Air Force football: Monday’s training camp practice

August 15th, 2011, 9:33 pm · 14 Comments · posted by Frank Schwab

Isn’t it game week yet? Anyway, here’s what transpired at practice:

- The biggest mover on the depth chart after Saturday’s scrimmage was apparently defensive end Ben Kopacka. He moved up to work with the first-team defense, with Harry Kehs on the second team. That isn’t that big of a movement, however, considering Kopacka and Kehs weren’t separated by much and both are going to play as part of the rotation anyway.

Talked to Kopacka a bit after practice, and he is understandably happy with where he is at. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Colorado State last year, so being ready to go by the start of the training camp wasn’t a given. The Falcons’ defensive line depth gets a big boost with Kopacka playing at a high level.

- A player who has looked good in camp is receiver Mikel Hunter. He has mostly been working behind Zack Kauth, and has looked fast. He made a lot of plays early last season, so the coaches have some confidence in him. Also, Ty MacArthur is getting more and more playing time behind Jonathan Warzeka – it looks like he’ll be a significant part of the offense.

- I haven’t written much about junior quarterback Tucker Tipton, because, well, freshmen are generally interesting to talk about so I’ve written a bit about Mitch Griebel instead. Well, Tipton has played very well. He has the look of a player who has had a couple years to learn the system and knows what to do in the offense. I’m not sure there’s any reps to go around at the position behind Tim Jefferson and Connor Dietz, but Tipton has been pretty good if he’s needed.

- Not surprisingly, Falcons coach Troy Calhoun didn’t want to say much about any potential conference realignment in college athletics.

“Others make those choices,” Calhoun said.

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About this blog …

I'm Frank Schwab, Air Force beat reporter for The Gazette. I've been at the paper since 2003, and covered the Broncos for seven seasons. I covered the University of Wisconsin in the late 1990s, so I'm well versed in running football teams (Ron Dayne) and defensive basketball teams (Dick Bennett). I love to chat on www.twitter.com/GazetteAirForce, and will respond to comments and emails at frank.schwab@gazette.com.

For more coverage, visit The Gazette's Air Force Academy Sports page

rjp says:

August 15, 2011 at 10:06 pm

Great updates as usual. Any chance you could include class (ie Sr, Jr, etc) when giving names? Thanks and keep up the good work.

Frank Schwab says:

August 15, 2011 at 10:22 pm

Thanks, and I’ll try to be more aware of the classes. Can always cross check on the AFA site, but I’ll try to remember to mention and make it easier.

August 15, 2011 at 11:11 pm

As always…appreciated. Am also curious to see if Coach Calhoun had commented much on the tight ends: Who? ….. and if any change in their involvement in the zone (don’t want to call it triple) offense!!! GO FALCONS (hope the basketball schedule will be out soon….can’t wait)

JB32 says:

August 16, 2011 at 8:30 am

The updates are great Frank!!! Go Air Force, Sink Navy!!!

Chuck says:

August 16, 2011 at 1:54 pm

Is Dano Graves the QB from Folsom CA. at the prep school or in the Academy this year?

Air Force practice says:

August 16, 2011 at 3:12 pm

[...] have camp on Sunday heres yesterday Air Force football: Monday’s training camp practice – Air Force – Colorado Springs Gazette, CO __________________ MWC unbeaten in bowl games. TEAM MWC!!!!!! I'll cheer for any Team MWC team [...]

August 16, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Word is that Dano Graves “IS” at the prep school….Good luck to him and his classmates this year and then hopefully up on the hill next year.

BTW- I really dislike spammers such as the one above.

montana pete says:

August 16, 2011 at 8:16 pm

What about QB Jaleel Awini, the Colorado high school football player of the year? Did he enroll at the Academy? The prep school? Can anybody tell me? Thanks.

August 16, 2011 at 9:40 pm

Awini is at the prep school.

August 17, 2011 at 8:46 am

Thank you for the update on Awini. And what about FB recruits Sauls and Patterson? Did they enroll in the Academy or the prep school?

August 17, 2011 at 9:35 am

Sauls ‘is’ in at the Academy and has been given good words in early practices. Check out some of Franks blog entries and you can find him (or http://bit.ly/nOT7oB ) . Frank discusses him briefly here http://bit.ly/rcrCIL Keep up the great work Frank and Go Falcons

August 17, 2011 at 10:30 am

rjp,
Thanks for the info on Graves. The kid has a chance to be special.

Helen Graves says:

August 28, 2011 at 4:38 pm

The Prep School played New Mexico last Friday night. The only news I can find about the game is that the Prep School won 63-0. Who played QB for the Prep School? Did Dano Graves get any playing time?

Matt says:

September 19, 2011 at 4:48 am

Dano should be starting at Arizona State, he would not have got sacked 6 times like Osweiler and they would have beat Illinois. The sooner Dano starts for AFA they sooner they will be great.