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Air Force ~ The Colorado Springs Gazette's blog for Air Force Academy sports

Hockey: Monument player among 10 commitments

November 20th, 2009, 7:28 pm by jpaisley

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Here are the North American Hockey League and United States Hockey League players who have made verbal commitments to play for the Falcons, according to the league web sites. Their signing a certificate of intent is dependent on obtaining an appointment to the academy.

One prospective signee is Wichita Falls forward Aaron Quick of Monument (pictured above).

NAHL: Alpena IceDiggers, forward Ryan Timar; Bismarck Bobcats, forward Jason Fabian; Owatonna Express, forward Ben Persian; Wenatchee Wild, defensemen Adam McKenzie and Alex McLean, forward Mitch Torrel; Wichita Falls Wildcats, Quick.

USHL: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, defenseman Thomas Fallen; Fargo Force, forwards Cole Gunner, Joe Rehkamp

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BlogDog Represents for Ramsey

November 20th, 2009, 4:55 pm by Jake Schaller

As is the case with most dogs, The BlogDog is fiercely loyal.

You’re nice to The BlogDog, and he’s got your back ‘til the clock stops.

Which is why this week he is rushing to the defense of Gazette columnist David Ramsey.

Ramsey has hung with The BlogDog on a few occasions and even enjoyed a walk around Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood with him. So it hurt Norm to see all the nasty e-mails and blog comments Ramsey has gotten from enraged BYU fans (is there any other kind?) and even some nasty letters from Air Force fans.

The BlogDog disagrees with Ramsey on a whole lot of subjects – specifically Ramsey’s historic underrating of NBA legend Larry Bird. And he disagrees with Ramsey’s assessment that Division II Abilene Christian (Ramsey’s alma mater) would “Kick the (expletive) out of Notre Dame in football.” (Although given recent events, BlogDog doesn’t argue that point too much).

But here’s the point: BlogDog respects Ramsey’s opinion, even when he disagrees with it. He understands that Ramsey – as a columnist – sometimes will write opinions he thinks are insane. And he knows that even though Ramsey covers Air Force, he’s not supposed to be a cheerleader for the Falcons.

And neither is the BlogDog. Which is why after riding Air Force the last three weeks, he’s jumping off the Falcon train. In his weekly picks, Norm went to the Air Force helmet first and then the BYU helmet three times in a row. (The third time, which you can see in this video, came after a brief pause at the Air Force helmet).

Norm thinks the Falcons have had a heck of a year, but he knows it’s about as tough to win in Provo as it is to find a decently poured Maker’s Mark and ginger ale there.

Norm’s Pick: BYU 27, Air Force 17
Norm’s 2009 Season Record: 7-4
Norm’s Overall Record: 24-13

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Friday Morning Links

November 20th, 2009, 9:07 am by Jake Schaller

The Falcons face a huge test Saturday in trying to limit a BYU passing attack that has torched them in recent seasons. But this season’s secondary gives Air Force its best chance in years.

From the Utah papers: The Provo Daily Herald has a feature on Air Force junior fullback Jared Tew. The Deseret Morning News has an article about the Falcons’ defense. And the Salt Lake Tribune also writes about the Falcons’ defense and how it might serve as an example for BYU’s.

Shifting to hoops, Air Force’s men’s team kicks off The Reggie Minton Classic tonight at Clune Arena against Dickinson State of the NAIA’s Dakota Athletic Conference. If the Falcons win they’ll play the winner of tonight’s game between Northern Colorado and Texas Southern in the championship game on Saturday. My 3 Things to Watch in the tournament are located at the bottom of my preview story on senior forward Grant Parker.

Finally, college hockey writer Joe Paisely looks at Air Force ice hockey’s senior assistant captain, Matt Fairchild, in advance of the Falcons’ weekend series at Connecticut.

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Thursday Morning Links

November 19th, 2009, 9:37 am by Jake Schaller

Air Force has been outstanding this season when it comes to avoiding turnovers.

But did you know how good?

The Falcons are on pace to have their best season in history when it comes to protecting the football. And while this season has been by far Air Force’s best in this department recent years, the Falcons consistently have done a good job of not turning the ball over under Troy Calhoun. Just twice have they turned it over more than two times in a game and only once have they turned it over more than three times (at New Mexico in 2007 when they lost five fumbles).

“I think if you look over probably the last two-and-a-half years, the only time really was that night in Albuquerque,” Calhoun said. “Otherwise it hasn’t been significant in terms of troubles. Now I don’t want to hex us either.”

I can appreciate that (because nobody believes in jinxes more than me), so we’ll move on.

The Deseret Morning News writes about BYU’s Max Hall, who needs one more victory to become the Cougars all-time winningest quarterback. The Salt Lake Tribune writes about BYU needing to be disciplined on defense and has a notebook that touches on various subjects.

And The Provo Daily Herald delves into the cut block/chop block discussion and looks at whether Air Force is a “dirty” team.

Finally, here are college hockey writer Joe Paisley’s 3 Things to Watch in the Falcons’ weekend series at Connecticut.

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Walker Providing Backup Punch

November 18th, 2009, 7:34 pm by Jake Schaller

Junior fullback Jared Tew leads Air Force in rushing with 715 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns on 193 carries.

But junior backup Nathan Walker has been giving the Falcons a solid second option at fullback.

“They’ve been a good combination,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of Tew and Walker.

Walker, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound Colorado Springs Christian graduate, has rushed for 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 39 carries. Last week he picked up 25 yards and a touchdown on six carries in the Falcons’ 45-17 blowout of UNLV.

Calhoun said Walker has good running skills but has to become a bit more consistent making catches out of the backfield.

“He’s a great kid,” Calhoun said. “Hard worker, and next year I think he’ll be even better. He’s only been here two-and-a-half years. We get him into his senior year, and he gets into the weight room, I don’t think he’ll put on a lot of weight, but I could see him putting on six or seven pounds and it all being good strength.”

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Wednesday Morning Links

November 18th, 2009, 10:57 am by Jake Schaller

I wrote a bit about BYU for today’s edition of The Gazette. Air Force’s game with the Cougars seemed to fall on a good date – a week before they faced arch rival Utah. But BYU won’t be looking past the Falcons.

My Around The Mountain West Conference notes are available on-line only. They touch on the No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs – and whether they could/should play for a national title – and UNLV coach Mike Sanford talking about how a lack of commitment to football by the university is to blame for the Rebels going 15-43 under his watch.

Also, some stories from Utah:

-The Salt Lake Tribune looks at whether BYU simply has Air Force’s number.

-The Salt Lake Tribune also reports that BYU running back Harvey Unga sat out of practice yesterday but will play Saturday.

-The Deseret Morning News writes that BYU hasn’t been so invincible at home this season.

Finally, the Air Force women’s basketball team won its home opener last night.

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Tuesday Morning Links

November 17th, 2009, 9:41 am by Jake Schaller

In today’s edition of The Gazette I wrote about some comments (soon-to-be-former) UNLV coach Mike Sanford had about Air Force.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, Sanford said the following on a post-game radio show:

“They are a team that does a lot of things – I won’t get into it right now – but a lot of things that are dangerous and unsafe. And they are not within the rules of football, and what ends up happening is you get so many guys hurt that it’s hard to replace them and get the right guys in the game to defend it. That’s what I saw happening.”

Sanford wouldn’t elaborate, but he almost certainly was referring to Air Force’s use of cut blocks, which often are controversial (his remarks came a week after Notre Dame associate head coach Corwin Brown vented about Navy’s use of the technique) but are legal. Cut blocks (blocks below the waist) become illegal “chop blocks” if the player who is getting cut already is engaged up high with another player.

Air Force makes no secret it utilizes cut blocks, but it emphasizes it does not teach or use chop blocks.

Anyhow, I was more interested in Sanford’s post-game remarks about Chris Thomas’ interception just before halftime. (Thomas’ pick stopped a UNLV drive deep into Air Force territory when the Rebels were trailing 17-3. Air Force then drove for a touchdown with less than a minute left in the half to go up 24-3.)

Sanford referred to the play several times, saying the game “would’ve been different” if UNLV had scored.

He’s exactly right. It would have been different. Air Force probably would have won by three touchdowns instead of four.

But if that comment wasn’t delusional enough for you, Sanford met with the media in Las Vegas on Monday and essentially took no responsibility for UNLV’s 15-43 record in his nearly five-season tenure. “This is not a coach issue,” he said.

He did, however, note that UNLV has the worst locker room in the country.

Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Ed Graney’s take on that can be found here.

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Monday Odds and Ends

November 16th, 2009, 8:43 pm by Jake Schaller

-Only one tweak on the new two-deep chart released today: Sophomore Jon Escamilla now is listed as a backup receiver, taking the place of injured junior Kyle Halderman (knee).

“He got a little bit of work the other night” against UNLV, Calhoun said of Escamilla. “He played right around 20 snaps the other night. And he’s got a good body, and he likes the competition.”

-Speaking of Halderman, one player I didn’t mention as a candidate to back up starting slot receiver Jonathan Warzeka in Halderman’s absence is Drew Coleman. The freshman played in seven of the Falcons’ first nine games, including the first six, but currently is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

“He hurt his shoulder,” Calhoun said. “He’s going to be out for at least a couple more weeks, maybe longer, depending on what the severity of it is.”

-Asher Clark credited his offensive line after rushing for a career-high 160 yards and a career-high three touchdowns last Saturday.

“There were definitely big holes and there were cut-backs and they only could have been there because they were getting off the ball and getting separation,” Clark said. “The holes that were there were all because of them.”

Senior center Michael Hampton said today that he appreciated the kudos from Clark, who this morning was named the Mountain West Conference’s co-player of the week. But Hampton admitted Clark did much of the work on his own.

“That last touchdown run, that was all him,” Hampton said of Clark’s tackle-breaking, multiple cut-back 40-yard run to the end zone in the fourth quarter. “We might have opened up some holes here and there, but you look at that one play right there, kind of the big play of the night for me, that was all him.”

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Clark Named MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Week

November 16th, 2009, 10:43 am by Jake Schaller

Air Force sophomore tailback Asher Clark was named the Mountain West Conference’s co-offensive player of the week today.

Clark shares the honor with Wyoming freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels.

Clark rushed for a career-high 160 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns on Saturday when the Falcons pounded UNLV, 45-17. His 160 yards were the most by a player in the MWC this season and the most by an Air Force player since Chad Hall ran for 275 yards against Army in November of 2007.

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Monday Morning Links

November 16th, 2009, 10:39 am by Jake Schaller

I wrote for today’s paper about some Air Force injuries, most notably junior Kyle Halderman’s. The slot receiver injured his knee against UNLV and will not play Saturday at BYU.

As I wrote Saturday, Air Force’s game against BYU has big-time bowl implications. With a victory, the Poinsettia Bowl and perhaps even the Las Vegas Bowl both seem to become possibilities (provided TCU takes care of business and heads to a BCS Bowl). With a loss, the Falcons likely are headed either back to Fort Worth or to New Mexico.

Both of ESPN.com’s writers who project the bowl matchups see the Falcons in Fort Worth.

Also, here’s SI.com writer Stewart Mandel’s College Football Overtime column.

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