Butkus' Usc Work Habits Deserve Hall Of Fame Vote

LOS ANGELES - The father was a bear of a football player. The son is a football player who barely plays.

The father carved a legendary career as the most menacing linebacker in the history of the game. The son has spent four years as a back-up lineman who rarely gets into games.

Everyone knows Dick Butkus. Hardly anyone knows Matt, his son.

Maybe it is time that changed.

In many ways, USC's Matt Butkus, 6 feet 2 and 265 pounds full of energy and unflagging enthusiasm, is what college football is all about.

Sure, it is about Heisman Trophy quarterbacks and Lombardi Award linebackers and All-America wide receivers.

But the stars, the great players, represent only a small minority, a tiny percentage of the kids who strain and sweat and struggle to maintain a place on a 100-man squad.

No better role model

Butkus, who will suit up for his last game in the Dec. 30 Freedom Bowl, exemplifies all those other guys, all the faceless practice players and unpublicized hangers-on.

And, trust me, they couldn't ask for a better role model.

Whatever this kid lacks physically, he more than makes up for spiritually. Nobody gets more excited during games. Nobody cheers his teammates harder. Or louder. Nobody spends more time running up and down the sideline, exhorting his friends.

Butkus has been known to get so carried away at times that officials, and even his own coaches, have to drag him away.

"His attitude is unbelievable," USC coach John Robinson said. "He's just been a great kid to have around. I wish I could have him for another four years."

Doug Smith, the ex-Ram who coaches the Trojans' defensive line, loves to talk about the senior nose tackle who didn't get into his first college game until this season's home opener with Houston.

"He's just so positive," Smith said. "He's as positive as if he was an Outland Trophy candidate."

He is not.

No trophy candidate

This Butkus has the name, but not the natural skills of his father, and that had to be difficult for a young man growing up. Matt was never just another former high school star trying to crack the Trojans' starting lineup.

He was "Dick Butkus' son."

"Yeah, it was pretty tough," said Matt, who bears a strong facial resemblance to his father. "My dad was the greatest linebacker in history and everyone would expect a lot of me. But I think I handled it pretty well.

"My dad was good about it, too. He was always in the background. He never pushed me. He would go to the games, but he would never be outspoken."

Father would be there for son when necessary, though.

"He'd tell me to just go out there and do my best," said the younger Butkus. "He'd say that things would look better tomorrow.

"He is a guy I've got to believe will be a leader in the community when he gets out of school."

Butkus is hardly USC's best football player. But he is probably its most popular.

That's why they had a giant celebration on the USC sideline in Houston when Butkus got the first sack of his career.

"It was pretty emotional out there," Matt said.

"That made my year. It made my whole five years (including a redshirt season) here, in fact."

Hard, bruising hours of practice without much reward might not sound like a great time to anyone else, but Butkus makes you believe he loves every minute of it.

"The one thing my dad told me was to enjoy this for what it was," Butkus said. "He told me that college would be the best time of my life.

"And he was right. Oh yeah, definitely. I've had a great time here"

The father was a Hall of Famer on the field. The son comes as close as you can to being one off of it.