Air Force closes out spring drills with final scrimmage
4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Air Force football team concluded its spring season with its annual spring football game at Fountain-Fort Carson High School Saturday, April 9. The team scrimmaged for about an hour and hosted members of Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force base in a flag football game. The team also hosted a youth autograph session to close the day. Air Force cheerleaders and the Bird mascot were also on hand to interact with fans.
The scrimmage was just offense vs. defense and each team had honorary coaches from each base. The Air Force base team had Gen. John Hyten, commander of Air Force space command, as head coach with assistance from Col. Deanna Burt, commander of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base and Col. Doug Schiess, commander of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB. The other team was led by Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, commander of Fort Carson Army Base, and members of his staff.
Both groups took part in a ceremonial coin toss at midfield before the game, along with Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton and Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun.
"It great to get folks who may have never seen a Falcon game to come out, support and see and get exposure to our cadet-athletes and hopefully they will come back and see the team play in the fall at the Air Force Academy," Knowlton said. "One of our priorities has been to connect with the community. We want to talk to our fans all over the community and this is one way to get out there. This is a wonderful area down here at Fort Carson and the leadership in the athletic department here has been phenomenal and they rolled out the red carpet for us.
"Colorado Springs is really a melting pot of services and we're always working on ways to bring everyone together. We're all on the same team ultimately. This was a great opportunity to bring the leaders of Peterson, Schriever, Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy together and have some fun and just enjoy each other's company, Knowlton continued."
