Sports Network Release
 
Bronx, N.Y. (November 20, 2013) - Fordham University head football coach Joe Moorhead was named one of 21 finalists for the 2013 Eddie Robinson Award as the NCAA FCS Coach of the Year it was announced today by The Sports Network. A panel of about 160 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the Robinson Award winner, which is presented by The Sports Network.
 
Moorhead has led the 2013 Rams to unprecedented success, winning the first ten games of the year for the first time in school history and being ranked as high as fifth in the NCAA FCS polls. The squad has also defeated an NCAA FBS team (Temple) for the first time while competing on the NCAA FCS level (last time Fordham defeated what is now an FBS team was a 1954 win over Rutgers). Fordham also beat two NCAA FCS top-ten opponents (Villanova and Lehigh) and  defeated a ranked NCAA FCS team (Villanova) for first time since 2002 and for the first time ever at home.
 
A former Fordham quarterback, Moorhead and revamped the Rams' offense, a unit that leads the NCAA FCS in pass completion percentage, is fourth in passing offense, fifth in first downs and seventh in total offense.
 
In 2012, Moorhead led the Rams to second best turnaround in the NCAA FCS, bringing a team that finished 1-10 in 2011 to a 6-5 record.
 
Voting will reflect only regular-season results and will be conducted by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. The winner will be announced at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation to be held Dec. 16 in Philadelphia.

The winners of the three FCS player awards - the Walter Payton (FCS outstanding player), the Buck Buchanan (FCS outstanding defensive player) and the Jerry Rice (FCS freshman of the year) - also will be announced at the national banquet.
 
The Rams, ranked eleventh in the latest NCAA FCS Coaches Poll and 12^th in the Sports Network poll, close out the 2013 regular season on Saturday, November 23, as they travel to Hamilton, N.Y., to face the Colgate Raiders at 1:00 p.m.