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LB Coach James Laurinaitis (2x B1G DPOY, 2006 Nagurski, 2007 Butkus, 2008 Lott, 3x All-American, OSU HOF)

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OSU football notebook: Laurinaitis garners award he wanted
Saturday, December 8, 2007 3:23 AM
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

After sitting through three ceremonies earlier this week watching others get trophies, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis finally got one of his own last night. It was the one he really wanted, the Butkus Award.

He became just the second Buckeye to win the award, which has gone annually to the nation's top linebacker since 1985. It was presented in Orlando, Fla., the other finalists being Penn State's Dan Connor and Colorado's Jordon Dizon.

"This award definitely is such an honor over everything else because it is so specialized to linebackers," Laurinaitis said. "It's hard to compare defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs for a defensive player of the year award. But when you are comparing yourself to just other linebackers, and you're judged to be the best at what you do, it really is such an honor.

"And it is the one that has been eluding Ohio State for a while. I'm just proud to be able to bring it back to Columbus."

Andy Katzenmoyer was the only previous Buckeye to win it, after his sophomore season of 1997. Notable among OSU linebackers passed through the years were consensus All-Americans Chris Spielman and A.J. Hawk.

Laurinaitis, the winner of the Nagurski Award as a sophomore last year, was a finalist for the Butkus last year.

A consensus All-American, Laurinaitis -- voted the Big Ten defensive MVP after helping the top-ranked Buckeyes to the national championship game Jan. 7 vs. LSU -- was up for five major awards this week. But he watched as LSU's Glenn Dorsey took the Nagurski and Lombardi trophies, and Connor won the Bednarik Award. Still to go is the Lott Trophy on Sunday.

"I thought I was going to go O-fer there for a minute," Laurinaitis said, laughing. "But no, this is such a tremendous honor, and I don't mean for me personally, but for our defense and our coaches. You can't be a great linebacker without a tremendous defensive line and a tremendous secondary. That's just the truth."

Putting it together, he said, are OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, who earlier this week won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach, and linebackers coach Luke Fickell. But Heacock, on hand for the Butkus ceremony last night, said the praise should go to Laurinaitis, and for more than just his tackling ability.

"What stands out most of all is he is a great team player," Heacock said. "It's why his peers voted him captain as a junior. It's the team that matters most to him."
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BuckeyeXtra - OSU football notebook: Laurinaitis garners award he wanted
 
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Laurinaitis nabs Butkus

The Ohio State junior beats out 2 others to be chosen the top linebacker.


Iliana Lim�n | Sentinel Staff Writer December 8, 2007 This year is all about second chances for James Laurinaitis.

Laurinaitis, a junior linebacker at Ohio State, ended last season disappointed.

The Buckeyes lost the national-title game to Florida, and Laurinaitis was a finalist but did not win the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's best linebacker.

"I'm really competitive, so I took last year pretty hard," he said.

"I took all of it as a challenge to prove that I could have a better year."

Laurinaitis got one dose of redemption Friday night when he won the Butkus Award.

"It's an unbelievable honor to be recognized as the best player at your position," he said. "It's really incredible when you think about the amazing players who have won this award, not to mention Dick Butkus. He's a legend."

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Canton

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Laurinaitis is a first-teamer
Saturday, December 8, 2007

Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis is a repeat first-team selection on the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team. Laurinaitis joins A.J. Hawk and Tom Cousineau as the only Buckeyes linebackers who are two-time Walter Camp All-Americans. He has a team-leading 103 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions this season. Buckeyes defensive lineman Vernon Gholston and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins were named second team All-Americans.

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I wonder how much winning this award will effect him coming back next season. I know the draft experts say no way he should return buy I'm holding out hope. I know Gholston and Jenkins are gone. I'd love to at least keep JL one more go around. Heck he could even be only the second player to win 2 Butkus awards maybe.
 
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Bestbuck36;1022516; said:
I wonder how much winning this award will effect him coming back next season. I know the draft experts say no way he should return buy I'm holding out hope. I know Gholston and Jenkins are gone. I'd love to at least keep JL one more go around. Heck he could even be only the second player to win 2 Butkus awards maybe.
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I am hoping the same thing along with the rest of Buckeye Nation. But, like Taosman said, "More than the award, I think it will be how the Bowl game goes. If we play well we may see a number of juniors go." It all depends on if we win the National Championship game or not. There is still always a shot that if we win, he may come back, no one knows what he is going to do, all we can do is wait. All we can do is hope that somehow A.J. Hawk convinces him to follow in his footsteps.
 
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