Auburn's Gene Chizik named a finalist for Paul "Bear" Bryant award

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik has been named a finalist for the 2010 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, the American Heart Association and Marathon Oil have announced. The Paul "Bear" Bryant Award honors excellence in coaching while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke, the nation's No. 1 and No. 4 killers, respectively. The Bryant Award is the only college football coaching honor voted on after all bowl games are played. Chizik has guided Auburn to a 13-0 record, the Southeastern Conference title and an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game this season. After starting the season ranked No. 22 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Tigers have climbed to a No. 1 ranking in the BCS standings and in the AP and Harris Interactive polls. Joining Chizik as finalists for the award are Chris Ault (Nevada), Bret Bielema (Wisconsin), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State), Jim Harbaugh (Stanford), Chip Kelly (Oregon), Gary Patterson (TCU), Bobby Petrino (Arkansas) and Mike Sherman (Texas A&M). The winner of the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award will be announced live at an awards dinner benefiting the American Heart Association on Jan. 18, 2011 at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Houston. The event will also recognize Florida State's renowned former coach, Bobby Bowden, as the Bryant Lifetime Achievement Recipient.