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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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He's back and OUT FOR BLOOD. JL looked freaking amazing tonight. That hit he had on Hoyer was ridiculous. He's my all time fav. Ohio St Buckeye. As you can see in my Avatar, I picked up my number, and my style from him. GO Laurinaitis!!!!!
 
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Congrats to James on making the first team for the midseason All American team selected by The Sporting News. (As did Malcolm Jenkins)

official.site

Sporting News Mid-Season All-America Team

Ohio State was one of four schools with two players on Sporting News Today?s inaugural Midseason All-American Team, released Friday.

The Buckeyes placed linebacker James Laurinaitis and and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins on the team.

?Forget All-American. Laurinaitis might rank as the nation?s top college football player,? Sporting News Today?s Dave Curtis said. ?He belongs in any discussion of the great linebackers in Buckeye history.?

?Jenkins? penchant for big plays on defense and special teams keeps popping up in Big Ten play,? Curtis added.

Cont'd ...
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Dispatch

James Laurinaitis: Hockey hotshot found his future in football
Great on skates in high school, but a linebacker at heart
Saturday, October 25, 2008 3:04 AM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


Coach Carl Davis remembers James Laurinaitis as one of the top defenders ever to put on the helmet and pads for Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn.
"He was a very good player. He had some size, even back then; he had good instincts, and he understood the game well," Davis said. "He was very, very coachable. And probably his best strength was he was such a tremendous competitor and what a great work ethic.
He never stopped.
"I think there were a lot of people who felt he could have played beyond high school -- at least into a college career in Division I."

Continued...............
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NU Insider
[URL="http://www.nufootballinsider.com/sifr3/flash/franklingothicdemi.swf"][/URL]Buckeyes? Laurinaitis gets Animal instinct from father

by Jake Simpson - filed on November 7th, 2008.
timthumb.php


James Laurinaitis is considered by many Big Ten quarterbacks to be the scariest player in the conference.
But he?s got nothing on his old man.

The senior linebacker for Ohio State has terrorized opposing offenses for more than three years on his way to one of the most prolific careers in Big Ten history. Laurinaitis comes by his aggressive style naturally ? his father, Joe Laurinaitis, is better known as ?The Animal,? a professional wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.
The younger Laurinaitis has made a name for himself on the football field, winning a series of national awards and leading the Buckeyes to consecutive appearances in the BCS national championship game.
NU coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was also an All-American middle linebacker, had high praise for the Buckeyes? senior.
?He?s a complete linebacker,? Fitzgerald said. ?Just an impressive young man to watch.?
Cont...
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A feature from the BTN, with James meeting some of the tOSU women's soccer players who factor into that team's "Lauren-itis" defense.

The link has a video of the feature.

official.site

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State soccer's four defensive-minded Laurens - goalkeeper [URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1180697"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1180697"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1180697"]Lauren Robertson[/URL][/URL][/URL], defenders [URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1204947"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1204947"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1204947"]Lauren Steuer[/URL][/URL][/URL] and [URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1472801"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1472801"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1472801"]Lauren Cusick[/URL][/URL][/URL], and defender/midfielder [URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1180617"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1180617"][URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1180617"]Lauren Beachy[/URL][/URL][/URL] - are featured on the Big Ten Network this week in a story that includes another outstanding Ohio State student-athlete: football All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis.
In "futbol" as well as in football, defense is about attitude. And just like Laurinaitis, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, brings attitude to the gridiron each Saturday, Ohio State's talented Laurens bring it to the pitch for the soccer Buckeyes. The Big Ten Network caught up with the five student-athletes recently and produced a feature about all this "Lauren-I-tis" talk on Ohio State?s campus. Click on the link above or click "play" below to watch the video.
####​
MZDVEXENEYVYPOD.20081106142244.jpg
Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
http://www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com
The Big Ten Network produced a feature on Ohio State futbol's "Laurens" with Ohio State football's Laurinaitis.
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Eternal Animal

I finally figured out James' cheek stripes during the game today:

John 17:7
"Now they know that everything You have given me comes from You."

How awesome that this young man gives the credit for his talent to his Creator every time he takes the field. It appears that Jim Tressel is continuing in the fine tradition of Wayne Woodrow Hayes and building not just championship football teams but the character of fine young men that are far more than football players.
 
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muffler dragon;1320226; said:
Guess I'm not seeing the connection. Oh well...
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Ok... simple terms. James wears cheek stripes, one of those cheek stripes has "John 17:7" on it. If you look up that Bible verse is states, "Now they know that everything You have given me comes from You." When James is facing his opponent, everything (every hit/tackle/etc) he has to offer them is given to him (James) by his Creator.....

Get it now?
 
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BuckeyeRyn;1320295; said:
Ok... simple terms. James wears cheek stripes, one of those cheek stripes has "John 17:7" on it. If you look up that Bible verse is states, "Now they know that everything You have given me comes from You." When James is facing his opponent, everything (every hit/tackle/etc) he has to offer them is given to him (James) by his Creator.....

Get it now?
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Yes, I do. Thanks Ryn. I didn't realize that he had the verse ON his face stripes. :doh:
 
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Congrats to James on being one of 4 finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award.

Finalists: JL, Rey Maualuga, Brian Orakpo, and Andre Smith.

official.site

FB: Laurinaitis Finalist for Rotary Lombardi Award

HOUSTON, TX - Three defensive players and one offensive player - three seniors and one junior - were named today as finalists for the 39th Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia. This year's award dinner will be held on December 10 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston. Houston Dynamo President and former Houston Oiler Oliver Luck will be the featured speaker at the event.

Ohio State linebacker [URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421"]James Laurinaitis[/URL] returns to the finalist list after being chosen as the only junior among the final four for the 38th Rotary Lombardi Award, which went to LSU's Glenn Dorsey. Returning as captain for his senior season, Laurinaitis is the 13th player to be named a finalist from The Ohio State University, which boasts six winners, the most from any school. A.J. Hawk was the last Buckeye to win the award in 2005.

Cont'd ...
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James is also one of 8 semi-finalists for the Lott Trophy. Four finalists will be named on November 26th.

official.site

NEWPORT BEACH, CA. - Ohio State Linebacker [URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421"]James Laurinaitis[/URL] has been named one of eight semi-finalists for the fifth annual Lott Trophy?, it was announced today.

Laurinaitis (6-3, 244, Sr., Hamel, Mn.) was a Lott finalist last year. He has won the Butkus and Nagurski awards in previous seasons. A two-time Buckeye captain, Laurinaitis has 101 tackles to lead the team again this season.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its fifth year, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the Lott award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia, DeMeco Ryans of Alabama, Dante Hughes of Cal and Glenn Dorsey of LSU were the winners of the first four Lott Trophies. Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated $450,000 to various charities, in addition to the universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

Four finalists will be announced Nov. 26 with all four attending the annual gala black-tie banquet in Newport Beach Dec. 14 where the winner will be announced. The winning player's university will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund and each of the three other finalists will receive $5,000 for their school's general scholarship fund. (Note: the banquet is sold out)

This year's keynote speaker will be long-time college football announcer Keith Jackson.

The 2008 Lott Trophy Semi-finalists:
Eric Berry, So., S, Tennessee
Aaron Curry, Sr., LB, Wake Forest
[URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421"]James Laurinaitis[/URL], Sr., LB, Ohio State
Scott McKillop, Sr., LB, Pitt
Brit Miller, Sr., LB, Illinois
Brian Orakpo, Sr., DE, Texas
Nick Reed, Sr., DE, Oregon
Myron Rolle, Jr., S, Florida State
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James has been named one of 15 players to watch for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. Five fnailists will be announced on Dec. 2.

Official.site

New Haven, Conn. - The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of fifteen "Players to Watch" for its 2008 Player of the Year award, the fourth-oldest individual college football award in the nation.

A list of five finalists will be announced on Tuesday, December 2. The 2008 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, who is voted on by the Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on Thursday, December 11 during the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN SportsCenter.

The winner will receive his trophy at the Foundation?s annual national awards banquet on Saturday, January 17, 2008 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. Tickets ($275) are available by calling (203) 288-CAMP.

"It's been an exciting college football season with many teams and players still in the hunt for national recognition," Walter Camp Football Foundation president John Barbarotta said. "We've identified fifteen players to watch because the final few weeks of the regular season should be even more thrilling."

Last year's recipient was Darren McFadden (Arkansas), who is currently a rookie on the Oakland Raiders.

Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation - a New Haven-based all-volunteer group - was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.

Fifteen "Players to Watch" for the 2008 Walter Camp Player of the Year award include:
Sam Bradford, Sophomore, QB, Oklahoma - Has passed for 3,406 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Sooners
Donald Brown, Junior, RB, Connecticut - Leads nation in rushing yards per game (156.) for the Huskies
Michael Crabtree, Sophomore, WR, Texas Tech - Has 78 receptions and 18 touchdowns for Red Raiders
Chase Daniel, Senior, QB, Missouri Has passed for 3,264 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Tigers
Jarrett Dillard, Senior, WR, Rice - Has 69 catches and 17 touchdowns for the Owls
Graham Harrell, Senior, QB, Texas Tech - Has thrown for 4,077 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Red Raiders
Jerry Hughes, Junior, DL, TCU - Leads the nation with 14 sacks for the Horned Frogs
[URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421"]James Laurinaitis[/URL], Senior, LB, Ohio State - Has 101 tackles, two interceptions and five sacks for the Buckeyes.
Jeremy Maclin, Sophomore, WR/KR, Missouri - Averaging 198.5 all-purpose yards per game for the Tigers
Rey Maualuga, Senior, LB, USC - Has 57 tackles and 2 interceptions for the Trojans
Aaron Maybin, Sophomore, DL, Penn State - Has 16.5 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks, for the Nittany Lions
Colt McCoy, Junior, QB, Texas - Has passed for 2,879 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Longhorns
Scott McKillop, Senior, LB, Pittsburgh - Has made 89 tackles (61 solo) for the Panthers
Javon Ringer, Senior, RB, Michigan State - Has 1,548 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns for the Spartans
Tim Tebow, Junior, QB, Florida - Has passed for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more for the Gators.
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