Matt Canada Named Broyles Award Finalist
11/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada has been named a finalist for the prestigious Broyles Award, annually presented to college football's top assistant coach, it was announced today.
Canada is one of five finalists for this year's honor named after Frank Broyles, the legendary former Arkansas head coach and athletic director.
Interestingly, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, who brought Canada to Pitt in January, was the 2013 Broyles Award winner when he was defensive coordinator at Michigan State.
In his debut season at Pitt, Canada has made a dramatic impact on the Panthers' offense, which has been described by numerous observers as innovative, imaginative and fun. Among the unit's achievements this year:
* The Panthers have compiled the highest season point total in school history (508). With a bowl game to go, the Panthers are averaging 42.3 points per game (10th in FBS), which would eclipse the all-time Pitt record of 40.7 set in 1904.
* Pitt's scoring average is an improvement of 14.1 points per game. Last year, the Panthers averaged only 28.2 points
* Pitt is the only Power 5 team in the nation to score at least 28 points in every game this season. In 10 of their 12 games, the Panthers have scored 36 or more.
* Pitt closed its regular season by scoring 11 touchdowns and 76 points in a victory over Syracuse. The point total was the Panthers' highest in a game since 1977.
* The Panthers have been incredibly balanced in their attack, compiling 2,757 rushing yards and 2,613 passing yards.
* Pitt has surrendered just nine sacks this year, an average of 0.75 per game, which leads the ACC and ranks third nationally.
* The Panthers lead the nation in red zone touchdown percentage (82.7%).
Canada was instrumental in Pitt achieving the biggest road win in college football this season, the Panthers' 43-42 upset of then-No. 2 Clemson. The Tigers entered the contest surrendering less than 16 points per game. Pitt piled up 464 yards (308 passing and 156 rushing), while quarterback Nathan Peterman threw five touchdowns against a defense that had given up only five TD passes the entire season.
Peterman has been a major beneficiary of Canada's tutelage, leading the ACC and ranking ninth nationally in pass efficiency (161.2 rating). He has thrown for a career-high 2,602 yards and 26 touchdowns against only six interceptions this season.
Peterman's top target, Jester Weah, is averaging an astounding 23.38 yards per reception (34 catches for 795 yards), to rank second in the nation and tops among all Power 5 players.
Moreover, tailback James Conner has rushed for 1,060 yards and 16 touchdowns on 208 carries (5.1 avg.). Conner's 20 total touchdowns rank second in the ACC (trailing only Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson's 21) and sixth nationally.
Canada is the only offensive coordinator among this year's Broyles finalists. The others— Alabama's Jeremy Pruitt, Clemson's Brent Venables, Colorado's Jim Leavitt and Michigan's Don Brown—are all defensive coordinators.
The 2016 Broyles Award winner will be announced on December 6 in Little Rock, Ark.
Pitt, ranked No. 24 in this week's Associated Press poll, finished the regular season with an 8-4 overall record and 5-3 in the ACC. The Panthers now await their bowl destination, which will be announced on Sunday, December 4.
