LB James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams)

[gobucks19]

Heacock said before the season, 'If you don't believe you're as good as last year's defense, then get out of the room.' Nobody left.

One of the best quotes I have heard all year. I know that nobody would realistically walk out of the room but I just like the attitude. Heacock was a great promotion. He has that fire that I havent seen in our DC in quite awhile and I think the players feed off of it. They might make some mistakes during the course of the game but they are doing it at 100 mph and that has definitely contributed to the increase in TOs....

[Padraig]

Originally Posted by Taosman

We know who the real "Linebacker U " is and it ain't in Pennsylvania!

The Ohio State University!

I actually made up a picture of James L. (featured) with smaller pics of tOSU Linebackers Cousineau, Spielman, Katzenmoyer, Wilhelm, Carpenter, & Hawk (I know, I could have added many others) with the caption, "The real Linebacker U!" Then I got him to autograph it...It's very sweet!

[jwinslow]

OSU Picture Archive

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 14: Drew Stanton #5 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to escape the tackle of Jay Richardson #99 and James Laurinaitis #33 of the Ohio State Buckeys during first quarter action on October 14, 2006 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Ohio State won the game 38-7. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

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 e-mail:todd.porter@cantonrep.com

[BuckPhin]

http://www.butkusaward.org/

Well he made it, deservingly so.

[Crystal76]

Outstanding. Congrats to James.

[el mastiff]

Anyone else hear the "Little Animal" song on QFM 96 this morning? A pretty good rock song about Laurinaitis. I'm going to check around to see if I can find it.

[great1]

"The last OSU linebacker to win the Butkus Award was Andy Katzenmoyer in 1987"

I think they meant 1997.

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by great1

"The last OSU linebacker to win the Butkus Award was Andy Katzenmoyer in 1987"

I think they meant 1997.

Correct. In fact, that statement would be more truthful if it read, "The only OSU linebacker to win the Butkus Award was Andy Katzenmoyer in 1997, but only because A.J. Hawk and Chris Spielman were both jobbed by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando. 20 years from now, Paul Posluszny will join Paul McGowan as a footnote to a trivia question, while A.J. Hawk wraps up a wonderful multi-Pro Bowl, NFL career and joins Chris Spielman in many Halls of Fame."

[UpNorthBuckeye]

The Butkus is a GREAT award; however,seeing that Brian Bosworth won the FIRST TWO makes me wonder how it managed to survive the embarassment.

Not to mention Trev Alberts winning it in 93.

Definitely, winning the award is not a sign that you're going to have a great NFL career.

[Bestbuck36]

Laurinitis, Blades and our old friend Buster Davis should be the finalists. I don't see anyone having a better year thus far than James either. If he continues to play well and maybe get a couple more sacks, I think he will win.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Laurinaitis named Butkus semifinalist

Friday, October 20, 2006

By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER



COLUMBUS - Add another Ohio State football player to the list of award candidates.
Buckeye linebacker James Laurinaitis was named to the Butkus Award's list of 10 semifinalists Thursday. The OSU sophomore wasn't on the preseason watch list, but was added after the Texas game in which he forced two fumbles, picked off a pass and led the team with 13 tackles in a nationally televised game.
Laurinaitis leads Ohio State with 59 tackles, 21 more than Marcus Freeman. He has four interceptions and three sacks.
"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."
The other nine semifinalists for the Butkus Award are: H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh; Buster Davis, Florida State; David Harris, Michigan; Ali Highsmith, Louisiana State; Rey Maualuga, USC; Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas; Paul Posluszny, Penn State; Brandon Siler, Florida and Patrick Willis, Mississippi.
Posluszny won the Butkus last year. If he won it again this year, he would be just the second linebacker to win it twice, joining Brian Bosworth of Oklahoma (1985, '86).
The award is voted on by a panel of media. It is sponsored by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando. Three finalists will be announced Nov. 9, and the winner will be announced Dec. 9 at the Butkus Award Gala in Orlando.
Andy Katzenmoyer (1997) was the last OSU linebacker to win the award.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com
OSUWINNERS?
James Laurinaitis is one of at least seven Buckeyes being considered for a major national award. Here's the rundown:
Troy Smith Heisman Trophy
Maxwell Award
Davey O'Brien Award
Ted Ginn Jr. Heisman Torphy
Biletnikoff Award
Maxwell Award
Antonio Pittman Maxwell Award
Doak Walker Award
Quinn Pitcock Chuck Bednarik award
Kirk Barton Outland Trophy Doug Datish Remington Award

[Dryden]

James Laurinaitis is one of at least seven Buckeyes being considered for a major national award. Here's the rundown:

Troy Smith: Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award
Ted Ginn Jr.: Heisman Torphy, Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award
Antonio Pittman: Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award
Quinn Pitcock: Chuck Bednarik Award
Kirk Barton: Outland Trophy
Doug Datish: Remington Award

1. Malcolm Jenkins should be on the Thorpe Award watch list if he is not already.

2. The Biletnikoff is going to Calvin Johnson; I think everybody in the country knows that. Still, Gonzo at least deserves to be on the list.

3. If any punters want to win a Ray Guy award, they better do it this year while AJ Trapasso isn't on the watch list. Because AJ will win the next two in 2007 and 2008. AJ is 1st in the conference and 16th nationally in net punting, and I've already lost count of how many he's staked inside the five.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by Dryden

1. Malcolm Jenkins should be on the Thorpe Award watch list if he is not already.

2. The Biletnikoff is going to Calvin Johnson; I think everybody in the country knows that. Still, Gonzo at least deserves to be on the list.

3. If any punters want to win a Ray Guy award, they better do it this year while AJ Trapasso isn't on the watch list. Because AJ will win the next two in 2007 and 2008. AJ is 1st in the conference and 16th nationally in net punting, and I've already lost count of how many he's staked inside the five.

On Malcolm Jenkins: WORD... All that and a bag of chips.

On Calvin Johnson: WORD²... All that, a bag of chips and a tub of salsa.

On AJ Trapasso: WORD³... He is keeping up statistically in spite of playing in (at least) 2 very windy games.

[BB73]

James Laurinaitis is one of at least seven Buckeyes being considered for a major national award. Here's the rundown:
Troy Smith Heisman Trophy
Maxwell Award
Davey O'Brien Award
Ted Ginn Jr. Heisman Torphy
Biletnikoff Award
Maxwell Award
Antonio Pittman Maxwell Award
Doak Walker Award
Quinn Pitcock Chuck Bednarik award
Kirk Barton Outland Trophy Doug Datish Remington Award

That list needs to add Pitcock for the Rotary Lombardi Award. He's one of 12 finalists for the award that A.J. Hawk won last year.

And it's the Rimington that goes to the best center. Maybe the Remington is for the best 'shotgun' QB.