Alabama head coach Nick Saban and senior punter JK Scott are important components for a program that despite facing adversity, it still controls its own destiny for the postseason.
In helping to push a 10-0 school that’s top-ranked in the College Football Playoff, both individuals were chosen as semifinalists for national awards on Thursday.
For Saban, he is one of 16 head coaches up for the George Munger Coach of the Year award – via Maxwell Football Club – while Scott is one of 10 guys nominated for the Ray Guy honor.
Despite winning a number of coaching accolades, the 66-year-old has yet to carry home the George Munger Award.
Should the Crimson Tide earn a national championship, given what it has been through all season, Saban will high on the list in coaches that deserve to win.
As for Scott, he was not chosen to win the Ray Guy Award after a strong freshman year, and regardless of him returning with even better numbers last season, he was overlooked again.
A pair of rough games between Texas A&M and Mississippi State have not defined his senior campaign. The native of Denver, Colo., has averaged 42.6 yards a punt on 36 attempts, with 22 of them not being returned – 61.1 percent.
He’s dropped 20 kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, along with turning in 11 punts of 50 yards or more.
Scott’s performance of totaling 51.6 yards per attempt versus LSU tied a career-high, as he dropped six of eight balls inside the 20.
The winner of the George Munger Award will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 27, while the winner of the Ray Guy honor shall be announced on Thursday, Dec. 7 at the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN in Atlanta.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
