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Panthers’ Rivera collects coach of the year

By Chris Schafer

Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera walks off the field after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera walks off the field after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carolina Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera named Sporting News Coach of the Year

Without a doubt, the Carolina Panthers are going to have to really expand the trophy case at Bank of America Stadium, as on Tuesday, another part of the Panthers organization received an award.

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This time however, it was not a player, it was the man who puts in the twenty-three hour days – head coach Ron Rivera.

Rivera won the Sporting News Coach of the Year Award, the first time he has won, receiving 23 of the 31

Dec 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. The Carolina Panthers remain undefeated with a 38-0 win over Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. The Carolina Panthers remain undefeated with a 38-0 win over Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

votes.

What makes this award even more important is that this award was voted on by his peers, the fellow NFL head coaches.

Rivera was well deserving, taking a team that in training camp looked like it might struggle to even get back to the same number of wins, seven, as last season, into a team that went 15-1, won the NFC South for the third year in a row and secured the number one seed in the NFC and a first round playoff bye.

Now this is the same Rivera that many in the Charlotte region, along with throughout the media and other fans, thought should be fired and repeatedly sat on the hot seat in the past.

But then from the opposite side, this is also the same Rivera who many fans embraced when he first when for it on fourth down and earned himself the nickname “Riverboat Ron” for the risks he takes on fourth down in tough situations when other coaches would not.

More important about Rivera is that he knows how to coach this Carolina Panthers’ team.  Rivera understands the most important player on the team – Cam Newton.

A lot of coaches would not understand the attitude Cam expresses, whether it is Cam with a Gatorade towel over his head, or Cam giving a football to a fan after the Panthers score a touchdown.

But Rivera does and Rivera lets Cam be Cam, which has led to the success of the Panthers.

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