Iowa State coach Dan McCarney and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops go back a long, long time. McCarney was a defensive assistant at Iowa when Stoops was a defensive back and graduate assistant coach in the 1980s.

The Sooner coach was saddened to hear McCarney was stepping down after 12 seasons.

“It’s unfortunate. I hate that for him, his family and his team,” Stoops said. “That’s part of our business. But I have the greatest admiration for Dan. He’s always been a great leader and mentor to me and a close friend.”

Stoops a finalist

Stoops is one of 10 finalists named today for the inaugural Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which honors the college football coach who best exemplifies responsibility and excellence on and off the field of play.

The other candidates are Mack Brown (Texas), Lloyd Carr (Michigan), Danny Hale (Bloomsburg), Bobby Petrino (Louisville), Greg Schiano (Rutgers), Jeff Tedford (California), Mel Tjeerdsma (Northwest Missouri State), Jim Tressel (Ohio State) and Tommy Tuberville (Auburn).

 The winner will receive $100,000 to support civic and charitable activities. In addition, Liberty Mutual will grant $20,000 in scholarship to the alumni association of the winning coach’s school.

“More than 250,000 votes were cast and nearly 80,000 fan testimonials were submitted supporting hundreds of coaches from every level of NCAA competition,” said Liberty Mutual representative Paul Condrin. “We think each finalist embodies what makes this award different than any other: Responsibility — not only to his own team and players, but also to his institution and in society.”

The finalists will be profiled on the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Finalist Show, hosted by Keith Jackson Dec. 9. The winner will be presented on the Dec. 16 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Presentation hosted by Jackson and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.

Pendleton up for awards

OU defensive tackle Carl Pendleton has been selected as one of the finalists for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented annually by the All Sports Association of Walton Beach, Fla. The award is based on academic, athletic and community service performance.

Final ballots for the trophy are tabulated the week of Nov. 27 and the winner is announced shortly thereafter.

Pendleton gained significant public notice recently when it was announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility to concentrate on graduate school and raising his younger brother, Kierstan.