UT football coach Butch Jones

Tennessee Vols football coach Butch Jones today received the inaugural Headliner of the Year award from the Tennessee Press Association.

The award was created to recognize a person or group who has brought the most positive headlines to the state over the course of the year.

Jones has made headlines since he was hired 14 months ago and strated rebuilding the University of Tennessee's football program "brick by brick," as he described it.

He said he managed to attract what some experts have called the fifth-ranked recruiting class in the nation by building relationships, building trust and creating positive energy around the program.

"It's truly an honor and privilege to be the head football coach here," he said.

But he stressed that it's not all about football. Athletes' academic achievements are important too, he said.

"Before we can win on the field, we have to win off the field," he said.