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Kill named Gateway Coach of the Year

Nine players on first and second all-conference teams

SIU head coach Jerry Kill, who led the Salukis to a 10-2 record and the school's first-ever Gateway Conference title in just his third season, was awarded Wednesday with the Bruce Craddock Award for Gateway Coach of the Year.

Kill is also among the 16 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which goes to the top coach in Division I-AA.

Western Illinois quarterback Russ Michna, who led the Gateway with 18 touchdown passes and averaged close to 230 passing yards a game, was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year.

Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby, who is second in the nation with 179 tackles, was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Both players won the same awards last season.

SIU placed a total of nine players on the all-conference first and second teams, marking a record number of all-conference players for SIU since joining the Gateway.

Making the first team were senior running backs Muhammad Abdulqaadir and Brandon Robinson, junior center Elmer McDaniel and junior safety and Buck Buchanan Award candidate Alexis Moreland.

Five Salukis were present on the second team. Offensively, SIU was represented by sophomore quarterback Joel Sambursky, senior running back Tom Koutsos and senior offensive tackle Wesley Proctor. Junior defensive lineman Billy Beard and sophomore linebacker Royal Whitaker also made the team.

A trio of sophomores made the honorable mention list with wide receiver Brent Little, safety Frank Johnson and defensive lineman Linton Brown all receiving honors.