Barksdale airman: ‘Tim Tebow, be my date?’
February 9th, 2012 | Air Force Football | Posted by Brian Everstine
An airman from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., is the newest service member to go viral asking a celebrity out.
Senior Airman Jamie Walden already has more than 14,000 views on a Youtube video asking Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow to be her date for the 2012 Military Ball in Shreveport, La. Who knows, following the success of Marine Sgt. Scott Moore asking out Mila Kunis and Cpl. Kelsey De Santis asking out Justin Timberlake, maybe the QB sensation will do it.
Reports: Navy football to Big East in 2015
January 23rd, 2012 | After Action Air Force Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Well, we knew it was coming eventually. But if reports from two major sports news outlets are accurate, the Naval Academy will make it official soon, joining the Big East as a football-only member in 2015.
Both CBSSports.com and ESPN.com are reporting an announcement is imminent; CBS says it’ll come Tuesday. The move would give the Big East 11 football members for the 2015 season and be the latest in a series of shakeups: By the time Navy joins up, Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia will be out and Boise State, Houston, Southern Methodist, Central Florida and San Diego State will be in.
Yes, San Diego State. In the Big East. It’s best not to think about it too hard.
The conference likely isn’t settled in yet, either. If a 12th football school signed on, the Big East would reach the minimum required to hold a conference title game, giving it another revenue stream and a cherry to put on top of a yet-to-be-negotiated TV deal. It’s entirely too early to speculate on division alignments, but Navy could fit in a “Big East East” along with current Big East members Connecticut, Rutgers, South Florida, Cincinnati and Louisville. That would leave a “Big East West” with the five new, non-Navy members and another late addition.
Air Force said no in December when Big East expansion talks heated up, opting to remain with the Mountain West Conference. But things have changed with the MWC since then — that conference has been in merger talks with Conference USA that could lead to a 16-team megaconference. And joining a conference with Navy would make that academy rivalry a league matchup, freeing the Falcons to schedule a nonconference opponent of their choosing instead of filling up that nonleague spot with the Mids.
Confused yet? Join the club. But once official word comes down from Annapolis, expect some of the cloudy conference picture to get a little clearer.
‘Patriot Wing’ C-5 cargo jet grabs spotlight at Patriots-Ravens game
January 23rd, 2012 | Air Force Football | Posted by Dan Lamothe
A Patriot Wing C-5 approaches Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday. (Photo by SrA. Kelly Galloway/Air Force)
When most people think of aircraft flyovers at sporting events, they think of swift jets. It’s the Blue Angels, maybe, or some other fighter squadron providing the thunder.
Not at the Patriots-Ravens game this weekend, though. The honors at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts were carried out by a lumbering C-5B Galaxy from the 439th Airlift Wing out of Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. – and it made all the sense in the world for the hometown team.
For years, the unit has referred to itself as the Patriot Wing, even using the New England Patriots logo on the tail of its aircraft.
As Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler completed the national anthem Sunday, the C-5 soared overhead. It quite clearly caught the attention of quarterback Tom Brady and other players, as you can see in this video:
Crew members sounded ecstatic with how the flyover turned out in local media reports today. The decision to include the Patriot Wing was made last minute, and its members jumped at the chance, according to CBS-3 out of Springfield, Mass.
Joe Paterno: 1926-2012
January 22nd, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Sean Smyth
You can’t deny Joe Paterno’s impact on college football, on sports. Paterno, who died Sunday at age 85 after a brief battle with lung cancer, prided himself on success with honor and dignity — hallmarks our armed forces strive for daily.
Of course the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal overshadowed much of this. But that shouldn’t wipe out the totality of the pre-November 2011 slate: his service to our country (briefly in the Army around the end of World War II), the thousands of men who graduated and later made great impacts on the sports world and other segments of society, the affection and dedication he showed to Penn State.
Paterno wasn’t a saint; he’d come off as dismissive if your question didn’t meet his liking. “That’s a dumb question” or “that’s a stupid question” were words you’d hear in his news conferences if you listened or watched frequently enough. His role in the Sandusky case, much debated, fell short of what many expected from this larger-than-life figure.
His teams went 17-3 against the service academies, with Air Force (0-2), Army (1-9) and Navy (2-8) occasional foils for the Lions, mostly in the early years. Penn State and Navy will renew their series this fall in State College after a 38-year hiatus.
With the Sandusky trial looming, the Paterno story isn’t complete. Much remains to be written, but one thing stands out today: Joe Paterno made a mark on many, for better or for worse.
ESPN segment profiles former airman leading Florida State’s frontcourt
January 18th, 2012 | Air Force Basketball | Posted by Phil Creed
Earlier this week ESPN profiled Florida State forward Bernard James, a former airman who is the anchor of the Seminoles’ frontcourt. James served in the Air Force from 2002-2008, where he deployed overseas twice. While in the service he kept growing and became — despite very little previous playing experience — a star for Air Force’s basketball team.
Now a senior at FSU, James is averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Last Saturday he helped the Seminoles shock the college hoops world by destroying No. 3-ranked North Carolina 90-57.
Mark your calendars: Military sports 2012
January 5th, 2012 | Air Force Army Army-Navy game Basketball Football Hockey Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
From hoops to Olympics to football, the new year means a new sports calendar. (AP photo by Bebeto Matthews)
Not the hardest of hardcore sports fans? Saw the Orange Bowl score cross the bottom of the screen this morning and wondered out loud, “Say, Clemson’s 3-point shooters must be terrible”? Don’t want to be caught off-guard in the new year? Here are five important military sports dates to circle on your brand-new desk calendar.
1. Jan. 14, rivalry renewal: The first Army-Navy game of the new year takes place on the hardwood, with the women’s hoops teams squaring off at noon in Annapolis, followed by the men’s teams at 2:30 p.m. (both games on CBS Sports Network). Patriot League play for all four teams begins Saturday, when Army visits Bucknell and Navy travels to Lehigh. There have been few bright spots on the court for either school this year — of the four hoops teams, the Navy women hold the best record at 7-7. Bonus rivalry game: The Army ice hockey team hosts Air Force on Jan. 20 and 21, with the first game airing on CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. Army is 2-9-6 entering Friday’s game against Canisius, while Air Force (10-5-2) is coming off its fourth Atlantic Hockey Association championship in five years.
2. July 27, the world is watching: Military athletes will abound at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Defense Department tracked 15 athletes with military affiliations in Beijing in 2008, including Army gold medalists Sgts. Walton “Glenn” Eller III (double trap) and Vincent Hancock (skeet). Shooters will get the first crack at the medal stand in London; the air rifle and air pistol finals take place the day after the opening ceremony.
3. Sept. 1, Irish eyes: From London to Dublin, as the Navy Midshipmen open the 2012 football season with the road game to end all road games — a 3,300-plus-mile trek to take on Notre Dame. A few more details are here.
4. Nov. 9, back to the (steel) beach: Nothing official from the folks at Quicken Loans, but the second edition of the Carrier Classic will be played on this date and will include the Connecticut Huskies — according to UConn, at least. Arizona is the likely opponent. Last November, North Carolina downed Michigan State 67-55 in the first-ever classic.
5. Dec. 8, brotherly love: Army-Navy football returns to Philadelphia, with the Black Knights attempting to end Navy’s 10-game win streak. The Mids are a perfect 7-0 against Army at Lincoln Financial Field, but the Black Knights’ last win did come in Philly — a 26-17, on Dec. 1, 2011, at the since-demolished Veterans Stadium. It will be the 83rd Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia, which will also host the 2013, 2015 and 2017 games; M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore is scheduled to host in 2014 and 2016. Mark your calendars accordingly.
Video: Chad Hall breaks two tackles to score 1st TD of season
January 3rd, 2012 | Air Force Football | Posted by Phil Creed
Former Air Force wide receiver Chad Hall scored his first and only touchdown of the 2011 NFL season on Sunday, and he did it in pretty impressive fashion. The Eagles wideout caught a pass from quarterback Michael Vick at the two-yard line and broke the tackles of two Washington Redskins — cornerback DeAngelo Hall (look closely, he gets earholed by Hall) and linebacker Perry Riley.
A second-year pro, Hall finishes 2011 with three catches for 20 yards and the TD. He also ran the ball three times for 13 yards, and he had seven punt returns for 76 yards.
Standard disclaimer — this isn’t our video, and have no control over the advertising content within it.
Military Bowl roundup: Past, present and future
December 29th, 2011 | Air Force Football | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force senior quarterback Tim Jefferson eludes a defender during Wednesday's Military Bowl, presented by Northrop Grumman, at RFK Stadium. (Thomas Brown / Staff)
By now, you know the details — the 2011 service academy football season ended with neither a bang nor a whimper, but with a failed two-point conversion.
Air Force’s 42-41 loss to Toledo at RFK Stadium may be remembered for a last-minute bobble (if you want the inside scoop on the play, head here for a great breakdown by Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette), but there’s more to the game, more to Air Force’s season and more to the bowl itself then a moment of failed trickery.
The past: Wednesday’s loss capped the Air Force football career of quarterback Tim Jefferson, a four-year starter who may have his own chapter in the next edition of the school’s record book. Jefferson’s 28 wins are the most by an Air Force quarterback. He’s third overall in passing yards and total offense, tied for second with 34 career touchdown passes, and 10th all-time in rushing. His two touchdown passes against Toledo tied a school bowl record, and he’s the only QB to start four bowl games for the Falcons, going 2-2. Jefferson’s not done with the air game — he plans on going to pilot training after graduation.
The present: Jefferson isn’t the only departing Air Force star. The Falcons had 16 seniors atop the depth chart for Wednesday’s game — eight on both sides of the ball, including wideout Jonathan Warzeka (95 yards rushing, 1 TD catch in the loss), running back Asher Clark (second all-time in rushing) and linebacker Brady Amack (team-high 11 tackles against Toledo, giving him 136 on the year, also a team high). Who’s back to lead the 2012 bowl push? Jason Kons and Jordan Eason return to anchor the offensive line, Mike DeWitt (two TDs against Toledo) likely will be the featured back, and linebacker Jamil Cooks will hope to build on Wednesday’s effort, which included three solo tackles and Air Force’s only sack.
The future: Military Bowl organizers couldn’t have asked for more in 2011 — a high-scoring first half, big defensive plays in the second half, late-game controversy, a loud crowd and a large military presence. They’ll hope to recreate at least some of that in 2012 with Army, which is slated to play at RFK in December if it finishes .500 or better. In 2013, though, the bowl loses its service academy affiliation, with a Big 12 team slated to face an Atlantic Coast Conference representative. But this season started with Navy scheduled to face an ACC team and ended with Air Force versus a Mid-American Conference squad — in the world of the college postseason, anything’s possible. As of now, at least, Navy is committed to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco in 2012, and Air Force will return to the Mountain West Conference bowl mix, which includes several postseason destinations.
2011 Military Bowl Photo Gallery
The good, the bad and the unusual from the Military Bowl
December 28th, 2011 | Air Force Football | Posted by Phil Creed
As a football fan, the Military Bowl gave you just about everything you could ask for: Lots of long plays, lots of scoring, lots of momentum changes and last-minute drama. And despite the high score, there were a few great defensive moments. Here are some of the highs and lows from tonight, along with other excitement.
Record denied: The guy I feel worst for tonight is Air Force’s Asher Clark. The senior running back needed only 33 yards against Toledo to become Air Force’s all-time leading rusher. But the Rockets bottled Clark up all night. He finished with only 14 yards on 12 carries.
Slow starters: Air Force dug itself in a hole early and ultimately could never get all the way out. Air Force had only run three offensive plays before it was down 14-0. And as soon as Tim Jefferson got the Falcons on the scoreboard, Toledo’s Eric Page returned the ensuing kickoff for a score to make it 21-7. Air Force would rally to tie the game three times, but never led.
Big play Toledo: When the Rockets scored, it was in spectacular fashion. The shortest scoring play for Toledo was their first touchdown — a 17-yard pass. The Rockets’ other TDs came on plays of 41, 87, 37 and 33 yards.
Worst catch: Toledo’s Bernard Reedy watched a sure TD go through his hands on the game’s second play. The Rockets would end up coming away with no points on the drive after missing a field goal.
Best catch: Air Force linebacker Austin Niklas made a fantastic shoestring catch on his third-quarter interception — the first of his career.
Flyover, Fight, Win: Anytime you get a B-2 flyover before a game, Air Force wins. Doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says.
Military bowl final: Toledo 42, Air Force 41
December 28th, 2011 | Air Force Football | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force wide receiver Jonathan Warzeka runs away from Toledo safety Diauntae Morrow, left, and Elijah Jones in the first half. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
In a Military Bowl that started with a scoring explosion, featured a kickoff return for a touchdown, had a handful of fourth-down stands and even more fourth-down conversions, it makes sense to go out on a failed two-point conversion.
Before Air Force fans had a chance to exhale after a 33-yard fourth-down touchdown pass from Tim Jefferson to Zack Kauth, the Falcons attempted to turn an almost-guaranteed tie into a victory. Holder David Baskra tried to hit kicker Parker Herrington with a pitch around the left side, but the ball came loose and the Falcons couldn’t find it in the ensuing end-zone scramble. It left the score at 42-41 in favor of the Toledo Rockets, whose high-octane offense managed to sputter past the finish with one second-half touchdown.
Jefferson had 160 yards passing and 66 yards rushing for the Falcons (7-6), who outgained the Rockets 411-333. The senior led Air Force on its final touchdown drive, moving the Falcons 78 yards in 12 plays. The 12th play went to Kauth, who collided with a Toledo defender, lost his balance, looked right, then turned left in time to find the ball and stumble into the end zone.
That set up what appeared to be a game-tying extra point. But Air Force gambled and lost, and the Rockets (9-4) recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.
Eric Page caught the onside kick cleanly — an appropriate bookend for the wide receiver/return man who scored earlier on an 87-yard runback. But Page wasn’t even the standout receiver for the Rockets, as game MVP Bernard Reedy hauled in three touchdowns and racked up 126 receiving yards.
Reedy’s final score came at the most critical moment — on third down at the Air Force 33, he grabbed a pass from Terrance Owens, spun past one Air Force defender and juked a second on the way to the end zone to give the Rockets a 42-35 edge.
It was Toledo’s only offensive score of the second half, and their only points aside from a Jermaine Robinson third-quarter interception return for a score. Neither team could match the output of the first two quarters, which ended in a 28-all tie.
The announced crowd of 25,042 stayed to the end and saw a variety of off-field events, including a ceremony honoring five Medal of Honor recipients and an enlistment ceremony presided over by Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff.
The 83 total points were the most in the Military Bowl’s four-year history (it was known as the EagleBank Bowl until Northrop Grumman became the presenting sponsor last year). The event benefits the USO.