University of Alabama coach Nick Saban got a bit of a birthday gift from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Friday when he was named to the initial watch list for this year’s award

The Dodd Trophy is one of the few that Saban, who turned 63 on Friday, hasn’t won yet. Four of the 13 coaches on this year’s watch list are previous winners:

David Cutcliffe*, Duke
Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Jim Mora, UCLA
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
Mark Richt, Georgia
Nick Saban, Alabama
Bill Snyder*, Kansas State
Bob Stoops*, Oklahoma
Dabo Swinney*, Clemson
Kyle Whittingham, Utah
*Previous winner

Per the foundation’s website, the award honors the coach “whose programs represent quality on and off the field.” Judges take into consideration team records, APR scores and graduation rates, and community service. The semifinalists will be announced in November.

Meanwhile, in other awards news regarding Crimson Tide players:

  • Freshman JK Scott was one of 80 players named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s best punter.
  • Senior guard Arie Kouandjio was not one of the 17 players named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which goes to the game’s top scholar-athlete. He was a semifinalist.

Here’s what the Crimson Tide is up for so far:

Semifinalists
Butkus Award (best linebacker by the Butkus Foundation): Reggie Ragland named semifinalist. Trey DePriest was on watch list. Finalists named Nov. 24.
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back by the Jim Thorpe Association): Landon Collins named semifinalist. Finalists announced Nov. 24.

Watch lists
Players
Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club): Landon Collins, Trey DePriest and A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 3.
Biletnikoff Award (outstanding wide receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club): Amari Cooper named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 17.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte TD Club): Landon Collins, Trey DePriest, A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Finalists named Nov. 20.
Doak Walker Award (premier running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum): T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 18.
Lott Impact Trophy (defensive best in character and performance by the Pacific Club Impact Foundation): Landon Collins named quarterfinalist. Semifinalists named in mid-November.
Mackey Award (outstanding tight end by Friends of John Mackey): O.J. Howard named to watch list. Semifinalists to be announced Nov. 3.
Maxwell Award (player of the year by the Maxwell Club): Jacob Coker, Amari Cooper, Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 19.
Outland Trophy (outstanding interior lineman by the FWAA): Ryan Kelly, Arie Kouandjio and A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 20.
Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player by the Louisville Sports Commission): Christion Jones named to watch list. Finalists announced in late November.
Ray Guy Award (punter of the year) Augusta Sports Council): JK Scott named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 14.
Rimington Trophy (premier Center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation): Ryan Kelly named to watch list. Finalists named Dec. 8.
Rotary Lombardi Award (lineman of the year by the Rotary Club of Houston): Arie Kouandjio and A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 6.
Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end by the Ted Hendricks Foundation): A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Semifinalists announced in late November.
Walter Camp Award (outstanding player by the Walter Camp Foundation): Landon Collins, Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 19.

To be announced
Heisman Memorial Trophy (most outstanding player by the Heisman Trophy Trust): Finalists named Dec. 8.
Burlsworth Trophy (outstanding player who began career as a walk-on by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation): Semifinalists announced in November.

Awards Alabama players are not in the running
Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback by the Davey O’Brien Foundation): Semifinalists named Nov. 3.
Lou Groza Award (top place-kicker by the Palm Beach Sports Commission): Semifinalists announced Nov. 6.
Manning Award (best quarterback by the Sugar Bowl Committee): Finalists named Nov. 26.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top senior quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation): Jacob Coker was on watch list.
William V. Campbell Trophy (top scholar-athlete by the National Football Foundation): Arie Kouandjio was a semifinalist.

Coaches awards
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year: Nick Saban named to watch list. Semifinalists named in November.

Broyles Award (most outstanding assistant coach by the Little Rock Rotary Club): Semifinalists named Nov. 27.
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (by the FWAA): Finalists named Dec. 9.
Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year Award: Semifinalists named Nov. 20.
Associated Press Coach of the Year
AFCA Coach of the Year
Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award
Home Depot Coach of the Year
Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year
Paul “Bear” Bryant Award
Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award

Alabama awards during the Nick Saban era (2007-2013)
Heisman Trophy: Mark Ingram (2009)
Maxwell Award: AJ McCarron (2013)
Doak Walker Award: Trent Richardson (2011)
Butkus Award: Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013)
Outland Trophy: Andre Smith (2008), Barrett Jones (2011)
Rimington Trophy: Barrett Jones (2012)
Jim Parker Trophy: Andre Smith (2008)
Jack Lambert Trophy: Rolando McClain (2009)
Sporting News Player of the Year: Mark Ingram (2009)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: AJ McCarron (2013)
Wuerffel Trophy: Barrett Jones (2011)
William V. Campbell Trophy: Barrett Jones (2012)
Broyles Award: Kirby Smart (2009)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2009, 2011, 2012)
AP Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Home Depot Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)