Central Arkansas? Clint Conque Named to Finalist for Eddie Robinson Award
CONWAY, Ark. ? Central Arkansas football coach Clint Conque has been named as one of 20 finalists for The Sports Network’s Eddie Robinson Award given to the nation’s top coach at the NCAA FCS level.
Conque joins five former winners of the award among the 20 candidates for the 2008 award.
“This is a tremendous honor,’ said Conque. “I think this goes directly back to the performance of our players on the field. And of course, our assistant coaches, who are great teachers and always have our teams prepared.
“We’re obviously pleased with the success we’ve been able to have here, particularly the past three years since moving up. I certainly can’t say enough about how our players have performed. They’ve helped change the culture of football here at Central Arkansas.’
Conque’s Bears finished off a 10-2 season last Saturday with a 47-30 victory over perennial power McNeese State. UCA finished atop the Southland Conference standings with a 6-1 record in just their second full season in the league. They are not eligible for the NCAA playoffs because of the transition to Division I.
The Bears are ranked No. 11 in this week’s national poll.
Conque is tied for second with Mike Isom in career coaching victories at UCA with 68. He has led the Bears to two conference championships and two playoff appearances. The Bears are 13-3 against Southland Conference teams since making the move to Division I, and
24-10 overall.
Conque joins two of his players who are also on national watch lists. Senior quarterback Nathan Brown is one of 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding offensive player at the FCS level. Junior defensive end Larry Hart is one of 16 vying for the Buck Buchanan Award for the FCS’s top defensive player.
All the awards will be presented on Dec. 18 during the 22nd annual The Sports Network Awards Dinner the night before the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship title game in Chattanooga, Tenn.