Coach of the Year Controversy?

The Pac 10 handed out their end of the season awards this week, and one name many Beaver fans expected to see was head coach Craig Robinson as Pac 10 Coach of the Year. Washington’s Lorenzo Romar got the honor instead, after his team won their first conference title since 1985, leading the Huskies to a 14-4 conference record. What Robinson has done at Oregon State in less than 12 months is nothing short of a miracle. Last year they finished 0-18 and were competitive in only a handful of games. With essentially the same lineup the Beavers finished this year with a 7-11 record, and were ready for action in nearly every game.
With that said, I understand why the coaches did not vote Robinson in for the award. His team certainly improved over the year, and his 1-3-1 zone troubled every coach in the Pac on a weekly basis. However the bottom line is that his team finished 8th in conference, and regardless of how much the Beavers improved, 8th place is still 8th place. If Robinson stays in Corvallis for the long haul, Beaver Nation could be in for something special. With a recruiting class that includes a couple of four-star recruits in Roberto Nelson and Jared Cunningham, the Beavers will have talent like they haven’t seen since the Payton era. Robinson accomplished what many Beaver foes have long feared, he has “Rallied the Legend”, and brought life and excitement back into a depleted fan base. Robinson may have missed out on the Coach of the Year award this year, but his time will no doubt come.