Photo gallery: 27th Annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards

Finalists' trophies

The 27th Annual Marathon Oil Corporation Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards were held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston Thursday, Jan. 17 and benefited the American Heart Association. The six finalists were: Bill O'Brien (Penn State), James Franklin (Vanderbilt), Urban Meyer (Ohio State), David Shaw (Stanford), Bill Snyder (Kansas State) and Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M). A one-hour TV special will air Thursday, January 24 at 11 p.m. CT.

Credit:

@SaraEckertCSN

LaVell Edwards

Legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards poses with the Bear Bryant Award trophy before meeting with media. He was this year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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@SaraEckertCSN

Steve Bunin and LaVell Edwards

CSN Houston anchor Steve Bunin interviewing legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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@SaraEckertCSN

Stanford's David Shaw

One of the finalists, David Shaw from Stanford, posing with the Bear Bryant Award trophy before meeting with the media hours before the ceremony.

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@SaraEckertCSN

Bill Doleman and Bill Snyder

CSN Houston's Bill Doleman conducted one-on-one interviews with the finalists for the one-hour Bear Bryant Awards TV special airing on Thursday, January 24 at 11 p.m. CT. Here he is with Kansas State's Bill Snyder after their interview.

Credit:

@SaraEckertCSN

Bill Doleman and Bill O'Brien

CSN Houston's Bill Doleman interviewing Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien hours before the ceremony for the one-hour Bear Bryant Awards TV special airing on Thursday, January 24 at 11 p.m. CT.

Credit:

@SaraEckertCSN

Penn State's Bill O'Brien

Penn State head coach poses with the Bear Bryant Award trophy before meeting with media (hours before the award ceremony).

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@SaraEckertCSN

Bill Doleman with Kevin Sumlin

CSN Houston's Bill Doleman interviewing Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin for the one-hour Bear Bryant Awards TV special airing on Thursday, January 24 at 11 p.m. CT.

Credit:

@SaraEckertCSN

Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin

Texas Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin poses with the Bear Bryant Award trophy before meeting with the media hours before the ceremony.

Credit:

@SaraEckertCSN

Bill O'Brien takes home the trophy

Penn State's Bill O'Brien won the Bear Bryant Award for Coach of the Year. The award for the nation's top college football coach is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association after the bowl season.