Selective Silence : Glendale’s Kaloustian Intends to Use WSC Bowl as Forum

Brian Kaloustian’s coaches at Glendale College call him stoic. Teammates describe him as quiet.

Unless he is asked, Kaloustian does not say much--which says a little bit about the sophomore wide receiver from Burroughs High.

“They’ve characterized me as being shy, but I don’t feel my way is shy,” Kaloustian said. “I just pick my spots.”

Kaloustian plans to make one of them the inaugural Western State Conference Bowl game Saturday night.

Glendale (9-2, 8-1), co-champion of the WSC Northern Division, meets Santa Monica (6-4, 6-3), runner-up in the WSC Southern Division, at Santa Monica at 7 p.m..

Kaloustian is hoping his performance against the Corsairs will speak volumes to the recruiters from 4-year schools who will witness the game and the others who will watch it on tape.

As is the case for all of the Glendale sophomores, the WSC Bowl is the final chance for Kaloustian to impress--something Kaloustian has had limited opportunity to do this season.

Though he leads Vaquero receivers with 20 catches for 378 yards and 5 touchdowns, Kaloustian and the receiving corps have been forced into a secondary role because of the team’s inexperienced quarterbacks and a young offensive line that has resulted in a run-oriented attack.

“I know it’s been a frustrating experience for Brian because we had him touted as a top-notch receiver, but we’ve had problems getting the ball to him,” Glendale Coach Jim Sartoris said.

Kaloustian is not a receiver who intimidates with his physical appearance. At 5-feet, 9-inches, 170 pounds, Kaloustian needs the ball to get noticed.

“He doesn’t look the part of the big, thoroughbred wide receiver that can run, leap out of the stadium and catch and do all the things you sometimes envision a wide receiver being,” Sartoris said. “But he’s proven that he can beat good corners, and he’s smart and catches the ball. So even though he doesn’t look the part, he can perform, and that’s the bottom line.”

Kaloustian was born in Hamilton, Ontario. His family moved from Canada to West Los Angeles when he was 2 then settled in Burbank a few years later.

He began playing football at Burroughs High and was an All-Foothill League receiver his senior year when he teamed with quarterback Jeff Barrett, who now plays at Nevada Reno.

In high school, Kaloustian had a knack for beating defensive backs on deep routes. In a game against Alhambra, he caught 8 passes for 249 yards.

Sartoris, who lives near Burroughs, saw Kaloustian play several times. He recruited him to Glendale where Kaloustian quickly unveiled talent that belied his appearance.

“I didn’t think he was going to be that quick,” said Glendale defensive back Mark McMillan, a preseason All-American. “We had to start giving him a bit more cushion because of his quickness and shifty moves.”

Playing in the shadow of sophomore wide receiver Rocky Palamara, Kaloustian caught 13 passes last season as the Vaqueros tied Bakersfield for the WSC title, then beat Antelope Valley in the Southern California Bowl.

Kaloustian had high hopes for this season, but they were tempered when quarterbacks Keith and Darren Fitzgerald, a sophomore and freshman, respectively, were able to complete just 40% of their passes during the regular season.

Kaloustian, however, does not complain. Neither quarterback has much college playing experience and the Vaqueros are winning despite what has bordered on a one-dimensional attack.

“It gets tough, week after week because most other aspects of the team are doing well and we haven’t performed the way we think we could have,” Kaloustian said of the receivers.

Kaloustian bears the frustration in silence, preferring to redirect his energy back into practice. The quiet way is Kaloustian’s way.

“I don’t really like to say anything unless I think it’s important,” Kaloustian said. “I don’t like to talk just for the sake of talking.

“I’m 19 and I have a lot to learn. I just sit there and listen. I’m learning to learn by listening.”

Kaloustian also does a fair share of watching.

When he is not studying films of upcoming opponents, he watches television and dissects the techniques of professional wide receivers. Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks is an especially provocative subject for Kaloustian, who uses the same study skills that have produced a 3.7 grade-point average to identify and memorize Largent’s moves.

Tonight, Kaloustian intends to leave scouts with similarly acute memories of his performance. Memories that will provide an impetus for recruiting visits--something that Kaloustian wouldn’t mind talking about.