Nov. 7, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- - It's about 40 degrees outside with a blustery wind that makes it feel more like 14. Despite the chill, sophomore Dan Califf (Orange, Calif.) makes the walk from class to Cole Field House in just a sweatshirt when other students have broken out the scarf and mittens already. Califf isn't really that much warmer then the rest of us, or even that much tougher. It's more like a refusal or protest to the inevitable winter to come.
"Do you know there's a heat wave right now at home?" asks the California native rhetorically. "I don't like this weather here. It's too cold right now. If I can't wear a sweatshirt and pants and be warm, then there's something wrong." So the protest, or rather denial, continues until Califf can head home and break out the surfboard.
Watching the 6-2 defender on the field, one probably wouldn't peg him as the first choice on the Terp team to catch a wave here or there in the offseason. Fans might choice the beach-blonde Rob Birch (West Islip, N.Y.), but they would be wrong.
There are a lot of things the outsider might not expect from Califf. While his hair changes colors faster then the seasons, his extremely grounded personality seems almost contrary to that flair for color. A hard-worker, the defender scored his second goal of the season against Wisconsin on Saturday to bring the Terps even in a battle they would eventually win 3-1. Next is the ACC Tournament for Califf and Maryland. Between the Terps and the ACC Championship lie six other conference rivals gunning for the same goal. Califf and the Terps are ready for them all...let's just hope it's warm enough at Wake Forest.
Califf Unplugged
Person you most admire: My dad
Athlete you most admire: The Regular Joe
Your favorite athletic moment of your career. Scoring two goals in the Rose Bowl when I was 12.
What CD is in your stereo right now? Blink 182
If I were given free tickets to see any athletic event I wanted, what event would it be? A World Cup Final
The famous athlete you would most like to meet: Jordan
One thing people may not know about me is that... I like to read.
If you were given round trip tickets to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Hawaii
If you could travel back in time and meet any famous person, who would it be and why? J.F.K. because he intrigues me.
What do you most enjoy about playing soccer at Maryland? The players and the quality of the game.
What do you respect most about Sasho? He cares about us as people as well as players.
The best piece of advice anyone ever gave you is... Have no regrets.
The one word the best describes you is... Boring
If I could change on thing in the world, it would be... Hate
If I lost all my possessions except for one, I'd want to keep... My surfboard
My ambition after soccer is to... Be happy.
My favorite TV show ever is... The A-Team
My favorite movie is... The Last of the Mohicans
Outside of soccer, I enjoy... Read, surf, hang out with my girlfriend.
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Buy lots of stuff.
My craziest ambition is to... Quit soccer, move to Fiji and live in a hut and surf. Be a bum.
Since coming to Maryland, I have learned to... Manage time.
The best thing about being a Maryland student-athlete is... The athlete part.
My favorite class at Maryland has been... History 157
