Nick Fairley has followed in the footsteps of his defensive line coach at Auburn by winning the Lombardi Award, which goes to college football's best lineman.

Fairley accepted the award Wednesday night in Houston. His position coach at Auburn -- Tracy Rocker -- won the award in 1988.

Rocker sat in the front row of the event on Wednesday to see his pupil pick up the trophy.

"When they called my name and I looked directly at him he had the biggest smile in the world," Fairley said in an Associated Press story. "I'm usually used to seeing him with a frown, getting on us, but to see him smile means a lot to me."

Rocker beamed after the ceremony when discussing Fairley's win.

"It is very unique and it's a very special moment," Rocker said of winning the award and then coaching a winner of the honor. "I'm so glad for him because I know the work and time we put into it and the bickering between him and I because you want someone to be their best."

The four finalists were Fairley, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers, Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and TCU's Jake Kirkpatrick.

Fairley, a defensive tackle, leads the SEC with a school-record 21 tackles for loss. He is second in the league with 10.5 sacks. He has also recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass. He is fifth on the team with 55 tackles. He was named the SEC's defensive player of the year by the Associated Press on Monday.

Auburn's Gene Chizik was named the Home Depot national coach of the year Wednesday during a big awards week in college football.

Thursday,

Fairley is a finalist for the Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's top defender.

Also Thursday, qu

arterback Cam Newton is a finalist for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nation's top player; and the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the nation's top quarterback. He'll be in New York on Saturday as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.