Looks as if there will be small crowd here at Falcon Stadium. Parking lots are wide open. About 750 people in the stands right now. I’m guessing the crowd will be well under 25,000.
Cody Getz is not listed as a for the Falcons. He’s been struggling with a left ankle sprain.
Nevada’s Wolf Pack has scored more than 30 points in every game this season. Air Force’s defense has given up an average of 27 points per game.
In other words, Friday night does not look tremendously promising for the Falcons.
Your predictions for the game?
Let me know.
I’m still not sure how Air Force found a way to lose to UNLV and, especially, Navy.
And I’m still not sure how Air Force found a way to defeat Wyoming and New Mexico. Not many teams get smoked for 338 yards rushing by a single back and still trot off the field as winners.
Your thoughts?
About 75 degrees. No wind. Virtually perfect conditions for football.
Not much of a crowd. Would be surprised if there are 30,000 people at Falcon Stadium.
Air Force is an 11-point favorite over New Mexico.
I think that’s too generous. Think Air Force will win. Also think it will be close.
Wyoming’s Dave Christensen has apologized for his comments and actions following Saturday’s loss to Air Force. Here’s the story from the Laramie Boomerang. (What a great name for a newspaper.)
Dave Christensen had reason to be irritated with Troy Calhoun and Air Force’s football team. Yes, Connor Dietz’s exit from the field after he lost his helmet in the fourth quarter was suspicious. Was Dietz really hurting? Let’s just say he pulled almost exactly the same exit after losing his helmet against Michigan. (NCAA rules dictate a player miss a play after losing his helmet.)
But Christensen had no grounds for such public fury. Why did he choose to shout at Calhoun on the field?
You got me.
Wyoming had plenty of time to salvage victory. It’s not as the Dietz exit was a massive factor in the game. The Cowboys had every chance to win.
And they didn’t.
There’s a place for restraint in life. Christensen would have been much more wise to wait a day or two and call Calhoun to express his displeasure. Or he might have asked a Wyoming athletic official to call Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh to register a protest.
Acting out on his rage in front of several thousand people was indulgent and silly. It cheapened Christensen. It cheapened the Wyoming football program.
Wyoming sports in formation just announced quarterback Brett Smith is out for Wyoming with an undisclosed injury.
Smith has completed 64 percent of his passes this season.
This is good news for Air Force’s secondary, which is allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete passes with 71 percent accuracy.
Robert Gagliardi of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang was nice enough to answer these pressing questions about Wyoming’s Cowboys. Air Force travels to Laramie on Saturday for a crucial Mountain West Conference game. If Air Force wins, a trip to a bowl game remains a strong possibility, maybe even a probability. If the Falcons lose? Mass depression on this side of the Wyoming border.
It’s been a little bit of everything. Sophomore quarterback Brett Smith was knocked out in the fourth quarter of a 34-31 home loss to Toledo with a concussion, and didn’t play in a 24-22 home loss to Cal Poly the next week. At Nevada, Smith was ejected midway through the fourth quarter after getting his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The defense has struggled all season, mostly against the run, but a Nevada it played the run well but allowed two quarterbacks to throw for 438 yards and four touchdowns. Wyoming simply hasn’t made enough plays late in games to finish them.
1a. Has Smith experienced a sophomore slump after being named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year last season?
When Smith’s played he’s played well. His completion percentage is up and he’s definitely the heart and soul of the offense. The concussion was unfortunate, but the ejected last week was a bad mistake from a young player who must do a better job of controlling his emotions. Smith is a target for teams this year, and he needs to do a better job of handling that. It also would help if the cast around him plays better so he doesn’t have to do it all on his own.
2. Did you expect the defense to be improved this season with a new defensive coordinator, and where have the major problems been?
I thought it would be better than the one that allowed 232 rushing yards per game. Most of the problems have been against the run, but it held Nevada to 127 yards last week after it came in averaging 308.8 per contest. But then the pass defense fell apart. There has been inconsistent play at linebacker and in the secondary, especially at safety. There have been a few injuries, but overall the defense hasn’t been able to put together a complete game.
3. Sophomore receiver Dominic Rufran is a Colorado Springs product who played well last season as a true freshman for the Cowboys. How has he played this season?
Rufran has been solid and consistent. Of the receivers that have caught at least 10 passes this season, he is tops with 16.9 yards per catch. He’s a quiet and reserved player, but always seems to come up with a big play when Wyoming needs it.
4. How do you see this game unfolding and what’s your predicted final score?
Like most of the most recent games between these two teams I think it will be close. The team that makes the most critical plays late will win. Both teams seem due for a win but it’s hard to tell which team will win the fourth quarter. Wyoming needs Smith to be on the field to have any chance, and it has to limit the production Air Force gets along the perimster in the run game. If Smith stays in the game, I will take Wyoming in a close one, 27-23.
Air Force had UNLV beaten. And Air Force still found a way to lose.
Same story on Saturday. Navy delivered an impressive comeback for a 28-21 overtime win, but Air Force once held a 21-13 lead. Navy’s starting quarterback had been sent to the sideline with an injury. Everything was in place for a third straight win over the Midshipmen.
And Air Force again found a way to lose.
Navy leads Air Force, 10-7, with 2:34 left in third quarter.
Navy’s Nick Sloan kicked a 39-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.
The Falcons Parker Herrington missed a field that would have given Air Force a 10-0 lead.
Drew Coleman scored on a 35-yard pass from Connor Dietz.
Navy took the lead with a 5-yard-run by Noah Copeland.
Air Force has lost three fumbles.