Harold Blackmon hears it regularly from teammates and opponents like Iowa wide receiver Kevin Kasper, who “just doesn’t shut up.”

As a fixture in Northwestern’s secondary since 1998, Blackmon knows trash-talking is an integral part of the cornerback-receiver relationship. Lining up face-to-face 75 times per game, wideouts and defensive backs engage in psychological wars where they do — and say — anything to get the slightest edge.

Yet while jeers and putdowns shoot across the line of scrimmage, Blackmon remains silent, keeping his distance.

“I’ve faced plenty of receivers that just refuse to shut up,” Blackmon said. “But I try not to let it get to me and I just try to go about my business. They’ll talk even if they haven’t made a catch all day, and it’s kind of like, ‘As long as you’re not doing anything, it’s all right. You can continue to talk.'”

Lately, Blackmon’s actions have drowned out his opponents’ words.

Blackmon leads the Wildcats with five interceptions, matching his total coming into 2000. With his next pick, Blackmon will move into a tie with Malcolm Hunter for third on the school’s all-time career interceptions list.

Blackmon played a key role Saturday in the Cats’ dramatic 41-35 victory over Minnesota. After his first-quarter interception led to NU’s first touchdown, Blackmon shadowed star wideout Ron Johnson, holding the Big Ten’s leading receiver to only 77 yards. Johnson had been averaging 100 a game.

“He did a great job,” defensive backs coach Brad Bolinger said. “He rose up to that challenge and understood what we were asking him to do and his head was in the game the whole day. And that’s what I expected him to do. If I didn’t expect that from him, we wouldn’t have given him that assignment.”

Johnson was only the latest in a long line of top pass-catchers Blackmon has covered. Clearly the most accomplished and experienced member of NU’s defensive backfield, Blackmon usually is assigned to blanket the opposition’s best wideout.

Though NU coach Randy Walker won’t yet say it, this trend will likely hold Saturday, when the Cats host No. 12 Michigan. Blackmon figures to match up with speedster David Terrell, who has scored five touchdowns and totaled 467 yards this season. Yet numbers and names don’t faze BlackMonday, who has heard it all before.

“I think of it as another receiver, all receivers are good now,” he said. “I just go out there and say, ‘If I play my game and if I focus, I know things will go well.'”

Blackmon long ago overcame the apprehension of covering top receivers. He learned to trust his abilities and eliminate the fear factor.

“As a corner you have no time to be scared,” he said. “If you’re scared, it’s going to show. If you’re scared, you’re not going to take chances, they are going to catch the ball on you all day.”

Though Blackmon brings a fearless attitude onto the field, he does not win every battle. Like any cornerback, Blackmon has experienced the bitter feeling of losing stride with a receiver, cringing as the pass is completed and taking to futile pursuit as the opponent cruises toward the end zone.

In the second quarter of the Cats’ 41-14 loss to Texas Christian Sept. 16, Blackmon bit on a pump fake and quarterback Casey Printers found a wide open Tim Maiden, who waltzed downfield for a 53-yard touchdown. The play gave TCU the lead and Blackmon a lingering memory.

“It was just not typical of me and that’s what made me most upset,” Blackmon said. “It wasn’t like he had to run a great route or make a great catch. I made a terrible read as a corner. I pride myself in being a smart player and I didn’t show it on that play.”

Blackmon’s greatest asset may not be speed or athleticism, but his ability to bounce back strong, Walker said.

“There’s two real important attributes every corner has to have. One is confidence and two is a short memory,” Walker said. “You’re going to get beat some. You can’t go through a game and not give up a play, so you better be able to forget it and go onto the next play, and I think Harold’s been able to do that.”

His resiliency has rubbed off on younger defensive backs like junior Rashidi Wheeler.

“If he does get beat he’s like, ‘You know what? I got beat, it’s going to happen, I’m a corner and I’m just going to go ahead and make a play now,'” said Wheeler, a strong safety. “He’s real positive about it and he bounces back as fast as I’ve ever seen somebody.”

Blackmon patterns his defense after his two favorite NFL cornerbacks — Bryant Westbrook of Detroit and Sam Madison of Miami. Labeling Westbrook and Madison as “down and dirty” corners, Blackmon looks to replicate their physical play and tight coverage.

While he perfects his technique, Blackmon already has the attitude of a leader. This was apparent after the Cats’ last game of 1999, when Illinois thrashed them 29-7.

“After the last game against Illinois I told them, ‘It’s all about our confidence, it’s all about how we react,'” Blackmon said. “That’s what I tell the corners and everyone else on the team. You can’t get caught up in what other people do.”