The Southeastern Conference produced 10 bowl teams this year and a ton of college football's elite talent. In a league where recruiting is followed as closely as the games, opportunities for individual accomplishment for players are plentiful. Here are the nominees and winners for the BC Sports SEC Awards.
Coach of the Year
Nominees:
Dan Mullen - Mississippi State
2009 Accomplishment: Mullen did more with less at MSU steadily improving the team over the season culminating in a major upset of Ole Miss to end the year.
Nick Saban - Alabama
2009 Accomplishment: Winning the SEC Championship and completing back-to-back undefeated regular seasons proves to everyone that "Bama's Back" isn't just a magazine cover.
Rich Brooks - Kentucky
2009 Accomplishment: In spite of injuries at major positions, Kentucky still pulled a couple of major road upsets (Auburn and Georgia) and qualified for a fourth straight bowl game.
Urban Meyer - Florida
2009 Accomplishment: Meyer's run at Florida has been remarkable and another SEC East championship and SECCG appearance make him one of the top coaches in the conference and the country.
Awarded to: Nick Saban - Alabama
Back-to-back undefeated regular seasons is one thing, but accomplishing that in the SEC is something special. Saban is not cuddly, likeable, or remotely approachable. However, he knows how to build winners and can do it fast. What's he's accomplished at Alabama in three years is both remarkable and notable. One can only wonder if winning the BCS Championship this year will forever put his name among the history of elite coaches of the college game.
Offensive Player of the Year
Nominees:
Randall Cobb - WR/ATH, Kentucky
2009 Statistics: 37 receptions, 427 yds., 4 TDs; 84 rushes, 537 yds, 10 TDs; 46 kr/pr, 655 yds, 1 TD
Mark Ingram - RB, Alabama
2009 Statistics: 249 rushes, 1,542 yds, 15 TDs; 30 receptions, 322 yds., 3 TDs; 8 100+ yard games
Ryan Mallett - QB, Arkansas
2009 Statistics: 3,425 yds., 29 TDs/7INTs, 157.87 QB rating, 6 200+ yard games, 3 300+ yard games, 2 400+ yard games.
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