Air Force releases Military Bowl practice schedule
December 14th, 2011 | Air Force | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Air Force's football team will open its practices to the public prior to the Military Bowl in Washington D.C. Air Force will practice at St John’s College High School. (AP photo)
Live in the Washington D.C. region and want to watch the Air Force Falcons up close?
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun keeps his team’s practices open to the public and with the team playing in this year’s Military Bowl, Calhoun will relocate Air Force’s practices to D.C. for four days starting Dec. 23. The team will use the fields at St John’s College High School, which is on the D.C.-Maryland border by Chevy Chase.
Calhoun’s policy of keeping practice open to the public flies in the face of most NCAA coaches, who close practice for fear of other teams sending scouts. Yet somehow Calhoun keeps winning games.
Maryland football coach Randy Edsall, whose team practices down the road from St. John’s, keeps his practice closed. His team won only two games this season. Calhoun might be on to something. Take note, Edsall.
Practice schedule:
Friday, Dec. 23, 3:15 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 24, 2:45 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25, 12:15 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 26, 12:00 p.m.
Air Force coach keeps his word
January 5th, 2011 | Air Force Football | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun speaks to fans after his team beat Georgia Tech in the Independence Bowl. (AP photo)
It turns out Air Force coach Troy Calhoun really meant what he said. Despite rumors he was a candidate for both the University of Colorado and Denver Broncos head coaching positions, he remains committed to his alma mater.
At a time when the head coaching carousel is at full tilt and coaches like new Maryland hire Randy Edsall will ditch his old team, Connecticut, without even the courtesy of an in-person goodbye, Calhoun is staying in Colorado Springs. His name has been replaced with everyone’s coach-of-the-hour Jim Harbaugh as the top candidate to take over the Broncos.
No longer do Google searches including Calhoun’s name have the latest coaching vacancy pop up with the Air Force coach as a rumored candidate. Too often, when a coach says he remains committed to a school it’s the kiss of death for that respective football program.
That’s why I took a wait and see approach after Calhoun and Air Force’s athletic director issued statements that Calhoun would stay at Air Force. Of course, immediately after posting this piece Calhoun’s name is going to come out of the Michigan athletic director’s mouth as the savior of The Big House. But as it stands now, Calhoun is an Air Force Falcon.
So kudos to you Calhoun, not necessarily for staying, but more so for sticking to your word and the players you have recruited to Air Force. Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriquez might have been wise to follow your lead and not keep trying to trade up. Sometimes there’s a lot to say for stability and not leaving players in the lurch (we’re looking at you Edsall).
Calhoun: I’m committed to staying at Air Force Academy
December 7th, 2010 | Air Force Football | Posted by Mike Hoffman
The Air Force Academy just issued statements from head coach Troy Calhoun and Athletic Director Hans Mueh in response to the rapid-fire rumors of Calhoun becoming the next Denver Broncos head coach. One Colorado radio station even reported that Calhoun is in contract negotiations with the Broncos. Calhoun says that’s not the case.
“Our coaching staff and our families are proud to be a part of the daily lives of our nation’s future officers. We certainly look forward to seeing our seniors graduate in May along with coaching the Falcons in 2011 and beyond,” Calhoun said in the statement.
Mueh followed that up saying Calhoun is his coach.
“Naturally, we are exceptionally happy that Troy is continuing his commitment to the Academy, our program and to our cadet-athletes,” Mueh said. “We love what he stands for, his leadership, passion for the Academy and the tireless work ethic he and his staff display as they prepare our cadet-athletes to be future leaders for this country.”
Of course these quotes usually end up as the kiss of death and lead to the coach’s eventual departure. But it’s still quite a sign of respect for a service academy coach that this type of press release needs to be issued in response to a NFL head coaching opening.
Troy Calhoun a candidate for Denver Broncos coaching job?
December 6th, 2010 | Air Force Football | Posted by Sean Smyth
As the dust settles from Josh McDaniels’ rapid fall from grace in Denver, The Denver Post suggests that Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, a former Broncos assistant, is a candidate for the opening.
Notice that Calhoun’s name is the only one mentioned in the story as a possible candidate. Surely someone inside the organization already is floating Calhoun’s name.
Calhoun was an assistant for the Broncos under Mike Shanahan from 2003-05, then served as offensive coordinator on Gary Kubiak’s staff in Houston in 2006.
At first glance, it seems far-fetched that a Mountain West coach would be looked at as a NFL head-coaching candidate. Given Calhoun’s Denver connections, it makes much more sense.
Air Force coach reportedly turns down Colorado
December 1st, 2010 | Air Force | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has reportedly turned down a chance to talk about the head coach opening at Colorado. (AP photo)
The bowl season hasn’t even started and the coaching carousel is already at full tilt. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has been a target of the BCS schools the last couple years, including the Tennessee scare of last year. This year, quite a few Air Force fans noticed the Colorado job opening and waited to see if officials in Boulder had taken notice of the steady success Calhoun has had in Colorado Springs.
The Denver Post is reporting that Colorado officials have reached out to Calhoun only to be promptly denied by the Air Force coach. Good news for Air Force fans, but Calhoun is sure to pop up on other universities’ radar screens as they scramble to find a coach.
Air Force lineman Rick Ricketts, who was named to the Mountain West Conference’s second team, told the Denver Post the players expect their coach to get attention from other schools but are glad he wants to stay.
“We understand that’s part of college football,” Ricketts said. “When a coach is successful, other places want him to come and make their programs successful. We have to deal with this almost every year.”
Scenes from Air Force-Oklahoma
September 18th, 2010 | Air Force Football | Posted by Sean Smyth
Some sights from early in today’s game in Norman. Air Force made a game of it before losing, 27-24.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, left, greets Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops before today's game in Norman. (Sue Ogrocki / The Associated Press)
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops greets Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, before the game. (Sug Ogrocki / The Associated Press)
All-MWC Rembert a “long shot” for BYU showdown
September 7th, 2010 | Air Force Football | Posted by Mike Hoffman
It was a scary scene Saturday not just for Air Force cornerback Reggie Rembert’s senior season, but his future as an Air Force officer when we was carted off the field with a neck injury. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said Rembert will undergo further neurological tests and said he was a “long shot” to play Saturday.
Rembert’s replacement stepped in and held his own against Northwestern State, but BYU is not Northwestern State and the Falcons chances of pulling off the upset decrease dramatically if Rembert, who was voted to the All-Mountain West preaseason team, isn’t in there.
After all, Calhoun said BYU’s freshman phenom quarterback Jake Heaps is a lock to be a first round NFL draft pick and possibly the best quarterback that program has ever had. Heady stuff considering BYU has produced quarterbacks such as NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young and Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer.
Falcons Coach Troy Calhoun: Tweet this!
August 31st, 2010 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Mike Hoffman
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Don’t expect Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun to be confined to 140 characters.
He told the Colorado Springs Gazette that, unlike other Mountain West coaches, he will not start his own Twitter account, but he will not ban his players from starting their own. The Air Force football team has its own Twitter account, although @AFFalcons is leaving its 17 followers wanting more with only 19 tweets in the past year.
Army football coach Rich Ellerson has his own Twitter account, but someone might want to tell him. @RichEllerson has 12 followers, even though he has yet to tweet once. We’re waiting, Rich.
Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo is sitting on the sidelines along with Calhoun. @TripleOptionSailorBoy is still an available handle. Just saying…
Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs doesn’t have a handle, which is absurd considering @MagicMan4 is open. However, @DobbsForHeisman is “the resource for the Completely Unofficial Ricky Dobbs Heisman Campaign,” with 168 followers.
Anyone have any suggestions for Calhoun’s handle if he ever caves? Leave suggestions in the comment section below.
Update: Air Force football’s recruit list not out until mid-August
July 16th, 2010 | Air Force Football | Posted by Mike Hoffman
For those waiting for the Air Force football team’s 2010 recruiting list, you’re going to have to wait another month. West Point and the Naval Academy have released their lists, which you can read here and here.
Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun would prefer to wait until the varsity squad’s roster is finalized before releasing any recruiting lists, said Dave Toller, the Air Force Academy athletic department’s spokesman. You can expect the roster around mid-August, he said.
Academy release: Calhoun staying
January 14th, 2010 | Air Force Football | Posted by Phil Creed
It looks like Troy Calhoun will not be going to Tennessee. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)
The Air Force academy released a short statement earlier today indicating that coach Troy Calhoun will stay on as the Falcons head football coach.
Calhoun had been mentioned as one of the leading candidates to replace Lane Kiffin at Tennessee after Kiffin bolted for USC earlier this week.
Here’s the academy statement in full, which runs under the headline “Calhoun to remain at academy”:
“We are more than grateful and proud to be closely involved with the character building of our cadets and the mission of the United States Air Force Academy. We are diligently recruiting and working with our team to prepare for the upcoming season. We look forward to coaching and being a part of the Air Force Academy team both on and off the field in 2010.”
I’m not clear why Calhoun used the pronoun “we” in this instance, but all in all, this is great news for Air Force Academy football fans. Calhoun is fresh off of leading the Falcons to their first bowl victory since 2000, a 47-20 beating of Houston. He has compiled a 25-14 record in his three seasons at Air Force, and taken the Falcons to a bowl after each season.