Air Force takes on nationally-ranked Tennessee
9/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Air Force (0-0) at #23 Tennessee (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m. Mtn., Neyland Stadium (104,079), Knoxville, TN
Just the Facts
Television: Comcast Southeast (pay-per-view) in the Tennessee area only. The game is also available on ESPN GamePlan as part of an agreement with the SEC. Randy Smith (play-by-play) and Pat Ryan (color) will call the action.
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs and KLTT (670 AM) in Denver. KVOR's Jim Arthur (play-by-play) and Lee Douglas (color) of News First 5/30 call the action. They are joined for the pre- and post-game shows by Jay Ritchie.
Last Week: This week is the season opener for Air Force. Tennessee defeated #9 California, 35-18, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN.
Next Week: Air Force is idle. Tennessee hosts SEC foe Florida.
Last Meeting: Air Force and Tennessee are playing for the first time since the 1971 Sugar Bowl. The Vols won the game, 34-13, on Jan. 1.
Streaks: Air Force has a one-game winning streak dating back to last year. Tennessee has a two-game winning streak dating back to last season.
Coaches: Air Force is coached by Fisher DeBerry (Wofford, 1960), who is in his 23rd season. DeBerry has guided the Falcons to a 165-101-1 career record. Tennessee is coached by Philip Fulmer (Tennessee, 1972), who is in his 15th year. He has led the Vols to a 129-37 career record.
The series -
This is just the second meeting between Air Force and Tennessee. The teams first played in the 1971 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. The Vols used a 24-point first quarter to defeat Air Force, 34-13. Tennessee quarterback Bobby Scott hit 22 of 40 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown to earn game most valuable player honors. Please see page four for a statistical summary of the game.
Ties to Tennessee -
Tennessee head coach Philip Fulmer was a senior varsity letterwinner the last time Air Force and Tennessee played which was in the 1971 Sugar Bowl.
Ken Hatfield, Air Force head coach from 1979-83 and offensive coordinator in 1978, was a member of the Tennessee coaching staff from 1968-70. He was assistant freshman coach in 1968, head freshman coach in 1969 and coached offensive ends for the Vols in 1970.
Air Force's second director of athletics, George Simler, who served from Aug. 1957 to July 1960, has a strong tie to Tennessee. Simler, who was responsible for picking the site of Falcon Stadium and who was instrumental in the development of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, was once the commander of the fighter wing at McGhee-Tyson Air Force Base. He was close friends with General Robert R. Neyland, which the Vols stadium is named after.
Coaches with ties -
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry and Tennessee coach Philip Fulmer have several things in common. Both coaches have the longest active tenures in their conferences. DeBerry is in his 23rd season at the Academy which tops all coaches in the Mountain West Conference while Fulmer is in his 15th with the Vols which tops the SEC.
Both coaches have earned national coach of the year honors. DeBerry earned the award in 1985 while Fulmer each it in 1998.
Both coaches have earned the State Farm Coach National Coach of Distinction Award for their efforts on and off the field. DeBerry took home the award in 2001 while Fulmer won it in 1999.
Air Force vs. SEC -
Air Force is 6-7 all-time against teams in the Southeastern Conference. This week's game is the team's first vs. the SEC since beating Mississippi State, 38-15, in the 1991 Liberty Bowl. The last time Air Force played an SEC team during the regular season was against Arkansas in 1975. The Razorbacks defeated Air Force, 35-0, in Little Rock, Ark.
First career starts -
Air Force has nine players scheduled to make the first start of their careers this week. On offense, the players are: Vic Thompson (WR), Travis Dekker (TE), Blane Guenther (RT) and Beau Suder (HB). Defensively, Noah Garguile (DE), Josh Clayton (DE), Joey Keller (LB) and Garrett Rybak (LC). Kicker Zach Sasser is also making his first career start.
AFA vs ranked opponents -
Tennessee is the first ranked team Air Force has played since taking on 21st-ranked TCU last season.
Air Force's last win over a ranked team came in 2002 at No. 23 California, 23-21. The team has lost its last three games vs. ranked teams. Besides dropping a 49-35 game at Utah, the Falcons also lost to 13th-ranked California, 56-14, last season and vs. TCU, 48-10, at home. The last time Air Force beat a team ranked higher than Tennessee was in 1996 when the Falcons defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 20-17, in overtime in South Bend.
Air Force to play in front of largest crowd ever??? -
The Falcons will likely to play in front of the largest crowd in school history this week when the team travels to Tennessee. The Vols ranked second in the country last year in attendance with an average of 107,593. Only Michigan ranked higher with an average of 110,915. The largest crowd Air Force has ever played in front of is 80,232 which was at Notre Dame in 2000. The second largest crowd came against San Diego State in 1981 at the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. Air Force's game against Tennessee in the 1971 Sugar Bowl ranks third at 78,685.
Fast starts the norm -
Air Force has a history of fast starts with Fisher DeBerry at the helm. In addition to a 17-5 mark in season openers, the Falcons are 65-30 (.722) in August and September under DeBerry.
Season openers -
Air Force is 30-18-2 overall in season openers. This week's game marks the second straight year the team has opened the season away from Falcon Stadium. Last year, Air Force defeated Washington, 20-17, in Seattle. This season marks the first since 1988 that the Falcons have opened the season on the road in an opponent's home stadium. That year, Air Force defeated Colorado State, 29-23, in Fort Collins.
Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry is 17-5 all-time in season openers. The coach is 10-2 in season openers against non-conference opponents. This is DeBerry's fourth time opening the season away from Falcon Stadium. He is 2-1 in the previous three meetings.
Air Force picked seventh at MWC Media Day -
Air Force was picked to finish seventh in the Mountain West Conference this season by vote of the conference coaches and media, it was announced at the annual conference media day in San Diego, Calif. Senior defensive lineman Gilberto Perez was named to the first-team preseason all-conference squad.
TCU was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as league champion, collecting 213 points and 16 first-place votes. BYU was picked to finish second with 192 points and five first place votes. Utah was third with 188 points and three first-place votes. Colorado State received the only other first-place vote and was picked to finish fourth with 130 points, followed by New Mexico (119), San Diego State (104), Air Force (70), UNLV (58) and Wyoming (51).
Perez was the only Falcon selected for the first-team. BYU senior quarterback John Beck was named the preseason offensive player of the year while Utah senior defensive back Eric Weddle was named the defensive player of the year. UNLV junior kicker Sergio Aguayo was the special teams player of the year while McKay Jacobson of BYU was tabbed as the freshman of the year.
Air Force looks for win No. 300 -
Air Force's next win will be the 300th in school history dating back to 1956 when the program was started. The school is in its 51st year of varsity football and enters this season with a 299-252-13 record. Air Force is 161-105-3 at home and 138-147-10 in away games. Air Force has had just five head coaches. L.T. "Buck" Shaw coached the team from 1956-57 and was followed by Ben Martin. Known as the father of Air Force Football, Martin coached for 20 years from 1958-77 and led the Falcons to their only two New Year's Day bowl games. He was followed by Bill Parcells for one year (1978) and Ken Hatfield for five years from 1979-83. Current leader Fisher DeBerry took over in 1984 and is in his 23rd year.
Falcons vs. non-conference foes -
Air Force is 30-11 in non-conference games dating back to 1997. Four of the losses have come at the hands of nationally ranked teams. Air Force fell to eighth-ranked Notre Dame, 34-31, in overtime in 2000 and in 2001 to third-ranked Oklahoma, 44-3, in Falcon Stadium. In 2002, the team fell at home, 21-14, to seventh-ranked Notre Dame. The team lost to No. 13 California in 2004. AFA head coach Fisher DeBerry is 68-34 (.667) during his career in non-conference games.
Perez on Lott Trophy watch list -
Air Force defensive lineman Gilberto Perez has been added to the Watch List for the 2006 Lott Trophy.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its third year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Perez led the Falcons in tackles for losses last year with 9.5 before being injured late in the season. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
David Pollack of Georgia and DeMeco Ryans of Alabama were the winners of the first two Lott Trophies. Both Georgia and Alabama received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In two years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated $170,000 to various charities, in addition to the two universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club Dec. 10.
Carney on Davey O'Brien Watch List -
Air Force junior quarterback Shaun Carney is one of 34 quarterbacks on the Davey O'Brien "Watch List" for the 2006 season, according to an announcement from the O'Brien Foundation. The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback.
This year's list is made up of 19 seniors, 12 juniors and three sophomores. The O'Brien Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the country for college quarterbacks and is named in honor of the late Davey O'Brien. O'Brien led the TCU Horned Frogs to the 1938 national championship and was the first player to win the Heisman, Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards in one season.
Carney is the school record holder for completion percentage, breaking his own school record of 61.1 percent set as a freshman with a 64.2 mark last year. He has passed for 2,708 career yards and 18 touchdowns which ranks seventh overall in Academy history. Carney, who was on the O'Brien Award watch list last year, ranks 28th in school history with 1,306 career rushing yards.
Air Force ranks ninth -
Air Force has scored in 156 consecutive games dating back to 1992. The Falcons were last shutout by Mississippi, 13-0, in the 1992 Liberty Bowl. That shutout is the only one in the 22-year career of Fisher DeBerry. Air Force's streak is the second-longest active streak in the Mountain West Conference and the ninth longest in the country. A closer look at the longest active streaks follows (* - MWC teams):
The option era's most balanced offense -
Air Force showed more balance on offense in 2005 than ever before. The Falcons rushed and passed for over 200 yards each in five games. In the win over Washington, the Falcons rushed for 218 yards and passed for 207. In the San Diego State win, Air Force rushed for 272 yards and passed for 231. Air Force rushed for 251 yards and passed for 234 in the loss at Utah. The Falcons rushed for 200 yards and passed for 279 yards in a loss at BYU. Air Force rushed for 230 yards and passed for 203 vs. Army.
The rushing offense accounted for 59.1 percent of the total offense while the passing game posted 40.9 percent to set an new option era record. The previous record came in 2000. That year, the team had 4,971 yards of total offense, including 3,244 rushing and 1,727 passing. The team averaged 65.2 percent of its offense via the run while 34.8 came from passing.
Passing fancy -
Air Force's offense is known for its dominance in rushing the football. Recently, the passing game has made the headlines. Air Force passed for 200 or more yards in five games during 2005 and has a streak of six of the last 12 games dating back to 2004. Air Force opened the season with a 207-yard performance in the season opener vs. Washington. Shaun Carney threw for 107 yards while Adam Fitch connected for 100 yards. The Washington game was the first since 1994 vs. UTEP that two AFA quarterbacks threw for 100 or more yards. That year, Preston McConnell threw for 119 and Beau Morgan 100. Against San Diego State, Carney threw for a career-high 231 yards to mark the third consecutive game the Falcons had topped the 200-yard mark. AFA finished the 2004 season with a 203-yard effort from Carney. The three straight 200-yard performances is a first in the option era (1980-present) at Air Force. In the game at Utah, Carney hit nine of 16 passes for 145 yards while Fitch hit four of nine passes for 89 yards a touchdown. Against BYU, the team had its best day passing of the season. The quarterbacks combined to hit 17 of 31 passes for 279 yards and a school-record five touchdowns. Carney hit four of seven passes for 14 yards before being injured. Fitch came on in relief and had the best day of his career. Fitch hit 13 of 24 passes for 265 yards and all five of the touchdowns. His 265 yards passing are the most by a Falcon since Mike Thiessen threw for 265 against BYU in 2000. Carney hit 16 of 21 passes for 194 yards and a TD vs. Army. Fitch chipped in hitting one of two passes for nine yards for a team total of 203 yards.
On the season, the Falcons hit 121 of 205 passes for 1,878 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The team completed 59.0 percent of its passes. Air Force averaged 170.7 yards per game which established a new record in the option era. The previous record of 157.0 yards per game was set in 2000. The team's quarterback efficiency rating was 148.76 on the year.
The passing game operated at near record efficiency in 2004. The team averaged 148.1 yards per game passing which is the 11th-best effort in school history and best since the 2000 season. The team's completion percentage of 59.8 set a new single season school record. The previous mark of 56.6 was set in 2000. Air Force quarterbacks completed 113 of 189 passes for 1,629 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The team had a 144.68 quarterback efficiency rating.
Blocked kicks -
Air Force is one of premier teams in the country when it comes to blocking kicks. The Falcons have blocked 92 kicks since 1990 to rank second nationally behind Virginia Tech.
The Falcons blocked three kicks last season. Nelson Mitchell swatted an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter vs. Wyoming. The block was the second of Mitchell's career, as he blocked a PAT in 2004 vs. Eastern Washington. Adam Zanotti recorded his first-career block when he deflected a punt against UNLV. The block was the first of Zanotti's career. Charles Wells added the first block of his career against BYU when he blocked a punt that Garrett Rybak returned 10 yards for a touchdown.
Air Force a national power in rushing -
Air Force has been one of the most dominant rushing teams in college football since Fisher DeBerry took over in 1984. The team has ranked among the nation's top 10 a remarkable 21 times and the top five 16 times. In 2002, the Falcons won the school's first national rushing title with a 307.8 per-game average.
Air Force has won 22 conference rushing titles, including 20 under DeBerry. The Falcons won the Mountain West Conference title in 2005 and ranked eighth nationally with a 246.5 average.
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy -
The No. 1 goal of the Air Force football program is to win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition between the three service academies. The 2006 season marks the 35th year of competition between Air Force, Army and Navy. Air Force has a 45-23-0 all-time CIC record and has won 16 trophy titles. Fisher DeBerry has led the Falcons to 14 of the 16 titles and has a 34-10 CIC record.
Air Force finished the 2005 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy series 0-2 for the fifth time overall and just the second time under Fisher DeBerry. The Falcons were beaten, 27-24, at Navy Oct. 8 and by Army, 27-24, on Nov. 5 in Falcon Stadium. Navy went on to defeat Army to win the CIC Trophy for the third consecutive year.
Air Force fullbacks -
When the fullback gets rolling, the Falcons are tough to beat. Air Force is 42-10 since 1990 when the fullback position rushes for 100 or more yards. The group did it four times last season, winning three of the game.
Air Force among the best -
Air Force ranks second in the Mountain West Conference and 26th nationally since 1997 in total wins. The Falcons have a 67-41 record (.620). During the last nine years, Air Force has posted seasons with nine (2000), 10 (1997) and 12 (1998) wins. Air Force posted the first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history in 1997-98 with 10 and 12 wins, respectively.
Former great Chad Hennings elected for College Football Hall of Fame -
Former Air Force great Chad Hennings received one of the highest honors a college football player can earn this year, as he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A class. Hennings is one of 13 players and two coaches to be selected to the Hall of Fame from a ballot of 77 candidates and a pool of hundreds of eligible nominees, according to Ron Johnson, chairman of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
Hennings, a 1988 graduate of the Academy, is considered one of college football's great defensive linemen of his era. A unanimous first-team All-America selection in 1987, Hennings received the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, he is a member of the Western Athletic Conference all-time team and was named WAC defensive player of the decade for the 1980s. Hennings led the nation with 24 sacks in 1987 and played in numerous post-season all-star games including the Japan Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. He is a two-time first-team academic All-American and earned academic All-WAC honors three times. Hennings also received the Stan Bates Award as the conference's top scholar-athlete in 1987.
Although he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1988 NFL Draft, Hennings fulfilled a four-year military commitment, serving during the first Gulf War. In 1992, he rejoined the Cowboys and embarked on a nine-year NFL career that brought him three Super Bowl titles.
"It's a great honor! I never went into playing football for the individual accolades; it's always been about team. To be recognized with this honor is a testament to the guys I played with at the Air Force Academy," Hennings said.
Hennings, who is a successful business owner, is very active in his community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Happy Hills Farm, a home for abused and neglected children. He and his wife, Tammy, currently reside in Flower Mound, Texas, with their children, Chase and Brenna.
"This is a great day for Falcon football. Chad has brought distinction to the Academy, Falcon football and himself. Nobody ever deserved to be in the Hall of Fame more than Chad," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said. "This signifies him as one of the best that ever played the game. This award not only speaks to his football ability, but also to his outstanding character and personal qualities and attitudes. It will be fun to see him inducted."
Hennings joins former Air Force great Brock Strom, Academy class of 1959, as the only other Air Force football player in the Hall of Fame. Former Falcon coach L.T. "Buck" Shaw, who coached the Academy from 1956-57, is the only former coach inducted.
"If anyone ever lived the core values of the Academy and the Air Force to the limit, it's Chad. The epitome of integrity, service and excellence, he fulfilled his commitment to the Air Force as an A-10 pilot in Desert Storm, was given the opportunity to fulfill his Academy commitment early, and only then opted to give the NFL a try. The rest is history, but Chad never forgot his roots here," said Dr. Hans Mueh, athletics director at the Academy and a member of the academic faculty at the Academy while Hennings was a cadet. "He continues to support us as a role model to our cadets and the Air Force and he is a strong supporter of the athletic program. This honor is well-deserved, but Chad will be humble in his acceptance and give credit to others for recognition he so clearly earned. I'm honored to know him and proud to call him a friend."
"We are very pleased to announce the induction of yet another exceptional class of college football hall of famers," Johnson said. "Each year our hard-working Honors Court, chaired by Gene Corrigan, does an outstanding job in ensuring the game's legends are duly recognized."
The 2006 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A Class will be inducted at the 49th Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2006, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during ceremonies in the summer of 2007.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m. Mtn., Neyland Stadium (104,079), Knoxville, TN
Just the Facts
Television: Comcast Southeast (pay-per-view) in the Tennessee area only. The game is also available on ESPN GamePlan as part of an agreement with the SEC. Randy Smith (play-by-play) and Pat Ryan (color) will call the action.
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs and KLTT (670 AM) in Denver. KVOR's Jim Arthur (play-by-play) and Lee Douglas (color) of News First 5/30 call the action. They are joined for the pre- and post-game shows by Jay Ritchie.
Last Week: This week is the season opener for Air Force. Tennessee defeated #9 California, 35-18, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN.
Next Week: Air Force is idle. Tennessee hosts SEC foe Florida.
Last Meeting: Air Force and Tennessee are playing for the first time since the 1971 Sugar Bowl. The Vols won the game, 34-13, on Jan. 1.
Streaks: Air Force has a one-game winning streak dating back to last year. Tennessee has a two-game winning streak dating back to last season.
Coaches: Air Force is coached by Fisher DeBerry (Wofford, 1960), who is in his 23rd season. DeBerry has guided the Falcons to a 165-101-1 career record. Tennessee is coached by Philip Fulmer (Tennessee, 1972), who is in his 15th year. He has led the Vols to a 129-37 career record.
The series -
This is just the second meeting between Air Force and Tennessee. The teams first played in the 1971 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. The Vols used a 24-point first quarter to defeat Air Force, 34-13. Tennessee quarterback Bobby Scott hit 22 of 40 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown to earn game most valuable player honors. Please see page four for a statistical summary of the game.
Ties to Tennessee -
Tennessee head coach Philip Fulmer was a senior varsity letterwinner the last time Air Force and Tennessee played which was in the 1971 Sugar Bowl.
Ken Hatfield, Air Force head coach from 1979-83 and offensive coordinator in 1978, was a member of the Tennessee coaching staff from 1968-70. He was assistant freshman coach in 1968, head freshman coach in 1969 and coached offensive ends for the Vols in 1970.
Air Force's second director of athletics, George Simler, who served from Aug. 1957 to July 1960, has a strong tie to Tennessee. Simler, who was responsible for picking the site of Falcon Stadium and who was instrumental in the development of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, was once the commander of the fighter wing at McGhee-Tyson Air Force Base. He was close friends with General Robert R. Neyland, which the Vols stadium is named after.
Coaches with ties -
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry and Tennessee coach Philip Fulmer have several things in common. Both coaches have the longest active tenures in their conferences. DeBerry is in his 23rd season at the Academy which tops all coaches in the Mountain West Conference while Fulmer is in his 15th with the Vols which tops the SEC.
Both coaches have earned national coach of the year honors. DeBerry earned the award in 1985 while Fulmer each it in 1998.
Both coaches have earned the State Farm Coach National Coach of Distinction Award for their efforts on and off the field. DeBerry took home the award in 2001 while Fulmer won it in 1999.
Air Force vs. SEC -
Air Force is 6-7 all-time against teams in the Southeastern Conference. This week's game is the team's first vs. the SEC since beating Mississippi State, 38-15, in the 1991 Liberty Bowl. The last time Air Force played an SEC team during the regular season was against Arkansas in 1975. The Razorbacks defeated Air Force, 35-0, in Little Rock, Ark.
First career starts -
Air Force has nine players scheduled to make the first start of their careers this week. On offense, the players are: Vic Thompson (WR), Travis Dekker (TE), Blane Guenther (RT) and Beau Suder (HB). Defensively, Noah Garguile (DE), Josh Clayton (DE), Joey Keller (LB) and Garrett Rybak (LC). Kicker Zach Sasser is also making his first career start.
AFA vs ranked opponents -
Tennessee is the first ranked team Air Force has played since taking on 21st-ranked TCU last season.
Air Force's last win over a ranked team came in 2002 at No. 23 California, 23-21. The team has lost its last three games vs. ranked teams. Besides dropping a 49-35 game at Utah, the Falcons also lost to 13th-ranked California, 56-14, last season and vs. TCU, 48-10, at home. The last time Air Force beat a team ranked higher than Tennessee was in 1996 when the Falcons defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 20-17, in overtime in South Bend.
Air Force to play in front of largest crowd ever??? -
The Falcons will likely to play in front of the largest crowd in school history this week when the team travels to Tennessee. The Vols ranked second in the country last year in attendance with an average of 107,593. Only Michigan ranked higher with an average of 110,915. The largest crowd Air Force has ever played in front of is 80,232 which was at Notre Dame in 2000. The second largest crowd came against San Diego State in 1981 at the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. Air Force's game against Tennessee in the 1971 Sugar Bowl ranks third at 78,685.
Fast starts the norm -
Air Force has a history of fast starts with Fisher DeBerry at the helm. In addition to a 17-5 mark in season openers, the Falcons are 65-30 (.722) in August and September under DeBerry.
Season openers -
Air Force is 30-18-2 overall in season openers. This week's game marks the second straight year the team has opened the season away from Falcon Stadium. Last year, Air Force defeated Washington, 20-17, in Seattle. This season marks the first since 1988 that the Falcons have opened the season on the road in an opponent's home stadium. That year, Air Force defeated Colorado State, 29-23, in Fort Collins.
Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry is 17-5 all-time in season openers. The coach is 10-2 in season openers against non-conference opponents. This is DeBerry's fourth time opening the season away from Falcon Stadium. He is 2-1 in the previous three meetings.
Air Force picked seventh at MWC Media Day -
Air Force was picked to finish seventh in the Mountain West Conference this season by vote of the conference coaches and media, it was announced at the annual conference media day in San Diego, Calif. Senior defensive lineman Gilberto Perez was named to the first-team preseason all-conference squad.
TCU was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as league champion, collecting 213 points and 16 first-place votes. BYU was picked to finish second with 192 points and five first place votes. Utah was third with 188 points and three first-place votes. Colorado State received the only other first-place vote and was picked to finish fourth with 130 points, followed by New Mexico (119), San Diego State (104), Air Force (70), UNLV (58) and Wyoming (51).
Perez was the only Falcon selected for the first-team. BYU senior quarterback John Beck was named the preseason offensive player of the year while Utah senior defensive back Eric Weddle was named the defensive player of the year. UNLV junior kicker Sergio Aguayo was the special teams player of the year while McKay Jacobson of BYU was tabbed as the freshman of the year.
Air Force looks for win No. 300 -
Air Force's next win will be the 300th in school history dating back to 1956 when the program was started. The school is in its 51st year of varsity football and enters this season with a 299-252-13 record. Air Force is 161-105-3 at home and 138-147-10 in away games. Air Force has had just five head coaches. L.T. "Buck" Shaw coached the team from 1956-57 and was followed by Ben Martin. Known as the father of Air Force Football, Martin coached for 20 years from 1958-77 and led the Falcons to their only two New Year's Day bowl games. He was followed by Bill Parcells for one year (1978) and Ken Hatfield for five years from 1979-83. Current leader Fisher DeBerry took over in 1984 and is in his 23rd year.
Falcons vs. non-conference foes -
Air Force is 30-11 in non-conference games dating back to 1997. Four of the losses have come at the hands of nationally ranked teams. Air Force fell to eighth-ranked Notre Dame, 34-31, in overtime in 2000 and in 2001 to third-ranked Oklahoma, 44-3, in Falcon Stadium. In 2002, the team fell at home, 21-14, to seventh-ranked Notre Dame. The team lost to No. 13 California in 2004. AFA head coach Fisher DeBerry is 68-34 (.667) during his career in non-conference games.
Perez on Lott Trophy watch list -
Air Force defensive lineman Gilberto Perez has been added to the Watch List for the 2006 Lott Trophy.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its third year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Perez led the Falcons in tackles for losses last year with 9.5 before being injured late in the season. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
David Pollack of Georgia and DeMeco Ryans of Alabama were the winners of the first two Lott Trophies. Both Georgia and Alabama received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In two years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated $170,000 to various charities, in addition to the two universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club Dec. 10.
Carney on Davey O'Brien Watch List -
Air Force junior quarterback Shaun Carney is one of 34 quarterbacks on the Davey O'Brien "Watch List" for the 2006 season, according to an announcement from the O'Brien Foundation. The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback.
This year's list is made up of 19 seniors, 12 juniors and three sophomores. The O'Brien Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the country for college quarterbacks and is named in honor of the late Davey O'Brien. O'Brien led the TCU Horned Frogs to the 1938 national championship and was the first player to win the Heisman, Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards in one season.
Carney is the school record holder for completion percentage, breaking his own school record of 61.1 percent set as a freshman with a 64.2 mark last year. He has passed for 2,708 career yards and 18 touchdowns which ranks seventh overall in Academy history. Carney, who was on the O'Brien Award watch list last year, ranks 28th in school history with 1,306 career rushing yards.
Air Force ranks ninth -
Air Force has scored in 156 consecutive games dating back to 1992. The Falcons were last shutout by Mississippi, 13-0, in the 1992 Liberty Bowl. That shutout is the only one in the 22-year career of Fisher DeBerry. Air Force's streak is the second-longest active streak in the Mountain West Conference and the ninth longest in the country. A closer look at the longest active streaks follows (* - MWC teams):
The option era's most balanced offense -
Air Force showed more balance on offense in 2005 than ever before. The Falcons rushed and passed for over 200 yards each in five games. In the win over Washington, the Falcons rushed for 218 yards and passed for 207. In the San Diego State win, Air Force rushed for 272 yards and passed for 231. Air Force rushed for 251 yards and passed for 234 in the loss at Utah. The Falcons rushed for 200 yards and passed for 279 yards in a loss at BYU. Air Force rushed for 230 yards and passed for 203 vs. Army.
The rushing offense accounted for 59.1 percent of the total offense while the passing game posted 40.9 percent to set an new option era record. The previous record came in 2000. That year, the team had 4,971 yards of total offense, including 3,244 rushing and 1,727 passing. The team averaged 65.2 percent of its offense via the run while 34.8 came from passing.
Passing fancy -
Air Force's offense is known for its dominance in rushing the football. Recently, the passing game has made the headlines. Air Force passed for 200 or more yards in five games during 2005 and has a streak of six of the last 12 games dating back to 2004. Air Force opened the season with a 207-yard performance in the season opener vs. Washington. Shaun Carney threw for 107 yards while Adam Fitch connected for 100 yards. The Washington game was the first since 1994 vs. UTEP that two AFA quarterbacks threw for 100 or more yards. That year, Preston McConnell threw for 119 and Beau Morgan 100. Against San Diego State, Carney threw for a career-high 231 yards to mark the third consecutive game the Falcons had topped the 200-yard mark. AFA finished the 2004 season with a 203-yard effort from Carney. The three straight 200-yard performances is a first in the option era (1980-present) at Air Force. In the game at Utah, Carney hit nine of 16 passes for 145 yards while Fitch hit four of nine passes for 89 yards a touchdown. Against BYU, the team had its best day passing of the season. The quarterbacks combined to hit 17 of 31 passes for 279 yards and a school-record five touchdowns. Carney hit four of seven passes for 14 yards before being injured. Fitch came on in relief and had the best day of his career. Fitch hit 13 of 24 passes for 265 yards and all five of the touchdowns. His 265 yards passing are the most by a Falcon since Mike Thiessen threw for 265 against BYU in 2000. Carney hit 16 of 21 passes for 194 yards and a TD vs. Army. Fitch chipped in hitting one of two passes for nine yards for a team total of 203 yards.
On the season, the Falcons hit 121 of 205 passes for 1,878 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The team completed 59.0 percent of its passes. Air Force averaged 170.7 yards per game which established a new record in the option era. The previous record of 157.0 yards per game was set in 2000. The team's quarterback efficiency rating was 148.76 on the year.
The passing game operated at near record efficiency in 2004. The team averaged 148.1 yards per game passing which is the 11th-best effort in school history and best since the 2000 season. The team's completion percentage of 59.8 set a new single season school record. The previous mark of 56.6 was set in 2000. Air Force quarterbacks completed 113 of 189 passes for 1,629 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The team had a 144.68 quarterback efficiency rating.
Blocked kicks -
Air Force is one of premier teams in the country when it comes to blocking kicks. The Falcons have blocked 92 kicks since 1990 to rank second nationally behind Virginia Tech.
The Falcons blocked three kicks last season. Nelson Mitchell swatted an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter vs. Wyoming. The block was the second of Mitchell's career, as he blocked a PAT in 2004 vs. Eastern Washington. Adam Zanotti recorded his first-career block when he deflected a punt against UNLV. The block was the first of Zanotti's career. Charles Wells added the first block of his career against BYU when he blocked a punt that Garrett Rybak returned 10 yards for a touchdown.
Air Force a national power in rushing -
Air Force has been one of the most dominant rushing teams in college football since Fisher DeBerry took over in 1984. The team has ranked among the nation's top 10 a remarkable 21 times and the top five 16 times. In 2002, the Falcons won the school's first national rushing title with a 307.8 per-game average.
Air Force has won 22 conference rushing titles, including 20 under DeBerry. The Falcons won the Mountain West Conference title in 2005 and ranked eighth nationally with a 246.5 average.
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy -
The No. 1 goal of the Air Force football program is to win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition between the three service academies. The 2006 season marks the 35th year of competition between Air Force, Army and Navy. Air Force has a 45-23-0 all-time CIC record and has won 16 trophy titles. Fisher DeBerry has led the Falcons to 14 of the 16 titles and has a 34-10 CIC record.
Air Force finished the 2005 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy series 0-2 for the fifth time overall and just the second time under Fisher DeBerry. The Falcons were beaten, 27-24, at Navy Oct. 8 and by Army, 27-24, on Nov. 5 in Falcon Stadium. Navy went on to defeat Army to win the CIC Trophy for the third consecutive year.
Air Force fullbacks -
When the fullback gets rolling, the Falcons are tough to beat. Air Force is 42-10 since 1990 when the fullback position rushes for 100 or more yards. The group did it four times last season, winning three of the game.
Air Force among the best -
Air Force ranks second in the Mountain West Conference and 26th nationally since 1997 in total wins. The Falcons have a 67-41 record (.620). During the last nine years, Air Force has posted seasons with nine (2000), 10 (1997) and 12 (1998) wins. Air Force posted the first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history in 1997-98 with 10 and 12 wins, respectively.
Former great Chad Hennings elected for College Football Hall of Fame -
Former Air Force great Chad Hennings received one of the highest honors a college football player can earn this year, as he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A class. Hennings is one of 13 players and two coaches to be selected to the Hall of Fame from a ballot of 77 candidates and a pool of hundreds of eligible nominees, according to Ron Johnson, chairman of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
Hennings, a 1988 graduate of the Academy, is considered one of college football's great defensive linemen of his era. A unanimous first-team All-America selection in 1987, Hennings received the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, he is a member of the Western Athletic Conference all-time team and was named WAC defensive player of the decade for the 1980s. Hennings led the nation with 24 sacks in 1987 and played in numerous post-season all-star games including the Japan Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. He is a two-time first-team academic All-American and earned academic All-WAC honors three times. Hennings also received the Stan Bates Award as the conference's top scholar-athlete in 1987.
Although he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1988 NFL Draft, Hennings fulfilled a four-year military commitment, serving during the first Gulf War. In 1992, he rejoined the Cowboys and embarked on a nine-year NFL career that brought him three Super Bowl titles.
"It's a great honor! I never went into playing football for the individual accolades; it's always been about team. To be recognized with this honor is a testament to the guys I played with at the Air Force Academy," Hennings said.
Hennings, who is a successful business owner, is very active in his community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Happy Hills Farm, a home for abused and neglected children. He and his wife, Tammy, currently reside in Flower Mound, Texas, with their children, Chase and Brenna.
"This is a great day for Falcon football. Chad has brought distinction to the Academy, Falcon football and himself. Nobody ever deserved to be in the Hall of Fame more than Chad," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said. "This signifies him as one of the best that ever played the game. This award not only speaks to his football ability, but also to his outstanding character and personal qualities and attitudes. It will be fun to see him inducted."
Hennings joins former Air Force great Brock Strom, Academy class of 1959, as the only other Air Force football player in the Hall of Fame. Former Falcon coach L.T. "Buck" Shaw, who coached the Academy from 1956-57, is the only former coach inducted.
"If anyone ever lived the core values of the Academy and the Air Force to the limit, it's Chad. The epitome of integrity, service and excellence, he fulfilled his commitment to the Air Force as an A-10 pilot in Desert Storm, was given the opportunity to fulfill his Academy commitment early, and only then opted to give the NFL a try. The rest is history, but Chad never forgot his roots here," said Dr. Hans Mueh, athletics director at the Academy and a member of the academic faculty at the Academy while Hennings was a cadet. "He continues to support us as a role model to our cadets and the Air Force and he is a strong supporter of the athletic program. This honor is well-deserved, but Chad will be humble in his acceptance and give credit to others for recognition he so clearly earned. I'm honored to know him and proud to call him a friend."
"We are very pleased to announce the induction of yet another exceptional class of college football hall of famers," Johnson said. "Each year our hard-working Honors Court, chaired by Gene Corrigan, does an outstanding job in ensuring the game's legends are duly recognized."
The 2006 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A Class will be inducted at the 49th Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2006, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during ceremonies in the summer of 2007.
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