A year ago, Colin Cloherty '09 was toiling on Brown's junior varsity football team. This year, Cloherty has emerged as one of the Bears' biggest weapons on offense. Against Cornell last weekend, he hauled in two touchdown passes to help the Bears to a 28-7 victory, and he is now tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions with three. For his efforts last weekend, Cloherty is The Herald's Athlete of the Week.
Herald: You scored Brown's first two touchdowns against the Big Red and both were crucial in helping snap the team's four-game losing streak. How did you manage to step up during the Cornell game?Cloherty: I was playing as the second tight end and also as the fourth wide receiver. (Cornell's) coverages were opening up and we were able to find the holes. I played most of my plays as a wide receiver, but I got both touchdowns as a tight end.
What happened on your two touchdowns?One was on a screen. We put in the Y screen because Harvard had success with it against Cornell the week before. It was a good coaching move. My other touchdown came after I motioned across. (Quarterback and tri-captain) Joe (DiGiacomo '07) scrambled a bit, and then found me in the end zone.
It's getting cold out. How does the game of football change when the weather gets worse?It makes it a lot harder to get excited for practice when it's less than 30 degrees. The aches and pains start to bother you a bit more, but you have to deal with them and move on. The weather isn't going to change.
Did you always play tight end?At Gonzaga High School (in Bethesda, Md.), I played quarterback for a while, but I played tight end and outside linebacker for my junior and senior seasons.
Since you went to high school in Maryland, what was it like starting off the season by playing Georgetown University?It was my first varsity game and I did pretty well. I had one catch for a touchdown, but I also had a touchdown called back. We won, so I couldn't complain too much. It was also great because my entire family, including my three siblings made it there. It was also my birthday. My family lives closer to Georgetown than to my high school, which is about a 45-minute drive.
How is this season different from last year?We haven't been executing as well as we did last year. In general, your first year of college football is much tougher because everyone is a lot stronger and faster. Spring football is when you really get adjusted to the offense.
How is it different personally?Well, I didn't travel last year. Last spring, the coaches told me I might play this year. I was making a few catches and good plays in practice and I thought I might be in the mix, but I didn't think I'd be one of the main weapons on offense.
Do you plan on dressing up for Halloween?I haven't decided between Hugh Heffner and a Duke lacrosse player.
How would you dress like a Duke lacrosse player?Well, I have all of the Duke paraphernalia. Know a few of the kids on the team, since they're from my area back home. No strippers, though.
Do you have any personal goals?I don't have personal goals; I just wanted to get some playing time. I'm always working to get more playing time, but I don't set personal numbers on touchdowns or catches.
What do you like to do when you aren't playing football?As a team, we go to Fox Point every week for community service. A lot of the guys get their jerseys and play around with the kids. Last week, we went in and helped the kids read. Sometimes we play sports with them. Football does consume about 40 hours a week, between meetings, film, practice and games. But I also like to play video games.
What games do you play?I like to play Tiger Woods Gold and FIFA (soccer).
Do you play any football video games?I'm terrible at football video games. I guess I'd be a bad offensive coordinator. I'm also terrible at fantasy football. I just don't care enough to look at stats for 20 minutes a day to determine who I should start.
What is the biggest game for the rest of the season?This weekend's game against (the University of Pennsylvania) because it's the next game. We beat them last year but they've always been really good. I have two friends from my high school playing there and we have a little rivalry.
