Veteran Arizona football coach finalist for nation's top assistant

Arizona Daily Wildcat Homer Smith

Homer Smith, Arizona's offensive coordinator, is one of two Pacific 10 Conference coaches among the five finalists for the Frank Broyles Award, which will be presented Dec. 10.

The Broyles Award, created last year, is to honor college football's top assistant coach. The first winner was Florida State's defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

Besides Smith, other finalists this year include UCLA offensive coordinator Alan Borges, Michigan defensive coordinator Jim Hermann, Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe and North Carolina defensive coordinator Carl Torbush.

Smith, in his second year as Arizona's offensive coordinator and 39th year as a coach, has done wonders to the Wildcats' aerial attack. Arizona threw for 2,546 yards this year vs. 1,828 last year. Ortege Jenkins threw 19 touchdown passes in seven games as a starter, one of the most productive years as a freshman in Pac-10 history. Jenkins and Smith have worked together for less than a full year and the Wildcats top receiver from last season, Jeremy McDaniel, has missed the entire season due to injury.

Smith, who has degrees from Stanford and Harvard has coached in the NFL, and several college programs including UCLA, Alabama and Army. In Smith's second stint at UCLA, from 1980-86, every quarterback that started under his tenure - Tom Ramsey, Jay Schroeder, Rick Nueheisel, Steve Bono, David Norrie and Matt Stevens - went to the NFL.

A profile of the other finalists:

Borges, in his second year as coordinator, directed the UCLA offense to its most productive season in decades. The Bruins scored 448 points, second highest in school history. UCLA was No. 3 in the country in scoring, No. 13 in total offense and No. 18 in passing offense. Quarterback Cade McNown has the highest quarterback rating this season under Borges and the Bruins scored 66 points in back-to-back games.

Hermann, in his first year as defensive coordinator, has given the Wolverines a chance to play for the national championship. Michigan is No. 1 in total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency. The Wolverines intercepted 20 passes and were No. 7 against the run.

Torbush, for the second straight year, has guided the Tar Heel defense to the No. 2 defensive ranking in the country. The Tar Heels are also No. 3 in pass efficiency, No. 4 against the run and No. 5 in scoring defense.

Cutcliffe has tutored Andy Kelly, Heath Shuler and Peyton Manning. This year, the Vols are No. 4 in the country in total offense, No. 6 in passing offense and No. 14 in scoring. Manning is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, presented to college football's premier player.