HOUSTON, January 14, 2025 — Dusty Dvoracek, national college football analyst and the co-host of “Dusty and Danny” on Sirius XM each weekday, will return as the host of the 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards on Wednesday, January 22, the American Heart Association announced Tuesday.
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports, will once again serve as the official broadcast partner of the signature event, scheduled to be televised at 11:30 p.m. Central on January 22, and again on Friday, January 24 at 9:30 a.m. Central.
A two-time all-Big 12 Conference selection at the University of Oklahoma, Dvoracek played for the Sooners from 2001-05, where he was a part of two Big 12 championships.
In 2006, Dvoracek was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears where he played four seasons before starting his broadcast career.
The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all and the Bryant family jointly present the award annually. The award celebrates Coach Bear Bryant’s legacy and raises awareness and critical funds for scientific research to eliminate needless suffering and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke — the leading causes of death globally. The football coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983.
Eight active head coaches (Shane Beamer, South Carolina; Curt Cignetti, Indiana; Spencer Danielson, Boise State; Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State; Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame; Rhett Lashlee, Southern Methodist; Jeff Monken, Army; and Steve Sarkisian, Texas) have been named finalists for the 2024 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award.
As previously announced, Grant Teaff, the legendary former Baylor University head coach and American Football Coaches Association executive director and Mark Richt, former University of Georgia and University of Miami head coach, will also be recognized with special awards at this year’s gala event. Coach Teaff will receive the 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston and Coach Richt will receive the 2025 Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke’s Health in Houston.
Marathon Oil Corporation, an independent exploration and production company based in Houston, has served as the presenting local sponsor of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards for more than a decade, underscoring the company’s commitment to health and wellness and supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of workers and their families in the communities where it operates. Fans can follow the action at facebook.com/bryantawards, twitter.com/bryantawards or Instagram.com/bryantawards or the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive, VIP experience visit bryantawards.org.
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