The rich get richer, and this time awards have come to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
He was selected as one of 18 semifinalist for the George Munger Award Friday, courtesy of Maxwell Award Football Club President Ron Jaworski. The honor recognizes college football’s Coach of the Year. Saban has this year’s Alabama team at 9-1 overall and 6-1 in Southern Conference play.
The Crimson Tide stands at No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings and can secure its 25th SEC title in program history, if it wins out. Defensively, Alabama has been solid under Saban.
It stands fourth in total defense (278.1 yards per game), seventh in scoring defense (15.3 ppg) and pass efficiency defense (100.61) and first in run defense, allowing 77.1 yards.
Running back Derrick Henry bring balance to Alabama’s offense. He is a finalist for both Doak Walker and Walter Camp Awards, while being a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award. Henry’s recorded 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Alabama has won at least nine games in eight straight years under Saban, dating back to 2008.
It has chance to eclipse 10 wins Saturday against Charleston Southern, which would also make eight seasons that Saban has guided the program to double-digit wins since 2008.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
