Air Force Falcons football

Air Force Falcons football
2017 Air Force Falcons football team
First season 1955
Athletic director Jim Knowlton
Head coach Troy Calhoun
11th season, 77–53 (.592)
Other staff Clay Hendrix (OC)
Steve Russ (DC)
Stadium Falcon Stadium
(Capacity: 46,692)
Field surface Turf
Location Colorado Springs, Colorado
Conference Mountain West
Division Mountain
All-time record 373–311–12 (.545)
Bowl record 12–13–1 (.481)
Conference titles 3
Rivalries Army Black Knights
Navy Midshipmen
Colorado State Rams
Consensus All-Americans 5
Current uniform
Colors Blue and Silver[1]
         
Fight song "Falcon Fight Song"
(unofficial: "The U.S. Air Force")
Mascot The Bird
Marching band United States Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corp "The Flight of Sound"
Website GoAirForceFalcons.com

The Air Force Falcons football program represents the United States Air Force Academy in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. Air Force has been a member of the Mountain West Conference since its founding in 1999. The Falcons play their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Troy Calhoun has been the team's head coach since 2007.

The three major service academies—Air Force, Army, and Navy—compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, which is awarded to the academy that defeats the others in football that year (or retained by the previous winner in the event of a three-way tie).

Falcon Stadium

Falcon home games are played in Falcon Stadium, which sits below the main campus at an elevation of 6,621 feet (2,018 m) above sea level. Pre-game activities include flyovers by USAF aircraft, including the F-15 and B-2. The highest attendance at a home game was 56,409 spectators in 2002, when the Falcons battled the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.[2]

History

Running back Asher Clark and the Falcons take on the Houston Cougars during the 2009 Armed Forces Bowl

The Falcons are not only recognized by the lightning 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.[3]

The 1985 season

1985 was the most successful season in Air Force football history. Under second-year coach Fisher DeBerry, the Falcons came within one win of playing for the national championship. They recorded 10 straight wins to start the season, climbed the polls to #2 in the nation, but lost to BYU 28–21 in the penultimate game of the regular season. Air Force rebounded with a bowl game win over Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl and finished with a 12–1 record as the #5 ranked team in the nation.

Bowl games

Air Force has played in 26 bowl games in their history, and they have a 12–13–1 (.481) record. Their highest finish in the AP polls was #6 in 1958.[4]

Bowl Result Date Season Opponent Coach Final Record
Cotton Bowl T 0–0 January 1, 1959 1958 TCU Ben Martin 9–0–2
Gator Bowl L 35–0 December 28, 1963 1963 North Carolina Ben Martin 7–4
Sugar Bowl L 34–13 January 1, 1971 1970 Tennessee Ben Martin 9–3
Hall of Fame Classic W 36–28 December 31, 1982 1982 Vanderbilt Ken Hatfield 8–5
Independence Bowl W 9–3 December 10, 1983 1983 Ole Miss Ken Hatfield 10–2
Independence Bowl W 23–7 December 15, 1984 1984 Virginia Tech Fisher DeBerry 8–4
Bluebonnet Bowl W 24–16 December 31, 1985 1985 Texas Fisher DeBerry 12–1
Freedom Bowl L 33–28 December 30, 1987 1987 Arizona State Fisher DeBerry 9–4
Liberty Bowl L 42–29 December 28, 1989 1989 Ole Miss Fisher DeBerry 8–4–1
Liberty Bowl W 23–11 December 27, 1990 1990 Ohio State Fisher DeBerry 7–5
Liberty Bowl W 31–15 December 29, 1991 1991 Mississippi State Fisher DeBerry 10–3
Liberty Bowl L 13–0 December 31, 1992 1992 Ole Miss Fisher DeBerry 7–5
Copper Bowl L 55–41 December 27, 1995 1995 Texas Tech Fisher DeBerry 8–5
Las Vegas Bowl L 41–13 December 20, 1997 1997 Oregon Fisher DeBerry 10–3
Oahu Bowl W 43–25 December 25, 1998 1998 Washington Fisher DeBerry 12–1
Silicon Valley Football Classic W 37–34 December 31, 2000 2000 Fresno State Fisher DeBerry 9–3
San Francisco Bowl L 20–13 December 31, 2002 2002 Virginia Tech Fisher DeBerry 8–5
Armed Forces Bowl L 42–36 December 31, 2007 2007 California Troy Calhoun 9–4
Armed Forces Bowl L 34–28 December 31, 2008 2008 Houston Troy Calhoun 8–5
Armed Forces Bowl W 47–20 December 31, 2009 2009 Houston Troy Calhoun 8–5
Independence Bowl W 14–7 December 27, 2010 2010 Georgia Tech Troy Calhoun 9–4
Military Bowl L 42–41 December 28, 2011 2011 Toledo Troy Calhoun 7–6
Armed Forces Bowl L 33–14 December 29, 2012 2012 Rice Troy Calhoun 6–7
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl W 38–24 December 20, 2014 2014 Western Michigan Troy Calhoun 10–3
Armed Forces Bowl L 55–36 December 29, 2015 2015 California Troy Calhoun 8–6
Arizona Bowl W 45–21 December 30, 2016 2016 South Alabama Troy Calhoun 10–3

Championships

Presentation of the 2017 Commander in Chief's Trophy to the Air Force Falcons

Since 1980, the Falcons and Colorado State Rams have competed for the Ram-Falcon Trophy. Air Force currently holds a 21-14 advantage over Colorado State in games that the trophy has been contested in.

All-time record vs. Mountain West teams

Mountain

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Boise State 3 2 0 .600 Won 3 2011 2016
Colorado State 33 21 1 .609 Won 1 1957 2016
New Mexico 21 13 0 .618 Lost 2 1957 2016
Utah State 3 2 0 .600 Won 2 1969 2016
Wyoming 28 24 3 .536 Lost 1 1957 2016
Totals 88 62 4 .584

West

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Fresno State 6 3 0 .667 Won 2 1993 2016
Hawaii 12 7 1 .625 Lost 1 1966 2016
Nevada 2 1 0 .667 Won 1 2012 2014
San Diego State 19 15 0 .559 Lost 6 1980 2015
San Jose State 3 1 0 .750 Won 2 1996 2016
UNLV 14 6 0 .700 Won 1 1981 2014
Totals 56 33 1 .628
Overall Totals 144 95 5 .600

Head coaches

Season(s) Head coach Record (W–L–T)
1955 Robert V. Whitlow 4–4
1956–1957 Buck Shaw 9–8–2
1958–1977 Ben Martin 96–103–9
1978 Bill Parcells 3–8
1979–1983 Ken Hatfield 26–32–1
1984–2006 Fisher DeBerry 169–107–1
2007–present Troy Calhoun 76-53

Individual accomplishments

Notable individual records

Alumni in the National Football League

All-Americans

Year Player Position Award(s)
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 Orderia Mitchell C Black Sports
Gene Ogilvie DE UPI (3rd)
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 John Kershner FB Football News (2nd)
Mike Kirby WR Sporting News (2nd)
1985 Mark Simon P Scripps Howard, Associated Press (2nd)
Scott Thomas DB Walter Camp, Kodak, Football Writes, 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 Dee Dowis QB Heisman Trophy finalist
Ron Gray KR Associated Press (3rd)
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)
1998 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 Schlegel ILB Sporting News (Freshmen 3rd team)
2002 Brett Huyser OL Sporting News (4th)
2007 Chad Hall WR Rivals (3rd), Sports Illustrated
Carson Bird CB Sports Illustrated
2008 Ryan Harrison K College Football News
2010 Reggie Rembert DB AFCA (1st),[6] Associated Press (3rd)

Academic All-Americans

Year Player Position
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
Rashad Penton DB
1997 Rashad Penton DB
1998 Rashad Penton DB
2003 Ryan Carter DE
2004 Ryan Carter DE

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. The Falcons lost 31-30 in 2006.

Current coaching staff

[7]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of July 15, 2015

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
vs VMI vs Stony Brook at Colorado at Army vs Florida Atlantic vs Colorado vs Army at Army vs Army at Army vs Army
at Michigan at Florida Atlantic at Navy vs Navy vs Army at Army at Navy vs Navy at Navy vs Navy at Navy
at Navy vs Navy vs Army at Navy vs Navy
vs Army at Army at Wake Forest

[8]

Rivals

Air Force has a traditional rivalry against the other two FBS service academies, Army and Navy; the three play for the right to hold the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Air Force has held the trophy 20 times, more than either Army or Navy. Among other schools, Air Force has played more games against Colorado State and Wyoming, having played each school 55 times since 1957, the Falcons' first season.

Top 10 rivals

Below are Air Force's record against its top ten most-played opponents.[9]

Opponent Games Wins Losses Ties Last Meeting
Colorado State 55 33 21 1 Nov 12, 2016 (W 49-46)
Wyoming 55 28 24 3 Oct 8, 2016 (L 26-35)
Army 51 36 14 1 Nov 5, 2016 (W 31-12)
Navy 49 29 20 0 Oct 1, 2016 (W 28-14)
San Diego State 34 19 15 0 Dec 5, 2015 (L 24 - 27)
New Mexico 33 21 12 0 Nov 28, 2015 (L 35-47)
BYU 30 7 23 0 Sep 11, 2010 (W 35-14)
Notre Dame 30 6 24 0 Oct 26, 2013 (L 10-45)
Utah 27 14 13 0 Oct 30, 2010 (L 23-28)
Hawaii 20 12 7 1 Oct 22, 2016 (L 34-27)
UNLV 20 14 6 0 Nov 8, 2014 (W 48-21)

References

  1. ↑ "AF Branding & Trademark Licensing > About Us > The Air Force Symbol > Display Guidelines". Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ airforcesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3000&KEY=&ATCLID=157958&SPID=804&SPSID=22383
  3. ↑ http://www.airforcesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3000&KEY=&ATCLID=157958&SPID=804&SPSID=22383
  4. ↑ 2013 Air Force football media guide. Retrieved 2013-Sep-25.
  5. ↑ "Air Force clinches Mountain Division and spot in Mountain West championship game". www.goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  6. ↑ Mayer, Larry (2013-05-12). "Tryout players followed unusual path to minicamp". Chicago Bears. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Air Force Falcons Football Schedules and Future Schedules". fbschedules.com. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  9. ↑ "Air Force Falcons Head-to-Head Results". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
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