2-4-5-4-44
7. John Troxell, Lafayette: 0-5-1-6-6-41
8. Clay Hendrix, Furman: 1-2-5-5-2-40
9. Scotty Walden, Austin Peay: 2-2-0-6-8-38
10. Trei Oliver, North Carolina Central: 0-1-3-7-3-30
11. Mark Ferrante, Villanova: 0-2-1-2-6-21
12. Todd Stepsis, Drake: 1-1-0-4-2-19
13. Larry Scott, Howard: 1-2-0-0-3-16
14. Pete Rossomando, Lamar: 2-0-0-0-1-11
15. Todd Whitten, Tarleton: 0-1-1-0-2-9
16. Tre Lamb, Gardner-Webb: 1-0-0-1-1-8
17. Tim Murphy, Harvard: 0-0-1-1-0-5
18. Danny Rocco, VMI: 0-0-1-0-1-4
19. Tim Rebowe, Nicholls: 0-0-0-0-2-2
20. Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne: 0-0-0-0-1-1
