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The Florida Tuskers lost Friday's UFL Championship Game, but their coach and quarterback were winners Wednesday when the league announced its season-ending awards.Tuskers coach Jim Haslett won the inaugural Coach of the Year award, while quarterback Brooks Bollinger was the UFL's first-ever league MVP. Fans voted online and via text-messaging for the awards.
"We congratulate Jim Haslett and Brooks Bollinger on their success this year and for being named Coach of the Year and league MVP, respectively," UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said. "The Florida Tuskers had an outstanding season and, despite losing in overtime in the Championship Game, their unbeaten regular season record is a tremendous accomplishment.
"Coach Haslett did an incredible job with the team while also balancing administrative roles traditionally not handled by the head coach. Brooks Bollinger is a remarkable athlete and leader and is an asset to any professional football team. We commend the fans on their selection of coach Haslett and Brooks Bollinger to receive the UFL's top honors."
The Tuskers, who won all six of their regular-season games, suffered a 20-17 overtime loss Friday to the Las Vegas Locomotives, who were playing the title contest on their home field. Bollinger threw an interception on the first possession in OT to set up Graham Gano's championship-clinching, 33-yard field goal for Las Vegas.
"Being named the first MVP, especially as voted by the fans, is a tremendous honor and is a bittersweet ending to an almost perfect season."
- Brooks Bollinger,
UFL MVP "Being named the first MVP, especially as voted by the fans, is a tremendous honor and is a bittersweet ending to an almost perfect season," Bollinger said. "I was very fortunate to be part of the Tuskers' offense and would never have received this award without their support.
"I share this honor with my team and a great coaching staff led by Jay (Gruden) and Jim (Haslett)."
The 30-year-old Bollinger, a former NFL starter with the New York Jets, led the four-team UFL in passing yards (1,825), passing TDs (16), completion percentage (63.8 percent) and completions (143) in leading Florida's quick-strike offense.
From 2000-2005, Haslett was head coach of the New Orleans Saints, with whom he won NFL Coach of the Year in 2000. He became the St. Louis Rams' defensive coordinator to start the 2006 season before advancing to interim head coach in 2008 and winning his first two games.
"Coaching in the UFL was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed every minute of it -- but the last one," said Haslett, who was an NFL linebacker from 1979-85. "Seriously, from the beginning, I was confident that the overall talent available would provide quality football to the fans and opportunities to players who wanted to further their career.
"I am proud to be named the league's first Coach of the Year."
Haslett, speaking through a league representative, told FanHouse that he has not been contacted about any NFL coaching jobs, though there has been talk that he would be a good match for the Buffalo Bills, one of his former teams during his playing days.
Fans also voted for the Play of the Year, which was given for a touchdown pass from the Locos' J.P. Losman to Adam Bergen during Week One of the season.
The UFL debuted in October and played its season in front of sparse crowds with little media exposure. League officials, however, have said that UFL is in good financial standing and plans to add two more teams, while unveiling a 10-game schedule next season.
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