Rams, Vermeil join ESPY nominees February 2, 2000 Fresh off the conclusion of their improbable season and thrilling Super Bowl victory, the St. Louis Rams and coach Dick Vermeil have received nominations for the ESPY Awards. The Rams will compete for Team of the Year with the Florida State football team, the New York Yankees, the U.S. Ryder Cup team and Women's World Cup team. Vermeil, who retired two days after his team's 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans, has been nominated as Coach of the Year, joining Bobby Bowden of Florida State football, Jim Calhoun of the University of Connecticut men's basketball team and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. In addition to the annual awards, top athletes, teams and coaches of the 1990s will be honored at the eighth annual ESPY Awards Monday, Feb. 14. Emmy Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits will host the telecast live from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN.