OSU’s Bill Young To Earn Integrity Honor
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bill Young will be recognized with the Merv Johnson Integrity in Coaching award by the Oklahoma chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame tomorrow night as part of the organization’s annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet at the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
Young made an instant impact at his alma mater upon joining Mike Gundy’s staff in 2009. Oklahoma State’s defense ranked as the fourth-most improved unit in the country from the 2008 season to the 2009 season. The Cowboys allowed 405.54 yards per game to rank 93rd nationally in total defense in 2008, but allowed only 332.54 yards per game in 2009 to rank 31st in the country.
“We’re excited that Coach Young is being recognized with an award like this because it goes beyond just football,” Gundy said. “It speaks to the kind of person that he is. He is a great role model for all of the young men in our program and is a tremendous representative of Oklahoma State University.”
Under Young’s guidance in 2009, the defense held every Big 12 opponent but Oklahoma below its season rushing average and the 13 rushing yards gained by Colorado represents the 14th lowest total by an opponent in Cowboy history.
The Cowboys allowed only 95.8 rushing yards per game and just 3.0 yards per attempt by the opposition in 2009. Oklahoma State has not had a defense end the season allowing less than 100 yards per game on the ground since 1982 when the Leslie O’Neal-led Pokes yielded a then-school record low of 99.2 yards per game.
The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow. -TV sports director Dean Blevins will emcee the event.
Updated 04-13-2010
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