Courtesy: mstateathletics.com Sylvester Croom led State to a league-best, four-win improvement and a berth in the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl this season.
December 05, 2007
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State head football coach Sylvester Croom was named the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by the league’s other head football coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday.
“It is a great honor and a tremendous blessing to be named SEC Coach of the Year by my peers,” Croom said. “To even be considered for such an award by the coaches in this conference is quite special.
“I would like to thank my coaching staff, our players, the MSU administration, and the fans for their support over the past four years, and particularly this season,” he said. “I especially want to thank the fans for the home field advantage they have created. They had a tremendous affect on the outcome of the games.
“Special praise and gratitude also has to go to our seniors, and our entire football team, for the character and determination they showed this season,” Croom said. “But I also must remind them that the job is not yet finished.”
Mississippi State concludes its 2007 season with an AutoZone Liberty Bowl berth against the University of Central Florida, Saturday, Dec. 29, in Memphis, Tenn., the school’s first bowl bid in six years.
Croom is MSU’s first SEC Coach of the Year winner since Wade Walker won the award in 1957. State’s Allyn McKeen was State’s only other SEC Coach of the Year winner in 1940, as voted by the league’s coaches.
The Mississippi State head football coach has also been selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which honors the college football coaches who best exemplify responsibility and excellence on and off the field of play.
Those interested may cast a vote for Croom to win in Division 1-A by December 15 at www.coachoftheyear.com. The winner will be announced Dec. 29.
Joining Croom as finalists are Rich Brooks (Kentucky), Mark Richt (Georgia), and Tommy Tuberville (Auburn) in the SEC, Joe Paterno (Penn State), Jim Tressel (Ohio State), and Ron Zook (Illinois) from the Big Ten, Paul Johnson (Navy), Mark Mangino (Kansas) and Rich Rodriguez (West Virginia).
Courtesy: mstateathletics.com
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