FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Noah Sharfman Orange Bowl Committee [email protected] December 5, 2011 305-341-4737

CLEMSON’S SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. – Clemson Dabo Swinney, who will lead the Tigers against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the 78th Discover Orange Bowl on January 4, 2012 was named one of five finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. The five finalists were announced today at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

In alphabetical order, the finalists are: (Oklahoma State), Brady Hoke (Michigan), (LSU), ( State), and Dabo Swinney (Clemson).

The winner of the Football Writers Association of America’s (FWAA) 55th annual coach of the year award will be announced on Dec. 15 after balloting by the entire FWAA membership. The FWAA, in conjunction with award sponsor the Fiesta Bowl, will host a special reception on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in New Orleans to honor the winner and present him with the trophy, a bust of Eddie Robinson.

Two conference champions, No. 15 Clemson and No. 23 West Virginia, will meet in the 78th Discover Orange Bowl on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. Clemson (10-3, 6-2 ACC) earned the ACC’s automatic berth in the Discover Orange Bowl following its 38-10 victory over No. 5 Virginia Tech in the seventh annual Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game. The Tigers will be making their fourth Orange Bowl appearance. West Virginia (9- 3, 5-2 Big East) is making its first appearance in the Discover Orange Bowl and earned the Big East’s automatic BCS bid by virtue of a three way tie-breaker with Cincinnati and Louisville. This is the second meeting all-time between the Tigers and Mountaineers. The two teams previously squared off in the 1989 . Clemson earned a 27-7 victory over West Virginia.

The Orange Bowl is currently accepting credential applications for the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl. Credential applications will be accepted until Dec. 16. Media can access the application by logging on to www.orangebowl.org and clicking on the “Media” tab located in the center of the webpage (below the headlines and to the right of Community). For updated media information, press releases, notes and quotes, please visit www.orangebowl.org/media.aspx.

For tickets to the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl and information on Orange Bowl Festival events, please visit the Orange Bowl’s official website, www.orangebowl.org or call 305-341-4701.

### About the Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is a 341-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. The Orange Bowl Festival features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Discover Orange Bowl on January 4, 2012. Other OBC core events include the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series and Orange Bowl Paddle Championships. For more information on the 2011-12 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, log on to www.orangebowl.org.