By Tricia Pursell
SELINSGROVE — Today is the day to begin casting votes for college football coach of the year — an award that finalist Steve Briggs, of Susquehanna University, hopes will bring financial support to a variety of local organizations.
Briggs, head football coach at Susquehanna, has been chosen as a finalist for the NCAA Division III award, sponsored by the Liberty Mutual Group.
Voting began at midnight today, and will continue through Dec. 29. Votes may be cast at www.CoachoftheYear.com
If Briggs wins, he plans to donate $50,000 to United Way.
“My wife and I talked about it, and if I was fortunate enough to win it, I think that would be a great thing,” he said on Monday.
Susquehanna University has worked often with the United Way through its football program and athletic department, he said.
“Much of what they do goes back into the community,” he said.
Liberty Mutual is providing the money to the winner’s charity or charities of his choice, plus another $20,000 for alumni relations.
Briggs, who has coached college football for 28 years is one of five finalists in District III. He has been at Susquehanna University for 22 years.
“It’s an incredible honor,” he said of his nomination. “It doesn’t come alone. It comes with a lot of support. I’ve got a great staff, and the players are just absolutely outstanding.”
Susquehanna University has been promoting this contest through a variety of alumni newsletters, its Web pages, press releases and radio and television interviews, according to Robert Healy, the university’s director of athletics communications.
Web directions
The university’s Web page, www.susqu.edu, provides a link to a news release about the competition, as well as a link for voting. Votes can be cast once per day.
Fan votes constitute 20 percent of a coach’s final score. Twenty-five percent of his score comes from votes of a committee of college football media members, and the other 55 percent comes from votes of a committee of College Football Hall of Fame members.
Bloomsburg’s Danny Hale is one of five finalists for the Division II award, while Joe Paterno, in his 44th season at Penn State, is one of 10 finalists in the FBS.
Other finalists
Joining Briggs as finalists for the Division III award are Case Western Reserve University’s Greg Debeljak, Saint John’s (Minn.) University’s John Gagliardi, Coe College’s Steve Staker and Franklin & Marshall College’s John Troxell.
Ten finalists are selected from the Division I Bowl Championship Subdivision and five each from the Division I Football Championship Subdivision and Divisions II and III.
The winner will be recognized at a media lunch reception with Archie Manning in Newport Beach, Calif., on Jan. 6.
