Calhoun hosts first press conference of season
8/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 2011
Calhoun hosts press conference as Air Force prepares to open 2011 season vs. South Dakota
Video: Calhoun's Press Conference
Video: Player interviewsAir Force opens the 2011 season this Saturday, Sept. 3, by host South Dakota in Falcon Stadium at noon. The Falcons are coming off a 9-4 season in 2010 that also saw the team win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 2002 and play in a bowl game for the fourth straight year. Air Force defeated Georgia Tech, 14-7, in the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl to post a second-straight bowl victory.
Air Force was picked third in the Mountain West preseason bowl this season behind Boise State and defending champion TCU. The Falcons are receiving votes in both the coaches and Associated Press polls.
Calhoun met with the media Tuesday to discuss the season and the opening game.
Game 1: Air Force vs. South Dakota
Saturday • Sept. 3 • 2 p.m. MT • Falcon Stadium (46,692) • USAF Academy, CO
TELEVISION
The Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn)
Todd Harris (play-by-play); Todd Christensen (Analyst); Natalie Vickers (Sidelines)
RADIO
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs; Goairforcefalcons.com
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Lee Douglas (analyst); Jay Ricci/Bob Ihle (pre- and post-game)
GAME FACTS: Air Force opens the 2011 season at home against South Dakota ... This is the first meeting between the two schools ... Air Force was picked third in the Mountain West in the media preseason poll this year while South Dakota was picked fourth in the Great West Conference ... The Falcons are 4-0 in season home openers with Troy Calhoun as head coach ... This season marks the fifth straight that Air Force has opened the season against a Football Championship Subdivision team ... The Falcons are riding a four-game winning streak into the game dating back to last year ... All 12 Air Force regular season games are being televised nationally this season.
Category Air Force South Dakota
2011 Record 0-0 (0-0 MWC) 0-0 (0-0 Great West)
2010 Record 9-4 (5-3 MWC) 4-7 (1-3 Great West)
Streaks W 4 L 2
Next week vs. TCU, 9/10 vs. Eastern Washington, 9/10
Website goairforcefalcons.com usdcoyotes.com
COACHES
Air Force: Troy Calhoun (Air Force, 1989) is in his fifth season. He has led the Falcons to a 34-18 career record. Calhoun is 21-11 in MWC games, 13-7 in non-conference games, 19-5 in Falcon Stadium, 11-10 in road games (9-6 in MW road games) and 2-2 in bowl games.
South Dakota: Ed Meierkort (Dakota Wesleyan, 1982) is in his eighth season. He has led the Coyotes to a 48-30 record. Meierkort has a 103-85 career record in his 19th season.
THE SERIES: Air Force and South Dakota are meeting for the first time. This is also Air Force's first game against a team from the Great West Conference.
SEASON OPENERS
• Air Force is 34-19-2 overall in season openers, including a 29-8 mark in season openers at home.
• Air Force has won four straight and five of the last seven season openers with the only losses coming at No. 11 Tennessee in 2006 and vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
• The Falcons have won six of the last seven season openers at home with the only loss coming vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
• Air Force has won 13 straight season openers vs. unranked teams dating back to 34-21 setback vs. Colorado State in 1994.
• Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is 4-0 in season openers, all four coming at home.
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER CALHOUN
• Air Force is 13-7 against non-conference foes under head coach Troy Calhoun.
• The Falcons are 7-1 at home, 3-4 on the road and 3-2 in neutral site games.
• Air Force was 4-1 last season and has won six of the last seven with the only loss coming at No. 7 Oklahoma.
HOME SWEET HOME: Air Force tied the school record last season for most home wins over a four-year period with 19. The Falcons have a 19-5 record at home under head coach Troy Calhoun since 2007. Air Force also won 19 games from 1982-85 (19-4, .826) and from 1997-00 (19-4, .826).
