ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 15, 1995 TAG: 9512150081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HOUSTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
NORTHWESTERN'S football coach reaps the rewards of a rare 10-1 season in Evanston, Ill., and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer shares the spotlight as one of six finalists for the Bear Bryant Award.
Gary Barnett, who led a dramatic turnaround that gave Northwestern its second-ever bowl appearance, was named Thursday night the winner of the Bear Bryant Award as the college football coach of the year.
Barnett, completing his fourth season at Northwestern, led the No. 3 Wildcats out of obscurity to a 10-1 record, the Big Ten title and a spot opposite No. 17 Southern California in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
``I think all of us that were in the program knew that we had a chance to make a significant step this year,'' Barnett said. ``I don't think any of us would have said we'd be 10-1. But I felt we would make a move in the Big Ten and be a representative team for a change.
``It was a slow process, but we felt we were about to break out.''
Other finalists were Glen Mason of Kansas, John Cooper of Ohio State, Frank Beamer of Virginia Tech, Steve Spurrier of Florida and Bill Snyder of Kansas State.
``To win an award that has the Bear's name on it, I don't know, can it get better than that?'' Barnett said. ``When anyone the stature of Bear Bryant has an award named for him, and it stands for what he stood for, in my profession that's the ultimate.''
Northwestern, 3-7-1 last season, was picked to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten standings again this year. But the Wildcats shocked Notre Dame 17-15 in the season opener.
After losing to Miami of Ohio the following week, the Wildcats went undefeated the rest of the season, closing with a 23-8 victory over Purdue.
``I felt we had the kind of defense that would give us a chance,'' Barnett said. ``We finished first in scoring defense and second in turnover margin. Those are probably the two most important stats that you find in football.''
This was the first winning season for Northwestern since a 7-4 finish in 1971, and only two teams, in 1973 and 1986, won as many as four games. Northwestern's only other bowl appearance was in 1949.
``It all comes down to the same thing,'' Barnett said. ``You get a team to trust and believe in itself as a football family. Once that happens, you can get them to play with one heart, and you can overcome any adversity and any team.''
The Bryant Award winner is selected by members of the Football Writers Association of America and honors the longtime Alabama coach, who died in January 1983 of a heart attack.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB