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National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Nominate Finalists for
Most Historic Coach of the Year Award
HOUSTON, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston Division of the American
Heart Association today announced the finalists (with ties) for the Paul
"Bear" Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award, as voted on by the
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Continuing this 48-year-
old tradition, the winner will be chosen in a final round of balloting and
named at an award dinner benefiting the American Heart Association on Jan. 11
at the Hilton Americas in downtown Houston.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are: Mike Bellotti, University of
Oregon; Mack Brown, University of Texas; Pete Carroll, University of Southern
California; George OLeary, University of Central Florida; Joe Paterno, Penn
State; Mark Richt, University of Georgia; Rich Rodriguez, University of West
Virginia; Mike Shula, University of Alabama; Steve Spurrier, University of
South Carolina; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Tommy Tuberville, Auburn University;
Charlie Weis, University of Notre Dame.
Mike Bellotti: University of Oregon Ducks -- When he joined the team in
1995, few envisioned the impact Mike Bellotti would have on the program.
After last seasons 5-6 record, Bellotti posted an amazing turnaround with
this years 10-1 record. The Ducks now rank sixth in the AP Top 25 poll and
fifth in the USA Today poll with a No. 5 BCS ranking. The team will go on to
face Oklahoma in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.
Mack Brown: University of Texas Longhorns -- Since joining the Longhorns
in 1997, Brown has resurrected the team by bringing enthusiasm back to the UT
program. This year he has led the Longhorns through an undefeated 12-0 season
and a No. 2 ranking in the polls. The team is charging to the Rose Bowl for a
run at their second straight victory and is poised to win its first national
title in over three decades. Brown is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach
of the Year Award.
Pete Carroll: USC Trojans -- When Pete Carroll joined USC in 2000, he
brought with him an energy that revived the Trojans football program. Now
ranked No. 1 in the polls, his team has maintained an undefeated 12-0 record.
Carroll has guided the Trojans to another Pac-10 championship and is taking
the teams 34 game winning streak into a chance at a third straight national
title as the No. 1 Trojans face the No. 2 Longhorns in the Rose Bowl. Carroll
is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
George OLeary: University of Central Florida Golden Knights -- Known as
one of the most innovative defensive coaches in football, OLeary has reshaped
the UCF program in his two seasons as head coach. This year, he has posted
the biggest turnaround in major college football, transforming last years
winless season into an 8-4 record and nearly winning the Conference USA title.
OLeary will take the Knights to the teams first ever bowl appearance in the
Hawaii Bowl. OLeary is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
Award.
Joe Paterno: Penn State Nittany Lions -- This year marks Paternos 40th
season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, an accomplishment that makes him
only the second major college head coach to have served 40 years at a single
institution. With a team currently ranked third in the polls and headed to
the Orange Bowl, Paterno is the most successful coach in the history of
college football and one of the most admired figures in college athletics. He
was also named Home Depot Coach of the Year and is a finalist for the Eddie
Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
Mark Richt: University of Georgia Bulldogs -- In his four years as head
coach, Richt has led the Bulldogs to three SEC East titles and won two SEC
titles. With a 10-2 record, his team currently stands at No. 8 in the polls
and ranks 7th in the BCS rankings. With his high standard of winning with
consistency, Richt will lead the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. The Southeastern
Conference named Richt 2005 SEC Coach of the Year.
Rich Rodriguez: West Virginia Mountaineers -- Rodriguez is known not only
as innovative, high-energy and enthusiastic, but also for his creative
football tactics. Now in his fourth season as head coach, he has led the
Mountaineers to a 10-1 season and a No. 11 ranking in the polls. Taking the
Big East title, the team will face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Rodriguez was
named Big East Coach of the Year.
Mike Shula: University of Alabama Crimson Tide -- Shula, now in his third
season with the Alabama football program, has returned stability and
leadership to the Crimson Tide. With a No. 13 ranking in the polls and BCS
standings and a 9-2 record, the team will face Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.
Shula was recently named the American Football Coaches Associations 2005 AFCA
Regional Coach of the Year.
Steve Spurrier: University of South Carolina Gamecocks -- Upon joining the
team in 2004, Spurrier hit the ground running, developing a coaching staff
that combined experience and enthusiasm. Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a 7-4
record and a second place finish in the SEC Eastern Division. The team won
five straight Southeastern Conference games for the first time in school
history, and will face the Missouri Tigers in the Independence Bowl. Spurrier
was named AP Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year
Jim Tressel: Ohio State Buckeyes -- Now in his fifth year as the Buckeyes
head coach, Jim Tressel boasts an impressive resume that includes the schools
first national championship in 34 years, a 19-game winning streak, and
national coach-of-the year recognition. The Big Ten co-champion Ohio State
now ranks fourth in the polls and BCS ranking and boasts a 9-2 record.
Tressel will lead the team in its third Fiesta Bowl appearance in four years
as it takes on Notre Dame.
Tommy Tuberville: Auburn Tigers -- After experiencing the Tigers best
season ever in 2004, Tommy Tuberville has proven that in his six seasons as
Auburns head coach, he has built a program that excels both on and off the
field. With a 9-2 record, the team currently ranks No. 7 in the polls and No.
9 in the BCS standings. The Tigers will make their sixth consecutive bowl
appearance as they face Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl. Tuberville received
the 2004 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award.
Charlie Weis: University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Weis, a 1978
Notre Dame graduate and owner of four Super Bowl championship rings earned
during his tenure in the NFL, joined the Fighting Irish only one year ago.
With a team ranked fifth in the AP Top 25 poll and sixth in both the USA Today
poll and BCS rankings, Weis staged a remarkable turnaround, transforming last
years 6-6 record into a 9-2 season that landed the Fighting Irish in the
Fiesta Bowl. Weis is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
Award.
Jim Donnan, ESPNs leading authority on college football, will engage the
crowd with the keynote address. Coaching legend Jack Pardee will share
personal stories as he accepts a Lifetime Achievement Award. For more
information on the award dinner, contact Susan Vick of the Houston Division of
the American Heart Association at 713.610.5003.
ABOUT THE NSSA
With more than 800 members, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters
Association was originally formed in 1959 to honor sportscasters and
sportswriters in the Carolinas. In 1960, the NSSA expanded to a national
association and annually recognizes the National Sportscaster of the Year and
the National Sportswriter of the Year.
ABOUT THE PAUL "BEAR" BRYANT AWARD
While the Coach of the Year Award has been an annual tradition since 1957,
the American Heart Association adopted and re-named the award in 1986 to honor
Paul "Bear" Bryant, who died of a heart attack in 1983. The Paul "Bear"
Bryant Coach of the Year dinner and award presentation appropriately has
become a major annual fund raiser for the Houston Division of the American
Heart Association, with many business and community leaders and sports figures
annually lending support to the event. Proceeds from the event assist in
funding Houston-area research grants. The American Heart Association leads
the fight against heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in the
U.S., through research, education and advocacy programs.
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