Houston, Texas - University of Missouri Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel has been named to the Paul "Bear" Bryant Watch List for the 2007 College Football Coach of the Year Award, as announced today by the Bryant Awards Committee.  Pinkel, who has led Mizzou to an 8-1 record for the first time since 1969 and has his Tigers currently ranked sixth in the latest BCS poll, is one of 16 coaches named to the prestigious list.

 

The Bryant Watch List will be narrowed down to five to 10 finalists and announced live by Alabama football legend and former NFL player Kenny Stabler during a press conference in Houston, Texas on Dec. 12. The finalists will attend an awards dinner on Jan. 17, 2008, where the winner will be announced live. The winner of the Bryant College Coach of the Year is voted on by members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and is the only college coaching award given after all of the bowl games have finished.

 

Bryant Watch List in alphabetical order:

• Michael Bellotti - University of Oregon
• Rick Brooks - University of Kentucky
• Lloyd Carr - University of Michigan
• Randy Edsall - University of Connecticut
• Dennis Erickson - Arizona State University
• Jeff Jagodzinski - Boston College
• June Jones - University of Hawaii
• Mark Mangino - University of Kansas
• Les Miles - Louisiana State University
• Chris Petersen - Boise State University
• Gary Pinkel - University of Missouri
• Mark Richt - University of Georgia
• Rich Rodriguez - University of West Virginia
• Nick Saban - University of Alabama
• Bob Stoops - University of Oklahoma
• Jim Tressel - The Ohio State University