Ian Jones, Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision 2014

NCAA Logo [Reference: 1]

2014 was the first year of the Postseason Playoff in NCAA Division 1 College Football. The four Conference Champions with the best records from the “Power 5” Conferences: Atlantic Coast, Big 10, Southeastern, Big 12 and Pacific-12 were invited to play in the College Football Playoff Semi-Finals, which were for the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, with the winners meeting in the National Chmpionship. Ohio State Buckeyes won the National Championship 42-20 over Oregon Ducks.

Irish-born involvemetnt in the Football Bowl Subdivision included Ian Jones, an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Penn State Nittany Lions, who previously coached at South Carolina Gamecocks, as well as Cork GAA and London Welsh Rugby Union. Penn State finished the season with a 7-6 record, defeating Boston College Eagles 31-30 in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Darragh O’Neill, who was also born in Cork, was Punter for Colorado Buffaloes, who finished with a 2-10 record. O’Neill won an Honourable Mention All-Pac-12 Team Award, as well as the Iron Buffalo Award for sepecialists for his work in the weightroom, and was fourth-team choice for Phil Steele’s College Football.

Sean Galvin, who coincidentally was also a Cork-born player, from Bandon, was Punter for the UCF Central Florida Knights in 2014, and fulfilled his childhood dream of playing at Croke Park when his UCF Knights took on Ian Jones’ Penn State Nittany Lions in the Croke Park Classic, which Penn State won 26-24.

NCAA Division 1 FBS 2014

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCECWCLPctOWOLPct
ACC Atlantic
Florida State Seminloes (D)801.000131.938
Clemson Tigers62.750103.
Louisville Cardinals53.62594
Boston College Eagles44.50076
North Carolina State Wolfpack35.37585
Syracuse Orange17.12539.250
Wake Forest Demon Deacons17.12539.250
ACC Coastal
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (D)62.750113
Duke Blue Devils53.62594
North Carolina Tar Heels44.50067
Pittsburgh Panthers44.50067
Miami (Fl.) Hurricanes35.37567
Virginia Cavaliers35.37557
Virginia Tech Hokies35.37576
BIG 10 CONFERENCECWCLPctOWOLPct
Big10 East
Ohio State Buckeys (D)801.000141.933
Michigan State Spartans71.875112.846
Maryland Terrapins44.50076.538
Rutgers Scarlet Knights35.37585.615
Michigan Wolverines35.37557.417
Penn State Nittany Lions26.25076.538
Indiana Hoosiers17.12548.333
Big10 West
Wisconsin Badgers (D)71.875113.786
Minnesota Golden Gophers53.62585.615
Nebraska Cornhuskers53.62594.692
Iowa Hawkeyes44.50076.538
Illinois Fighting Illini35.37567.462
Northwestern Wildcats35.37557.417
Purdue Boilermakers17.12539.250
 PACIFIC-12 CONFERENCECWCLPctOWOLPct
Pac-12 North   
Oregon Ducks (D) 91.900132.867
Stanford Cardinal (B)54.55685.615
Washington Huskies (B)45.44486.571
California Golden Bears36.33357.417
Oregon State Beavers27.22257.417
Washington State Cougars27.22239.250
Pac-12 South   
Arizona Wildcats (D)73.700104.714
Arizona State Sun Devils (B)63.667103.769
UCLA California-Los Angeles Bruins (B)63.667103.769
Southern California Trojans (B)63.66794.692
Utah Utes (B)54.55694.692
Colorado Buffaloes09.000210.167
BIG 12 CONFERENCECWCLPctOWOLPct
Baylor Bears (B)81.889112.
TCU Texas Christian Horned Frogs (B)81.889121
Kansas State Cowboys (B)72.77894
Oklahoma Sooners (B)54.55685
Texas Longhorns (B)54.55667
West Virginia Mountaineers (B)54.55676
Oklahoma State Cowboys (B)45.44476
Texas Tech Red Raiders27.22248.250
Kansas Jayhawks18.11139.250
Iowa State Cyclones09.000210.167
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCECWCLPctOWOLPCt
SEC West
Alabama Crimson Tide (D)71.875122.
Mississippi State (B)62.750103
Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels (B)53.62594
Auburn Tigers (B)44.50085
LSU Louisiana State Tigers (B)44.50085
Texas A&M Aggies (B)35.37585
Arkansas Razorbacks (B)26.25076
SEC East
Missouri Tigers (D)71.875113
Georgia Bulldogs (B)62.750103
Florida Gators44.50075
South Carolina Gamecocks (B)35.37576
Tennessee Volunteers (B)35.37576
Kentucky Wildcats26.25057
Vanderbilt Commodores08.00039.250
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCECWCLPctOWOLPct
Memphis Tigers (B)71.875103.769
Cincinnati Bearcats (B)71.87594.692
Central Florida UCF Knights (B)71.87594.692
East Carolina Pirates (B)53.62585.615
Houston Cougars (B)53.62585.615
Temple Owls44.50066.500
South Florida Bulls35.37548.333
Tulane Green Wave26.25039.250
Tulsa Golden Hurricane26.250210.167
Connecticut Huskies17.125210.167
Southern Methodist Mustangs17.125111.083
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
West
Northern Illinois (D)81.889113.
Toledo (B)71.87594
Western Michigan (B)62.75085
Central Michigan (B)53.62576
Ball State44.50057
Eastern Michigan17.125210.167
East
Bowling Green (D)54.55686
Ohio (B)44.50067.500
Buffalo34.42956.455
Akron35.37557.
Massachusetts35.37539.250
Miami (Oh)26.250210.167
Kent State16.14329.182
CONFERENCE USACWCLPCtOWOLPCt
CUSA East
Marshall Thundering Herd (D)71.875131
Middle Tennessee53.62566.500
Old Dominion44.50066.500
UAB Alabama-Birmingham Blazers44.50066.500
Western Kentucky (B)44.50085
Florida International35.37548.333
Florida Atlantic26.25039.250
CUSA West
Louisiana Tech (D)71.87595.
Rice Owls (B)53.62585
UTEP Texas-El Paso (B)53.62576
UTSA Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners35.37548.333
North Texas Red Raiders26.25048.333
Southern Mississippi17.12539.250
SUN BELT CONFERENCE
Georgia Southern (D)801.00093.750
Louisiana-Lafayette (B)71.87594
Appalachian State62.75075
Arkansas State (B)53.62576
South Alabama (B)53.62567
Texas State53.62575.
Louisiana-Monroe35.37548.333
Troy35.37539.250
Idaho17.125110.091
New Mexico State Aggies17.125210.167
Georgia State08.000111.083
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
MWC Mountain
Boise State Broncos (D)71.875122.833
Colorado State Rams (B)62.750103
Utah State (B)62.750104
Air Force Fighting Falcons (B)53.625103
New Mexico Lobos26.25048.333
Wyoming Cowboys26.25048.333
MWC West
Fresno State (D)53.62568.
San Diego State Aztecs (B)53.62576
Nevada Wolfpack (B)44.50076
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (B)35.37549
San Jose State Spartans26.25039.250
UNLV Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels17.125211
INDEPENDENTS
Army Black Knights48.333
Brigham Young BYU Cougars (B)85
Navy Midshipmen (B)85
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (B)85
[Reference: 2]

Conference Championships

ConferenceWinnersRunners-Up
POWER 5
ACCFlorida State Seminoles37Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 35
Big 10Ohio State Buckeyes59Wisconsin Badgers10
SECAlabama Crimson Tide42Missouri Tigers13
PAC-12Oregon Ducks51Arizona Sun Devils13
OTHER 5
MACNorthern IllinoisBowling Green
CUSAMarshall Thudering HerdLouisiana Tech
MWCBoise State BroncosFresno State Bulldogs
[Reference: 3]

Note: Power 5 Conference Champions Qualify for College Football Playoff Semi-Finals (Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl).

Minor Bowls

BowlWinnersRunners-Up
New OrleansLouisiana-Lafayette16Nevada3
New MexicoUtah State21UTEP6
Las VegasJUtah45Colorado State10
PotatoAir Force38Wesstern Michigan24
CamelliaBowling Green33South Alabama28
Miami BeachMemphis55BYU48
Boca RatonMarshall52Northern Illinois23
PoinsettiaNavy17San Diego State26
PopeyesWestern Kentucky49Central Michigan48
HawaiiRice30Fresno State6
Heart of DallasLouisiana Tech35Illinois18
Quick LaneRutgers40North Carolina21
St. PetersburgNorth Carolina State34Central Florida27
MilitaryVirginia Tech33Cincinati17
SunArizona State38Duke31
IndependenceSouth Carolina24Miami (Fl.)21
PinstripePenn State31Boston College30
HolidaySouthern California45Nebraska42
LibertyTexas A&M45West Virginia37
Russell AthleticClemson40Oklahoma6
TexasArkansas31Texas7
Music CityNotre Dame31LSU Louisiana State28
BelkGeorgia37Louisville14
Foster FarmsStanford45Maryland21
PeachTCU Texas Christian42Ole Miss Mississippi3
FiestaBoise State38Arizona30
OrangeGeorgia Tech49Mississippi State34
OutbackWisconsin34Auburn31
CottonMichigan State42Baylor41
CitrusMissouri33Minnnesota17
Armed ForcesHouston35Pittsburgh34
GatorTennessee45Iowa28
AlamoUCLA California-Los Angeles40Kansas State35
CactusOklahoma State30Washington22
BirminghamFlorida28East Carolina20
GoDaddyToledo63Arkansas State44
[Reference: 4]

College Football Playoff

BowlWinnersRunners-Up
CFP Semi-Finals
RoseOregon Ducks59Florida State20
SugarOhio State42Alabama35
National Championship
Rose v SugarOhio State42Oregon20
[Reference: 4]

Irish-Born NCAA Division 1 FBS Players and Coaches 2014

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

Ian Jones - Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach [Reference: 12]
Ian Jones – Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach [Reference: 12][Picture Credit: Ian Jones LinkedIn Profile]

Biography

Ian Jones, born in Cork, was appointed Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Houston Texans in 2017. He coached for three years at Penn State (2013 to 2015) coaching the University’s Football Team as well as being involved in Coaching 30 other sports during his time there, including the College Rugby Team, and the USA Women’s Rugby Squad which also had s base there. While involved with the USA Women’s Rugby Team he got to go to Canadaon Tour with the, and also travel to Wales, England and the World Cup in France in 2014. By now Fitzgerald had moved on to become a Coach at the Houston Texans. Jones ended up taking a low level position with the Cleveland Browns in 2016, and from there went on to the Houston Texans in 2017, after Fitzgerald called him up when a position became vacant. [1]

Darragh O’Neill Irish-Born College American Football Player 2011-2014

Darragh O’Neill – Irish-Born Colorado Buffaloes Player (NCAA Div. 1) 2011-2014 [7]

Darragh O’Neill – Colorado Buffaloes 2011 Roster Photo – Courtesy CU Buffaloes

Born: Cork, Ireland 
Position: Punter
University: University of Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Series)
Biography:Darragh O’Neill was born in Cork and moved to America when he was three, growing up in Louisville, Colorado. He played as a punter in the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 2011-2014 for the Colorado Buffaloes. He was ranked 18th in America at College level in 2012 with an average of 43 Yards per Punt.[1]
Career Summary: 
2014: His best season came in 2014, earning honorable mention All-Pac 12 from the coaches, His average hit a career-high of 44.14 yards per punt. Darragh also placed a Colorado University record 27 punts inside opposition’s 20 Yard line. He won the Iron Buffalo Award for specialists for his work in the weightroom, and also a fourth-team choice by Phil Steele’s College Football.[6]

[1][6]

Yearly Statistics

 KickingPunting
 KickoffsAvg YdsXPMXPAXP%FGMFGAFG%PtsPuntsYdsAvg
201174315242.6
201276330743.5
201366267340.5
201465286944.1
Total2811200142.7

[6]

Sean Galvin Irish-Born College American Football Player 2012-2014

Sean Galvin – Irish-Born University of Central Florida Knights Player (2012-2014) [8]

Sean Galvin – UCF 2014 Roster Photo – Courtesy UCF Knights

Born: Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland 
Position: Kicker
University: University of Central Florida Knights (NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Series)
Biography: Sean Galvin was born in Bandon, Co. Cork and was a talented GAA Footballer and Hurler and had ambitions of one day playing at GAA headquarters, Croke Park. When he was 15 he left Cork for America, where he took up American Football in High School where he excelled as a kicker. He was picked up by the University of Central Florida in 2012 and in 2014 he fulfilled his dream of playing in Croke Park when the UCF Knights took on the Penn State Nittany Lions in an American Football College Showcase Game played in the hallowed GAA grounds.[1].He was named as one of the team captains for the Croke Park classic in 2014, and totalled 218 Kickoffs over a three year career at UCF, averaging 62.1 Yards. [7]

[3]

Yearly Statistics

[4]

 KickingPunting
 KickoffsAvg YdsXPMXPAXP%FGMFGAFG%PtsPuntsYdsAvg
20128861.9111000001
20137462.80000000
20145661.50000000
Total21862.1111000001

[5][6][7]
Total Compiled from [5][6][7]

References (Standings and Playoffs)

Images

[1] NCAA | Wayback Machine Internet Archive (2015) logo [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20160923081703im_/http://www.ncaa.com/sites/all/themes/ncaa/ncaa-respo/logo.png [Accessed 4 May 2020]

Internet Archive

[2] NCAA College Football Wayback Mchine (2015) College Football Standings (FBS) [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20150318162415/http://www.ncaa.com/standings/football/fbs[Accessed 12 February 2019]

[3] NCAA College Football Wayback Mchine (2015) College Football Playoff [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20150318184042/http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2014-12-05/college-football-playoff [Accessed 12 February 2019]

[4] NCAA College Football Wayback Mchine (2015) College Football – Home [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20150318191340/http://www.ncaa.com/sports/football/bowls [Accessed 12 February 2019]

References (Ian Jones)

Websites

[1] Irish Times (2017) Jones’ Road: From coaching GAA to the backroom team of the Houston Texans Friday, September 8, 2017. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/jones-road-from-coaching-gaa-to-the-backroom-team-of-the-houston-texans-1.3211694 [Accessed 7 April 2018]

[2] National Football League (2017) 2017 | Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2017/REG [Accessed 28 December 2019]

[3] Sports Reference College Football (2020) 2010 College Football Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2010-standings.html [Accessed 30 December 2020]

[4] Sports Reference College Football (2020) 2011 College Football Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2011-standings.html [Accessed 30 December 2020]

[5] Sports Reference College Football (2020) 2013 College Football Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2013-standings.html [Accessed 30 December 2020]

[6] Sports Reference College Football (2020) 2014 College Football Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2014-standings.html [Accessed 30 December 2020]

[7] Sports Reference College Football (2020) 2015 College Football Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2015-standings.html [Accessed 30 December 2020]

[8] Alliance of American Football (2019) Standings [Internet] Available from: https://aaf.com/standings [Accessed 4 April 2019]

[9] Premiership Rugby (2020) Premiership Final Table 2012/13 ‘[Internet] Available from: https://www.premiershiprugby.com/gallagher-premiership-rugby/league-table/# [Accessed 30 December 2020]

[10] Ian Jones LinkedIn (2020) Profile [Internet] Available from: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-jones-735aa01ab [Accessed 30 December 2020]

Internet Archive

[11] GAA (2020) Football League Tables [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20100515192928/http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/league-tables/[Accessed 30 December 2020]

Images

[12] Ian Jones LinkedIn (2020) Profile Picture [Internet] Available from: https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E03AQEcEMKlYmWiLA/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/0/1605395567742?e=1614816000&v=beta&t=deF-6Z0ekS7Soo9on_4MB137hgWkme_JtsmQwZ9nkwY[Accessed 31 December 2020]

References (Darragh O’Neill)

Websites

[1] Eoghan McNeill – Irish Independent – August 28 (2014) “Video: Cork-born American football star to fulfil childhood dream of playing at Croke Park” [Internet] Available from: https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/video-corkborn-american-football-star-to-fulfil-childhood-dream-of-playing-at-croke-park-30544419.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[2] Sport Reference (2011) 2011 Pacific 12 Conference Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/pac-12/2011.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[3] Sport Reference (2012) 2012 Pacific 12 Conference Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/pac-12/2012.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[4] Sport Reference (2013) 2013 Pacific 12 Conference Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/pac-12/2013.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[5] Sport Reference (2014) 2014 Pacific 12 Conference Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/pac-12/2014.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[6] CU Buffs (2014) 2011 Football Roster – 8 Darragh O’Neill [Internet] Available from: http://cubuffs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=276 [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[7] CU Buffs (2014) 2011 Football Roster – 8 Darragh O’Neill Picture [Internet] Available from: http://cubuffs.com/images/2014/5/9/WVMUHCRXSUGWUEI.20140509181056.jpg?width=300 [Accessed 9 May 2018]

References (Sean Galvin)

Websites

[1] Eoghan McNeill – Irish Independent – August 28 (2014) “Video: Cork-born American football star to fulfil childhood dream of playing at Croke Park” [Internet] Available from: https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/video-corkborn-american-football-star-to-fulfil-childhood-dream-of-playing-at-croke-park-30544419.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[2] Sport Reference (2012) 2012 Conference USA Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/cusa/2012.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[3] Sport Reference (2013) 2013 American Athletic Conference Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/american/2013.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[4] Sport Reference (2014) 2014 American Athletic Conference Year Summary [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/american/2014.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[5] Sport Reference (2012) 2012 UCF Knights Stats – Kicking & Punting [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/central-florida/2012.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[6] Sport Reference (2013) 2013 UCF Knights Roster [Internet] Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/central-florida/2013-roster.html [Accessed 7 May 2018]

[7] UCF Knights (2014) 2014 Football Roster – 35 Sean Galvin [Internet] Available from: http://ucfknights.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=495 [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Images

[8] UCF Knights (2014) 2014 Football Roster – 35 Sean Galvin Picture [Internet] Available from: http://ucfknights.com/images/2016/5/30/10199097.jpeg?width=300 [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Sean Douglas of the Dubliin Rebels (Irish American Football League).

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 31 December 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

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