Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
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<p>Falcon Fans,</p>

<p>After an impressive 2007 regular season campaign, finishing the season with a 9-3 record, your Air Force Falcons have been selected to represent the Mountain West Conference in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. The Falcons will play an as yet to be determined team on December 31st in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be held at Amon G Carter Stadium on the campus of TCU and will be broadcast on ESPN at 11:30 AM CST. As the Falcons prepare for their first post-season bowl game appearance since 2002, please make plans to be with them. We need your support now more than ever. Please see below and go online at [Air</a> Force Academy Official Athletic Site](<a href=“http://www.GoAirForceFalcons.com%5DAir”>http://www.GoAirForceFalcons.com) to purchase tickets. If you cannot attend, please consider purchasing a ticket for donation. Donated tickets will be distributed to junior enlisted in the area who might not otherwise be able to attend the game. Please help us spread the word and make this the largest Air Force turnout in Air Force Academy bowl history. Thanks for your continued support. GO FALCONS and see you in Fort Worth!!! </p>

<p>Travel Information:
Frontier is offering a 10% discount off of the lowest published fair for the bowl game. </p>

<p>Hotels:
The Embassy Suites – Ft Worth, 817-332-6900 is offering rooms at $179.</p>

<p>The Courtyard by Marriott, 817-885-8700 is offering rooms at $169.</p>

<p>Mention Air Force Football for the rate.</p>

<p>Both are downtown Fort Worth and within walking distance to the team hotel.</p>

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<p>I plan on being there. :) woohoo!</p>

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<p>Air Force begins its practices for bowl</p>

<p>By JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE</p>

<p>Air Force began shaking off the rust from a 12-day layoff Friday, holding its first official practice for the Dec. 31 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.</p>

<p>The Falcons, who had been off since a 55-23 victory over San Diego State on Nov. 17, had spent several previous days going through workouts with strength and conditioning coach Matt McGettigan. Friday they spent approximately 85 minutes on the field in full pads and even did some hitting.</p>

<p>“They were rusty, absolutely,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “But we were going to be. . . . It was just good for us to get back out there.”</p>

<p>While Air Force needed to get back to practice — even though it won’t know its bowl opponent until this weekend — Calhoun and McGettigan also said the time off was critical for physical and mental recovery. Air Force had played 12 games in 12 weeks.</p>

<p>Air Force will practice today at 9:15 a.m. and then practice Dec. 7, 8, 15, 19 and 20. Between practices players will work out with McGettigan. After heading to their respective homes for a holiday break, players will assemble in Fort Worth on Dec. 26 and practice.</p>

<p>Aloha, Mr. Rabold</p>

<p>Falcons senior outside linebacker John Rabold has been selected to play in the 2008 Hula Bowl Jan. 12 in Hawaii.</p>

<p>The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Rabold leads the Mountain West Conference in tackles for losses (16½) and fumbles recovered (.33 per game).</p>

<p>“It’s a really cool deal,” Rabold said. “I just want to go out there and be successful in whatever they ask me to do.”</p>

<p>Announcement soon</p>

<p>Air Force’s bowl opponent likely will be announced Sunday, according to Armed Forces Bowl executive director Tom Starr.</p>

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<p>Just coming over the wire...</p>

<p>Air Force will play California in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Monday, Dec. 31, at 10:30 a.m. MT at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.</p>

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<p>As in..........UC-Berkeley? Wow, that will be one tough game for AF. We will have to cheer mightily. They can do it. They can beat them. Go Falcons!!!</p>

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<p>cal was #2 in the polls after starting 5-0, however, they finished the season losing 6 of 7 games to finish 6-6, including a final game of the regular season loss to Stanford. So this game could swing either way. hopefully our team shows up and kicks @$$. GO AIR FORCE!!!</p>

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<p>AFA seniors are eager for rematch</p>

<p>By JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE</p>

<p>It has taken almost all of four seasons, but Shaun Carney and Air Force finally will get another shot at California.</p>

<p>The Falcons, who received a bid to the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Nov. 26, found out Sunday that their opponent in the Dec. 31 game in Fort Worth, Texas, will be the Golden Bears.</p>

<p>Air Force opened its 2004 season, when its current seniors were freshmen, by playing host to Cal. Carney became the first freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the academy, but the Golden Bears ruined his debut...</p>

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<p>Falcons are currently listed as a 4 to 4.5 point underdog.</p>

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<p>Falcons soar to MWC honors</p>

<p>Calhoun is league’s Coach of the Year; Hall is top offensive player</p>

<p>By JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE</p>

<p>Air Force coach Troy Calhoun deflected praise to his players, his assistants and the academy administration.</p>

<p>Running back/receiver Chad Hall steered credit toward his offensive line.</p>

<p>The Falcons’ first-year coach and do everything senior were named the Mountain West Conference Coach and Offensive Player of the Year, respectively, on Tuesday. Both shared the awards with the rest of a resurgent Air Force program that went 9-3, finished second in the league and secured the academy’s first bowl berth since 2002.</p>

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<p>Calhoun is finalist for Robinson award</p>

<p>NEWS SERVICES</p>

<p>Air Force coach Troy Calhoun is one of eight finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, The Football Writers Association of America said Wednesday.</p>

<p>Calhoun, a first-year head coach, directed the Falcons to a 9-3 record and a berth opposite California in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31. It was the biggest turnaround in the country by any firstyear coach from the 2006 season. Air Force was 4-8 in 2006.</p>

<p>The other finalists are Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson, Hawaii’s June Jones, Kansas’ Mark Mangino, Missouri’s Gary Pinkel, Ohio State’s Jim Tressel and Illinois’ Ron Zook.</p>

<p>The winner will be announced Jan. 4 in New Orleans.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
cal was #2 in the polls after starting 5-0, however, they finished the season losing 6 of 7 games to finish 6-6, including a final game of the regular season loss to Stanford. So this game could swing either way. hopefully our team shows up and kicks @$$. GO AIR FORCE!!!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Cal had an embarrassing implosion this year and are lucky to even be in a bowl game.</p>

<p>Should be a good matchup...Hopefully my Bears will show up and kick @$$ unlike the last few games they've played.</p>

<p>Oh, and nice idea about purchasing tickets for donation to fellow enlisted servicemen. Cal should do the same out of respect for those that serve this great country.</p>

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<p>AFA goes over 10,000 mark for tickets sold to bowl game </p>

<p>U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy has gone over the 10,000 tickets sold mark for the 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 31, at 10:30 a.m. MST vs. California on ESPN. The Academy is at 10,500 sold for the bowl and has requested additional tickets beyond the 10,000 allotment the bowl designated for Air Force. The Academy has received additional tickets from bowl officials and is still selling tickets through the ticket office and the athletic website. Fans still interested in purchasing these tickets may call 800-666-USAF or visit Air</a> Force Academy Official Athletic Site</p>

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<p>Still a great turn around season despite the loss to Cal today...and he 21-0 start was truly amazing. The Mountain West Conference also ends up 4-1 in bowel games this year. </p>

<p>Hope Carney's knee injury is not as bad as it initially looked.</p>

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<p>12,000 tickets help improve Bowl image</p>

<p>Falcons coach Calhoun spurs flock to Texas</p>

<p>By JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE</p>

<p>FORT WORTH, Texas - Since late November, when Air Force received its bid to today’s Armed Forces Bowl, Falcons coach Troy Calhoun has spearheaded an effort to alter the academy’s image as a school that does not bring fans to bowl games.</p>

<p>Mission accomplished, according to Armed Forces Bowl executive director Tom Starr.</p>

<p>Air Force has sold approximately 12,000 tickets for today’s game at Amon G. Carter Stadium against California. That’s nearly four times what it sold for its previous two bowl games combined.</p>

<p>“This is going to help them so much,” Starr said. “And I’ll send out a letter to all the other bowls — we do that in the bowl business — and I’ll say, ‘If you have an opportunity to get these guys, grab it.’”</p>

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<p>That knee injury looked gruesome on the TV replay. I hope it doesn't affect any of his future.</p>

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<p>Being familiar with some sports injuries; especially my own, including the knee; he has some good things going for him assuming the it's a CL problem. He's not going pro; he's done playing ball; he has some excellent doctors/surgeons; 6+ months to rest up before reporting to his first assignment; etc... It's going to be about 6 months or so to get humpty dumpty back together, but he can do it. Of course, if it's actual bone, it's actually not as bad and can heal much quicker. Can't say either way until it's reported exactly what happened. He's tough. He won't let something like this slow him down. His attitude is the most important, and he's already proved how strong he is in that department.</p>

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<p>Are the cheerleaders cadets?</p>

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<p>Yes, they are.</p>

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<p>First class of recruits priority for Calhoun</p>

<p>By JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE</p>

<p>FORT WORTH, Texas - In his first season as coach at Air Force, Troy Calhoun resurrected a struggling program and led it to the postseason for the first time since 2002.</p>

<p>Now he faces an even bigger challenge — sustaining that success without the talented, 26-player senior class that spearheaded the turnaround.</p>

<p>On the morning after his team’s 42-36 loss to California in the Armed Forces Bowl, Calhoun shifted focus from his 9-4 squad to next season and beyond. His first priority will be finalizing his first true recruiting class.</p>

<p>“That’ll be a good chunk of what we do here the next five weeks,” said Calhoun, who will meet with his staff Thursday at the academy. “From about Jan. 13 through Feb. 5, we’ve got to have our ears pinned back and go recruit.”</p>

<p>Calhoun, who wants to downsize the number of players in the program, also is streamlining its recruiting. He estimated that recruiting classes in the past five years averaged about 65 members. This year’s class will be about half that, he said, as coaches will emphasize quality over quantity.</p>

<p>“We’re going to have the smallest class maybe that’s been brought to a service academy,” he said. “But they’re going to be hand-picked guys. For us, we’ve got a good beat on the kids we want and, more importantly, kids that have got a chance to excel at the Air Force Academy.”</p>

<p>Calhoun said the top quality he’s seeking in recruits is speed — “Was that evident yesterday” against a fast Cal team, Calhoun asked, smiling. While he is recruiting all positions, Calhoun said Air Force especially is targeting quarterback, tailback, cornerback and linebacker.</p>

<p>The coach said many times last year that he wants to get to the point where his starting lineup is comprised of approximately 14 seniors, about seven juniors and only one underclassman. That will not be the case in the immediate future.</p>

<p>“Probably the next two years, we may have the youngest football team that we’ve had in — you might have to go back to 1956 or ’57 when there was no senior class at the Air Force Academy,” he said.</p>

<p>Asked how long it would take to get his program where he wants it, Calhoun said, “probably, at a minimum, three years.”</p>