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University of Minnesota Athletics
Fleck Among Finalists for Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award
12/12/2019 7:05:00 PM | Football
University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck has been selected to another list of the top coaches in college football this year, as Fleck was nominated as a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award. The award, which is presented in conjunction with the American Heart Association, honors excellence in football coaching, both on and off the field, the hallmark of Coach Bryant's legacy.
Along with Fleck, the finalists are listed below (in alphabetical order):
The honor adds to a decorated list for the third-year head coach, as Fleck was selected a finalist for the George Munger and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Awards along with the Bobby Dodd Trophy. Fleck has already been named the Big Ten's Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year.
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.
In addition to recognizing the finalists for and announcing the winner of the "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the organization will be honoring Bill Snyder with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award and Lee Corso with the Inaugural Heart of a Champion Award.
Along with Fleck, the finalists are listed below (in alphabetical order):
- Ryan Day – Ohio State University
- Sonny Dykes – Southern Methodist University
- James Franklin – Penn State University
- Ken Niumatalolo – Naval Academy
- Mike Norvell – University of Memphis
- Ed Orgeron – Louisiana State University
- Matt Rhule – Baylor University
- Dabo Swinney – Clemson University
- Kyle Whittingham – University of Utah
The honor adds to a decorated list for the third-year head coach, as Fleck was selected a finalist for the George Munger and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Awards along with the Bobby Dodd Trophy. Fleck has already been named the Big Ten's Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year.
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.
In addition to recognizing the finalists for and announcing the winner of the "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the organization will be honoring Bill Snyder with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award and Lee Corso with the Inaugural Heart of a Champion Award.
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