OSU NOTEBOOK: Laurinaitis feels list is big enough honor
Thursday, October 19, 2006
OSU NOTEBOOK TODD PORTER
COLUMBUS When the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando announces the list of semifinalists for the Butkus Award, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis won't be waiting by the phone. He is just happy to be mentioned .
Laurinaitis was added to the watch list, and his play through seven games will give him a chance to be a semifinalist. The 10 semifinalists will be narrowed to three, which will be announced Nov. 9.
"It's an honor to be included with a lot of those guys on that list," Laurinaitis said. "I understand I'm still young, and there is a lot of stuff I have to improve on. ... If I make the (semifinals), cool; if not, I will approach the rest of my season the same way."
Laurinaitis became a starter last year when Bobby Carpenter injured his ankle on the first defensive play of the Michigan game. He has three sacks and four interceptions this year.
"Coming into the season, I was kind of unheard of," Laurinaitis said. "It was a nice surprise. It makes me feel like the hard work paid off."
The last OSU linebacker to win the Butkus Award was Andy Katzenmoyer in 1987.
HEISMAN RACE With Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson out for the season with a broken collarbone, and Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe held to less than 100 yards last week, OSU quarterback Troy Smith can breathe a sigh of relief. Or can he? "The Adrian Peterson situation was a fluke," Smith said. "He had had such a positive day thus far in that game. It was a terrible situation. He's one of my good friends in college football. ... As far as the trophy race, I try not to think about it. I try to stay wrapped up in my team."
HEY COACH OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel said he hasn't received many e-mails from fans blaming him for the Indiana game being on ESPNU. "They save it for play calling," Tressel said.
GINN GLAD WR and return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. is glad he doesn't have to play Ohio State. Asked to walk in the shoes of say, Michigan State, when the Buckeyes scored on offense, kicked a field goal and returned a punt before halftime, Ginn said, "Gosh. If teams come out and they're beating us up a little bit, they play hard and then we're scoring in all phases of the game ... that takes on your mind, and it can shut you down. ... You think, 'Man the way these guys are playing, we have no chance.' "
POOR INDIANA The Hoosiers, who haven't beaten OSU since 1988, haven't scored more than 17 points since a 27-27 tie in 1990. In the last 10 games, the Buckeyes have outscored the Hoosiers 348-98, an average of 35-10. The Buckeyes are 31-point favorites Saturday.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or
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