In a sure-to-be Hall of Fame coaching career that includes four national championships, Alabama’s Nick Saban has seen just about every award come his way.
But some awards mean more than others which is why Saban said he was particularly touched on Tuesday when he received the 2014 Dodd Trophy as the national coach of the year.
The trophy is presented annually by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and is named after former Georgia Tech legend Bobby Dodd. It goes to the coach who not only is successful on the field, but embodies the three pillars that Dodd stood for — scholarship, leadership, and integrity.
“I am very honored to receive this special award,” said Saban, whose No. 1 Alabama team plays No. 4 Ohio State on Thursday night in the College Football Playoff semifinals in the Sugar Bowl. “Growing up I was certainly aware of Bobby Dodd. There wasn’t as much media exposure back then as there is now, but you knew who the coaches who were winning and who were doing it the right way. I just held him in so much esteem.
“This is an award that honors the total program and that is why it means so much,” said Saban.
Along with winning 177 games in 19 years as a head coach, Saban has a strong track record in academics and giving back to the community.
Saban and his wife Terry have given more than $4 million to various charities through their foundation, the Nick Kid’s Fund. They have built 14 homes for families displaced by the tornadoes in Tuscaloosa in 2011.
Saban’s current team has an Academic Progress Rate of 975, which is third in the SEC, and a graduation rate of 80 percent. Seven members of the team will earn Master’s degrees and 22 are scheduled to graduate by this spring.
“We have always believed in working hard on academics and trying to get kids to do the right thing,” said Saban. “We want our guys to be successful in all aspects of their lives. It is part of our calling as coaches.”
Saban said he was particularly honored to receive the Dodd Award with this team, which went 12-1 and won the SEC championship.
“We did get better as a team every week. That’s why I really love this team,” said Saban. “So many guys on this team are all in. That’s the kind of people they are. This has really been a very gratifying season.”
Saban will be honored with an on-campus celebration next year.
The Dodd Award has been presented since 1976. Former winners include Georgia’s Vince Dooley, Michigan’s Bo Schembechler, Nebraska’s Tom Osborne and Grambling State’s Eddie Robinson.
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