NFL Network finds Aaron Rodgers' super-fan at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico

By ROGER H. AYLWORTH - Staff Writer

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NFL Network producer Lauren Gaffney (left) talks with Spanish teacher and Aaron Rodgers fan Lee-Anne Calhoon in her classroom at Pleasant Valley High School on Tuesday.(Bill Husa/Staff Photo)<p class='dotPhoto'>All Chico E-R photos are available <a href='http://chicoer.mycapture.com/'>here</a>.</p>

CHICO -- Other than his family, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers probably doesn't have a more ardent fan in his hometown than Lee-Anne Calhoon. And later this month, the entire nation will hear about her devotion.

Calhoon is a Spanish teacher at Pleasant Valley High School, and Tuesday she had a six-person crew from the NFL Network in her classroom.

The crew has been in town since the weekend working on a segment about the Chico hometown hero that will air Jan. 15 on the NFL Network's "Game Day" broadcast.

Lauren Gaffney, Los Angles-based producer for the network, discovered Calhoon in newspaper clippings printed before the Packers won last year's Super Bowl.

Tuesday, while taping a segment at the high school, Gaffney said it was talking to Calhoon that prompted the trip to Chico.

Calhoon, who has a "shrine" to Rodgers that fills one end of her classroom, explained she had been close to the Rodgers family for years, but she didn't really get to know Aaron until after he had graduated from PV and began playing football for Butte College.

Steve Cyphers of Colorado, who was the on-air reporter for the NFL crew, was surprised Calhoon had gotten on the Rodgers bandwagon that early.

"At Butte College he was good. He was awesome," said the teacher, who was decked out in a Green Bay Packers Rodgers jersey, a pair of knee-high Green Bay boots, fingernails done in Green Bay colors, and bright yellow "Cheese-Head" sombrero. Even her spaniel, Salomon, was

wearing a Packers jersey.

The classroom shrine includes jerseys, photos, clippings, a life-size poster on one wall, footballs, and dozens of other items.

Calhoon said she isn't entirely thrilled with the life-size image of the quarterback because it shows him with facial hair. "I don't like him having any hair on his face, (but) I'm not his mother. I'm not his girlfriend. I'm just this little fan."

Calhoon said she got to know Rodgers' family through Pleasant Valley, and through their connection to the Neighborhood Church.

The church connection and a request by Rodgers' parents led to Calhoon praying for the quarterback.

She said she prays through each game as she watches it. She explained to Cyphers that she prays for Rodgers to be calm, maintain his rapport with the team, and that he can be safe.

Calhoon explained that the quarterback always is at risk of a career-ending injury.

When asked if she is a Packers fan, Calhoon said, "I'm an Aaron fan. It's hard not to love Aaron. He's a great player, but he is an even better person," she said.

Of course, if he was traded to another team, Calhoon said she would set aside the Packers' green and yellow and start collecting items appropriate to his new home team.

Staff writer Roger H. Aylworth can be reached at 896-7762 or raylworth@chicoer.com.

Source: http://www.chicoer.com/ci_19670955?source=rss_viewed

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