Georgia Tech football coach Bobby Ross will receive the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year Award at the 38th ACC Football Banquet tonight at the Omni Hotel in Baltimore (7:30).
Ross, 54, in his fourth season at Georgia Tech, led the Yellow Jackets to the United Press International national championship after they defeated Nebraska, 45-21, in the Florida Citrus Bowl.
The Yellow Jackets were the only team in the country to finish the season with an unbeaten record (11-0-1) and also won their first ACC championship, with a 6-0-1 conference record. They have won their last 16 consecutive games.
Ross has an overall coaching record of 86-71-2 after 14 years at the Citadel, Maryland and Georgia Tech.
Other awards will be presented at the banquet, including ACC Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, All-Conference Team, the Jim Tatum Award (the outstanding student/athlete football player), the Brian Piccolo Award (the most courageous player) and the Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented to a former ACC football player.
Virginia quarterback Shawn Moore, who passed for 2,262 yards, has been named the conference player of the year and Clemson running back Ronald Williams has been selected rookie of the year, having gained 914 yards on 164 carries.
North Carolina State center Charlie Cobb will receive the Tatum award having registered a perfect 4.0 average in the fall semester and Duke wide receiver Marc Mays will be the recipient of the Piccolo Award. Mays battled back from a severe knee injury to rank fifth in the ACC in receiving with 35 catches for 457 yards and two touchdowns. His rehabilitation took 2 1/2 years.
Former All-Pro linebacker Mike Curtis, who starred for the Baltimore Colts from 1965-75, will be presented with the second annual ACC Distinguished Football Alumnus Award. Curtis played for Duke University, where he was MVP and All-ACC in 1964. He was also an academic all-conference selection.
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What: Atlantic Coast Conference Football Awards Banquet
When: Tonight. Cocktail hour 6:30 p.m. Presentations at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Omni Hotel, 101 W. Fayette Street
Tickets: Available on a limited basis by calling Bill Gaertner, 825-1022. Proceeds will benefit the ACC Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund.