In The Paint With Calvin McCall
12/6/2001 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Welcome to "In The Paint," a feature item on umterps.com that gives fans an "inside" perspective on the lives and minds of Maryland basketball players.
Today, Maryland Basketball GameDay's Cherise Rhyns talks to Terp junior Calvin McCall about the significance of going to the Final Four, focusing on basketball, and his evolving hairstyles.
GameDay: What's your best memory from the Final Four in Minneapolis last spring?
Calvin McCall: Just being there, being a part of the Final Four and being the first team in Maryland history to make it. I think that was the biggest thing that I took from it.
GD: How does it feel to be playing on the team that's closing out Cole?
CM: That's big. We're going to be the last team that ever plays here. We're going to be known as the first team to ever go to the Final Four and the last team that ever plays at Cole. This is a big year for us because we want to keep the winning tradition at Cole alive.
GD: Did you feel like you got more attention from students on campus after coming back from the Final Four?
CM: I think so, because, like I said, they looked at us as the first team to make it to the Final Four. We got much more love. As far as other teams, they only made it to the sweet sixteen.
GD: Do you think you'll be able to carry the spirit of Cole to Comcast?
CM: I think so, because there will be more seats for students and it will be much louder.
GD: How did "Country" become your nickname?
CM: My friend Renard Cox, who played with me on the football team, used to call me that because I listen to country music. Other people said that when I first got here, I sounded real "country" when I talked. I think it was a combination of those two.
GD: How is it that you love country music?
CM: In middle school my baseball coach listened to it while we were at practice and on high school everyone on the football and baseball teams listened to it.
GD: What's your favorite song?
CM: "Strawberry Wine" by Deanna Carter.
GD: How do you feel about the football team's success?
CM: I'm so happy for those guys to finally get there. We've been right there at the line the past two years and they got over the first 10 games. Now they're experiencing success like the basketball team. I'm cheering them on every week.
GD: Do you think you made the right decision in focusing strictly on basketball?
CM: I think so because I'm enjoying myself. I don't think I really enjoyed myself playing football. A lot of people say that I was much better at football, but I wasn't enjoying myself. That wasn't what I wanted to do. I love coming out here every day playing with these guys.
GD: What do you think are your strongest and weakest points on the court?
CM: Coming from football, I was a quarterback so I was a natural leader. And I'm strong, so I'm able to get out here and battle with some of these big guys. As for a weakness, I don't talk as much as I probably should when I'm out here. In certain situations I don't say much, I try to let the other guys talk.
GD: Where do you like it better, Maryland or Florida?
CM: Florida, because of the palm trees, sunny weather, and none of this cold snowy stuff. Around the end of September I definitely miss home.
GD: So are you going to go back there after you graduate?
CM: Definitely. That's what I'm going to do. The day after.
GD: Why did you cut your hair back in 2000?
CM: I thought it was time for a change. But then I cut it and then got braids. I don't know. Plus, it's different being up here with dreads than it is being at home, because down there it's accepted, but here it's looked at as bad.
GD: Does getting your hair braided hurt?
CM: Yeah, I'm tender-headed, so it does hurt.
