Congratulations to Coach Al Fracassa of Birmingham Brother Rice for being named one of five finalists for the NFL High School Coach of the Year.  Fracassa won the award in 1997.  He was nominated by former Rice player and current Green Bay Packers  lineman, T.J. Lang.  All finalists get $2,500.  The winner gets an additional $5,000.  All the schools of the finalists get $5,000.  The winner’s school gets an additional $10,000.   The other finalists were head coaches from Cleveland St. Ignatius, Long Beach Poly, Mission Viejo, CA and Bend, OR.

I don’t know if being a previous winner will work against him this year, but I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition than Coach Fracassa.   Good luck to Coach in the final voting.  The winner will be announced next week and will be presented his award at the Super Bowl.