NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans on Monday announced Brad Taylor of Bearden High School as Titans High School Football Coach of the Week!
Traveling to cross-town rival Farragut, the Bearden Bulldogs defeated their longtime foe in triple overtime, 48-45. The Bulldogs overcame a 28-14 fourth-quarter deficit with two tremendous scoring drives in the final six minutes of regulation.
Fighting through three overtime periods, Bearden pulled off the win with a quarterback keeper from the one yard line. This is the Bulldogs' first regular season win against Farragut in 11 years and the last overall win since the 2007 playoffs.
Titans Owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution from the Titans Foundation to the Bearden High School football program in Coach Taylor's honor.
"High school football enjoys a great tradition in Tennessee," said Adams. "That tradition is based not only on the outstanding quality of play but on the devotion of their coaches who continue to develop high school football players into young men of strong character. I'm very pleased to underwrite this program that recognizes the efforts of so many talented high school coaches across the state!"
Coach Taylor will be the team's guest at the Titans season finale versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 30 when the team honors all 2012 Coach of the Week winners and announces the winner of the 2012 Coach of the Year! Coach Taylor is also eligible for the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year award. Mr. Adams will make an additional $2,000 grant to the Titans Coach of the Year winner on that date.
Also receiving strong consideration in this week's poll were Brandon Gray, of Adamsville, whose Class 2A team defeated state-ranked Class 5A Hardin County High School 10-9; and White House High's Jeff Porter, whose team defeated Livingston Academy, 32-31, handing them their first loss of the season.
Now in its 13th season, Mr. Adams has awarded more than $156,000 from the Titans Foundation to football programs across the state in honor of the Coach of the Week and Year winners.
The criteria for selection include the coach's impact on his team, school, community and emphasis on health and safety. A statewide media panel votes each week to determine the weekly winner. All high school football coaches in Tennessee, regardless of their school's size, league, or division, are eligible to be selected each week. The program recognizes high school coaches who transform, through hard work and dedication, student athletes into the best possible football players, scholars and citizens in their community.
