The American Football Coaches Association has been holding its annual convention and awards banquet for 95 years, but next week will be a first for the event with the awards show broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The AFCA Awards Show, hosted by the multi-talented Eddie George, can be seen on CBS Sports Network on Jan. 10 at 9 p.m. ET.
"The fact that it's in my backyard, the place where I played my professional football, now a pillar in the community pursuing different things, the fact that it's in Nashville is wonderful," George told CBS Sports. "To be the host of that, drive the bus so to speak and set the tone, means a lot."
George, a College Football Hall of Famer and the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State, will set be tasked with setting tone on TV for a night that has always been special to the coaches. The agenda for the evening includes naming the AFCA's Coach of the Year and awarding the coaches' trophy, the crystal ball, to the winner of the College Football Playoff National Championship (either Alabama's Nick Saban or Clemson's Dabo Swinney).
According to Todd Berry, former head coach at ULM, Army and Illinois State and now executive director of the AFCA, the ceremony will also include the "passing of the crystal ball" as a way to honor previous national championship winners. Berry expects a great turnout from the group of retired coaches, including Bobby Bowden, Howard Schnellenberger and John Cooper, who coached both Berry (at Tulsa) and George (at Ohio State). Additionally, all 128 FBS coaches are expected to be in attendance.
"Anytime I see Coach Cooper, it's always great. He's always been a big supporter of me especially after my playing days," George said. "He gave me the opportunity to play running back at Ohio State and fulfill my dream. He gave me an opportunity after I had to early mishaps as a freshman against Illinois in my freshman year, to really find my game again. He's always been one to say, 'You can never cut corners ... you can't beat the system.' That's what he always used to say. I carry that with me. The player-coach relationship is so important."
For years, coaching conventions have been a place for networking, sharing information and enjoying some time together away from the grind of the regular season. But as these coaches have become personalities, evolving into modern day celebrities thanks to the passion of the fans, there has become a demand for access into the world of the coaching.
But even as the media perception of these coaches has changed with TV exposure, Berry says the AFCA convention is a reminder of why these guys get into the business in the first place.
"One of the unique things about our annual convention is the fact that our coaches get up there and they share everything. Why they've been successful from Xs and Os to motivation to organization," Berry said. "I think it's all because the bottom line for all these coaches is for the student-athletes to get the best experience they can have. I think this is their way of giving back to the game.
"I'm anxious for our fan bases to see these coaches together because many times they just see them shaking hands at the end of the ballgame, but I think you're going to see a very close group of coaches in the sense that they respect each other and respect the game."
The Grand Ole Opry setting should not only make for great theater because of the setting, but also thanks to the evening's host having experience on the stage. George is coming off a three-month run on Broadway in "Chicago" as Billy Flynn, an experience that has been highlight of what he calls his "second act" in life after football.
"I've worked so hard to get recognized as an actor, and still am [working hard to] be taken serious. It's a wonderful opportunity to go to New York, to audition, to land the role and then live in New York doing eight shows a week, five-show weekends. It was a wonderful experience, one that I hope to have again," George said.
George sat down with CBS Sports shortly before the College Football Playoff Semifinals, and he correctly predicted that Ohio State's ability (or inability) to run the ball would end up deciding the game. While in full analyst mode, George also explained why he wasn't surprised that former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott has been able to have such an impressive impact on the league in his rookie year.
"He's playing behind a great offensive line in Dallas, he's an exceptional running back, you could see that at Ohio State," George said. "He's patient, he's unique in his ability to see the hole, anticipate it and almost manipulate a defense into what he wants them to do because his football IQ is off the charts."
For 95 years, the AFCA Awards ceremony has brought together the biggest names in college football coaching. On Jan. 10, it will be televised for the first time and air live nationally at 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network -- one day after the national title game. See the crystal ball and Coach of the Year honors handed out in a busy and fun evening, all hosted by Eddie George.
