FINALSTS ANNOUCNED!
American Heart Association’s 2021 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year finalists announced
Dec 16, 2021, 11:42 am
Have a look below at this year's finalists. Courtesy photo.
Nine of the country's best college football coaches have been announced as finalists for the American Heart Association’s 2021 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award. The illustrious award recognizes coaches for their commitment to the sports on and off the field through winning on game day and every day.
The award ceremony takes place annually in Houston and next year on January 12, 2022 the winning coach will be revealed and awarded the final award of the college football season. The American Heart Association’s 2021 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the only award given after all bowls and the national championship. The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA College football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant family.
Second-year coaches Dave Aranda (Baylor), Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), and Mel Tucker (Michigan State) join a bevy of coaching excellence as finalists. Among the finalists, Luke Fickell (Cincinnati) and Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) will each coach their teams in the upcoming college football playoff.
The 2021 Coach of the Year finalists are (in alphabetical order by finalist last name):
Big XII – Dave Aranda – Baylor University
ACC – Dave Clawson – Wake Forest University
Group of 5 – Luke Fickell – University of Cincinnati, American Athletic Conference
Big Ten – Jim Harbaugh – University of Michigan
SEC – Lane Kiffin – University of Mississippi
ACC – Pat Narduzzi – University of Pittsburgh
SEC – Nick Saban – University of Alabama
Big Ten – Mel Tucker – Michigan State University
Pac 12 – Kyle Whittingham – University of Utah
Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. There was no immediate word on his injury.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Key moment
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.