Associated Press
The college football roundup …
HOUSTON ó Auburn coach Gene Chizik won the Paul “Bear” Bryant College Coach of the Year Award on Tuesday night.
Chizik, whose Tigers won the national championship, beat out six other finalists for the honor.
He said he hasn’t had time to reflect on his team’s perfect 14-0 season and the school’s first national title since 1957 because he’s been so busy with recruiting.
MANNING AWARD
NEW ORLEANS ó Auburn quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton has been selected as the winner of the Manning Award.
The award, now in its seventh year, is voted on by a panel of national media and presented by Sugar Bowl organizers to the top quarterback in the nation.
In his lone season at Auburn, Newton led the Tigers to a 14-0 season that ended with a victory over Oregon in the BCS national championship game.
The junior from College Park, Ga., rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns and passed for 2,854 yards and 30 TDs.
LONGHORN NETWORK
AUSTIN, Texas ó The University of Texas, which already has one of the wealthiest programs in the country, is lining up for even more money.
Texas and ESPN announced a 20-year, $300 million deal Wednesday for a 24-hour television network that will broadcast Longhorns sports, including at least one football game and eight basketball games per season, and other sports and academic content.
MCNEIL SURGERY
GREENVILLE ó East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill is recovering from weight-loss surgery in advance of a hip replacement procedure later this year.
In a statement from the school Wednesday, McNeill said he is recovering from bariatric surgery performed last week in Greenville.
MICHIGAN HIRE
ANN ARBOR, Mich. ó Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is leaving to fill the same role on Brady Hoke’s new staff at Michigan.
Mattison was also the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines during the 1995 and 1996 seasons.