USF Athletics

Strong Named to Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List

October 18, 2017

TAMPA, OCT 17, 2017 – After guiding USF to a 6-0 start, equaling the best in program history, and the Bulls' highest ranking since 2008, USF Head Coach Charlie Strong has been named to the watch list for the 2017 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award.
 
Leader of the No. 16/13-ranked Bulls (6-0; 3-0 American), who own the nation's longest active win streak at 11 games, Strong was joined on the 20-member watch list by Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State), Dave Doeren (N.S. State), James Franklin (Penn State), Scott Frost (UCF), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Clay Helton (USC), Brian Kelly (Notre Dame), Mike Leach (Washington State), Rocky Long (San Diego State), Urban Meyer (Ohio State), Mike Norvell (Memphis), Gary Patterson (TCU), Chris Petersen (Washington), Mark Richt (Miami), Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma), Nick Saban (Alabama), Kirby Smart (Georgia) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson).
 
Strong has led USF to three straight 30-plus point victories and the Bulls have won every game by two or more touchdowns on the year. Long regarded for his defensive mastery, Strong's USF team ranks 12^th in total defense (290.3 ypg), 16^th in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and third in rushing defense (77.8 ypg) nationally. That is a vast improvement from last season's rankings of 120^th, 92^nd and 84^th, respectively, in those categories.
 
Meanwhile, the Bulls' offense continues to extend its streak of 30-plus point scoring games to 23, equaling the longest recorded mark ever posted by Oregon (2011-12). The Bulls stand seventh in scoring offense (42.8 ppg), 13^th in total offense (492.0 ypg) and eighth in rushing offense (293.0 ypg) while leading the nation with a 2.17 turnover margin (+13).
 
The American Heart Association's Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards, in its 32nd year, are held in memory of Coach Bryant, who passed away of a heart attack in 1983. The event, held annually in Houston, honors college football coaches achieving excellence on and off the field. It is the only awards program of its kind given after all the bowl games have been played. 
 
The Coach of the Year Award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association (formerly National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association), and announced live at the event. To be considered as a finalist, coaches must agree to attend the event.
 
USF returns to action this Saturday as the Bulls travel to Tulane (3-3; 1-2 American) for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2.

About USF Football
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, returned in 2017. 

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