TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For once, the proverbial quarterback of Alabama’s defense was caught unprepared.
Linebacker Rolando McClain was in coach Nick Saban’s office doing a TV interview Tuesday morning when football legend Dick Butkus strolled in to surprise him with the Butkus Award given annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
“I had no idea what to do,” McClain said. “I saw Coach get up and shake his hand. Naturally, I got up, and I just kind of froze. I mean, he’s Dick Butkus.
“That was my first time ever meeting him. It’s kind of humbling. You feel like you’re a pretty good linebacker, then Dick Butkus is in the room.”
Actually, McClain is a pretty good linebacker. The junior is the leader of the nation’s top scoring defense and helped guide the 13-0 Crimson Tide to a Southeastern Conference championship and a spot in the BCS national title game against Texas. He is the second Tide player to win the Butkus, joining the late Derrick Thomas, who won in 1988.
The other finalists were Florida’s Brandon Spikes, Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon, South Carolina’s Eric Norwood and Texas’ Sergio Kindle.
The 6-foot-4, 258-pound McClain leads the Tide with 101 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.
“It’s not only the playing ability — that’s quite obvious,” Butkus said. “What it also entails is that people in his situation, people look up to him. He becomes a hero to a lot of people.
Tennessee being investigated.
The New York Times reported that the NCAA is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into the Volunteers’ recruiting practices, according to interviews with several prospects, their family members and high school administrators. A significant part of the investigation is focused on the use of recruiting hostesses who have become folk heroes on Tennessee message boards for their ability to help lure top recruits.
NCAA officials have visited four prospects and are scheduled to visit two others this week in an investigation covering at least three states.
Rebels’ Nutt staying put
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi coach Houston Nutt said he “appreciates the interest,” but he is not pursuing the Kansas head coaching job.
Nutt and Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone issued statements after media reports suggested Nutt was interested in the Kansas job.
Kelly, Irish talking.
Talks between Brian Kelly and Notre Dame progressed, despite the Cincinnati coach saying on Twitter he did not interview for the job.
The Chicago Tribune reported Kelly met with a Notre Dame representative last week and an announcement could come as early as Friday.
One factor pushing Kelly toward Notre Dame is that Cincinnati, according to The New York Times, has made minimal effort to keep him. Kelly’s contract, not including bonuses, pays him less than $1.4 million a year.
Footnotes.
Louisville is expected to hire Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong as its football coach. Strong would replace Steve Kragthorpe, who was fired Nov. 28 after three seasons.
Denver Post wire services
