Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford and junior linebacker Connor Underwood have received postseason recognition from The Sports Network for their efforts during the record breaking 2014 campaign. The Sports Network held their annual FCS Awards Banquet last night (December 15).
Underwood finished ninth nationally in balloting for the Buck Buchanan Award which goes annually to the top defensive player in FCS football. Sanford was ninth in the voting for the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year Award. Earlier this month, Sanford was named the American Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year. He will be honored at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner on January 13 in Louisville, Ky.
Sanford led the Sycamores to the biggest turnaround in college football taking Indiana State from a 1-11 record in 2013 to an 8-6 mark this year. The Sycamores advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the first time since 1984 and won a postseason matchup for the first time since 1983. Indiana State's eight wins are the most for the program since joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference 29 seasons ago and the season extended to a December 6 matchup at Chattanooga in the second round of the playoffs -- that is the latest a Sycamore football season has ever played a game. He finished a close second in the MVFC Coach of the Year voting last month.
Underwood finished the season with 94 total tackles, including new school records for quarterback sacks with 13.5 and tackles for loss with 25. He also now owns the school record for career quarterback sacks with 28.5 and is just two away from Kyle Mitchell's standard for tackles for a loss with 52.5. Underwood finished 22nd in the MVFC for tackles per game with 6.7, third in sacks, and second in tackles for a loss. His four fumbles forced led the team as well as the league.
The Sycamores now turn their attention to National Signing Day on February 4, 2015. Details will also be announced after the New Year on spring practice dates as well as the date for the annual Spring Game and Golf Fundraiser/Silent Auction. Indiana State will be at home six times in 2015, including the home opener against Butler on September 5.
