Of all the e-mails, phone calls and letters Jim Caldwell received after his Indianapolis Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl, one stood out.
"Well, I did receive a call from the President," Caldwell said, referring to his cell-phone call from Barack Obama. "In just speaking with him, he talked about how our team handled itself throughout the year, and I was appreciative to hear his voice and get a chance to speak to him. He's a big sports fan as you know."
Caldwell, who spends a large part of his summers at his home in Clemmons, was in town yesterday for the annual Hang the Net Contest at Hanes Hosiery Recreation Center and to receive a Living Legend Award from Art Blevins, the center's director.
Caldwell said he didn't expect the call from Obama.
"They don't have any trouble finding phone numbers," Caldwell joked about the White House tracking him down. "I didn't recognize the number on my cell phone, but I answered it and there was a person from the White House who said you'll be receiving a call from the President within an hour or two. And he called shortly thereafter."
Caldwell said he hasn't dwelled on the 31-17 loss to the Saints and that one thing he has learned in his long coaching career is to always look ahead.
"Losses are never easy, it doesn't matter when they come," Caldwell said. "Losses are always difficult to overcome, and that's a big challenge in our league. You are fighting tooth and nail with quality opponents each week, so that's something you have to be ready for."
Caldwell was one of five Living Legend Award winners. Also honored were: Howard West (the boys basketball coach at Reagan High), Brian Robinson (the girls basketball coach at Bishop McGuinness), Kim Underwood (a reporter and columnist for the Journal) and Allean Sims (a former volunteer at Hanes Hosiery and a long time Winston-Salem State fan).
Caldwell, 55, said he was touched to be honored. After receiving his award, he grabbed the microphone to thank Blevins and to address to the crowd of about 250, most of them children.
"I thought I was too young to be considered a legend," Caldwell said beforehand. "But it's quite an honor to receive this from Art. He's a guy I got to know shortly after I arrived (at Wake Forest) in 1993 and you certainly see he has a big heart and loves this community. He does a lot for the community, and I appreciate that."
Caldwell, the head football coach at Wake Forest from 1993 to 2000, never really left the area. He and his wife, Cheryl, have their home in Salem Glen and have stayed close to North Carolina, where their four grown children and two grandchildren all live.
"My wife gets to spend a little more time here than I do, but through John Justus (the former sports information director at Wake Forest) we were able to coordinate this where I would be here," Caldwell said.
Caldwell said he has had a good offseason, but that he's ready to get back to the grind of football and trying to lead the Colts back to the Super Bowl. Indianapolis will open training camp Aug. 1.
"We enjoy it," Caldwell said of visiting North Carolina. "Our family is here, and all our kids are in the Carolinas and in very close proximity to Winston, but we enjoy this community, and it's been a great place for us. We were treated well when we were here, and that's why we continue to come back as often as we can."
jdell@wsjournal.com
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