A look at headlines from across all the lower divisions for this week, right after the ol’ jumpy dealy.


FCS:

Furman:
Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Bruce Fowler, a Furman alum, has been named as the Paladins’ new head coach. Fowler had served as an assistant at Furman under Bobby Johnson, and followed him to Vanderbilt in 2001.

Massachusetts:
The rumors are becoming more than rumors, as MAC officials made a visit to Amherst as well as taking a trip to Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium, where UMass would be expected to play some of its home games in the event of a move up to FBS.

Patriot League:
The Patriot League tabled for two years a decision on possibly allowing a limited number of football scholarships, a non-decision which will likely lead to Fordham seeking another conference affiliation. Fordham had decided to start offering 14 scholarships beginning this year, and were subsequently ruled ineligible for the Patriot League championship; the school had agreed to remain a member of the conference and play a league schedule through 2012 pending a resolution of the issue.

Prairie View A&M:
Henry Frazier III stepped down as Panther head coach on Monday, and defensive coordinator Heishma Northern was named as his replacement. Frazier went 43-30 in seven years as head coach. Northern had also served as DC at Grambling prior to coming to Prairie View six years ago.

North Carolina Central:
The reason Frazier resigned? To take the job at NCCU. Frazier, who had also served as head coach at Bowie State prior to going to Prairie View, has an overall career record of 69-54.

Division II:

Harlon Hill Trophy:
Central Missouri QB Eric Czerniewski was announced as the winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy on Friday, narrowly out-pointing (by six votes) West Liberty State QB Zach Amedro in the closest vote in the 25-year history of the trophy, which is Division II’s analogue to the Heisman. Amedro was also the runner-up last season. The third finalist was Northwest Missouri QB Blake Bolles.

Arkansas-Monticello:
Hud Jackson was introduced as the Boll Weevils’ new head coach, replacing Gwaine Mathews, who resigned last month. Jackson, a former quarterback at McNeese State was previously associate head coach at FCS Central Arkansas.

Minnesota-Crookston:
Chuck Moller has been named as the new head coach of the Golden Eagles, replacing the dismissed Shannon Stassen. Moller, a Minnesota-Morris alum, has previously served as an assistant at Oklahoma State, Stanford, and New Mexico, among other stops.

Division III:

Gagliardi Trophy:
Trine QB Eric Watt was named the winner of the 2010 Gagliardi Trophy Thursday night. The trophy, named for legendary St. John’s coach John Gagliardi and considered Division III football’s most prestigious individual award, recognizes a Division III football player’s excellence in football, academics, and community service. Other finalists included Rowan DE Matt Hoffman, Franklin QB Kyle Ray, and Louisiana College QB Ben McLaughlin.

McMurry:
McMurry president John Russell announced on Friday the school’s intent to transition its programs from Division III to Division II. The school will remain an active member of Division III and the American Southwest Conference until their candidacy is approved and they begin awarding scholarships. No statement on conference affiliation was made, but the obvious plan would be to seek membership in the Lone Star Conference, which is losing a good chunk of its membership after next season.

Loras:
Paul Mierkiewicz, who has been the head coach at NAIA Hastings since 2001, has returned to Dubuque to take over the program at his alma mater. He previously served as an assistant at Loras from 1992-98 before moving to Hastings as offensive coordinator. He was 65-41 at Hastings, the third-most wins all-time at the school.

Nichols:
Bill Carven has resigned as head coach at Nichols after 12 years on the job. Nichols was 51-64 during his tenure following a dismal 1-9 campaign in 2010, but is still the school’s second winningest coach.

Tufts:
After 17 years, Bill Samko has retired as head coach of the Jumbos. Tufts was 57-79 during Samko’s career, and 1-7 this season. Samko’s most important contribution, however, may be that three of his former players have coached in the NFL. Before returning to Tufts, where he began his career as an assistant, Samko worked at Yale and Sewanee, and has a career record of 92-106-1.

Wisconsin-River Falls:
River Falls has narrowed its coaching search to five candidates, which wouldn’t be noteworthy itself except for two names on the list: Whitewater assistant Kevin Bullis, and Mount Union defensive coordinator Vincent Kehres, son of UMU head coach Larry Kehres.

NAIA:

Rawlings-NAIA National Football Player of the Year:
The Rawlings-NAIA National Football Player of the Year award was given to Sioux Falls WR Jon Ryan on Friday. Ryan, who caught an NAIA-record 24 touchdown passes in 2010, is the third USF player in the last four years to win the award.

Hastings:
See Loras above.

Montana-Western:
Ryan Nourse, assistant at Morningside, has been named Montana-Western’s new head coach. He’s returning to his alma mater, having graduated from MWU in 1997.

Oklahoma Baptist:
OBU has announced that they will be reinstating their football program in 2013, fielding a team for the first time since 1940. The Bison had been a successful program, with an all-time record of 109-71 and a notable 6-0 victory over Arkansas in 1925; in their final season, they went 8-2-1 and shared the conference championship. The program was one of many football program casualties of World War II. OBU is a member of the non-football Sooner Athletic Conference, and intends to apply for membership in the Central States Football League. In addition to football, the school is adding swimming and women’s lacrosse to its slate of athletic offerings; uniquely, OBU will be the only four-year college in the entire state of Oklahoma offering these sports.