Courtney Watson named finalist for Dick Butkus award
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
Tyrone Willingham made it very clear that he believed Courtney Watson deserved to be a finalist for the Dick Butkus award.
In fact, he felt so strongly about it that during a teleconference on Thursday when Watson was named one of three finalists for the prestigious award, Willingham even suggested renaming the award.
"It would be really kind of appropriate in a sense for me to make the request I'm going to make," Willingham said. "Because I think it would be in Courtney's honor to almost name the award after him."
Watson joined Maryland's E.J. Henderson and Oklahoma's Teddy Lehman as a finalist for the award, which is presented annually to college football's best linebacker. The winner of the award will be announced Dec. 13 in Orlando.
While Willingham was busy praising Watson's talent at the linebacker position, Watson was tightly focused on giving credit where he thought credit was due.
"It's just a credit to my teammates," Watson said. "You can't be a good player without the guys around you. It's the rededication of the players and the philosophy of the coaches."
Watson has been an integral part of a successful Irish defense that is holding its opponents to only 14.5 points per game. The Sarasota, Fla. native leads the team with 81 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and three sacks. He's also recorded three interceptions, including an interception that he returned 34 yards for a touchdown against Stanford.
"I think Courtney, first of all, has placed a great deal of respect on his teammates, but I think so much of that should be credited to him because of his leadership," Willingham said.
Being named a finalist for the Butkus award comes near the end of a season that had anything but a pleasant start for the senior linebacker. Watson missed the first two games of the season with an illness. However, when he returned to the field, he made it clear that he would be a leader on the Notre Dame defense.
"I said earlier in the year that when he stepped back into the lineup, it had a very calming effect on our football team and not just a defensive statement," Willingham said. "It was a team statement because of his discipline, because of his knowledge and because of his will to be successful."
Watson said that his will to be successful despite his illness, is just another example of the Irish football team's return to national prominence.
"I think it just exemplifies our entire program this year, how everything has just turned around in a new direction and a new commitment by the players on the team," he said.
Although Willingham may be disappointed, the Irish coach probably won't see the award renamed anytime soon.
"Now please understand, it is very appropriate for [the award to be named] for Dick Butkus," he said. "But I feel so strongly about what Courtney has brought to our football team and just our community, that I think in a kind of loose or lighthearted manner, it would be out of great honor and respect for him to win this award."
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 15, 2002
