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University of Minnesota Athletics
Fleck Tabbed Finalist for Dodd Trophy
12/10/2019 5:03:00 PM | Football
P.J. Fleck is now a finalist for three national coach of the year awards
University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck was named one of five finalists for the 2019 Dodd Trophy. The announcement was made by officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Finalists include five of the nation's top coaches in college football who embody the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, both on and off the field. Joining Fleck as a finalist are Ed Orgeron (LSU), Matt Rhule (Baylor), Dabo Swinney (Clemson) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).
Because The Dodd Trophy represents more than just a coach's performance on the field, a coach in his first year, who has not had a full season to establish his own impact on APR, graduation rates and the local community, is ineligible for the 2019 award.
Finalists were selected by a panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member. The winner of the 2019 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Fleck has already been named the Big Ten's Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. He is also a finalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
In addition to 10 regular-season wins, Minnesota won seven Big Ten games for the first time ever. Four of those Big Ten wins were by at least 20 points, which has not happened since 1934. Minnesota beat No. 5 Penn State at home and that was the first win for the Gophers against a Top 5 five team since it beat No. 2 Penn State on the road in 1999. It was Minnesota's first home win against a Top 5 team since it beat No. 1 Michigan 16-0 in 1977.
The Gophers are ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and were ranked as high as No. 7 this year, which was the team's highest ranking since it was No. 5 on Nov. 19, 1962. Minnesota is ranked. No. 18 in the College Football Playoffs and was ranked as high as No. 8, which was its highest CFP ranking in school history.
Minnesota will play Auburn in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020. The game will mark the first meeting ever between the two schools and will also be Minnesota's first-ever appearance in the prestigious bowl game. The Outback Bowl will be Minnesota's first bowl game between two ranked teams since the 1961 Rose Bowl against Washington. Minnesota was ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, while Washington was No. 6.
Finalists include five of the nation's top coaches in college football who embody the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, both on and off the field. Joining Fleck as a finalist are Ed Orgeron (LSU), Matt Rhule (Baylor), Dabo Swinney (Clemson) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).
Because The Dodd Trophy represents more than just a coach's performance on the field, a coach in his first year, who has not had a full season to establish his own impact on APR, graduation rates and the local community, is ineligible for the 2019 award.
Finalists were selected by a panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member. The winner of the 2019 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Fleck has already been named the Big Ten's Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. He is also a finalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
In addition to 10 regular-season wins, Minnesota won seven Big Ten games for the first time ever. Four of those Big Ten wins were by at least 20 points, which has not happened since 1934. Minnesota beat No. 5 Penn State at home and that was the first win for the Gophers against a Top 5 five team since it beat No. 2 Penn State on the road in 1999. It was Minnesota's first home win against a Top 5 team since it beat No. 1 Michigan 16-0 in 1977.
The Gophers are ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and were ranked as high as No. 7 this year, which was the team's highest ranking since it was No. 5 on Nov. 19, 1962. Minnesota is ranked. No. 18 in the College Football Playoffs and was ranked as high as No. 8, which was its highest CFP ranking in school history.
Minnesota will play Auburn in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020. The game will mark the first meeting ever between the two schools and will also be Minnesota's first-ever appearance in the prestigious bowl game. The Outback Bowl will be Minnesota's first bowl game between two ranked teams since the 1961 Rose Bowl against Washington. Minnesota was ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, while Washington was No. 6.
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