Bo Richter, Trey Taylor, Ben Brittain and former Falcon Rob McMenomy honored at football awards banquet
2/23/2024 8:05:00 PM | Football
Air Force graduate Bo Richter, fellow graduate Trey Taylor, senior Ben Brittain and former Falcon Rob McMenomy all earned honors at the Air Force football banquet Friday, Feb. 23, at Boot Barn Hall in Colorado Springs. Richter won the coveted Brian Bullard Award, while Taylor and Brittain earned the Jack Braley Mr. Intensity Award. McMenomy, a 2006 graduate, earned the Carson Bird Award.
Richter was a first-team all-Mountain West selection in 2023. He led the conference in tackles for loss with 19.5 and was third in quarterback sacks with 10.5. He was dominant in Air Force's 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl, recording a program bowl record 4.5 tackles for loss, tying an Air Force bowl record with 3.0 sacks and recording four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team for his efforts.
The Bullard Award, established in 1984 and voted on by the football team, is based on the criteria that typifies the late Brian Bullard - unselfishness, 110 percent effort, total team commitment and pride in his role on the team whether he's a starter or not. Bullard was a 1982 graduate of Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs. He attended the Academy the following year and played on the football team for two years. During Thanksgiving vacation in 1983, Bullard and his girlfriend, fellow cadet Dianne Williams, died from carbon monoxide poisoning while returning from a trip to Kansas in a snow storm.
McMenomy was a two-year letterwinner at tight end for the Falcons. He had two catches for 55 yards and a touchdown in 2005 and five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in 2004, ranking among the team leaders both seasons. He was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in August of 2023 and has fought it bravely since.
This Carson Bird Award was established to honor the 2008 graduate who was a three-year starter and All-American in 2007. The award goes to an Air Force football family member that has proven themselves to be courageous, selfless, relentless and tenacious. In addition, the award goes to someone who made a difference in a positive way. The award is not just a celebration of feats conquered, but also a charge to continue to attack every day no matter the odds stacked against you.
Taylor capped an amazing 2023 season by winning the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, the Defender of the Nation Award for his efforts on and off the field and the East-West Shrine Bowl Pat Tillman Award for character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. He was a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association earned Associated Press third-team All-American honors.
Brittain was a mainstay at quarterback for the Falcons, serving in a backup role all four years. He threw a career-long 80-yard touchdown pass against Nevada in 2022 and started for the Falcons vs. Boise State this season before having to leave the game due to injury. His 80-yard scoring strike ranks as the eighth-longest pass in program history.
Jack Braley has been part of Air Force football since 1965 as an assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach. He held the position of head strength and condition coach from 1982 to 1997 and still regularly appears at practices. The award recognizes the player(s) on the team that worked the hardest and had the most dedication in the weight room during the season and off season.
Air Force ended the season 9-4 overall and finished fourth in the Mountain West with a 5-3 record. The Falcons capped the season with a 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl win marks a program-record fifth straight and second straight in the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force improved to 40-12 the last four full seasons, including a 23-9 mark in conference games over the same stretch. Air Force opened the season 8-0 and was ranked as high as 17th in both polls. The regular season ranking was the first since 2010. Air Force was ranked 25th in the initial College Football Playoff poll, marking the first appearance in the poll in program history.
Richter was a first-team all-Mountain West selection in 2023. He led the conference in tackles for loss with 19.5 and was third in quarterback sacks with 10.5. He was dominant in Air Force's 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl, recording a program bowl record 4.5 tackles for loss, tying an Air Force bowl record with 3.0 sacks and recording four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team for his efforts.
The Bullard Award, established in 1984 and voted on by the football team, is based on the criteria that typifies the late Brian Bullard - unselfishness, 110 percent effort, total team commitment and pride in his role on the team whether he's a starter or not. Bullard was a 1982 graduate of Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs. He attended the Academy the following year and played on the football team for two years. During Thanksgiving vacation in 1983, Bullard and his girlfriend, fellow cadet Dianne Williams, died from carbon monoxide poisoning while returning from a trip to Kansas in a snow storm.
McMenomy was a two-year letterwinner at tight end for the Falcons. He had two catches for 55 yards and a touchdown in 2005 and five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in 2004, ranking among the team leaders both seasons. He was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in August of 2023 and has fought it bravely since.
This Carson Bird Award was established to honor the 2008 graduate who was a three-year starter and All-American in 2007. The award goes to an Air Force football family member that has proven themselves to be courageous, selfless, relentless and tenacious. In addition, the award goes to someone who made a difference in a positive way. The award is not just a celebration of feats conquered, but also a charge to continue to attack every day no matter the odds stacked against you.
Taylor capped an amazing 2023 season by winning the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, the Defender of the Nation Award for his efforts on and off the field and the East-West Shrine Bowl Pat Tillman Award for character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. He was a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association earned Associated Press third-team All-American honors.
Brittain was a mainstay at quarterback for the Falcons, serving in a backup role all four years. He threw a career-long 80-yard touchdown pass against Nevada in 2022 and started for the Falcons vs. Boise State this season before having to leave the game due to injury. His 80-yard scoring strike ranks as the eighth-longest pass in program history.
Jack Braley has been part of Air Force football since 1965 as an assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach. He held the position of head strength and condition coach from 1982 to 1997 and still regularly appears at practices. The award recognizes the player(s) on the team that worked the hardest and had the most dedication in the weight room during the season and off season.
Air Force ended the season 9-4 overall and finished fourth in the Mountain West with a 5-3 record. The Falcons capped the season with a 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl win marks a program-record fifth straight and second straight in the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force improved to 40-12 the last four full seasons, including a 23-9 mark in conference games over the same stretch. Air Force opened the season 8-0 and was ranked as high as 17th in both polls. The regular season ranking was the first since 2010. Air Force was ranked 25th in the initial College Football Playoff poll, marking the first appearance in the poll in program history.
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