Air Force Falcons football

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This article contains information about the football team at the United States Air Force Academy.

[edit] General information

• Location: United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
• Enrollment: 4,000
• Mascot: Fighting Falcon
• Colors: Blue and Silver
• Stadium: Falcon Stadium
• Capacity: 42,480
• Conference: Mountain West Conference

[edit] Falcon Stadium

The atmosphere at Falcon Stadium is like no other across the land. The pregame activities include flyovers by some of the finest air planes the US Air Force has to offer, the F-22, F-15, and B-2 Stealth Bomber to name a few. Falcon Stadium sits at the base of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains, the field sits at 6,621 feet above sea level. Under head coach Fisher DeBerry the Falcons are 86-37 at home over the last 21 years. The largest crowd to watch the Falcons, was 56,409 in 2002 when the Falcons battled the Irish of Notre Dame. [1]

[edit] History

The Falcons are not only recognized by the lightening bolt on the side of their helmets, but their traditional option attack. Air Force is one of the premier rushing teams in the nation. Since Fisher DeBerry took over as Falcons head coach in 1984, they have ranked among the nation’s top 10 in rushing 19 times in 21 years. The Air Force football team has enjoyed success not only on the field but also in the classroom. In 49 years of Air Force football, there have been 39 Academic All-Americans. [2]

[edit] Former Falcon Coaches

• Colonel Robert V. Whitlow (1955) Record: 4-4-0
• L.T. “Buck” Shaw (1956-1957) Record: 9-8-2
• Ben Martin (1958-1977) Record: 96-103-9
• Bill Parcells (1978) Record: 3-8-0
• Ken Hatfield (1979-1983) Record: 26-32-1
• Fisher DeBerry (1984-Present) Record: 156-88-1

[edit] Past Results

[3]

[edit] 1985 Season

1985 was the most successful season in Air Force football history. Under 2nd year coach Fisher DeBerry, the Fightin’ Falcons came within one win of playing for the National Championship. They recorded 10 straight wins, climbed the polls to #2 in the nation, but lost to BYU by 7 points in the penultimate game of the season. Air Force rebounded with a bowl game win over Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl and finished as the #5 ranked team in the nation. [4]

[edit] Individual Records

• Chance Harridge: In 2002, Harridge set the NCAA Division I record for most single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, with 22.

• Beau Morgan: He became the first player in NCAA history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a season twice. He broke the NCAA single season rushing record for a quarterback, along with being only the second player in NCAA history to run and pass for 3,000 yards in a career. [5]

[edit] Falcons in the NFL

• Matthew Farmer
• Bryce Fisher
• Chris Gizzi
• Chad Hennings
• Ernie Jennings
• Dave Lawson
• Ben Miller
• Beau Morgan
• Dan Palmer
• Steve Russ
• Joe Wood

[6]

[edit] The Bullard Award: Falcon Football’s Highest Honor

The Bullard Award is voted on by the team based on the criteria that typifies Brian Bullard – unselfishness, 110 percent effort, total team commitment and pride in his role on the team whether he’s a starter or not. [7]

Past Winners:

• 1984 – Steve Kelly
• 1985 – Pat Malackowski
• 1986 – Pat Evans
• 1987 – Rip Burgwald
• 1988 – Anthony Roberson
• 1989 – Lance McDowell
• 1990 – Bill Price
• 1991 – Kette Dornbush
• 1992 – Grant Johnson
• 1993 – Will McCombs
• 1994 – Steve Russ
• 1995 – Brandon Wilkerson
• 1996 – Lee Guthrie
• 1997 – Chris Gizzi
• 1998 – Mike Tyler
• 1999 – Charlie Jackson
• 2000 – Mike Gallagher, Matt Dayoc, Nate Beard
• 2001 – Zach Johnson
• 2002 – Tom Heir
• 2003 – Joe Schieffer, Monty Coleman
• 2004 – John Rudzinski
• 2005 – Dennis Poland

[edit] 2006 Schedule

Air Force Academy Falcons free safety Bobby Giannini (#11) prepares to finish off Tennessee tailback Montario Hardesty, while Falcons defensive end Josh Clayton (#97) loosens Hardesty's grip on the football.

[8]

[edit] All Americans

• 1956:
  • Larry Thomson (FB), Little America (3rd)
• 1958:
  • Brock Strom (OL), Consensus
  • Robert Brickey (HB), Helms
• 1963
  • Terry Isaacson (QB), Helms
  • Joe Rodwell (C), Helms
• 1966
  • Neal Starkey (DB), Playboy Magazine All-American
• 1967
  • Neal Starkey (DB), Associated Press (3rd)
• 1969
  • Ernie Jennings (WR), Central Press (2nd)
• 1970
  • Ernie Jennings (WR), Consensus
• 1971
  • Gene Ogilvie (DE), UPI (3rd)
  • Orderia Mitchell (C), Black Sports
• 1972
  • Orderia Mitchell (C), Associated Press (2nd), Gridiron (2nd)
  • Gene Ogilvie (DE), UPI (2nd)
• 1973
  • Steve Heil (ROV), Associated Press (3rd)
• 1974
  • Dave Lawson (LB/K), Football Writers
• 1975
  • Dave Lawson (LB/K), UPI (2nd), Football News (2nd)
• 1981
  • Johnny Jackson (DB), Associated Press (2nd)
• 1982
  • Dave Schreck (OG), Associated Press (2nd)
• 1983
  • Mike Kirby (WR), Sporting News (2nd)
  • John Kershner (FB), Football News (2nd)
• 1985
  • Scott Thomas (DB), Walter Camp, Kodak, Football Writes, Associated Press (2nd)
  • Mark Simon (P), Scripps Howard, Associated Press (2nd)
• 1986
  • Terry Maki (LB), Kodak, Football News (2nd), Associated Press (3rd)
  • Tom Rotello (DB), Football News (2nd)
• 1987
  • Chad Hennings (DT), Consensus, Walter Camp, Kodak, Football Writers, Associated Press, UPI, Scripps Howard, Sporting News, Football News, Outland Trophy winner
• 1989
  • Ron Gray (KR), Associated Press (3rd)
  • Dee Dowis (QB), Heisman Trophy finalist
• 1991
  • Jason Christ (P), Associated Press (2nd), Football News (3rd)
• 1992
  • Carlton McDonald (DB), Consensus, Walter Camp, Kodak, Football Writers, Associated Press, UPI, Scripps Howard, Sporting News
• 1993
  • Chris MacInnis (P/K), UPI, Associated Press (2nd)
• 1996
  • Beau Morgan (QB), Associated Press (3rd)
• 1997
  • Chris Gizzi (LB), Associated Press (3rd), Football Writers (2nd)
• 1998
  • Tim Curry (DB), Sporting News (3rd)
  • Frank Mindrup (OL), American Football Foundation (3rd)
• 2001
  • Anthony Schegel (ILB), Sporting News (Freshmen 3rd team)
• 2002
  • Brett Huyser (OL), Sporting News (4th)

[edit] Academic All Americans

• 1958
  • Brock Strom (OT)
• 1959
  • Rich Mayo (QB)
• 1960
  • Rich Mayo (QB)
  • Don Baucom (HB)
• 1967
  • Ken Zagzebski (MG)
  • Carl Janssen (OE)
• 1969
  • Ernie Jennings (WR)
• 1970
  • Ernie Jennings (WR)
  • Bob Parker (QB)
  • Phil Bauman (LB)
• 1971
  • Darryl Haas (LB/P)
  • Bob Homburg (DE)
  • John Griffith (DT)
• 1972
  • Gene Ogilvie (DE)
  • Bob Homburg (DE)
  • Mark Prill (MG)
• 1973
  • Joe Debes (OT)
• 1976
  • Steve Hoog (WR)
• 1977
  • Mack McCollum (ROV)
• 1978
  • Steve Hoog (WR)
  • Tom Foertsch (LB)
  • Tim Fyda (DE)
• 1981
  • Mike France (LB)
  • Kevin Ewing (ROV)
• 1982
  • Jeff Kubiak (P)
• 1983
  • Jeff Kubiak (P)
• 1987
  • Chad Hennings (DT)
  • Scott Salmon (DB)
  • James Hecker (DB)
• 1988
  • Scott Salmon (DB)
  • David Hlatky (OL)
  • James Hecker (DB)
• 1989
  • Chris Howard (HB)
• 1990
  • Chris Howard (HB)
  • J.T. Tokish (LB)
• 1992
  • Grant Johnson (LB)
• 1996
  • Dustin Tyner (WR)
• 2003
  • Ryan Carter (DE)
• 2004
  • Ryan Carter (DE)
• 2005

[9]

[edit] Current Coaching Staff

• Head Coach: Fisher DeBerry
• Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Richard Bell
• Defensive Backs: Dean Campbell
• Falcon Backs: Brian Knorr
• Defensive Line: Ron Burton
• Offensive Line: Pete Hurt
• Tight Ends: Dick Enga
• Running Backs: Jemal Singleton
• Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Fullbacks: Chuck Peterson
• Wide Receivers: Blane Morgan
• Special Teams: Tom Miller
• Head JV Coach: Major Steve Senn
• JV Coach/ Asst. Varsity Coach Captain Charlton Warren
• Strength/Conditioning Coach: Allen Heddrick

[10]

[edit] Sources

• 2005 Air Force Football Media Guide

[edit] External links

• CBS Sportsline page
• [11]