University of Minnesota Athletics
FWAA Names Fleck a Finalist for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award
12/10/2019 1:58:00 PM | Football
Big Ten Coach of the Year P.J. Fleck led Minnesota to 10 regular season wins for the first time since 1905
University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck was named a finalist for the 2019 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award today. The announcement was made by the Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The other eight finalists are Ryan Day (Ohio State), Eliah Drinkwitz (Appalachian State), Sonny Dykes (SMU), Bryan Harsin (Boise State), Mike Norvell (Memphis), Ed Orgeron (LSU), Matt Rhule, (Baylor) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson).
The official presentation reception will be on Jan. 11, 2020, in New Orleans where the winning coach will be handed the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year bust during a reception hosted by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in conjunction with the College Football Playoff National Championship.
This honor is just another one for Fleck after leading Minnesota to 10 regular season wins for the first time since 1905. Fleck was also voted the Big Ten's Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year by his peers and was named the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. He is also one of six finalists for the George Munger College 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.
The other eight finalists are Ryan Day (Ohio State), Eliah Drinkwitz (Appalachian State), Sonny Dykes (SMU), Bryan Harsin (Boise State), Mike Norvell (Memphis), Ed Orgeron (LSU), Matt Rhule, (Baylor) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson).
The official presentation reception will be on Jan. 11, 2020, in New Orleans where the winning coach will be handed the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year bust during a reception hosted by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in conjunction with the College Football Playoff National Championship.
This honor is just another one for Fleck after leading Minnesota to 10 regular season wins for the first time since 1905. Fleck was also voted the Big Ten's Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year by his peers and was named the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. He is also one of six finalists for the George Munger College 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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