NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans are continuing their season-long series of fan polls to select the Titans High School Coach of the Week, and coach Craig Harris of Middleton High School, has been chosen to receive the Week 9 honor.
The school will receive a $1,000 grant for its program from the Tennessee Titans Foundation to be exclusively for Middleton's football program.
Coach Harris' Middleton Tigers defeated Rossville Christian Academy 32-27. The two teams traded leads throughout the contest. The Tigers were able to secure the win with a huge stop on their 8-yard line with four seconds remaining in the game. This was Middleton's first win of the season and first home game after six straight road games.
"Coach Harris is of very good character," said, Keith Cabanaw, Middleton High School Athletic Director. "Coach fits great not only because he has high moral standards but is also from this area."
Coach Harris will be the Titans' guest at Tennessee's season finale versus the Houston Texans on Dec. 29 when the team honors all 2013 Coach of the Week winners and announces the 2013 Titans High School Coach of the Year! Harris is also eligible for the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year award. An additional $2,000 grant from the Titans Foundation will be awarded to the Titans 2013 Coach of the Year.
In addition to Harris, this week's nominees were Jeff Brothers of Nashville Christian School, Crockett County High School's Kevin Ward and Mark Pemberton of Rhea County High School. This week's nominees remain eligible to win the honor during the remainder of this season.
Nominees are submitted by sports writers and broadcasters across the state with specific criteria in mind. The specific criteria include: beating a longtime rival, snapping a losing streak, defeating a defending champion, recording an amazing come-from-behind victory, and/or involvement in the local community.
Also considered is a coach's commitment to his players' safety through teaching the fundamentals of the game, proper tackling techniques, concussion management practices and adherence to heat and hydration guidelines.
Now in its 15th season, more than $170,000 has been awarded from the Titans Foundation to football programs across the state of Tennessee in honor of the Coach of the Week and Year winners.
