Scary Game

  Never thought I would say Air Force facing New Mexico in Football would be scary but that's what Saturdays game looks like to me, for several reasons.  Air Force has a chance to climb above 500 and go on a winning streak. and they need this game to draw closer to bowl eligibility. The Lobos, behind 1st year head coach Bob Davie, have posted a surprising 4-3 record. They are running the option, mostly out of a pistol formation, and giving teams nightmares in the process. Ask Boise State. The Broncos barely held on to beat New Mexico 32-29. Bob Davie told me this week he was determined, if he got back into coaching, to run some sort of option  based offense. He said guys just hate getting ready for it, and its hard to stop. Davie recalled his days working at Notre Dame trying to slow down Air Force. New Mexico compliments the option by running off a lot of time between plays, shortening the game. The Lobos defense has given up a lot of points this year and will again Saturday. What scares me is the Falcons are so banged up with injuries. Running back Cody Getz is questionable, and if he plays, will not be 100%. Broam Hart suffered a painful, painful hand injury and is doubtful. Air Force also loses Anthony Lacoste in the secondary to an injury, and he was a great threat on kickoff returns, and they may not have defensive lineman Joe Champaigne back. The Falcons have given up plenty of points of their own and that too will not change this weekend. I like the good guys in a tight tight game 34-27. Bring your radios and listen while you watch, or turn down your TV volume and get your hometown coverage beginning at 3 Saturday, on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Gut Check Win

   If the Air Force Football team goes on to have a winning season, there's no doubt Saturdays win over Wyoming will be the catalyst. The Falcons were down and out, and being dominated on both sides of the ball in the first half against the Cowboys. Wyoming had a 13 point lead in the 2nd half, and it looked like Air Force was waiting for someone to make a big play. That "someone" was Connor Dietz. On a 3rd and long he ran a quarterback draw and went for 48 yards and a first down. That huge run galvanized Air Force, and they would score on that drive. That effort also helped the defense get a rare rest on the sidelines, and they came back with renewed vigor. Dietz was also involved in a controversial play later in the 4th quarter. His helmet came off on a short run and, per rule, he had to go out for a play. As Dietz neared the sidelines he hesitated, then took a knee. The Air Force training staff went to tend to him, and after a moment helped him off the field. Sophomore quarterback Kale Pearson came on, and on 3rd and goal, ran a naked bootleg and just got into the end zone for the winning score. Wyoming Coach Dave Christensen accused Troy Calhoun after the game of having Dietz fake the injury to buy more time for Pearson to get warmed up on the sidelines. What's interesting to note is that one play did not cause Wyoming to lose the game. The Cowboys got the ball back with better than 3 minutes to go, but had lost momentum. The Air Force defense had gained some confidence. The Falcons stopped the Cowboys and ran out the clock. This was not a game Air Force would have win 2-3 weeks ago. But this young team, reached down, and dug deep to find a way to win. That will help them the rest of the way. Christensen, by the way, apologized for his actions Sunday, although I thought it curious he did not apologize to Calhoun. The Air Force head coach told Gazette writer David Ramsey if Christensen wanted to call and talk about the incident he would gladly pick up the phone. Calhoun said Dietz got "dinged" in the head.
   This week a much improved New Mexico team comes to Falcon Stadium. More on that coming up.

Gotta Get One Saturday

  Troy Calhoun has never been a coach who likes to talk about bowl chances, conference title chances and such. However, if Air Force wants to go to a bowl this year, Saturdays game against Wyoming is almost a must-win situation. The Falcons need 6 wins to become bowl eligible. The schedule is not easy with Nevada coming to the Springs, and Army, Fresno St and San Diego State on the road, so the match up with the
Cowpokes has a lot riding on it.
   Neither time has a good defense which means we will see a lot of scoring this weekend. Wyoming's Quarterback Brett Smith is a stud. He throws on the run, and leads his team in rushing. Air Force has to turn him into a pocket passer Saturday. If he gets outside he could create havoc. And the Falcons may have to play more man to man than they want. The Cowboys will use a lot of different formations with 4 and 5 guys in the pattern. I believe Air Force may have to blitz more as well. If they rush 3 and drop 8 Smith will find open receivers.
    The Wyoming defense has struggled. They give up a lot of yards on the ground, although last week they slowed down Nevada's Stephon Jefferson. But Cody Getz is coming to town, and he could have a 300 yard day-I'm serious. I thought Air Force would throw a bit more last week-they did not. But I believe they may also do that Saturday. Wyoming's secondary is in a constant state of flux. They are not bad against the pass, but they have moved people around all season, and if you focus too much on the run Air Force will burn you with a big pass play.
    Parker Herrington will continue short term to attempt field goals. He is 1-6. I'll be curious to see how he handles the infamous Laramie winds. Kicking at War Memorial Stadium is not for the faint of heart. He has to step up. He was 15 of 18 last year. The Falcons need him to gird up.
     This will be a close game. Don't be surprised if you see overtime.
     Our coverage begins at 3 Saturday afternoon. The kickoff is at 5. If you watch it, turn down your TV volume and get your hometown coverage on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Rebuilding Year?

   Coaches hate the term rebuilding year because it sounds like their teams are not good enough and have to suffer through a lousy season. Fans hate it because they want instant gratification and if you're on the field, then by God you should be good enough to win. Through 5 football games Air Force is 2-3. Whats frustrating is they are a few plays here and there from being 5-0. But perhaps that's what separates great teams from rebuilding teams. The Falcons will long remember Saturdays loss to Navy because of 3 fumbles, which led to 7 Midshipmen points, and 2 missed field goals by the pre season pick at his position in the Mountain West Parker Herrington. You can also pick out key plays in their losses to UNLV and Michigan and justify an argument the Falcons could be undefeated. But they're not. Instead the Falcons are the team that fumbled 3 times Saturday and has lost 5 fumbles in 2 games. They're the team who's all conference place kicker is 1-6 so far. They are the squad having a tough time defensively. There was plenty of blame to go around after losing in ot to navy Saturday. But maybe that's because they are a young team in a re-building year.
    If that's the case the Falcons have to grow up quick. Saturday they are at Wyoming. The Cowboys are having their owns troubles at 1-4. Air Force is going to have to win 3 road games and take care of business at home to get to a bowl. Can the Falcons go 5-2 the rest of the way and get to a bowl? I'll have more on the matchup with the Cowboys later this week.

 

Gametime

  Air Force and Navy Saturday in College Football. The rivalry doesn't get the notoriety it deserves because not only is a bitter series, its very very tight. 2 of the last 3 games have gone to overtime. The last 9 games have been decided by an average of 5 points. Navy hates Army, but despises Air Force. The Falcons don't like the Black Knights, but hates Navy. So what happens Saturday Morning at Falcon Stadium? Navy has had trouble all season with its center exchange with Quarterback Trey Miller. The Midshipman have used 3 different starting centers in 4 games. Miller has been part of 10 of 12 Navy turnovers this year, with 5 coming inside the opponents 30 yard line. Clearly they have to do a better job holding onto the football. The Mids rushing game, unlike most years, is average. They gain just 216 yards a contest on the ground. I don't see them running up and down the field on Air Force. Navy's Defense, to me, is still a mystery. Notre Dame and Penn State combined for 84 points against them. They they shutdown FCS opponent VMI and last week held San Jose State without a TD but still lost 12-0. I believe Air Force will still move the ball on them, even though the Mids will try everything to keep the football out of the hands of Cody Getz. The Falcons will have enough offense to deal with that. I see the good guys winning 24-14. Bring your radios to Saturdays game, and if you stay at home and watch on TV, turn the volume down and get your hometown coverage on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Navy Week

    Colorado State is in the rear view mirror for the Air Force Football team. The Falcons 41-21 victory put Air Force back on track. The Rams are not very good and looked uninspired, tired and worn out Saturday in the 1st QUARTER. So the Falcons did what they were supposed to do-score on its first 3 possessions and remove any doubt.
      Now, here comes Navy. The Midshipmen are as desperate as CSU was, having dropped 3 in a row, including being shut out at home Saturday by San Jose State 12-0. Summing up the Midshipmen is easy-Great Defense, Horrible Offense. Look, San Jose State isn't Alabama or Notre Dame. Yet the Mids had a grand total of 144 yards of offense. That's it. Maybe the Air Force game comes at a good time, because its gotta be hard to get up for San Jose State. It won't be for the Falcons. I'll have more on the game and how bitter the rivalry is later this week.

Air Force-CSU...Why Does This Game Worry Me?

   With good reason. Like last week with UNLV I think the Rams are better than 1-3. They have been inconsistent, and have been missing their top rusher Chris Nwoke (Wo-kay). But he is healthy and will start Saturday. If I'm Coach Jim Mclewain watching tape of Air Force losing to UNLV I will try and run the ball all day. Nwoke had 249 yards rushing against the Falcons last year. The smallest guy on CSU's offensive line is 297 pounds. Quarterback Garret Grayson could give Air Force problems as well. He has 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and he spreads the ball all over the field. The Falcons have had trouble all year defending the pass, and getting to the QB. To be fair, the Rams offensive numbers are bad-98 yards rushing a game, 17 points a game, which is 113th in the NCAA. But the Falcons have to play better defense than last week.
    Colorado State is giving up 27 points a game, and I think Air Force will be okay running the football. But in my opinion the Falcons need to throw a bit more, and use more formations to spread out the Rams defense. The Falcons have hurt themselves with penalties on the offensive side of the ball. They can't do that Saturday. Drives need to be efficient and wind up in the end zone and not with 3 points.
    Look for a high scoring game, with Air Force winning 40-27. But this game still worries me.