Solich Named Finalist for Bear Bryant Award

Houston - University of Nebraska Coach Frank Solich was selected as one of seven finalists for the annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach-of-the-Year Award announced Thursday. The winner will be announced award dinner benefiting the American Heart Association on Jan. 17 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston.

The other finalists, in alphabetical order, are: Gary Barnett, University of Colorado; Mike Bellotti, University of Oregon; Larry Coker, University of Miami; Ralph Friedgen, University of Maryland; Nick Saban, Louisiana State University; and Ron Turner, University of Illinois.

Solich has guided the Huskers to an 11-1 record and finished second in the Bowl Championship Series rankings this season. NU will look for their sixth national title against No. 1 ranked Miami in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3. Solich led the Huskers to an 11-win season for the second time in his career and at 42-8 is tied for third on the NCAA Division I-A chart for best career starts in the first four years. His offense ranked first in the nation in rushing and his quarterback - Eric Crouch - became the third Husker in school history to garner the Heisman Trophy. A former Husker fullback, Solich, a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, served as an assistant at Nebraska for 19 years before being named head coach after the 1997 regular season.

With more than 800 members, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association was originally formed in 1959 to honor sportscasters and sportswriters in the Carolinas. In 1960, the NSSA expanded to a national association and annually recognizes the National Sportscaster of the Year and the National Sportswriter of the Year.

While the Coach of the Year Award has been an annual tradition since 1957, the American Heart Association adopted and re-named the award in 1986 to honor Paul "Bear" Bryant, who died of a heart attack in 1983. The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year dinner and award presentation appropriately has become a major annual fund raiser for the Houston Division of the American Heart Association, with many business and community leaders and sports figures annually lending support to the event. Proceeds from last year's dinner assisted in the funding of more than 10 Houston-area research grants totaling more than $1.4 million. The American Heart Association leads the fight against heart disease and stroke through research, education and advocacy programs.

College football coaching legend Bill Yeoman, of the University of Houston, will be in attendance to share a few stories and accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. For more information on the award dinner, contact Emi Lee Mohle of the American Heart Association at 713.610.5027.