College Football's Premier Coaching Award Returns September 17 - Be the First to Cast Your Vote at www.coachoftheyear.com for Your Favorite Coach

BOSTON, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Regardless of what team colors you wear on game day, every college football fan can agree that a good coach is essential to the game and to developing the athletes who play it. To celebrate the college football season and the coaches who inspire their teams and communities, celebrate victory and endure defeat, and mentor thousands of student-athletes each year, Liberty Mutual Insurance is today kicking off its third annual Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.

Created in partnership with the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award calls upon fans to vote for college football coaches in each NCAA division who exhibit the greatest sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and overall excellence -- on the field and in the community. Fans can cast their votes daily at www.coachoftheyear.com now through December 6.

The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is the only award of its kind and allows fans to help decide who they believe exemplifies excellence in coaching. Nearly 1 million votes were cast in 2007, with many voters sharing thoughtful and compelling commentary in support of their selections.

This year, Liberty Mutual has teamed up with football legend Archie Manning and ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit who support the spirit of the award.

"I've had the pleasure of watching two of my sons play college and professional football at the highest level of competition, and recognize that their growth as players and young men is largely due to the coaches they have had as role models," said Archie Manning, Chairman of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. "In addition, as a college and professional athlete, I have seen first-hand the critical role coaches play in not only the lives of student-athletes, but in their communities as well."

About the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award

The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year winners are celebrated in a permanent exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame inSouth Bend, Ind. More than just a trophy, the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award celebrates the positive impact coaches have on the lives of young people, their families and their communities. As a way of rewarding the accomplishments of coaches, Liberty Mutual donates on behalf of each winner $50,000 to the charitable organizations of their choice and a $20,000 grant to the winning schools' alumni association for enrichment or scholarship activities. To-date, Liberty Mutual has donated $400,000 to local charities and alumni associations on behalf of Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winners -- a total that will climb to $680,000 after this season.

Coach of the Year Eligibility and Timeline

All football head coaches at an NCAA-member college or university at all division levels are eligible for consideration. The timeline and process is:

-- September 17 - December 6: Fans vote online at www.coachoftheyear.com. The top 25 coaches with the most fan votes in each of the four NCAA divisions will then advance to an evaluation process using an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame. The scoring model criteria, detailed on the website, include coaching excellence, sportsmanship, integrity, academic excellence and community commitment.

-- December 9: The finalists are announced before the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner inNew York City: 10 coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A); and five coaches from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), Division II, and Division III.

-- December 12 - December 22: Fans vote online at www.coachoftheyear.com among the finalists. A selection committee of College Football Hall of Fame- inducted players and coaches and national media members also cast votes. Winners are determined using the following voting weight: Hall of Fame 55%, Media 25%, and Fans 20%.

-- December 31: The 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award recipients announced on ESPN during halftime of the Music City Bowl.

"Truly great coaches recognize that how you win is every bit as important as winning itself," said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual senior vice president, Consumer Marketing. "The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is a celebration of those leaders who embody sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence - both on and off the field."

Fan Destination: www.coachoftheyear.com

In addition to being the place to cast votes, www.coachoftheyear.com adds new elements in its third year to keep fans engaged and involved throughout the season. Highlighting the additions are original weekly "Coach's Corner" videos - engaging discussions between Manning and Herbstreit about responsible coaching, from play calling and sportsmanship to discipline and recruiting. Fans also are encouraged to participate in a new "Sound Off" section of the site to share their opinions about why their coach deserves this honor. Other elements, like a downloadable widget, are now live on www.coachoftheyear.com.

About Liberty Mutual Group

"Helping people live safer, more secure lives" since 1912,Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer and sixth-largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2007 direct written premium. Liberty Mutual Group ranks 94th on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2007 revenue. The company has over 41,000 employees located in more than 900 offices throughout the world.

The eighth-largest auto and home insurer in the U.S., Liberty Mutual (www.libertymutual.com) sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions, personal liability, and individual life insurance. The company is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering car and home insurance to employees and members of more than 10,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups.

About the National Football Foundation & the College Football Hall of Fame

Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame inSouth Bend, Ind., the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Play It Smart, the NFF-FWAA Football Forum, the NFF Gridiron Club of New York City, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org or www.collegefootball.org.

SOURCE Liberty Mutual Group

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