AFA's Calhoun doesn't mind nonfootball parts of job

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 15, 2008 | by JAKE SCHALLER

DENVER Air Force opens its football season in 15 days, and coach Troy Calhoun still hasn't named a starting quarterback or found definite replacements for some of the other 13 offensive and defensive starters he lost to graduation.

But while there's plenty of work to do on the field and in the coaches' conference room, Calhoun -- like all college coaches -- has other obligations. So he spent several hours Thursday at the Mountain West Conference's Front Range Kickoff Luncheon at the Denver Tech Center Marriott. He spoke to members of the media, chatted with fans and then traded friendly barbs with Wyoming coach Joe Glenn and Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild in front of a crowd of about 500.

Calhoun admitted before the luncheon that his mind probably would drift a bit during the program to Xs and Os and the injury status of some of his players. But he acknowledged that events such as the luncheon are part of his job. And according to Derm Coll, Air Force's associate athletic director for external relations, Calhoun has embraced his off-field responsibilities.

"He's better than any coach I've seen when it comes to wanting to be out in the community," Coll said. "He's constantly thinking of ways to be involved."

During the offseason, Calhoun visited Fort Carson and hosted a pair of meet-and-greets with fans in the Colorado Springs community. On Tuesday, he visited Peterson Air Force Base, and he plans to be back at Fort Carson before and after the team's opener Aug. 30.

In addition, Calhoun called season ticket holders to encourage renewals, and for the second straight year he is meeting with each of the academy's 40 squadrons to take questions and ask for support.

"I know there's an old adage that says you can do too much, but I think in a lot of ways we need to extend ourselves," he said.

Calhoun said he's always been comfortable talking about the academy, but he seemed even more loose and prepared for the light tenor of Thursday's annual luncheon.

After giving a somewhat straightforward address last year, Calhoun told more prepared jokes and responded nicely to a dig by Glenn. During his address, the Wyoming coach said jokingly that with the prep school and the junior varsity, Air Force has "upwards of 500 football players" in its program. Calhoun, who spoke after Glenn, said, "Joe talked about redshirt freshmen -- I don't even know what that is at the Air Force Academy."

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