Had a chance to speak yesterday with Trev Alberts, who will provide color commentary for tomorrow’s Air Force-BYU football game on CBS College Sports.

The former Nebraska star had some good things to say about the Falcons and their coaching staff – specifically head coach Troy Calhoun and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.

Here are some excerpts from our conversation:

Why has BYU traditionally had so much success against Air Force (22-6 record): “I think a couple of things – first and foremost, BYU is a pretty established program with a great history and a tradition of winning. But beyond that, I think they have some physical advantages. I think their offensive line this year averages 6-6 and 325 pounds, and certainly that’s an advantage. But it isn’t anything Air Force hasn’t been through before – Air Force wins through grit and determination. … Air Force has struggled this year against big backs, and historically BYU has big backs, and this year, with Harvey Unga, is no different.

“I think this year probably the difference for Air Force is I think they’re better up front than they’ve ever been, and they’re as big and athletic as they’ve been in a while. They run pretty well, and I’m a big fan of Tim DeRuyter, the defensive coordinator. And I think Matt Wallerstedt, the inside linebackers coach and assistant head coach, has done a remarkable job with the linebackers.”

What kind of difference does it make for BYU that it typically has some older players (because of how many go on two-year missions): “First and foremost, let me say this – if you really wanted to, as an Air Force player or coach, you could come up with five or six reasonable explanations and reasons why you don’t have a chance in this game. But that’s the genius of Troy Calhoun and that staff – they don’t even mention those things. … But is there something to (the age difference)? Sure. I think Austin Collie benefited from being gone. But beyond just the sheer age, they’re a well-established program in that rarely do you see – unless they’re a remarkable player – a true freshman in the starting lineup.”

Calhoun’s name has been mentioned for some of the possible head coaching openings. How worried should Air Force fans be that he’ll be plucked away by another program: “I’ve sat down with coach Calhoun a number of times, and I think part of his genius is his humility. I think with so many coaches, I think their lack of humility gets in the way. Now, I’m not suggesting Troy Calhoun will never leave – that’s completely disingenuous and not fair to Air Force fans. But I will say that every indication I’ve gotten from him is he has a complete commitment to the academy. He loves it there. His family loves it there.

“I just don’t see him being the kind of guy that jumps up at the first opportunity. He had those chances last year, and he didn’t. The guy is the most underpaid coach in college football. But one of the things – and I’m not just saying this because I’m doing the game – but after doing lots of games for the last 12 years, it’s so refreshing to me to know there still are coaches out there doing this for the right reasons. Sure you want to win games and be compensated, but there has to be another reason you do it.

“I would say that any competent athletic director out there who wants to win and wants his program to be highly thought of and be represented with class, Troy Calhoun would be one of the first people I’d call.”

Do you think some of the big programs might want a “name” to make a splash with fans and boosters, so they might be scared off by a coach from a service academy: “I suppose they could be. People talk about winning the press conference, and the importance of that. A handful of programs fit that category. Tennessee fits that category. But you look at history, and certainly people would be interested. (Former Navy coach) Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech is a good example. Georgia Tech won a national championship and there’s a proud history there. But there’s been a period of time where they’d slipped back into mediocrity. Does Tennessee go from Phil Fulmer to Troy Calhoun? I don’t know if their athletic director is that progressive in thought.

“But if it’s a Clemson, or a number of other big-time BCS schools, I think they’d be more open to that now based on the success Paul Johnson’s had at Georgia Tech. Please don’t think I’m saying Troy Calhoun is not qualified, I’m just saying I’m not sure an athletic director in Knoxville is going to be able to sell big-time boosters in the SEC on Troy Calhoun. I certainly would.”

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