SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State head coach Bobby Petrino was one of 16 finalists announced Monday for the STATS Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the national coach of the year in college football’s Division I FCS subdivision.
In his first season as head coach of the Bears, Petrino has guided Missouri State to a 5-1 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and a share of the MVFC title for the first time since 1990. Petrino inherited a squad that finished 1-10 last season and was picked ninth in the conference preseason poll.
He takes his MSU squad into the first round of the FCS national playoffs Saturday at North Dakota for a 3 p.m. start at the Alrerus Center in Grand Forks.
North Dakota head coach Bubba Schweigert is also a finalist for the Robinson Award as the only other MVFC coach under consideration for this year’s honor.
Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State and first presented in 1987, the Robinson Award’s esteemed list of winners include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Mike Ayers, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore, K.C. Keeler and two-time recipients Mickey Matthews, Sean McDonnell and Craig Bohl.
A 40-member national media panel will select the winner from the unprecedented 2020-21 season, which has spanned the fall and spring semesters. The recipient will be announced on May 4.
Also in the next month, STATS Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
