Have an update about the uniforms and the meaning behind the gray color on the alternate jerseys from last year, which I’ve been told will be used again this year. Mike made the comment on the original blog post, referring to coach Troy Calhoun, to “ask him if the 2011 and now the 2012 grey/silver colored uniform honors the incredible bravery of the pilots who flew the F-105, many of whom were Academy grads, during the Vietnam air war.”
So I asked:
“It was to honor the guys that flew F-105s,” Calhoun said. “There’s probably no other aircraft, or close to it, in terms of former Air Force football players flying combat missions, than the F-105. You look at a lot of static displays of F-105s, and try to make it pretty close to that same tint. That’s why we did it. Two years ago we honored the Thunderbirds, last year was to honor the guys who flew the F-105s, because we’ve had more football players that flew that in combat than probably any other aircraft. It’s got a purpose, for sure.”
There you go …
- Some links to stories. First, people are asking if there’s any news on the five players not with the team. This is what the academy is saying (it isn’t much). Air Force is hoping to start stadium renovations after this season. And the receiver position is another big question mark that needs to be figured out in camp.
- The starting cornerbacks had a really nice day. Steffon Batts and Chris Miller each had impressive interceptions, and they both got their hands on the ball throughout practice. With Air Force still figuring out its depth in the secondary, the Falcons need Batts and Miller to come through on their immense progress.
- Quarterback Kale Pearson looks like a pretty good backup to Connor Dietz. He looks very athletic and throws a nice ball. If he continues to progress, he could enter next offseason as the clear favorite to start in 2013.
- Jared Jones, a sophomore, is getting a heck of an opportunity. With Jamil Cooks not with the team and Stephan Atrice out for a couple weeks with a hamstring injury, Jones has been working at outside linebacker with the first team. Atrice will probably regain his first-team spot when he proves himself healthy, but keep in mind, the Falcons coaching staff values durability, and nobody is assured to get their spot back if they’ve missed time with injury.
Great idea to honor Thud pilots, but I’m not sure I’m buying Calhoun’s explaination. F-105′s were almost entirely painted in brown and green camouflage for combat in Vietnam. When “you look at a lot of static displays of F-105′s”, that is what you’ll see. And before they were painted for combat operations, they were mostly unpainted aircraft aluminum. Silver colored…which might have been a better choice for Falcon football uniforms.
Also, I would love to see the data supporting the claim that more football players flew the 105 in combat than any other aircraft. There were only 800 Thuds built, almost half of those were lost in Vietnam, and the remaining aircraft were mostly phased out of combat operations well before the war ended. A truly great aircraft flown by heroic aviators, but an aircraft more football players flew in combat than any other aircraft?!?! Hardly.
FG,
One name can sum up what the Coach saw in the numerous grads who flew the 105, many of them former players, Monte Moorberg. The nitpicking on the standard color of a 105 not camouflaged for combat operations is irrelevant given the intent to do the right thing to honor grads who flew this storied aircraft.
Mike
I thought of Moorberg, immediately, as well.
Pretty cool story behind the uniform colors – nice. Uniforms sure look sharper all around college football compared to the 70′s – that’s for sure!
Nice to hear about the kids in camp stepping up to potential playing positions – not surprised they’re taking advantage of an opportunity. Calhoun and crew will have them ready.
Mike, I agree it’s a cool thing to honor grads who flew the Thud. But do you honor them with a color Thuds were never painted? Or by making unsupportable claims like more football players flew them in combat than any other combat aircraft? And why did it take Frank asking Calhoun directly to get the story behind the uniforms? The colors aren’t new. Why is the story?
Monte Moorberg died a hero and deserves to be honored. Grey uniforms and false claims don’t do it. Calhoun and the athletic department can do better.
Way to nit-pick a nice gesture.
I fully agree that it’s a gesture.
Since Pearson seems to have locked up the number 2 QB, do you tink they’ll move Greibel to DB or Awini to WR?
Color looks pretty much spot on to me:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Republic_F-105_Thunderchiefs
Mikie
Look for Graves and Alwini to fight it out for the #3 spot, but given the need now for WR X and Alwini being very good at playing that positiion he might end up in that 3 deep.
Mike
I could see Awini moving at some point, but I’d caution to slow down a bit. They haven’t even been in full pads yet this fall. Still a long way to go before they take a promising QB of the future and split him out wide. That goes for Pearson too – he looks really good, but he has to do that for more than four practices.
Frank,
I’ll bet you your drink of choice at my tailgate that Kale Pearson will not only play a significant role in making this season more successful than you anticipate, but will also be the clear favorite by mid season to be the starting QB in 2013. I’ll throw in a meal if my prediction about Aliwini and Graves is wrong.
Mike
Oh, trust me Mike, I’m fully with you. Just saying there’s a loooong way to go before anyone is carved into stone for a spot like that.
Mike,
That particular aircraft is painted that color because it was a maintenance training model and a neglected static display at Lowry AFB for most of its life. You won’t find another Thud painted that color. Instead of that one off model, why didn’t the uniform designers simply use the F-105 that sits right in the center of the Academy campus. It is a much better example of how Thuds that Academy grads flew in combat actually looked. And it would have made Calhoun’s explanation a lot easier to believe.
Seriously Fighter guy. Let it go.
Frank:
Thanks for the notice and mention of Jared Jones. This man is the real deal and won’t disappoint. Nobody appreciates the opportunity given more and he can’t wait for the first game. Keep an eye on JJ as will I.