BOULDER — For most of the Colorado fans remaining at Folsom Field in the waning moments of the Massachusetts game in September, there was little excitement besides enjoying an easy victory over an undermanned opponent.
But that’s when Ed Caldwell got to experience one of the most exciting moments of his life. A walk-on offensive lineman on the CU scout team from Highlands Ranch, Caldwell took the field for the first time in his college career. He had a tear in his eye when coach Mike MacIntyre sent him in.
“I got one right now, honestly,” Caldwell said Wednesday, recalling that moment. “Just being able to play, that meant a lot. We saw Coach Mac pulling for us to get in there, it was like, ‘Whoa, here we go.'”
Caldwell’s father, Robert, had tears in his eyes too.
“It was a powerful moment for us,” Robert said.
Caldwell played three snaps that day and five against Nicholls State two weeks later. He also has played one down on field-goal protection. Outside of those nine plays, he hasn’t gotten into a game. He has served the cause by studying the technique of opposition offensive linemen in film sessions, then emulating them in practice. When the Buffaloes lose, Caldwell said, scout-team players feel as if they didn’t do a good enough job preparing the regulars.
Before Colorado takes the field Friday night to play Southern California for their last home game, Caldwell and 14 other . The players will return to the locker room, then run onto the field behind Ralphie.
Caldwell, a chemical engineering major, turned down a scholarship from Colorado School of Mines because he’d always wanted to run onto the field with Ralphie. He will do it for the last time Friday night.
“I love football,” Caldwell said. “I wanted to play in college. I did always want to run out behind Ralphie. I’ve done that a lot of times, and it’s kind of sad that it’s going to be my last one on Friday, but it’s been just a great experience.”
Early in his time at CU, Caldwell desperately wanted to be a walk-on but doctors wouldn’t clear him because of a lingering knee problem. He had to plead with MacIntyre to get time in the weight room. Finally he got his chance last season. He got to dress for two games but didn’t play.
“He wanted to play so bad the day he came out,” Mac- Intyre said. “He’s the true student-athlete. He’s the true meaning of a team player.”
Despite his lack of playing time, Caldwell said the experience has been worth it.
“There’s nothing like this game,” Caldwell said. “I love the camaraderie and I love working hard. I don’t want to be the guy who rolls out of bed at 9 o’clock, skips a class. I’ve learned a lot from football, and I definitely think that’s what’s worth it to me — all the lessons I’ve learned.”
Caldwell got choked up during his first (and likely last) interview as a college athlete while talking about his last chance to run with Ralphie.
“Fourteen years of football (ending), that’s probably going to be running through my mind,” Caldwell said. “Definitely going to be thanking God for all the opportunities he’s given me, letting me be healthy enough and getting through those first two years to be able to play. I’m going to be thankful for everything I’ve learned, everything that’s happened. It’s truly a blessing.”
Caldwell’s father said he will be reminiscing about sitting on a lawn chair watching Ed’s peewee games and seeing his son grow up in the game.
“He’s like a character in a Frank Capra movie,” Robert said. “With him it’s all about faith, family and country, just a guy you would probably never hear about that’s just doing the right things.”
Footnote. Colorado and KOA radio have extended their contract for broadcasting football and basketball through the 2019-20 school year.
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or @johnmeyer
Story lines
USC at Colorado, 7 p.m. Friday, ESPN2
Kessler at QB for USC. The last time the Buffs played Southern California, Cody Kessler threw four touchdown passes in the first quarter en route to a 56-28 rout at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. Kessler finished with 319 yards passing. CU’s secondary is a little better this season, but top-flight quarterbacks have picked it apart.
Offense has to click. Southern California is probably going to score a lot of points. The CU offense needs to keep pace and convert in the red zone. Trading field goals for touchdowns, or having an atrocious third-down conversation rate, as the Buffs had last weekend in Boulder against Stanford, will doom them.
Who is in the backfield? Colorado has played 10 games and still hasn’t decided who its best running back is. Some weeks the bulk of the carries have gone to Phillip Lindsay, but he was largely ignored last week. Is it Patrick Carr? Back to Lindsay? Christian Powell seems to have been left out of the rotation. Somebody needs to give CU some rushing yards to keep this a competitive game or quarterback Sefo Liufau will have too much pressure to deliver in the passing game.
John Meyer, The Denver Post
