HOUSTON >> Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o won the Lombardi Award on Wednesday as college football’s best lineman or linebacker.
Te’o, also a Heisman Trophy finalist and former Punahou star, had 103 tackles and seven interceptions this year to help the undefeated Fighting Irish reach the BCS championship game against Alabama.
“It’s the big dance,” Te’o said about the title game. “It is something that you dream about when you are little and for me to be in that game and playing against a real good Alabama team, it will be a perfect end to this chapter in my life.”
Te’o edged Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney for the award presented by the Rotary Club of Houston.
“You look at my highlights and you look at their highlights, I’m a big fan of their highlights,” Te’o said.
“When you look at the company I am with — Jarvis, JC, Barrett — all guys that have proven themselves many, many times. For me to walk away with it, I am just very, very grateful. All of those guys are deserving of the trophy as well, so it is just a great experience and great opportunity for me.”
On Monday, Te’o won the Dick Butkus Award as the best linebacker, and the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player.
Te’o will be in New York on Saturday for the Heisman Trophy presentation. The other finalists are Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Kansas State’s Collin Klein, both quarterbacks.
“It’s special for me because I get to represent Notre Dame and represent my family on the national stage, and so, I am just very excited,” Te’o said. “I am very excited to get to know those other two guys.”
Rose Bowl for Alvarez
MADISON, Wis. >> Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who coached the Badgers to three Rose Bowl wins, will coach the team against Stanford, according to a source close to the program.
Alvarez is scheduled to appear at a news conference today to discuss his plans.
Bret Bielema left Wisconsin this week to become head coach at Arkansas.
“We’re still a very focused team right now,” running back Montee Ball said. “We’ve still got a game to win.”
Cal hires LaTech’s Dykes
BERKELEY, Calif. >> California hired Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes on Wednesday to take over for the fired Jeff Tedford.
Dykes will be formally introduced at a news conference today, two sources confirmed.
Purdue picks Hazell
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. >> Darrell Hazell spent most of his coaching career telling others to “be great.” Now he’ll try to live up to that message at Purdue.
Boilermakers athletic director Morgan Burke hired the 48-year-old Kent State coach to lead the school back into national prominence and presumably back to a Rose Bowl.
Hazell won this season’s Mid-American Conference coach of the year award after leading Kent State to its first winning season since 2001 and first bowl appearance in more than four decades.
