Bring On The Mountain West

And so it begins for the Air Force Mens basketball Team....Conference play opens this week, with games Wednesday afternoon at San Diego State and Saturday at Nevada. Where do the Falcons fit in the MWC? At the head of the table its Colorado State. The Rams are undefeated as of 12/29/14 and I think they are the best team at the moment. San Diego State was ranked early and has received a lot of publicity, but they have 3 losses, and, to be fair, have played a tougher schedule than Colorado State. UNLV seems to have the most talent but can they make it all work together? Boise State has a lot of guys back but are battling through injuries. New Mexico is clearly not the same team they were a year ago, thanks to graduation. Wyoming has played well, but against a light schedule and they have played most of their games at home. Then, I see the Falcons. Its an intriguing team...a lot of freshman are playing, and playing well. The key as I see it is how well Max Yon plays. He is the leading scorer and can have big nights, or not score a point. EVERYBODY will look to slow him down. Can he work through that? Marek Olesinski is another important factor. The senior needs to be a consistent 14 point 7 rebound a game guy. Ole (his nickname) has shown flashes, but can he do it every night in the conference? For the Falcons to finish above 500 this year everybody has to have good seasons, not just one or two guys. The conference is down compared to the last year or two. Can the Falcons take advantage? Wednesday will be a good test. The Aztecs are 7th in the nation in defense, but can't throw it in the ocean. Air Force has a good shot to knock off San Diego State on the road, but they must play one of their best games of the year.

Final Call

Rewind back to 2013 after Air Force was pummeled by Colorado State 58-13. The Juniors, who would be seniors in 2014, got together and talked about next year. They came up with a goal...From 10 losses in 2013 to 10 wins in 2014. Some may call that crazy. But they knew 2 wins was unacceptable. They realized no Commander In Chiefs Trophy and no bowl bid was not the standard they wanted to be known by. So they set the bar high going into the 2014 campaign. And why not? There was nothing to lose. And so here we sit, in December, with a bowl game Saturday against Western Michigan. Some may say, (and have) that is its a minor bowl and it doesn't mean much to the Falcons. Tell that to Kale Pearson who missed his junior year because of a knee injury. Tell that to Jordan Pierce who had to climb out of Troy Calhouns doghouse to become a star. Tell that to Michael Husar Jr, who graduates in front of his teammates Friday at a hotel in Boise. Sure, its not Ohio State, and its not the Cactus Bowl. But there is unfinished business for this football team. 10 Wins. Goal Set. Goal Achieved? Perhaps. It won't be easy. Western Michigan, whom you did not follow during the season-who did, finished a respectable 8-4 and has one of the top freshman running backs in the country. But know this....the Goal is within the grasp of the Falcons. An 8 win turnaround in one year in College Football? Doesn't happen often. But its there for the taking. I wouldn't bet against them. Live Coverage of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl begins at 130 Saturday December 20th on 740 KVOR. The Kickoff is set for 345.

The Best For Last?

Air Force and Colorado State meet in the final regular season College Football game for both teams Friday in Colorado Springs. Its a rivalry, yes. On the Kelvin scale, I'm not sure quite where it registers....It's not Michigan-Ohio State...It does not resemble Ole Miss and Mississippi State. It certainly is not the Holy War between Utah and BYU, which for the moment has been discontinued. But Fridays game may take that up a notch or two. CSU must win, and hope Utah State can knock off Boise State Saturday, to win the Mountain Division Title and hope to be ranked by the College Football Playoff Committee to play in a New Years Day Bowl. The Falcons want to finish on a high, at home, on Senior Day. All week I have been saying this game will determine the best College Football Team in Colorado. Air Force looked bad last week against San Diego State. That's not the way this team wants to be remembered. Troy Calhoun has engineered a remarkable turnaround from a season ago. A win puts an exclamation point on it. A victory gives the Falcons an undefeated home record this year. A loss takes away some luster from an otherwise fine season. But since the Rams have a lot riding on this game, you know Air Force would like nothing better, for the sake of the rivalry, to knock off CSU and their New Years Day Bowl Hopes. That's how rivalries are built. In the past this game has meant little to the big picture. But this year that has changed. This is a rivalry, but it could use a few good story lines as a foundation. This is a good place to start. Bring your radios and listen to the game live Friday at 130pm on 740 KVOR.

Qualcomm Quagmire

Air Force is at San Diego State Friday night at 730 on KVOR. The Falcons still cling to an outside shot of winning the Mountain Division title. The Aztecs have plenty riding on this game too. They are in a 3 way tie for first in the West Division, and at 5-5, they still are not bowl eligible. Rocky Long is their head Coach and he has seen the Falcons offense for a number of years as head coach of both San Diego State and New Mexico. Long is a defensive coach and his Aztecs have not allowed a team to get more than 400 yards of offense in the last 6 games. That's very impressive. What makes this game more troubling is several things...1) Air Force usually does not play well in San Diego. Qualcomm is almost as old as Falcon Stadium and is only slightly prettier because they have real grass. 2) Donnell Pumphrey. He is one of the top running backs in the west and has given everyone nightmares. He has 7-100 yard rushing games and has rushed for 15 touchdowns. Slippery does not even come close to describing him. It's like trying to catch a comet. Troy Calhoun and Steve Russ have had sleepless nights trying to slow him down. But on the bright side, the Falcons continue to find ways to win. Yes the Aztecs defense is pretty good, but they have not faced the likes of Kale Pearson and company. Expect the Falcons to run bulldozer fullbacks Shayne Davern and DJ Johnson straight at San Diego State. And, with Jacobi Owens very questionable with a foot injury, we will see a lot more of Devin Rushing, and Pearson, who seems to be getting stronger running the ball as the season wears on. And don't forget those wide receivers. Too many teams have, and the Falcons have made them pay. There's a good chance the bad run of games at Qualcomm for Air Force ends Friday Night.

A Game for the Ages

I told a lot of people after Air Force Beat Nevada Saturday in overtime 45-38, its the best game I have seen at Falcon Stadium in 20 years. For those of you, and there were a lot of you, who did not brave the cold, you missed probably the game of the year in the conference. Two teams, with a lot to play for, tough, tough conditions, going up and down the field, desperate to get a key stop or make a big play. Those types of games happen few and far between, and it was an honor to be there. And after all the yardage, and scores, there were 4 key plays in the game, and 3 went for Air Force...The first was after Nevada recovered an onside kick, but could not get any points off it and Air Force stopped them on fourth down. The second one actually went against the Falcons when they had to settle for a short field goal instead of getting 6. I thought that might cost Air Force the game. Then the sensational interception by Weston Steelhammer. That might be the catch of the year in the conference as he dove through the snow to grab Cody Fajardo's pass. Air Force could not get a first down on the next 3 plays and only took 33 seconds off the clock. But it was huge because Nevada had to use all 3 of their timeouts, so when they got the ball back they could only settle for a field goal from the AF 4 to tie it. And then in overtime Tackle AJ Ruechel pouncing on Devin Rushings fumble to keep the Falcons drive alive, which led to the winning touchdown from Shayne Davern. Its been that kind of season for Troy Calhouns club. Never pretty, but always finding different ways to win. A classic in every sense of the word. A magical season continues.

Tough Stretch

The Air Force Football team has 3 weeks left in its regular season. If they take care of business, and get a little help, they could have 5 games left in the 2014 season. But all that doesn't mean a thing without a win Saturday against Nevada at Falcon Stadium. At 7 and 2 the Falcons have worked hard to be in the position they are in. Nevada is in the Springs Saturday with one of the top QB's in the West, Cody Fajardo, who can hurt you with his arm and his legs. The Falcons should have won in Reno a year ago, but a dropped pass by a wide open wide receiver, and a porous defense were too much to overcome. The Wolfpack lead in the West and control their own destiny so this game is huge for them. For Air Force its a chance to beat a good team with a good record. The Falcons have had few teams like that on the schedule this year. They did knock off Boise State, but lost to Utah State. The game Saturday is the first of 3 against good teams with solid records. The Falcons did what they were supposed to do against inferior teams. They Won. But maybe the true test, and the true memories of this year will be developed in the final 3 weeks. San Diego looms next week and the Falcons don't play well on the West Coast. Then its high flying CSU, ranked 23rd in the A-P poll. 3 tough teams...3 weeks left..Nobody remembers how you start, but they all remember how you finish. Will it be a November to Remember for the Falcons?

Final Push

There's 4 games left in the regular season for the Air Force Football team beginning with Saturdays game at UNLV. I wrote this week about what still lies ahead for the Falcons in this final month of the season. Air Force could win out which could result in a sparkling 10-2 record and a middle of the road bowl game. Or, with help, a 10-2 record could mean a division title and a chance to win the conference Championship. The road to 10-2 starts in Las Vegas. And the Falcons know they cannot take the Rebels lightly. Football is a funny game because there's lots of statistics to suggest how some games should play out. But many times those same games don't follow any script. Take for example Wyomings win last week at Fresno State. The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries and are down to their 3rd string running back Brian Hill. All he did was set a new conference record for all purpose yards as the Cowboys blitzed The Bulldogs 45-17. In Fresno. And honestly, while I thought the Falcons would give Boise State a game, I never thought they would force 7 turnovers and shut them out through the first 3 quarters. And really, who predicted Mississippi St would be #1 in the country in the second week of November? So don't just look blandly past UNLV. They have won this game the last two years. But this, as we all know, is a different Air Force team. They understand who they are, play to their strengths, and bring the lunch pail everyday. Based on records and stats, should Air Force win? Yes...Will they?....We'll find out Saturday beginning at 2 on 740 KVOR.

Not Done Yet

It was a satisfying flight home for the Air Force Football team Saturday Night after defeating Army to win the Commander In Chiefs Trophy and also clinch bowl eligibility. It was, to me, the official stamp the Falcon are back and flying high in College Football. However, the way they dominated that game also reminded me of whats still ahead and what can be accomplished. There's 4 games remaining in the regular season, and I like what Safety Christian Spears said after the game when he reminded everybody the Falcons must now focus on the race for the title in the Mountain Division. While his Coach Troy Calhoun hates to talk about that stuff, Spears is right. Its still a race and if Air Force can get a little help in the next few weeks their season finale against Colorado State could be a title game for the Division Championship. The help they need is for Utah State and Boise State to lose between now and the end of the year. That could, depending on tiebreakers, set up a fascinating winner-take-all showdown at Falcon Stadium November 28th between the Falcons and Colorado State. Now, one more loss and the Falcons can kiss that dream good-bye. But the final 4 games are winnable...UNLV is struggling. You get Nevada at home, although they had a huge win over San Diego State on Saturday. The Aztecs host the Falcons November 21st but have not played well as of late. Its nice to sit and daydream about what-ifs in November. It means you have worked hard to put yourself in position to be a factor late in the season. And while a bowl awaits the Falcons, why can't this season be more than just going to a bowl and winning back the CIC? Why?

Destiny or Danger

Saturday at Michie Stadium at West Point Air Force plays its most important football game in the last several years. They'll meet Army at 930am on 740 KVOR and the stakes could not be much higher. A win, and the Falcons get back the Commander In Chiefs Trophy, and they would be bowl eligible with their 6th victory. Troy Calhoun has downplayed that all this week because that's what Troy Calhoun does. But it does not, should Air Force win, mean the accomplishment would not be significant. The Falcons were dead in the water last year. A soul searching off season and key coaching hires, along with a simpler and hungrier look defensively have Air Force on the brink of reaching a couple of key goals. But there is danger afoot. Army looks like Air Force from last year. I asked their Head Coach Jeff Monken to talk about 1 or 2 areas he would like to see his team get better in and he replied, "Everything." The Black Knights had a team meeting last Monday, and with a bye in their rear view mirror this game Saturday could be construed as a reset, a start to a second season. Because if the Black Knights win they have a shot at the CIC Trophy, and as we all know Navy is down this year. Army, counting Saturday, has 5 games left. But only 2 really count, especially if the Black Knights win. Beat Air Force and Navy and Jeff Monken could lose every game for the next 5 years and receive a 10 year contract extension. Goals are within reach Saturday for the Falcons. But they are also there for the taking for Army.

Rest

Troy Calhoun and I have something in common. We both hate byes during the football season. The Falcons have their second of the season this week. We both prefer 12 weeks of non stop football. I guess they are good if you have had a lousy season, but Air Force is 5-2 and I know a lot of Falcons want to keep the momentum going and keep playing. But the off week is here. It might be a good thing, with a chance to get some rest before the final 5 weeks of the season. Injuries do heal faster with time off and winning records. It also gives the coaches a chance to self scout-look back at the first 7 games and see what the Falcons are doing well, and not so well, and adjust from there. Saturdays win over New Mexico showed some grit and resilience by Air Force, traits they will need again before the season is done. And what this season has shown me is the Falcons can win in a variety of ways. Fullbacks had rushed for only 279 yards before the New Mexico game. Saturday they had 136 and 3 touchdowns. Its never pretty, but it doesn't have to be. Run it, Throw it, Stop it, with a great Defense-Air Force has shown its more than capable of finding whatever works and coming out on top. The final 5 games will prove to be an interesting smorgasbord of teams, from struggling Army, to middling Nevada, to surging Colorado State. A win over the Black Knights brings the Commander In Chiefs Trophy back to the Springs and more than likely puts the Falcons in a bowl. After that you play with house money. But for now, time to Rest.

2nd Half

The 2nd half of the College football Season begins for Air Force Saturday at Falcon Stadium as they host New Mexico. There's a lot at stake for the Falcons down the stretch, but maybe the most urgent task is for Air Force to re-discover their dominate running game. The last 3 games the Falcons have had less that Air Force-like rushing numbers. There's several reasons for the drop off. 1) They have played better defenses-No question about that. Boise St and Navy's defense have been good against the run. And Utah State's Vigil Brothers simply dominated last Saturday 2) Injuries-Losing Sevrin Remmo on the right side of the offensive line did not help, and then his back up Allen Caunitz went down with an injury. They moved Andrew Reuchel from right guard to right tackle, so he's playing out of position. 3) The Fullback Game-Air Force fullbacks have only rushed for a combined 279 yards through 6 games. They have not established that part of the offense enough for defenses to have to treat it seriously. That has made it easier to hone in on Kale Pierson and Jacob Owens. Its been fun to watch the Falcons throw the ball but they are more successful throwing when they WANT TO instead of when the HAVE TO. Look at the Utah State game to see how well that worked. They had to throw because their running game was not there. Saturday the Lobos come to Colorado Springs with an option offense, like Air Force. They have used two quarterbacks, Cole Gautche who is 6'4 235 and Lamar Jordon who is shifty and quick. The problems the Lobos have had is stopping the run with their defense. San Diego State torched them for 397 yards rushing last week. Arizona State put 423 on the Lobo Defense and Utep ran for 330. So perhaps its a good time for Air Force to play New Mexico and get their running game back up to speed.

Reset

Who among us thought after 6 football games Air Force would be 4-2? I didn't think so. My best case scenario was 3-3, and that included a win over Wyoming. But here the Falcons stand at the halfway mark at 4-2. And yes, it hurt to lose to Utah State because the Falcons hurt themselves against a good team. But 4-2 should be cause for a quick slap on the back, and a re-focus of what lies ahead. There are winnable games in the final 6, and while it might be tough to get back in the hunt for the Mountain Division title, a shot at the Commander In Chiefs Trophy and a bowl game are certainly within reach. But what does Air Force have to do to get there? The Falcons running game is not quite in sync. They have had average (for them) games the last 3 contests. Some of that may be attributed to injuries on the offensive line. And I believe other teams feel their pass defense is as good or better as the Air Force pass offense, and will load up the box. Plus, and keep this in mind, the Falcons have faced 3 very good rush defenses in the last 3 weeks. The Air Force defense has been the story of the season, but they have been on the field a bit too much and could use more 12-15 play drives from the offense to keep them fresh. Saturday New Mexico comes to Colorado Springs. They run the option, and gave Air Force fits last year in beating the Falcons. A win starts a new winning streak and puts you a game away from bowl eligibility. Then a well deserved week off before the final 5 contests in November. If Air Force can correct some issues and get healthy on the offensive line the second half of the season may hold as many surprises as the first 6 weeks.

UTAH STATE

I'm trying to remember the last time Air Force played an important game that meant something in the standings. Its been a awhile, which tells you how far the Falcons have come this year. Saturdays game against Utah State carries a lot of meaning. The Aggies are the defending Mountain Division Champions, and despite a so-so 3-2 start they have a team built to repeat and again play in the conference championship game. These are heady days for Air Force, at 4-1, winners of 3 in a row, coming off wins against Boise State and Navy. I continue to marvel how well the defense is playing. They allowed only 135 yards of total offense against Navy in the second half last week. This week in Utah State, the Falcons face a team much more balanced than the Midshipmen. In some ways, they are better, even though they are missing starting QB Chuckie Keeton. He's out for the season again, with an injury. It happened last year as well. Then Freshman Darrell Garretson came in and led the Aggies to the Mountain Division crown. He's a sophomore now, and has been just as effective. This game could turn into a defensive struggle. We know how good the Falcons are defensively. Utah State is 8th in the nation in rush defense, and they have an excellent secondary. The Aggies have already scored 4 non offense touchdowns, on a punt return, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Its been a season where the ball has bounced in the Falcons favor, and I think it happens against Saturday night. It will be close. I like Air Force 24-21. Our live coverage begins at 6 Saturday night, with the kickoff at 815 on 740 KVOR.

Making Up For Lost Time

How fun has it been the last two weeks to be an Air Force Football Fan? Not that it wasn't fun before. But lets be honest, when you win, the sun shines brighter, your food tastes better, the dog pissing on the rug doesn't seem as big of a deal. The buzz in your ears is the noise coming from Falcon Stadium the last couple of weeks after wins over Boise St and Navy. Its fun to win, and whats more impressive is how the Falcons are doing it. Do you realize they beat Navy by scoring 4 touchdowns, ALL THROUGH THE AIR? 4 touchdown passes. That's called doing what you have to do. It wasn't that long ago when the Falcons, be damned, would run the ball because by God that's what we are known for. It wasn't so long ago when Air Force played a bend-but-don't-break-defense because, well maybe they won't score. Good-bye to all that. Now its an Air Force Team that's known for DEFENSE because they play with a motor and an urgency that's breathtaking. They ATTACK and break the will of the opposing team. The offense still runs the ball, but, you want to crowd the line, fine. We'll throw it down the field, then send our placekicker in for the extra point. The Falcons have an attitude. It belies the personality of Troy Calhoun who publicly is the same, win or lose. And there's nothing wrong with that, but only when you're winning. 4 wins 5 games into the season? 2 wins shy of bowl eligibility in early October? YES SIR! With a cherry on top!!! Now, nothing is promised the rest of the way and there's plenty of tough games ahead, starting Saturday in Logan against Utah State. Buts its a lot more fun to play with attitude, verve and moxy, than to just sit back and go through the motions. And, the results have rightly followed. The Falcons are alive. Just listen to the buzz.

Navy

I have had a tough time this week getting a read on the Air Force Navy Football game Saturday at Falcon Stadium. On the surface its easy to say the Falcons have a lot of momentum after beating Boise State, and Navy is hurting after dropping to 2-3 with a loss against lightly regarded Western Kentucky. But rivalry games are so different. These programs do not like each other period. Most of the games have been close but its been Navy that's come out on top 9 of the last 11 times. Sometimes we in the media look beyond the game plans and schemes and try to factor in emotion, rivalry, and other aspects. The game is ultimately decided on the field. Now, there's no question, there's an extra jump in everybody's step leading up to the game, and its more than game #5 to Air Force and #6 for the Midshipmen. But after the first couple of series its really block and tackling. Here's where I think the Falcons have an edge, and again, (no surprise) its on defense. With the Falcons new look on that side of the ball I think Navy will have a tough time getting their option attack going. The Falcon linebackers are much closer to the line of scrimmage, and I think they can limit what Navy does when they run the football. The other aspect I find interesting is will Air Force use a four man defensive front and how will that affect Navy? The key for the Midshipmen is Quarterback Keenan Reynolds. He is a stud. Reynolds set an NCAA record last year with 31 rushing touchdowns. He's had big games against Air Force. Reynolds had an awful game last week against Western Kentucky, and he apologized to his team this week. The Falcons have to hit him on every play and can't let him be a factor. If he is, then Air Force is in trouble. Reynolds is that good. The Navy defense has given up a lot of yards and points this year, but they have also played two Big Ten teams. Air Force has more weapons this year offensively and may have to use all of them Saturday. Bring your radios and listen to the game live at 130pm, with the pregame at 1130am Saturday Morning on 740 KVOR.

Redemption

A game Air Force Football fans have been waiting for since Tim Deruyter left Colorado Springs was played Saturday September 27th 2014. Deruyter was the Falcons defensive coordinator 7 years ago and his gambling, aggressive style forced turnovers and sacks and resulted in wins and bowl games. Since his departure several years ago the Falcons defense has been searching for an identity. They found it Saturday night. Air Force showed flashes of a better defense against sub par opponents the first 3 games this season. But the true test would be against Boise State. The Broncos are balanced, deep, experienced, and used to getting everybody's best game. Last night the Falcons defense played with a snarl, a motor, a passion, an anger, that Springs football fans have not seen in years. 7 Turnovers were forced by Air Force. 7. They only had 9 all of last year. 5 interceptions, 3 by Weston Steelhammer. Another inspired game by Jordan Pierce. A fierce pass rush led by Alex Hansen, and Nick Fitzgerald. 4-4th down stops. A blocked field goal. And, imposing your will on the Bronco offense. And it all led to a 28-14 win over the Broncos. The mastermind behind all this? Steve Russ, who was officially named defensive coordinator after Charlton Warren left for Nebraska. But this story actually started last year. After losing to Navy in 2013 Troy Calhoun replaced Warren with Russ. At the time Russ could not make the wholesale changes I'm sure he felt was needed. After Warren's departure Russ laid out a simple defensive game plan. He reduced the defensive playbook-less thinking on the field, and more reacting, more playing. He realized the defense can't sit back. It must attack. He challenged the secondary and put more man to man coverage in. He moved the cornerbacks and the outside linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage. He identified Weston Steelhammer as a playmaker and has given him freedom to attack from anywhere. He's getting inspired play from Jordan Pierce who has overcome some challenging days just several months ago to become the face of this defense. And it all came together against Boise State. Falcon Stadium has not buzzed like that in a long time. 1 game does not a season make. But 1 game can reverse fortunes and become a benchmark. It was only 1 game. But what a game.

Game Day Boise St

Quite the opportunity awaits Air Force Saturday at Falcon Stadium as they face Boise State. A win, and a shot at a bowl game takes on new life. A close loss and maybe the fan base sees progress coming off of last year. A big loss-that could be devastating. The Falcons LOOK better on both sides of the ball. But looks don't necessarily mean wins. Its like getting a race car and taking it for a spin down the interstate. Nice, but the true test is how does it perform at Pikes Peak International Raceway when they use to race down there. Saturdays game against the Broncos is a measuring stick for Troy Calhoun's team. Boise State is loaded everywhere. They will score points. The key for the Falcons will be forcing 1-2 turnovers and getting just enough stops with their defense. The pressure, I think, is on Kale Pearson and the offense. Remember the play I said I couldn't talk about during the summer? It was a quick screen to wide receiver Jalen Robinette. Air Force threw it 3 STRAIGHT TIMES to open the game against Wyoming. They need to have that kind of mentality against the Broncos. Now, they can't throw it 30 times a game and win. But can you throw it 18-20, and keep the vaunted Broncos Rush defense guessing? I would. It should free up Running Back Jacobi Owens and Devin Rushing. And it could create plays off play action for Robinette and Garret Brown. Many will watch the Air Force defense. Is it better against the pass? Well, I know the Falcons won't play 10 yards off the line of scrimmage against Grant Hedrick like last year. That should help. Getting pressure on Hedrick will be tough. I think the Falcons may have to play with 4 down lineman most, if not all the game, and in obvious passing situations rush 6, yes 6 guys. If they sit back Boise State will feast on the Falcons. Bring your radio and listen to the game beginning at 3 with our pregame show on 740 KVOR.

Afraid

Air Force Football Coach Troy Calhoun was at his press conference this week, talking about Boise State, when a reporter asked him if his team was afraid of the Broncos. Troy talked about the cadets that go to school at the academy having courage because of the commitment they have made to this country and the Air Force following graduation. I wasn't there so I don't know who the reporter was, or if it was even a local person. But the question pisses me off to no end...Afraid? Give me a break. The Football players, (and the cadets in general) are fearless, and have put their country before themselves in committing to the Air Force. We are in a time of war, and yet young men and woman are signing up to come to the Academy, knowing what the greater mission is and that their lives are at stake. Its an ignorant question from a reporter whose idea of Service before Self is buying cookies from the Girls Scouts in front of a grocery store. Calhoun is not the kind of coach who would share that with his team, but I wish he would. Boise State is a good team, and a program that has earned all the accolades that have come their way. But this reporters question suggests the Broncos are superior to the Falcons. Shouldn't that be decided on the football field? I don't think that question represents how the Broncos feel about Air Force as a football team. But its a reminder to me that some see the Falcons as a football program struggling to regain some luster. They are partially right. Coming into this year, the Falcons are just 15-23 from 2011-through 2013. But there was no "fear" when Air Force beat a ranked TCU team at Falcon Stadium. There was no "fear" when Air Force defeated Ohio State in the Liberty Bowl. There was no "fear" when Fisher Deberry went for 2 late in the game, only to come up short in a 1 point loss at Tennessee. There's no "fear" in scheduling Michigan State in 2015 and Michigan in 2017. But it has been awhile since the Falcons had a big win against a name opponent. No better time to start than this Saturday against Boise State. Afterwards that reporter can ask Broncos Head Coach Bryan Harsin if his team was scared of the Falcons.

What We Know after 3 Games

A mid September bye gives Air Force a chance to take a step back and for Troy Calhoun to look at his football team and plot for the rest of the season. Several Things stand out after their 2-1 start: 1) LB Jordan Pierce is the real deal. He was in Calhoun's doghouse for unspecified reasons, but since starting for the injured Joey Nichol, has been magnificent. He had 10 tackles against Georgia State and has 19 in 3 games along with an interception, 1 sack and 4 tackles for loss. Watching him play, he reminds me of Chris Gizzi. He must stay in the lineup even after Nichol comes back from injury. 2) Air Force is pretty good against the run, but their pass defense needs some work. I do think its better than last year. But the Falcons still must cover better and get some more pressure on the opposing teams quarterback. The linebackers must cover better, and Air Force may have to consider rushing 5 on passing downs consistently, and when you have a running quarterback that 5th rusher should be a linebacker who is a "spy", going wherever the qb goes. 3) I thought against Georgia State the Falcons finally showed the perfect blend of run plays versus pass plays. The Falcons threw it 15 times. That's enough to keep opposing defenses on their toes, and when they are not, look what happened. 2 touchdown passes from Kale Pearson to Garret Brown. Brown is a real weapon, catching the ball and getting handoffs in the backfield. He must touch the ball at least 10 times a game. He had 6 catches for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns...Jalen Robinette-get him the ball as well. He had 4 catches for 118 yards, and he stretched to haul one in to set up an Air Force score. He is a weapon, but only if you use him. A quick bubble screen to him is a 5-7 yard pass play, and if he breaks it, we move the chains. ......RB Jacobi Owens. He already has 431 yards rushing in only 3 games. Work Him-give him 20 carries a game. He turns 2 yard gains into 4 yard efforts....6 yard gains into 8 yard plays..The defense has to focus on him, which means when you want to throw play action, the Falcons have the advantage. 4) I know fans were bummed the Georgia State score was as close as it was, but the Panthers have a good passing attack. Moving forward I would love to see Air Force continue to find their play makers on offense, and try to improve their pass defense. After this weeks bye, its a gauntlet of tough teams...Boise State, Navy, and Utah State. How the rest of the season fares may well be determined over the next 3 weeks. But play to your strengths, and these Falcons could be better than people think.

Passing Fancy

I know. You see the title and you think I'm talking about Air Force throwing 32 times against Wyoming. However I am referring to this Saturdays game against Georgia State in Atlanta, because I think its a true test for the Falcons. Last weeks win by Wyoming was a result of the Cowboys getting out of character and throwing the football a lot. That's how they drove down the field to score the game winning touchdown with 58 seconds remaining. Passing teams simply killed Air Force last year. The Falcons didn't help themselves with a prevent defense mindset a season ago. So Saturday, here come the Panthers, with a quarterback who threw 73 touchdowns, (yes 73) in 2 years of junior college play. His name is Nick Arbuckle. In 2 games this year he is averaging 353 yards passing. How much better is Air Force on defense and specifically against the pass? This matchup will prove to be a good indicator of what we can expect going forward. Both Troy Calhoun and Outside Linebackers Coach Matt Weikert told me this week the Falcons gave a little too much cushion on the last drive to the Wyoming wide receivers. Saturday, Georgia State will toss the ball all over the place, including to their tight end Joel Ruiz who is very good. Can Air Force slow down the Panthers passing attack? Can they get pressure on Arbuckle and force him into some poor throws? Will the Falcons be able to tighten up the coverage, especially without Safety Jamal Byrd who will miss the game because of an injury? With the exception of Navy and Army, the rest of the teams Air Force will play this year throw the football to varying degrees. How well the Falcons play the pass Saturday against Georgia State may go a long way to telling us how this season will turn out. Injury notes: In addition to Byrd, LB Joey Nichol will miss the game because of a groin injury, and FB Shane Davern could miss up to 6 weeks because of a knee injury. The Falcons do hope to have LT Matt Rochell back in the lineup. He went out during the Wyoming game with a concussion. But he has felt better this week, and if he passes the safety protocols, will play Saturday. Listen to the game live at 12p on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Some Pluses, Some Minuses

The long drive home from Laramie Sunday Morning hurt that much more when thinking back to Saturday nights 17-13 loss by the Air Force Football team to the Wyoming Cowboys. There were so many plays that could have gone the other way for the Falcons. Its a reminder that you never know what 1-2 plays may turn a game. Like Will Conants miss on a 39 yard field goal, or Broam Hart's fumble in the 4th quarter, or a perfect pass from Kale Pearson to Jalen Robinette that Robinette failed to stretch out for, or Troy Calhouns decision to go for it on 4th down, rather than punt, leading to the Hart fumble, and Wyoming eventually tying the game. Or throw in the penalties, one on a Kale Pearson touchdown run, and another on a big 41 yard gain off a pass play to Tight End Garret Griffin. This is what you think about when you lose. At some point you do focus on the outstanding effort by the Air force Defense, holding the Cowboys to 51 yards rushing and allowing Wyoming to convert only 4 of 14 3rd down attempts. You look at the Falcons throwing 32 times in this game, and the success they had, at times, going to Robinette, and to their tight end Griffin. But you add it all up and its the 10th consecutive conference loss by the Falcons. The margin between winning and losing is slim. If its fair to make judgments 2 games into the season the Falcons are much better on defense and still a work in progress on offense. And sometimes you can steal wins with your defense. But that chance flew away into the Wyoming night Saturday. But there is hope. This team is improved from a season ago. But they need to make those 1-2 plays go their way beginning this weekend at Georgia State.

Wyoming

Yes, Saturdays Air Force-Wyoming football game in Laramie is big, and not because its the next game on the schedule. It should tell the Falcons if they have improved from a season ago. Yes, its a rival game, especially because of Dave Christensen's tirade two years ago, and last years perceived disrespect by the Wyoming band playing during the 3rd verse. But leave all that aside and just look at Saturday and it should be a great matchup on the field. With new coach Craig Bohl the Cowboys play things closer to the vest. They will run the football a lot with Shawn Wick and DJ May. Air Force will do the same. So the pressure is really on both defenses. The Falcons would love to get the ball on the exterior to Jacobi Owens. I think they can do that but only if they call designed plays for him. If QB Kale Pearson goes into option mode, the Cowboys will force him to either hand it off the Shane Davern the Fullback, or to keep the ball himself. I think the Air Force will have to spread the field with their offensive formations, and try to get Owens, and Garret Brown in space, with a chance to break some plays. Wyoming wants to feed Wick and May the football-alot. They have a red-shirt senior at QB in Colby KirkeGaard. But he has not played a lot of football. Wyoming will ask him to manage the game, not win it. The Falcons have to force the Cowboys into a lot of 3rd and 7's and longer, then put pressure on KirkeGaard. Air Force will have to crowd the line of scrimmage and maybe play bigger than they are. And both teams will throw the occasional play action pass. Would love to see Air Force look for their tight end Garret Griffin over the middle. The Falcons have won 4 in a row in Laramie. What does it mean? Nothing. Wyoming starts 9 seniors on defense. What does that do for the Cowboys? It gives them confidence. But that can be shattered with one missed assignment and a long run by a Falcon back. I think this game comes down to a field goal. It should be fun. Our Air Force coverage beings at 6 Saturday night, with the kickoff at 815 on 740 KVOR.

Nothing

Thoughts following the Falcons 44-16 win over Nicholls St Saturday: Its good to get the first game out of the way-and win it................. And thats it....Don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way, but Air Force started this way last season with a Parents Day win over an FCS team, and we all know what happened after that. Yes, I loved the running of Jacobi Owens, the fact Air Force had 5 sacks and 6 tackles for losses on defense. But until those performances and numbers come against a MWC team, I'm in a wait and see mode. I'm always optimistic and I do like the newly discovered energy I have seen from Air Force. I think Steve Russ will get this defense playing MUCH better than it did a year ago. But one win over Nicholls St answers zero questions about this team. Saturdays game against Wyoming is a HUGE HUGE HUGE game because we'll find out how much true improvement this squad has made against a much better team. Other observations: I noted the other day Kale Pearson would carry the ball 10 times or less. He had 8 carries for 46 yards. He took a couple of good hits on his right leg, but popped up. He seemed to get more comfortable as a runner as the game wore on......That play I couldn't talk about in my last blog was a quick screen pass to wide receiver Jalen Robinette. It went for 0 yards Saturday. But I love the fact the Falcons have it in their playbook. Robinette will break 1 or 2 of those this year....Garrett Brown will surprise some teams. He had 5 rushes for 45 yards and a touchdown, and 1 catch for 6 yards. He is a good player.....On the injury front, Linebacker Joey Nichol was held out for much of the second half. I asked Troy Calhoun about that and he said "We'll see" meaning, at the moment he may, or may not play against Wyoming. Not sure how he got hurt.

Nichols St

What to expect Saturday....It won't be 72-0 like it was in 2009. The Colonels come in with a Senior at Quarterback in Kalen Henderson. He is a transfer from Tulsa who is a threat to throw and run. Good Player. He played early last year, then hurt his leg and was lost for the season. The one true weapon he has is at wide receiver in Keenan Canty, who had a year of eligibility left after graduating from Colorado. Other than that Nichols (which is what they preferred to be called) is very young at the skill positions. The Colonels defense last year was as bad as the Falcons. They too have a new coordinator, so we'll have to see how they play the option. Not sure what to expect. For Air Force I think the Falcons play it close to the vest in terms of formations, plays and defensive schemes. Save that for conference games. But what you will see are some changes on defense. It will look at times like the Falcons are lining up in a 4-2-5. I don't think you will see as much substituting as you did last year. The Cornerbacks will play man to man a majority of the time, and will line up right on the line in the face of the receivers. No more 9 yards off the line of scrimmage. I will also be watching to see how Kale Pearson holds up at quarterback. How many times will he carry the ball? How many times will he get hit? I will be surprised if he has more than 10 carries Saturday. We will see a lot of running backs Jacobi Owens, Devin Rushing, and Shayne Davern, who at 245 pounds is the biggest fullback the Falcons have had in the last 20 years. I don't think Troy Calhoun will showcase much of his offense this weekend. I like 35-14 with good guys on top. Hope to see you at the game. Bring your radio and follow us live beginning with the pregame at 10am on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Speed Kills

The other day watching the Air Force Football team practice, I saw the Falcons offense run a play that I can't tell you about. One of the agreements allowing the press to attend practice is you don't write or tweet about specific plays or formations. My hope is, Air Force runs more of this kind of play I can't talk about in the 2014 season. As I look at the Air Force roster I see several players on offense who have size and/or speed. And some of them are not running backs. Now, I am not advocating the Falcons throw the ball 50 times a game, or get away from their option offense. What I would like to see is a little more creative play calling, using players who are fast and quick, who can hurt the defense. Air Force has those players, from Wide Receiver Jalen Robinette, who stands 6'3 and weighs 220 pounds, to Z Backs Garret Brown, who had a solid year a season ago, and veteran Jon Lee, who was moved to the Z Back position. When you have talented players, you try to get them the ball, "in space," which essentially means you put them in a position in the open field where their athleticism can take over. Air Force did it 7 years ago with Chad Hall. He was the conference MVP that year. The Falcons have a myriad of formations, designed to confuse the defense. Teams come in each week trying to stop the option attack. If you, every so often, give the opposition something else to think about (The play I can't tell you about) it will make the defense hesitate just a bit. While College and Pro Football can be complicated, there's also times when ALL coaches overthink it. Just use the tools you have in your tool box.

Potential

There's a lot to be excited about watching the Air Force Football team work out as the season opener approaches in a bit more than two weeks. You can feel a different energy at practice, especially from the defense. Now, we all must remember, its practice, and its early. But if this Falcons team can stay healthy it may surprise a lot of people. Here are some of the things that have stood out to me as I've watched practice... 1) A Lesson Learned from last season-Cornerbacks are now up on the line, just 2-3 yards away from opposing wide receivers. Last year you could park a bus between the wideouts and the cornerbacks. I never figured out why an apparently easy fix was never made, and the defensive backs stayed off the line all season long. That's changing under new Defensive Coordinator Steve Russ. 2) Outside LB's are now closer to the line, and at times, on the line of scrimmage. In my opinion, it gives opposing offenses a lot more to think and worry about. Plus it gives Steve Russ more options. Its clear the "sit back and don't get beat" mentality is gone from the Falcons, and thats good news. 3) Wide Receivers...Air Force is deep at this position with Jalen Robinette, Garret Brown, Alex Ludowig, and others. How involved they'll be, in terms of catching the ball, remains to be seen. 4) Quarterbacks. At the moment, unless something changes, Kale Pearson is the starter. He is wearing a knee brace because of last years season ending injury, but is moving well and is not limited in anything he does. He's been in the program for several years, but is still unproven. Nate Romine and Karson Roberts are battling for the backup job. A lot of guys played last year. This years team will be deeper because of that. Everything that could have gone wrong for the Falcons did a season ago. Here's hoping this year will mark a turnaround. Listen to the Falcons all season long on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Tourney Time

End of the season basketball tournaments are fascinating. If you are team thats had a really really good year, you are in the NCAA Tournament and all you are playing for is a good seed. So the end of the year conference tournament has some importance for you. If you have been an up and down squad you hope for 3-4 days you play the best basketball of the year and get to the title game with an upset in mind. For a team like Air Force, who has struggled the last month, this is not about making a token appearence Wednesday in the Mountain West Tournament and bowing out. Call me crazy, and maybe I am, but I still feel this team has a run left in them, and unfinished business. I look at how they went through the first half of the Mountain West Schedule, and its easy to see more than flashes. You see consistent minutes from a young team playing hard. The second half of the season has been rough, no question. The Falcons are having a tough time making shots, teams are really drilling down on leading scorer Tre Coggins, and the Falcons are facing a lot of zone defense, and can't seem to shoot teams out of it. But The Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas has been an interesting place for Air Force. They beat UNLV there earlier this year. They tend to play well on that floor. And in my mind, it all boils down to a simple solution-make shots. If the Falcons start hitting shots just watch their confidence zoom. No one is expecting Air Force to go far based on the 2nd half of the season. But if Air Force regains their shooting touch they will not be an easy out.

"Let Er Fly"

Air Force Basketball Coach Dave Pilipovich has watched his team lose a number of close games, shoot poorly, and, at times, show a lack of confidence this season. At his press conference this past Monday he said he told his team he wanted them to just play basketball, and not worry about shot selection. He said he wanted his team to "get back in the sandbox and have fun." If the Falcons win over Wyoming Wednesday was a result of his marching orders, then maybe there's a run left in the Falcons. Air Force hit critical free throws late, and came up with several defensive stands to beat the Cowboys 55-53. Sophomore Guard Tre Coggins told me after the game as things were tight down the stretch Air Force was relaxed because of what his head coach told the team Monday. The Falcons weren't afraid to make mistakes, or take bad shots. They just played basketball, and they earned a hard fought, gut check win over the Cowboys. Its not easy to win in Laramie. Air Force is only the 3rd team to do it this year alongside New Mexico and SMU. And yes, Wyoming is missing their star center Larry Nance. But its still difficult to win at the Arena Auditorium. What frustrates Air Force fans is the Falcons have shown more than once a talent level to win a number of games this year. That hasn't happened with as much regularity as everyone had hoped. But as this season winds down maybe the Falcons and Pilipovich have hit on something. Maybe its less about shot selection and statistics and zone defense and maybe more about just playing, shoot the ball, and lets see what happens. It was in Wyoming and it turned out well for the Falcons.

Time for a Run

There are basketball games that, after a loss, you look back on lots of mistakes. And then there are games where a team makes one or two more plays than you and wins. The Air Force game against San Diego State last Saturday falls into the latter catagory. The Falcons played hard and had trimmed a double digit defecit down to 4 with a bit more than 2 minutes left. But a missed shot by the Aztecs turned into an offensive rebound and a basket leading to a 3 point play and the Falcons fell. But look at the box score and you see how hard Air Force played. They survived a horrible night from Trey Coggins who was just 2-12 from the field. They were outrebounded by just 1. The Falcons were steady against the Aztecs halfcourt press, and if they make 1 or 2 more plays Air Force beats the then #5 team in the nation. Thats how fine the line is between winning and losing. And while losing hurts and there are no moral victories, I thought the Falcons grew as a team during that game. Air Force has 5 regular season games left beginning this Saturday at home against Nevada. The Wolfpack lost at home Wednesday night to San Jose State, who up until then was winless in the conference. Then its a road game Tuesday night at Wyoming where the games are always tight, against a Cowboys team that sadly just lost Center Larry Nance for the rest of the year to a torn knee ligament. Then its a home game against up and down UNLV, a team Air Force defeated in Las Vegas in early January. If the Falcons can learn from their recent 6 game losing streak, and remember games like San Diego State, a late season run is certainly possible. Listen to Saturdays game at 2 on 740 KVOR, and for a chance to win tickets to the game go to KVOR.com and register under the contest tab.

What Will It Take?

The Air Force Mens Basketball team has come so close in so many games this season. But the results, in many cases, have been the same. Close losses to CSU, Fresno State, Boise State and Nevada on the road have been paired with tough setbacks at home against Wyoming, and again, Colorado State. And in virtually all those cases, the Falcons have fallen apart in the last several minutes. Its tough to write that, and I know for Dave Pilipovich, tougher to watch that. But the tape don't lie. Brent Briggeman from the Gazette has a great stat: During the Falcons 6 game losing skid they have been outscored in the final 5 minutes of regulation,(and Overtime) 88-40. Those numbers are huge-no stops on the defensive end and a lack of offense when Air Force has the ball. But the problem is not on the floor so much as it is mentally. Lose composure game after game and it becomes a deep rut, a valley, you can't get out of. There's only so much coaching that can help. Its up to the 15 players who uniforms say Air Force to figure it out. There's time to do that this year. Can it start against San Jose State Wednesday Night? Listen to the game at 8 on 740 KVOR.

The Pain of Losing

Over 19 years of calling Air Force Mens Basketball games I have seen some tough losses by the Falcons. Saturdays loss on the road at Nevada was right up there under the "Painful" heading. The Falcons had the ball and a 2 point lead with 28 seconds left. The Wolfpack tied it, and then outscored the Falcons 15-2 in overtime for the win. Those kinds of losses stay with you, no matter what people say. How you treat that adversity is the difference between losing more tough games or learning from the setback and going on a winning streak. The Falcons can go from cold to hot to cold so fast its incredible. After 9 conference games Air Force is 3-6, and I've seen enough good things in the 6 losses to say they could be 5-4 at this point. Thats whats so frustrating. Playing consistently for 40 minutes. Its fleeting for the Falcons, and no matter what you may see or hope, the Falcons are still 3-6 in the Mountain West. Air Force is back home Wednesday Night against Fresno State. In sports it helps to have, at times, a short memory. It also helps to remember the pain of losing, but only if you do enough good things to avoid that same pain. Thats the charge for Air Force. Otherwise its a lost season of opportunity.

Road Test

Next up 2 road games for the Air Force Mens Basketball Team....Wednesday Night at Boise State. Saturday afternoon at Nevada. If you want to make waves, and get attention and show you are a better basketball team, you win on the road in the Mountain West. Now granted, The Falcons are still young in terms of playing experience. But losses by 6, 6, 7 and 7 points in conference play certainly show this team is capable of winning anywhere. But until those losses become wins it will be a struggle. As time and game situation dictate the Falcons have to be mentally tougher in all areas of the game...shooting, ball handling, defense, and rebounds. And just as important is finishing in the top 5 of the conference because you get a first round bye in the tournament. Yes, its too early to start talking about that, but its never too early to position yourself in the upper half of the Mountain West.

Crawling, Walking, Running

After the Air Force mens Basketball team lost to Wyoming this past Wednesday I talked with junior Forward Kam Williams. The Falcons have lost 4 Conference games by 6, 6, 7, and 7 points. I asked him how do you turn close losses like Wyoming into close wins. Williams replied, "Like Coach said, we gotta grow up." Air Force played at times like a veteran team against the Cowboys, opening up a 15 point halftime lead in the first half. But from then on, in the words of Head Coach Dave Pilipovich, "We got cute." The Falcons threw out their chest and said, "Look at us." They played soft, without as much fire, confident Wyoming would not mount a challenge. Wrong. The Cowboys stayed the course, with their second leading scorer in foul trouble, and their head coach back in Laramie on doctors orders. Late in the 2nd half the young Falcons looked unsure, hesitant, and tentative, and wound up losing, falling to 3-4 in conference play. I got the feeling after talking in the postgame with Pilipovich that he's seen enough. Almost as if he has seen this version of the team the last couple of weeks after an excellent 2-0 start in conference play. That quick burst out of the gate has given fans and media reason to be optmistic about this season. But I also believe it may have given the players a bit of a false sense of how the rest of the season could play out. Pilipovich is one of the rising stars on the national coaching scene. He is an excellent coach and motivator. He will get this team back on track. These Falcons have the potential to be very good this year. But they can't act the part. They have to show it every game, for 40 minutes. They just can't show up and live off two early season surprise wins. You learn how to win by learning from tough losses. You learn to walk as a baby after falling a few times. Can the Falcons go from walking to running this year? Thats the question.

So Close

Another tough loss for the Air Force Mens Basketball team Saturday, falling by 6 at Colorado State. The Falcons have now lost 3 MW games by a 6, 6 and 7 points. Its said there is a fine line between winning and losing. Air Force has toed that line but now must step over it. Look, every game is going to be close, on the road and at home. The Falcons had a 5 point lead with 5:33 left at Colorado State. They coughed that up and trailed by 3 with 22 seconds left. They must find a way to handle both situations. San Diego State has won the last 107 games they've played where they have led with 5 minutes to go. There is an inner toughness, a resolve, to winning games like that. To me, its encouraging to see the Falcons have some of that inner toughness. I think, because of inexperience, they show it in flashes, and have not been as consistent with it as they need to be late in games. We saw it against Utah State. We saw it on the road at UNLV. It was missing against Fresno State and this past Saturday. You need it the most on the road, where, in the Mountain West, you draw the most attention when you win games. The hope is January close game losses turn into February close game wins.

3 AT A TIME

I love the way Air Force Mens Basketball Coach Dave Pilipovich breaks down the conference season for his team. This year the Falcons will play 18 conference games. It's easy to look ahead at some matchups on the road, or a big name team coming into Clune Arena. Pilipovich has broken the 18 games down into 6-3 game seasons. Air Force went 2-1 in the first 3 game period. They are 1-1 in the 2nd with Saturdays game at CSU coming up. Pilipovich said to me, "If we can go 2-1 in every 3 game mini season, thats pretty good isn't it?" Yes it is. And this team, if they continue to grow, can set that as a realistic expectation. Wednesdays win over San Jose State was unique. The Falcons committed 23 turnovers, yet won by 15. You don't see that often. Air Force needs to work on taking care of the ball. They have struggled against full court pressure and will likely see more of it the rest of the way. But if they can manage their turnovers, and keep getting 20 point games from Tre Coggins, and outside scoring from Marek Olesinksi, this is a team that will finish in the upper half of the conference race and will be a very, very, tough out in the MWC. As long as they keep on going 2-1. Listen to Saturdays game against CSU at 4pm on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

THROUGH 4

Had anyone said Air Force would be 2-2 in Mountain West play as they get ready to face San Jose State Wednesday Night at Clune Arena many followers would have said we'll take it. And Rightly so. With a very young team and another daunting schedule in the conference the feeling was, and is, it could be a tough year. 4 games into conference play its clear to me the Falcons will finish higher than 10th place, where the media selected them at the start of the year. Break down the 4 games and you see two losses by less than 10 points, 1 to the now 10th ranked team in the nation. But in order for the Falcons to keep surprising and winning, they need to do the intangibles, the hard things, some clubs won't do.....rebound, get on the floor for loose balls, go to the glass with their offense, and be mentally tougher. This is a fun team to watch, one that has already surprised. Mountain West Teams better not fall asleep on the Falcons.

An Eye Opener

Thats one of many ways to describe the Air Force Mens Basketball Teams' win over UNLV Saturday. In Las Vegas. Where the Falcons had won just once. In Las vegas. And the victory didn't become because of a last second fluke shot. It was the result of hard work, smart play, great coaching, and a basketball team growing up in front of our eyes. As Coach Dave Pilipovich said in the postgame on KVOR, "You can't measure this (pointing to his heart) and you can't measure this" (pointing to his head.)And those are the intangibles this team has this year, along with a toughness that will surprise a lot of people. Air Force had several chances to pucker up and fade in this game, but their will only got stronger. They stared down the Runnin Rebels, and UNLV blinked. Its only the 6th time Air Force has opened conference play at 2-0, and yes its just one game in an 18 game conference schedule. But they way the Falcons won, and the belief they have in themselves right now, is a recipe that could lead to a very surprising season in conference play. Wednesday night its another test at much improved Fresno State. Liste to it live at 8 on 740 KVOR.

Eye Opener

A big win Wednesday Night for the Air Force Mens Basketball Team. They edged a very good Utah State Aggie squad 73-72 in the conference opener for both teams. Have to admit,I did not have a good feeling before the game. Even without suspended center Jarred Shaw the Aggies are an excellent team with a veteran coach. But it was the Falcons who played with moxie and courage, wiping out a 9 point second half defecit, and then shutting down the Aggies on their final possession. Coach Dave Pilipovich made 2 brilliant moves in the second half. First, the Air Force started going hard to the glass every possession. They got fouls, 3 point plays, and points and Utah States defense got very tired. 2nd, with the Aggies having the ball and 11 second left, Pilipovich had his team switch men on screens within their zone defense. Utah States Spencer Butterfield, an excellent shooter, never got close to touching the ball. Preston Medlin, his teammate, an outstanding player, got the ball at the top of the key but had no room to shoot because of the defensive strategy. That left it in the hands of a Freshman Jalen Moore, who played a solid game, but wasn't the guy you wanted to take a game winning shot, and especially a 3 pointer, when all they needed was a 2 to win. From a confidence standpoint this win is off the charts for the young Falcons squad. Great start to conference play, but there's a lot of games to go.