Photo by: Jonathan Chick
Lunsford Garners Sun Belt Coach of the Year Honors From Southern Pigskin
12/6/2018 9:02:00 AM | Football
Four Eagles named to outlet's first-team all-conference squad
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern head football coach Chad Lunsford has been named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year by Southern Pigskin, as announced Wednesday by the outlet. In addition, four Eagle players were named to the first-team all-conference squad.
Lunsford, in his first full year as the head coach of the Eagles, has led GS to nine wins and a berth in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, where they will face Eastern Michigan on Dec. 15 in Montgomery, Alabama. After going 2-10 last year, the Eagles are 9-3 with a game left. With a win, GS would become the fourth team in Division I-A/FBS history to make a one-year turnaround from double-digit losses on the field to double digit-wins the next season. Fresno State in 2017 (1-11 to 10-4), Air Force in 2014 (2-10 to 10-3) and Miami, Ohio in 2010 (1-11 to 10-4) also accomplished the feat. Alabama went 9-3-1 on the field in 1993, but forfeited 11 results to make them 1-12, and then went 12-1 in 1994.
Lunsford, in his first full year as the head coach of the Eagles, has led GS to nine wins and a berth in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, where they will face Eastern Michigan on Dec. 15 in Montgomery, Alabama. After going 2-10 last year, the Eagles are 9-3 with a game left. With a win, GS would become the fourth team in Division I-A/FBS history to make a one-year turnaround from double-digit losses on the field to double digit-wins the next season. Fresno State in 2017 (1-11 to 10-4), Air Force in 2014 (2-10 to 10-3) and Miami, Ohio in 2010 (1-11 to 10-4) also accomplished the feat. Alabama went 9-3-1 on the field in 1993, but forfeited 11 results to make them 1-12, and then went 12-1 in 1994.
Georgia Southern is +7 in the win difference this season, tops in the country (Cincinnati is +6). A win in the bowl game would give the Eagles a 7 1/2 margin in games improved, tied for the seventh-best in NCAA Division I-A/FBS history.
Earning first-team All-Sun Belt plaudits from Southern Pigskin were: center Curtis Rainey, cornerbacks Kindle Vildor and Monquavion Brinson and kicker Tyler Bass.
For the full team, click here.
Tickets are still on sale for the Eagles' upcoming bowl game and can be purchased at GSEagles.com/Bowl.
Players Mentioned
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