Spring Break
Injury changes RB's life focus
Chris Bernardi
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Sports
Doctors suggested surgery to his knee that would be his only chance of ever playing again. The surgery entailed having two holes drilled into his right kneecap in order to re-attach his patella tendon. Slits were cut into his tendon so they could stretch, promoting growth of the tendon.
After extensive rehab, a period where Calhoun found himself in the trainer's room 85 percent of his day and watched his grade point average plummet, Calhoun was ready to return during spring ball his junior year.
Calhoun put up a two touchdown, 100-yard effort in his spring game debut, calming the fears he and his family may have had about the future of his career.
His season started taking a turn for the worse as his other knee started bothering him in summer practice.
Calhoun tried to compensate for his knee pain and as a result continually found himself pulling hamstrings and groins. After being looked at by trainers and doctors it seemed the same surgery would have to be performed.
After a long discussion with Coach Montgomery, Calhoun was offered a medical scholarship. With a medical scholarship, Calhoun would continue to get a full-ride education, an offer he took in order to graduate and pursue a future outside of football. Calhoun's mind however was far from out of football.
"Watching guys I was in front of on the roster starting and playing every game is just like, man, oh it hurts, it hurts to watch that," Calhoun said. "Every Saturday it got to the point where I did not like watching football anymore, I just didn't like it. I would only sit through the games to support my friends, it was tough, really, really, tough."
Looking back on his career Calhoun would never trade it for the world. At first he was mentally weakened by his injuries but has overcome adversity.
"Career ending injuries are extremely difficult to deal with mentally," said offensive assistant James Hoffman, whose career was also cut short by injury. "It prepares you for life and the possible disappointments that come along. It helps you at a young age overcome adversity. Playing football is going to end at some point, for some it just happens earlier than others."
Miami has played 12 of the 14 scheduled spring practices this year. The 13th practice is Tuesday at 4 p.m.. The spring season will conclude with the annual spring game at 8 p.m. April 25.
After extensive rehab, a period where Calhoun found himself in the trainer's room 85 percent of his day and watched his grade point average plummet, Calhoun was ready to return during spring ball his junior year.
Calhoun put up a two touchdown, 100-yard effort in his spring game debut, calming the fears he and his family may have had about the future of his career.
His season started taking a turn for the worse as his other knee started bothering him in summer practice.
Calhoun tried to compensate for his knee pain and as a result continually found himself pulling hamstrings and groins. After being looked at by trainers and doctors it seemed the same surgery would have to be performed.
After a long discussion with Coach Montgomery, Calhoun was offered a medical scholarship. With a medical scholarship, Calhoun would continue to get a full-ride education, an offer he took in order to graduate and pursue a future outside of football. Calhoun's mind however was far from out of football.
"Watching guys I was in front of on the roster starting and playing every game is just like, man, oh it hurts, it hurts to watch that," Calhoun said. "Every Saturday it got to the point where I did not like watching football anymore, I just didn't like it. I would only sit through the games to support my friends, it was tough, really, really, tough."
Looking back on his career Calhoun would never trade it for the world. At first he was mentally weakened by his injuries but has overcome adversity.
"Career ending injuries are extremely difficult to deal with mentally," said offensive assistant James Hoffman, whose career was also cut short by injury. "It prepares you for life and the possible disappointments that come along. It helps you at a young age overcome adversity. Playing football is going to end at some point, for some it just happens earlier than others."
Miami has played 12 of the 14 scheduled spring practices this year. The 13th practice is Tuesday at 4 p.m.. The spring season will conclude with the annual spring game at 8 p.m. April 25.
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Dave
posted 4/22/08 @ 4:51 PM EST
I'm pretty sure the head coach at Northwestern would have been Randy Walker, not Ryan Walker. You know, he was only the head coach at Miami before Hoeppner. (Continued…)
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