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Pair of aces Marshall, Calmus lead OU defense
Updated: Tuesday January 02, 2001 6:31 PM
By Paul Crane, CNNSI.com ATLANTA -- When opponents look at Oklahoma's defense, they do so with 20-10 vision. Whether it's run or pass, No. 20 junior linebacker Rocky Calmus, or No. 10 senior linebacker Torrance Marshall are usually involved. "It's fun," said Calmus. "I mean we are aggressive and go after them [and] not wait for them. We set the tone and the momentum of the game." Marshall calls it an intense desire by both players to make a play. "He wants to make the play as bad as I do," Marshall said, "and it is either meet you there or beat you there with us." The other players on the OU defense know how valuable Marshall and Calmus are to their unit. "Knowing we got two linebackers, No. 10 and 20," says cornerback J.T. Thatcher, "they go out there and give it up every play and just feeding off of that makes the other nine guys go out there and give it up too." The relationship between Calmus and Marshall started with a bit of friction when Calmus, who had played inside for two years, was moved outside to make room for Marshall. The two still don't hang out together, partly because Marshall is married and has two children, but their relationship on the field is now as strong as any set of players on the team. "They support one another by knowing what to do and being in position on the ball," head coach Bob Stoops said. "They are great tacklers and that is how they compliment each other." And now what they want is to win a national title together.
"With us two, we are not jealous of one another," Marshall said. "There is no envy there. We want something good to happen for one another, and we care about each other a lot." But that doesn't mean there still isn't some friendly competition on the field. "Yeah, we talk," Calmus said. "We say, 'I am going to beat you in tackles this year. I am going to get you this week.' We just compete. It is a little bit friendly, but aggressive competition." That competition has been the key to Oklahoma's defense. Calmus has a team-leading 122 tackles, 16 for losses. Marshall, an outstanding blitzer, is close behind with 96 tackles, 14 for losses. And each linebacker has returned an interception for a touchdown. Marshall's late game-winner at Texas A&M could be OU's play of the year. "They have a great friendship," says Stoops, "a great respect for each other. And they adjust as a team, understanding their assignments is where they help one another." At this point in the season, these two players have developed a great awareness of each other on the field. "You don't worry about what if I go this way or this way," Marshall says. "I don't worry about someone not being there. That is not the case with Rocky." Added Calmus, "I think we make a good combo and hopefully, God willing, maybe I will be at the next level with him again." Marshall has said that he too hopes to play with Calmus down the road on Sundays, even though Calmus has one year of eligibility left. For now these very differing personalities will be together for one final collegiate game where the stakes and opportunities have never been higher.
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