Butkus Semifinalists Named
USC’s Matt Grootegoed, UCLA’s Spencer Havner and San Diego State’s Kirk Morrison were selected as semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker. There are 12 semifinalists instead of the usual 10 because of a 10th-place tie in the selection committee voting. Three finalists will be named Nov. 11. The winner will be announced Dec. 10.
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Kenny Smith, a former Tennessee player, and his mother have decided to allow a lawsuit against them to proceed in a fight to try to protect coaches who cooperate with NCAA investigators.
The American Football Coaches Assn. and the NCAA filed a lawsuit in March against the two after they threatened to sue Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer over statements he made to NCAA investigators about them.
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