Two years ago Brian Calhoun's freshman season ended with a painful memory when his Colorado Buffaloes were stunned 31-28 in overtime by his home-state team, the Wisconsin Badgers. As Calhoun watched the Badgers celebrate, he could have never envisioned some of those players in cardinal and white would one day be his teammates.
A transfer from Colorado University, Calhoun is sitting out the 2004 season in accordance with NCAA regulations. However, in two short months of football this fall, Calhoun has not only helped propel the Badgers to a No. 6 ranking, but has also provided the coaching staff a glimpse of the great things that lie ahead for the Oak Creek, Wis., native.
\He has phenomenal balance and great hands, tremendous acceleration, good vision,"" offensive coordinator Brian White said of his prized transfer. ""He picks up things very quickly.""
However, Calhoun's role this season is considerably different than it was during the time he spent in Boulder. During his first two years, he racked up more than 1,000 yards on the ground, including five rushing touchdowns. The 5'10"" tailback even saw playing time as a true freshman backing up Chris Brown on Colorado's 2002 Alamo Bowl team.
This year has been a different story. Calhoun entered the season well aware he would not see the field on Saturdays. That has not stopped him from playing an integral part in Wisconsin's success thus far in 2004. White knows that with Calhoun as the scout team running back, the UW defense will be ready for any running back on Saturday.
""I think it really helps our defense understand the speed of the game, knowing that they will not play against a better running back on Saturday than what they face everyday in practice, 'cause they won't,"" White said.
""At first the scout team was hard,"" Calhoun said of his adjustment. ""I played so much freshman and sophomore year, but now I have gotten accustomed to it and we work hard just to make our defense get better and obviously it's paying off. It was hard getting used to but this is my job now.""
Calhoun knew it would be tough adjusting from being a leading rusher on a Big 12 team to a member of a scout team. But the way the running back situation with this year's Wisconsin team unfolded in the opening weeks made the transition ever more difficult for him.
""It was really hard when games started rolling around. I mean I knew coming in that I couldn't play but who knew that [Anthony Davis] would get hurt in the first game and Dwayne [Smith] couldn't play, so it was like now we don't have a tailback, and I could have filled in perfectly. I mean, there were a lot of nights where I was just mad, but my time is coming and I just have to be patient with it,"" he said.
The time that he has spent on the scout team has been good for the junior, who has already put on at least seven pounds since arriving in Madison. Not only has Calhoun taken pride in helping the defense prepare each week, but he has also used the time to develop into a more complete player.
""I am just more of a student of the game,"" Calhoun said. ""You notice a lot more things. I mean I have learned a lot from A.D., just in practice and drills. You know just watching the other guys that come in here. I think that most of my benefit is the weight room. I mean I lift four or five times a week, so there is going to be a big change come next fall.""
Then again, next fall will be here soon enough for the man that White says is the most developed scout team running back he has ever seen. When that time comes, Calhoun will have the opportunity to fill in at running back in a system that he has grown up following and admiring.
""Wisconsin is a big running back school, so to get a chance just to even be a part of that is huge,"" Calhoun said. ""When A.D. leaves, I get a chance to follow in his footsteps, and you can't fill those shoes. But it's just great to be mentioned with those guys.""
""I think the system really fits me well. I think I can do a lot of the things that A.D. does, and it was really a no-brainer [to come to Wisconsin].""
