Football

FSU'S TURNER HONORED AS PIGSKIN CLUB'S CIAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

December 15, 2009

WASHINGTON - More than a year before he attempted a kick at Fayetteville State, people knew who Austin Turner was.

FSU head coach Kenny Phillips told everyone how good the kicker he signed from San Diego could be.

In his first year on the field for the Broncos, Turner lived up to the hype. He made a CIAA-best 17 field goals en route to being named the Pigskin Club's CIAA Player of the Year.

"It's a great honor for him, considering that a year ago, I said that I thought we had one of the best kickers in the CIAA," Phillips said. "If we would've had him in 2008, we would've gone much farther than we did."

The Pigskin club, located in heart of the nation's capital, will present Turner with the James Guy "Pete" Tyson award on Jan. 15 at Washington's Capital Hilton Hotel.

"It's a great award and being that I haven't played football in two years makes it even better," said Turner. "My first year back I won an award and it's pretty amazing."

Turner, who was also voted CIAA Special Teams Player of the Year by the conference's coaches, helped FSU win its third CIAA Championship. The Broncos topped Bowie State 21-10 in the CIAA title game. His 88 points in 2009 were the second most in FSU single-season history.

"It was a lot of emotion winning the championship," he said. "I'd never been a part of the championship team. My goal was to help bring home a championship to Fayetteville State and I felt like I accomplished that goal."

Despite the awards and recognition, Turner was disappointed by his play in the Broncos' last four games.

"I had a good year to start out, but then after the Johnson C. Smith game, I got hurt. My year kind of declined a little bit. This season was good, but bittersweet."

With two seasons of eligibility remaining Turner has a few goals he'd like to reach.

"I want to come back bigger and better next year," he said. "I want to be the best in the best kicker, not just in the CIAA or in Division II, but in the nation. My goal next season is to bring another championship to Fayetteville State and to be an All-American. That's something I really want to do."