In yet another (sad) sign that yet another season is rapidly slipping away, a coaching award has released its midseason(ish) watch list.
The second such major award to do the deed -- the Bear Bryant Award did the same a week or so ago -- is the Dodd Trophy, which recognizes “the head coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character.” A total of 13 coaches made the initial cut, all of whom come from Power Five conference schools.
Four former winners of the award are on the watch list, including last year’s winner, Duke’s David Cutcliffe, and two-time winner Bill Snyder of Kansas State (1998, 2012). The other two are Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (2011) and Bob Stoops (2003).
Some of the noteworthy names left off the list includes, among others, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher, Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze, Marshall’s Doc Holliday, TCU’s Gary Patterson, Baylor’s Art Briles and Oregon’s Mark Helfrich. The first two and last three of those have their respective teams in the Top 10, while the Herd is one of just three unbeaten FBS squads.
Meanwhile, two-loss coaches like Swinney, Stoops and UCLA’s Jim Mora are a part of the group.
The SEC led all conferences with four coaches on the watch list. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 have two apiece.
The 2014 winner of the Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week prior to the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl week.
