Tag: Bobby Dodd

Josh Heupel named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Tenenssee’s Josh Heupel named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week after defeating Alabama.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel earned coaching honors after the Vols’, 24-17, win versus Alabama in Week 8.

Heupel was named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week on Tuesday.

“Coach Heupel and his Volunteers made a statement on Saturday,” Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, said. “The Volunteers have seen a resurgence since he took over in 2021, and they look poised to have another big season under his leadership.”

Heupel has also been named to the Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List.

The Vols have wins over Chattanooga, North Carolina State, Kent State, Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama this season. Tennessee suffered its only loss at Arkansas on Oct. 5.

Tennessee has its second and final open date on Saturday in Week 9. The Vols will return to action against Kentucky on Nov. 2 at Neyland Stadium.

PHOTOS: Tennessee fans storm the field after beating Alabama

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Lincoln Riley knows he has a lot to live up to in 2024 at USC

Plenty of people still know how good Lincoln Riley is. Now Riley has to remind everyone what he is capable of.

The local and national media, along with some USC and Big Ten fans, might need reminding, but Lincoln Riley has had one of the more remarkable starts to a coaching career in college football history. The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year selection committee is not sleeping on Riley and the Trojans.

He has coached three Heisman Trophy winners and three No. 1 overall NFL draft picks on his way to an .804 winning percentage in his games and three trips to the College Football Playoff in his first seven seasons as a head coach.  All of this before his 40th birthday. 

The USC Athletic Department released information about the award in a press release:

“The Dodd Trophy honors a head coach for on-field success while emphasizing scholarship, leadership, and integrity. The watch list considers academic progress, graduation rates, community service, and projected success for the upcoming season.”

“A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.”

Riley hopes that three years of rebuilding the roster and a rebuild defensive coaching staff will allow the Trojans to compete for the conference title and earn a playoff berth.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

Josh Heupel named to 2024 Dodd Trophy Watch List

Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel named to 2024 Dodd Trophy Watch List.

Fourth-year Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel was named to the 2024 Dodd Trophy Watch List. The Dodd Trophy is named after former Georgia Tech head coach and former Vol Bobby Dodd.

The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor a Football Bowl Subdivision coach whose program represents three pillars of success in scholarship, leadership and integrity. The award also honors a coach of a team with a successful season on the field, while stressing the importance of academic excellence and desire to give back to the community.

Tennessee will kick off its upcoming season versus Chattanooga on Aug. 31 at Neyland Stadium.

READ: Bobby Dodd’s impact on Tennessee, Georgia Tech’s athletic programs

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Every Tennessee quarterback to win in Tuscaloosa against Alabama

A look at every Tennessee quarterback to win in Tuscaloosa against Alabama all time.

Tennessee and Alabama kicked off its football series on Nov. 28, 1901, playing to a 6-6 tie.

The contest was played on Thanksgiving day at West End Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

The reason for the game being tied was due to an offsides penalty against Alabama within the first ten minutes of the second half.

The penalty occurred ten yards from the goal line. Alabama players contested the penalty and that is when two things occurred that ended the game early. First, spectators came onto the playing field and circled both teams, preventing any further play. Secondly, as the protest continued, darkness came which did not allow for the two teams to finish the contest with daylight gone.

1999 Tennessee at Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Elsa Hasch/Allsport

Throughout the Tennessee-Alabama series, games have been contested 15 times in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide hold an 11-4 record against Tennessee in Tuscaloosa.

Games were not played in Tuscaloosa after 1930 until 1999.

Ahead of Tennessee’s matchup at Alabama in Week 8, Vols Wire looks at every UT quarterback to win in Tuscaloosa. Tennessee’s all time quarterbacks to win in Tuscaloosa are listed below.

Kirby Smart named to Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watchlist

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watchlist.

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has been named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watchlist.

Joining Smart are 19 other head coaches across the nation.

Smart is one of six SEC coaches named to the watchlist. The award was given to Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell last year after led the Bearcats to its first College Football Playoff appearance.

Nick Saban is the most recipient of the award from the SEC, having won it in 2014.

[pickup_prop id=”26097″]

Bobby Dodd’s impact on Tennessee, Georgia Tech’s athletic programs

A look at Bobby Dodd’s impact on Tennessee and Georgia Tech’s athletic programs.

Tennessee and Georgia Tech have tradition-rich athletic programs.

Bobby Dodd had an impact on both schools’ athletic history.

Dodd, a four-sport athlete at Tennessee, played football (1928-30), basketball (1928-30), track and field and baseball (1930).

Dodd was a two-time All-Southern Conference performer in football. He played quarterback, tailback and punter under head coach Robert Neyland.

After his playing career, Dodd became an assistant football coach at Georgia Tech in 1931. He served as an assistant until 1945 when he became the Yellow Jackets’ head coach.

As head coach, Dodd compiled a record of 165-64-8. He guided Georgia Tech to consecutive SEC championships in 1951-52 and a national title in 1952.

He was SEC Coach of the Year in 1951-52.

Dodd was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also a member of the Helms Hall of Fame, the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

In 57 years at Georgia Tech, he also served as athletics director and head baseball coach.

[vertical-gallery id=48057]

Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley named to Coach of the Year Award watch list

Lincoln Riley was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Trophy watch list on Thursday.

Lincoln Riley was named to the Bobby Dodd Trophy watch list on Thursday. The award, named for the legendary Goergia Tech head coach, has annually honors the nation’s best head coach since 1976.

Riley is joined on the watch list by Dabo Swinner, Luke Fickell, Nick Sabam, Gus Malzahn, Tom Herman, Dan Mullen, Bronco Mendenhall, Brian Kelly, Kirby Smart, Mack Brown and Ed Orgerson. Also present is former OU quarterback and assistant coach Josh Heupel.

The last Big 12 coach to win the award was Bill Synder in 2012. The last OU coach to win was Bob Stoops in 2003.

Besides being one of the most successful coaches in college football in terms of winning percentage, Riley is also constantly exhibiting incredible leadership ability.

Last week, Riley led the entire football team in a march across campus in protest of ongoing racial injustice issues across America, delivered a speech at the end of the march, and worked with the team to get every player registered to vote. You can watch the demonstration here.

[vertical-gallery id=16867]