Athletic Report
November 17, 1998

HEAD FOOTBALL COACH HAROLD “BUD” ELLIOTT NAMED LSC SOUTH DIVISION COACH-OF-THE-YEAR
Leads Eastern New Mexico to 8-3 Overall Record, 6-3 in the LSC
Eastern New Mexico University head football coach Harold “Bud” Elliott, who guided the Greyhounds to an 8-3 overall record and a 6-3 mark (3rd place tie) in the Lone Star Conference South Division, has been named LSC South Division Coach-of-the-Year as selected by LSC head coaches. The LSC Preseason Poll had predicted the Greyhounds would finish 7th in the 8-team South Division. Elliott’s team surprised the prognosticators by recording ENMU’s best season since the team went 9-2 in 1987.

The Greyhounds opened the season with 7 consecutive wins, and established themselves as one of the top teams in the nation, reaching as high as a tie for 11th in the NCAA Division II Poll. The Greyhounds featured an outstanding defense that ranked 9th nationally in total defense. Opponents averaged just 254.8 yards per game against ENMU. The Greyhounds were particularly strong against the run, allowing just 100.2 rushing yards per game and only 2.8 yards per carry. Eastern ranked 6th in passing efficiency defense (83.9 rating), allowing just 37.8% completions and 154.6 yards per game. ENMU intercepted 12 passes during the season.

On offense, Eastern averaged 305.8 yards per game. The Greyhounds were young on offense, with only one senior starter and a lineup that included two freshmen and six sophomores. ENMU gained 2,335 yards on the ground, an average of 212.3 yards per game. Tailback Dennis Beard, a sophomore, gained 868 rushing yards on 145 carries and scored 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Bobby Rodriguez, also a sophomore, passes for 988 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also rushed for 371 yards and scored 2 touchdowns on the ground.

Elliott, who completed his 31st season as a collegiate head coach, improved his career record to 165-155-9 (.515). His overall record at ENMU is 28-25-2 (.527) during five seasons. He has guided the Greyhounds to three winning seasons. During his career, Elliott has led teams at six different colleges or universities to at least one season with 7 or more wins.