2009 SEC Post-Season Awards

It is hard to believe that we are already through the 2009 college football season.  Things have been exciting in the SEC, with surprises, disappointments, and thrilling finishes.  Here is my review of the year that has been:

Coach Of The Year: Nick Saban, Alabama (Saban lead the Crimson Tide to an undefeated season, an SEC Championship, and a National Title)

Also considered: Rich Brooks (Kentucky), Gene Chizik (Auburn)

Offensive Player Of The Year:  Mark Ingram, RB Alabama (Ingram ended the season with 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and 30 catches for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving. He has the fifth most yards in the country, second best rushing yards per game in the SEC and a Heisman trophy)

Also considered: Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas, Kentucky WR Randall Cobb, Florida QB Tim Tebow

Defensive Player Of The Year: Rennie Curran, LB Georgia (Curran was one of the few bright spots for the Bulldogs this season. He lead the SEC with 123 total tackles on the season, giving him an average of over 10 tackles per game)

Also Considered: Rolando McClain LB Alabama, Rico McCoy LB Tennessee, Javier Arenas S Alabama

Biggest Surprise Of The Year: Kentucky (the Wildcats continue to qualify for bowl games, and grab upset wins in conference play. Kentucky ended the year 7-5, a good win or two more than most experts predicted, and beat Auburn, Georgia and Louisville along the way)

Also considered: Mississippi State, Auburn Offense

Biggest Disappointment Of The Year: Ole Miss (with so many experts picking Ole Miss to play for the SEC, and potentially the national, title, Ole Miss and QB Jevan Snead fell flat in the big games and ended a disappointing 8-4)

Also considered: Vanderbilt, Georgia, Arkansas Defense

Three Best Games Of The Year:

1. LSU 30  Mississippi State 26 (LSU held the Bulldogs on a goal line stand, from the 1 yard line with seconds left in the game, to win this thriller)
2. Alabama 23 Auburn 21 (the Iron Bowl was a fun battle, that Bama won with less than 90 seconds remaining in the game)
3. South Carolina 16 Ole Miss 10 (the Gamecocks pulled a big upset over then top 10 ranked Ole Miss, on ESPN Thursday Night Football)

Also Receiving Votes: Georgia 41 South Carolina 37, Florida 23 Arkansas 20, LSU 33 Arkansas 30, Alabama 12 Tennessee 10

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