freshmen struggle to meet demands

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 10, 2008 | by JAKE SCHALLER

Midway through Air Force's third preseason practice, sophomore cornerback Reggie Rembert glanced over at freshman corner Anthony Wright.

Rembert saw himself a year earlier and could feel Wright's pain.

"You feel s l u g g i s h ? " R e m b e r t asked.

"Yeah," said Wright, who on the final day of basic cadet training was practicing with the varsity for the first time. "I've got Jell- O legs."

Basic training can have that effect. The six-week period taxes cadets physically and mentally, especially the 12 grueling days spent in Jack's Valley. During that time the freshmen live in tents, wake up at 4:30 a.m. and go through military exercises, all while getting yelled at by upperclassmen.

It's not exactly the best way to prepare for preseason football. It makes contributing as a freshman -- hard at any Division I program -- even more difficult.

But there are high hopes for the Falcons' Class of 2012, which has been praised by recruiting analysts and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun.

While Calhoun has said academy teams are best when mostly seniors and juniors are contributing, he also insists that the best players will play -- regardless of age. Combine that philosophy with somewhat weaker junior and senior classes and a freshman class about which coaches have been raving, and Air Force could have more freshmen contributing this season than ever.

So on Aug. 2, about a week after marching out of Jack's Valley in fatigues and boots, Wright was in a helmet, shoulder pads and cleats, dropping into coverage, chasing receivers and trying to make a good impression. Freshman running back Paul Weatheroy joined the varsity that day as well, and the rest of the freshmen began practice the next day. About 15 of the freshmen -- including Wright, Weatheroy and freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson -- currently are with the varsity.

They face an uphill climb to a spot on the two-deep chart despite their obvious talent and physical gifts.

"It was tough," Rembert said of his first weeks playing as a freshman. "You're definitely not in the type of shape you need to be in. And everything's just kind of awkward in a way. Like I wasn't timing my jumps right."

Graduate assistant Shaun Carney remembers tripping over bags during drills when he first began practicing with the varsity because his legs were shot, and sophomore outside linebacker Andre Morris Jr. said he lost weight and quickness prior to joining the team last year.

Perhaps tougher than shaking off the physical effects of Jack's Valley is learning the playbook, terminology and schemes.

Jefferson said he ran the same plays last season on the academy's prep school team, but now "they're more complex, and there's more variety to the plays." Freshman offensive tackle A.J. Wallerstein came to the academy directly from high school. He's learning new plays and adjusting to the fast tempo at which the Falcons run them.

"You have to think about the play that they call and what you do and where to step, and it's just a lot -- you've got like two seconds," he said.

And now, since classes started Thursday, freshmen have academic demands.

Still, some freshmen find a way to contribute immediately. Carney started at quarterback in the 2004 season opener against Cal as a freshman. Rembert and Morris each started a game last season. And by midway through 2007, Rembert, Morris and about six other freshmen were contributing regularly as reserves or on special teams.

Calhoun is trying to be patient, but Air Force's freshmen don't want to wait. Jefferson said he came to camp thinking he could contribute immediately. And Wright said he and his classmates want to "help this team in any way we can."

"I strived to come up on varsity and put forth the effort to help the team in any way I could," Wright said. "I saw myself playing on Saturdays, and I'm just going to keep faith, keep working hard and hopefully I'll see myself on that field opening day."

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