The forecast is in: The Louisville Humidity is officially taking over 🔥
The wait is over—our on-field caps and brand-new hat designs are officially IN STOCK! ✨
Time to gear up before the identity makes its on-field debut on June 13th! 🛒 👉 https://t.co/OTWeWo7RKg
One of the things I loved about my years as a minor league baseball broadcaster was getting to know future stars when they were just getting started.
I first saw Fred McGriff as a skinny, 21-year-old kid who was overmatched in Triple-A. Thirty-nine years later, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Before he was named American League Rookie of the Year (2007) and MVP (2008), I watched Dustin Pedroia defy expectations as a diminutive minor league shortstop. His listed height was 5’8, his actual height was closer to 5’6, and he carried himself like he was 6’5.
I suspect I am going to have a similar experience with Jerrod Calhoun.
I got to know Jerrod when he was a 22-year-old student assistant at UC in the 2003-04 season. What stood out as the time was how well-connected he was to high school recruiting in the state of Ohio. He seemed to have a relationship with numerous coaches and most of the highly-ranked players.
As a student assistant, he tried to anticipate how he could best help the coaches before they even requested it. And he soaked up knowledge from a great staff like a sponge, learning from Bob Huggins (935 wins, two Final Fours), Mick Cronin (527 wins, one Final Four) and Andy Kennedy (411 wins, including the most in Ole Miss history).
I was in my fourth year as UC’s radio announcer, and I remember my broadcast partner Chuck Machock being impressed with Jerrod as well. They shared Cleveland-area roots, and Chuck took an instant liking to a young coach with a great work ethic and no ego.
I have enjoyed watching Jerrod’s coaching journey ever since, and I am fired-up that his next stop is Cincinnati.
The UC basketball program has landed an up-and-coming star.
Calhoun is going to be great walking the sidelines at UC. Offense is great. Lots of ball/body movement and paint touches. And he gets the history of the program and understands that the UC vs x is a rivalry and not just another game.
St. John's missed 24-straight field goals to end their game vs. UConn, with their last coming at 17:28 in the second half 😬
That is the longest streak of missed FG by an AP-ranked team in the last eight seasons 😯