Playboy, Butkus, and the big show

IU's playmate of the year\nSenior Antwaan Randle El appears in September's issue of Playboy after being named an All-American by the magazine.\nRandle El, a triple-threat weapon for the Hoosiers this season, is the first "multiple-threat player" ever named to the Playboy All-American team.\n"That was a great experience, hanging out with some of the guys on other teams," Randle El said. "I met a lot of people I can say I'm friends with, guys I can call and talk to."\nWhat's the Butkus?\nSenior Justin Smith said he wasn't too sure what he was being nominated for last season when he heard he was named to the Butkus Award watch list.\nHe was fairly new to his position -- linebacker -- after moving from strong safety as a sophomore in 1999. So it might be understandable he was not familiar with the award for the top linebacker in the country.\nThis season, after earning second-team All-Big Ten honors last season, Smith is up for the award again. He's one of 69 college linebackers on the list, which is narrowed to 10 semifinalists Oct. 18.\nWhile he knows what the award is this year, he still doesn't get too worked up about it.\n"I really didn't know what is was," he said. "The only awards I really knew were the Heisman and the Jim Thorpe award for (defensive backs). When the coaches told me about it, I had to ask them what it was.\n"But as far as that goes, individual accolades will come with the success of the team. Our primary goal is to get this team winning."\nMixing up the rotation\nSeveral positions on the roster are being filled by committee early this season. Senior Levron Williams, IU's leading rusher behind Randle El last season, won't start against North Carolina State; sophomore Brian Lewis got the nod. Two tight ends, freshman Aaron Halterman and junior Kris Dielman, will see plenty of playing time, as well.\n"We're going to do some rotating at some positions, especially defensively and early in the season when it's hot," coach Cam Cameron said. "But the good news is we have several positions where you've really got more than one starter. An example of that would be at running back.\n"Our running back spot, we will be rotating probably three guys through at tailback. Whether that guy starts or not really is insignificant in my mind."\nThe big show\nThe Cam Cameron Radio Talk Show has found a new home for 2001. The show, which airs Monday nights from 7:05-8 p.m., will be broadcast live from the Student Recreational Sports Center.\nThe first show aired Monday, Sept. 3, and 11 more will follow, ending with the final show Nov. 19. Questions for Cameron, from both callers and people attending the show at the SRSC, are welcome. The show is open to the public.\nOther notes\nCornerback Marcus Floyd, center Craig Osika and linebacker Devin Schaffer, all seniors, will join co-captains Randle El and senior Kemp Rasmussen as game captains tonight against North Carolina State. Randle El and Rasmussen both served as captains last season as well, and coach Cameron will select game captains to join his permanent pair for every game.\nIU's home opener Sept. 15 is also Youth Football Day at Memorial Stadium. Players and cheerleaders from youth football teams in Indiana receive free admission to the Kentucky game, and four complimentary chaperone tickets will be provided per team. Tickets must be ordered through the IU sports marketing department. For more information, call 855-9517.