Ramsey: Calhoun now has burden of expectations

Amanda Calhoun was looking through a preseason college football magazine a little more than a year ago when she noticed a favorable prediction about the Air Force football team.

She handed the magazine to her husband, Troy, who just happens to serve as Air Force’s coach.

The writer predicted the depleted Falcons could win seven games. Calhoun couldn’t believe it. He told his wife the writer should undergo drug testing.

The writer was me. Calhoun was kidding, I think, about the drug testing.

Calhoun had reason for his exasperation. It’s easier, much easier, to compete without the burden of expectation.

For the past two seasons, Calhoun has enjoyed the luxury of competing under the barest of pressure. He was expected to finish near the bottom of the Mountain West Conference. He was expected to lose a lot of games.

His players easily could be motivated by the old “no one respects you” speech.

Give Calhoun credit. He surprised nearly everyone — and maybe himself — by winning 17 games, traveling to two bowl games and reviving a program that had fallen during the final days of the Fisher DeBerry era.

Guess what, coach?

The expectations are back. The luxury of life without pressure is gone. Wins are expected this season, which begins today against Nicholls State.

The offense looks stronger. Quarterback Tim Jefferson is a year older and a survivor of an offseason battling against Calhoun’s doubts. The line is experienced, athletic and mighty.

More importantly, the defense looks more violent. Free safety Jon Davis has the look of a star, and strong safety Chris Thomas should rank among the Mountain West’s top two or three defenders.

For years, the Air Force defense has been far too friendly to opposing offenses. That should change this season. This defensive crew looks downright hostile.

Calhoun is not a big believer in severe tests to start the season. In 2006, DeBerry’s last season, the Falcons opened the season with a trip to Knoxville, Tenn., where they faced nearly 106,000 Volunteers fans. DeBerry and his Falcons nearly shocked Tennessee.

Don’t expect a repeat of this rough opening day challenge during the Calhoun era. He wants a relatively easy game at home to open his season.

He believes the Mountain West Conference offers enough perils.

And he has a point. Calhoun is looking at road games at Utah and BYU along with a home game against the mighty Horned Frogs of TCU.

These MWC challenges explain why Calhoun invited Nicholls State, a Football Championship Subdivision team, to Colorado Springs to open the season. He’s a believer in opening the season slowly.

Calhoun is expected to win today. And expected to win several times in the tomorrows that await him in 2009.

Get ready, coach. This season, I’m not alone in expecting you to win.