CARBONDALE (WSIL) 鈥� Over 9 thousand miles from home, SIU punter and Australian native Jack Colquhoun finds some things a little different here in America.
"Every time I go out and I put my boots on everyone kinda looks at me weird聽and they are like what are you talking about no one is wearing boots here," said Colquhoun.聽
Even the menu is a little different from聽his liking.聽
"Being from Melbourne,聽it鈥檚聽massive like health," said Colquhoun.聽"Everything鈥檚 about being vegan, being vegetarian, being free sugar free, and then coming here everything鈥檚 like more sugar on your captain crunch."聽
However, despite being from different cultures, Colquhoun had no trouble fitting in with the Salukis.
"That鈥檚 one thing he talked about," said special teams coach Jared Petrino. "There is nothing that simulates this in Australia as far as teamwork and togetherness and family as a sport like in Australia.聽He just loves the brotherhood."
"6 months down the track I can say that I am one of the boys. They are all my brothers," said Colquhoun.聽"You know I can say I鈥檝e got 104 brothers out there now."
Colquhoun was recruited out of Prokick Australia;聽A school that has a history of producing high caliber punters that play all over in聽the United States.
"It was something I didn鈥檛 expect, working towards to come over here and play football," said Colquhoun.聽聽"But, to get the opportunity to come to Southern Illinois. I鈥檓 just super blessed to be here. It鈥檚 just an amazing place."
Prior to stepping on SIU鈥檚 campus, Colquhoun had never played American football before.聽
"I mean that was the first football game he鈥檚 ever seen and he is actually playing in it," said Petrino.聽 "His first punt he absolutely聽crushes it and I think the jitters got out."
"Probably the hardest part, I聽think is learning the rules," said Colquhoun. "I still stand on the sidelines and knock one of my teammates and ask what was that penalty for or what was that flag for. So, kinda picking up the fundamentals, because for me all I learned back in Australia is if you catch a ball you got to get rid of the ball as quick as you can and kick it as far as you can."
Colquhoun continues to learn the American rules and has hopes of continuing his football career in the NFL. For now he鈥檚 just gearing up for next season.
