After what seems like months of scrimmages and practices the Air Force Football season finally kicks off Saturday afternoon against FCS school Colgate at 130 on 740 KVOR. It’s a traditional FCS opener for the Falcons during Parents Weekend. But a game that carries more importance than just Game 1 on the schedule. After back to back 5-7 seasons Air Force fans have been grumbling quite a bit about not going to bowls, under 500 records and a 1-3 record against Army and Navy the last 2 seasons. They expected, and are accustomed to winning seasons. So Saturday’s game against Colgate, while not a contest that will dictate how the entire season will go, is still important for several reasons. #1. Who runs the ball for the Falcons? Fullback Cole Fagan who was the leading returning rusher in the conference was kicked off the team for an unknown transgression. TB Joseph Saucier was also dismissed. Air Force has experience at TB with Nolan Ericksen and Kadin Remsberg, but it may be a position of revolving players. The Fullback spot is critical in the Falcons offense. Taven Birdow will see a lot of playing time. Colten Parton took a lot of reps during August along with Christian Mallard. And with Ron Cleveland gone Air Force has to find a new “Z” receiver. Donald Hammond will start at QB but the Falcons need to develop weapons around him. The Defense looks like a monster. So many play makers. Their goal is to be much better this year against the pass. They were solid in 2018 against the run, but to take the next step they need more pressure on the quarterback and better coverage. In Jordan Jackson, Lakota Wills, Jeremy Fedjelem and Garret Kauppila they have 4 bona fide all conference performers. And with the likes of LB Demonte Meeks and CB Tre Bugg Air Force may have its best defense in the last 10 years. Should the Falcons beat Colgate it will prove to be a good start, but only that. The real tests await in Boulder in 2 weeks and Boise in 3 weeks. That’s when the lights get brighter.
Listen to Air Force Football Saturday at 130 and all season long on 740 KVOR.
