So, What Really Happened
I have had so many people ask me what happened to the Air Force football team in the last month of the season? I am no expert. I am an observer, and having watched and worked AF football since 1990 I can offer one perspective. Take it with a grain of salt.
Injuries-You lose QB Zac Larrier and RB Emmanuel Michel and it’s going to slow you down. They were bedrocks all season for the Falcons. And having leading WR Jared Roznos on the injured list took away a deep threat.
The schedule got tougher-with an asterisk. You can say that about UNLV and Boise St. Can’t say that about Army and Hawaii.
Moxy-AF had it and lost it. That started with Army in Denver. That loss started the tailspin. And the way the Falcons lost with all the turnovers against an average Black Knight Team. Like it or not, that loss was still being felt against Hawaii, UNLV and Boise St.
Defense-I thought teams found better ways to attack the AF Defense, especially through the air. Seam routes, and using the tight end. To be fair, UNLV got after most everyone this season, and Boise State is Boise State. And even though the Falcons lost those games, they were in them til the end.
Offensive Line-It seemed to me opposing defenses played Diesel much better later than earlier in the season. It was more difficult for them to create running room.
What made the downfall even more dramatic was the Falcons were 8-0, ranked in the AP and Coaches Poll, and ranked for the first time ever in the College football Playoff Rankings. So the shock of how the season ended was even more pronounced. There was talk of a New Years Day Bowl, and hosting a conference championship game.
Fair or not, this season will be remembered for how it ended and what could have been.
Air Force takes on James Madison in the Armed Forces bowl Saturday December 23rd at 130 on 740 KVOR.
