Oklahoma Sooners senior Rocky Calmus won the Butkus Award on Friday as the nation's top linebacker.

"This is such an honor to win this award," Calmus said at Orlando's Downtown Athletic Club. "It was such a great thing for me to be considered as one of the best linebackers in America. And the two guys I was up against are great players."

Maryland's E.J. Henderson and UCLA's Robert Thomas were also finalists.

Calmus, an All-American and Butkus finalist in 2000, had 117 tackles this season. He had 15 tackles for losses, one interception, nine pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

He helped No. 11 Oklahoma go 10-2 and earn a Cotton Bowl berth.

"This is just an outstanding way to honor a great young man," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "Rocky has great character and is a great student-athlete."

· UCLA: Billie Matthews, a UCLA assistant football coach in the 1970s, died Friday of Parkinson's disease, the university said. He was 71.

· Alabama: Florida coach Steve Spurrier wrote an angry letter two years ago threatening to report former Alabama coach Mike DuBose to the NCAA for illegal recruiting. Spurrier's handwritten note to DuBose was included in Alabama's 755-page response Thursday to an array of NCAA charges against the football program. Spurrier accused Alabama of violating NCAA rules by helping offensive lineman Justin Smiley and linebacker Travis Carroll obtain cars.

· Notre Dame: Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti said Friday that he met with Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White but has no interest in taking the job.

· Texas: Major Applewhite deserves to start his last game for Texas after a strong backup performance in the Big 12 championship game, Coach Mack Brown said Friday.

· Harlon Hill Trophy: Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner won his second straight Harlon Hill Trophy as the best NCAA Division II player Friday. He completed 231 of 319 passes for 3,214 yards and 43 touchdowns.