PUBLICATION ORDER:
Sections of the Pre-Season Report Card are published in following order: (1) Schedule; (2) Coaching; (3) Momentum (4) Discipline
On The Field (i.e. penalties); (5) Turnovers; (6) Special Teams; (7)
Defense; (8) Offense; and (9) Summary.
TURNOVERS
Rationale: The past does not always predict the future,
but the past often predicts the future
Team Recovered Turnovers
(i.e. Gained Turnovers)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Recovered Fumbles]
8 total recovered fumbles (0.6 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Caught Interceptions]
8 total caught interceptions (0.6 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Recovered Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 16 total combined recovered
turnovers (1.2 pgp)
Team Lost Turnovers
[2012 Team Statistic:
Lost Fumbles]
21 total lost fumbles (1.6 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Thrown Interceptions]
8 total thrown interceptions (0.6 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Lost Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 29 total combined lost
turnovers (2.2 pgp)
NOTE: Air Force does not
have a returning starter at quarterback
Team Combined Net
Turnovers [(Recovered Turnovers) minus (Lost Turnovers)]
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Net Turnovers] negative 13 combined net turnovers (negative 1.0 pgp)
GRADE (Turnovers): D
plus
DISCIPLINE ON THE FIELD
Rationale: The past does not always predict the future,
but the past often predicts the future
Team Penalties
[2012 Team Statistic]
44 total
penalties (3.4 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic] 341 total penalty
yards (26.2 pgp)
GRADE (Discipline on
the field): A
MOMENTUM
Momentum: Last season, Air
Force lost 4 of their final 5 games, including a 14-33 loss to Rice in the
Armed Forces Bowl, and finished with an overall record of 6-7.
GRADE (Momentum): D
plus
COACHING
Head Coach
Current Tenure as
Head Coach at Air Force: Troy Calhoun is in his seventh season as the Head Coach at
Air Force. Calhoun has an overall record
of 47-31 (60.3% wins) as the Head Coach at Air Force. In 2007, Calhoun’s first season as the Head
Coach at Air Force, Calhoun was named MWC Coach of the Year.
Last Coaching
Position:
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach for Houston Texans (2006)
Prior Experience as
Head Coach:
None
Other Notable Facts: From 1985 to 1988, Calhoun
played quarterback at Air Force
Offensive Coordinator
The
Air Force website lists 3 offensive coordinators: Mike Thiessen, Blane Morgan,
and Clay Hendrix. Each is listed as
having been the Offensive Coordinator at Air Force for multiple years. Last season, the Air Force offense was ranked
#51 in the nation for total offense.
In
my opinion, co-coordinators are less effective than a single coordinator. Co-leaders are less effective than a single
leader because co-leaders often disagree, which causes internal conflict that
may lead to a power struggle, and co-leaders often communicate inconsistent
messages to subordinates.
Defensive Coordinator
The
Air Force website lists 2 defensive coordinators: Charlton Warren and Steve
Russ. Both are in their second season as
the Defensive Coordinator at Air Force. Last
season, the Air Force defense was ranked #72 in the nation for total defense.
Again,
in my opinion, co-coordinators are less effective than a single
coordinator. Co-leaders are less
effective than a single leader because co-leaders often disagree, which causes
internal conflict that may lead to a power struggle, and co-leaders often
communicate inconsistent messages to subordinates.
Special Teams
Coordinator
Current Tenure as Special
Teams Coordinator at Air Force: Ben Miller is in his third season as the Special
Teams Coordinator at Air Force. Miller
is also in his first season as the Running Backs Coach at Air Force.
Last Coaching Position: Tight Ends Coach at
Air Force (2008 to 2012)
Prior Experience as Special
Teams Coordinator:
None
Other Notable Facts: Miller has coached
Ryan Harrison (2008 semifinalist for Lou Groza Award) and Parker Herrington
(2011 First-Team All-MWC Placekicker).
Miller played offensive line at Air Force and earned all-conference
honors. Miller’s experience playing on
the offensive line and coaching tight ends are valuable for coaching special
teams blocking techniques and schemes.
GRADE (Coaching): C
SCHEDULE
Total Home Games: 7
Consecutive Home
Games:
§ Week 1 (Colgate (FCS))
and Week 2 (Utah State)
§ Week 7 (San Diego
State), Week 8 (Bye Week), Week 9 (Notre Dame), and Week 10 (Army)
Total Away Games: 5
Consecutive Away
Games:
§ Week 5 (at Nevada)
and Week 6 (at Navy)
Bye Weeks:
§ Week 8 (October 15,
2013 through October 21, 2013)
§ Week 12 (November 12,
2013 through November 18, 2013)
MWC Non-Division
Games (i.e. games against MWC West Division Teams):
§ Week 5 (Away at
Nevada)
§ Week 7 (Home vs. San
Diego State)
§ Week 13 (Home vs.
UNLV)
Week 1: Colgate (FCS)
at Air Force
Game #: 1
Game Date: Saturday, August 31,
2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for Colgate: increase by 5,495
feet
Travel Distance for
Colgate:
1,546 miles (flight time is approximately 3 ½ hours)
Time Change for
Colgate:
decrease by 2 hours (ET to MT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is
TBA) temperature could reach 90 degrees during the afternoon
Stadium Noise: low
Week 2: Utah State at
Air Force (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 2
Game Date: Saturday, September
7, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm MT
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for Utah
State:
increase by 1,911 feet
Travel Distance for
Utah State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could
reach 90 degrees by end of game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Utah State plays
rival Utah in the prior week (Week 1)
Week 3: Air Force at
Boise State (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 3
Game Date: Friday, September 13,
2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT
Stadium: Bronco Stadium (Boise,
ID)
Elevation of Stadium: 2,695 feet
Elevation Change for
Air Force:
decrease by 3,926 feet
Travel Distance for Air
Force:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Air
Force:
none
Field Surface: artificial (Blue
FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (night
game in September)
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Week 4: Wyoming at
Air Force (Howdy Doody Bowl)(MWC Mountain
Division Game)
Game #: 4
Game Date: Saturday, September
21, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for Wyoming: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for
Wyoming:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for
Wyoming:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is
TBA) temperature could reach 90 degrees during the afternoon
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Last season, both
Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun and Wyoming Head Coach Dave Christensen
engaged in “conduct unbecoming” of a head football coach. Their conduct was most offensive because both
coaches would surely severely berate and punish their players for similar
conduct.
Week 5: Air Force at
Nevada
Game #: 5
Game Date: Saturday, September
28, 2013
Kickoff Time: 4:30 pm PT (5:30 pm
MT)
Stadium: Chris Ault Field at
Mackay Stadium (Reno, NV)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,610 feet
Elevation Change for
Air Force:
decrease by 2,011 feet
Travel Distance for
Air Force:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Air
Force:
decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature may be
in the lower 90’s at kickoff (4:30pm PT), but will cool during the game
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Week 6: Air Force at
Navy
Game #: 6
Game Date: Saturday, October 5,
2013
Kickoff Time: 11:30am ET (9:30am
MT)
Stadium: Navy-Marine Corps
Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, MD)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for
Air Force:
decrease by 6,581 feet
Travel Distance for Air
Force:
1,515 miles (flight time is approximately 3 hours)(only 1 hour if Air Force
players hitch a ride on an F-22 Raptor: http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=199)
Time Change for Air
Force:
increase by 2 hours (MT to ET)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: possible rain
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: Early kickoff time
will not have an adverse effect on Air Force players. 9:30am MT (11:30am ET) for Air Force players
is like afternoon for civilians.
Week 7: San Diego
State at Air Force
Game #: 7
Game Date: Thursday, October 10,
2013
Kickoff Time: 7:00pm MT (6:00pm
PT)
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for SDSU: increase by 6,546
feet
Travel Distance for
SDSU:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for SDSU: increase by 1 hour
(PT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could
drop down to the 40’s by the end of the game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Air Force is playing
this game just 5 days after traveling 1,515 miles home from Annapolis. Consequently, Air Force may use a simplified
game plan that SDSU can exploit with new, complex plays. SDSU has a significant elevation increase of
6,546 feet that will likely have an adverse effect in the 4th
quarter, especially on SDSU linemen. Moreover,
in the 4th quarter, there could be a significant momentum shift in
favor of Air Force based on the elevation change for SDSU and extremely high
stamina of Air Force players, including Air Force linemen. In the 4th quarter, Air Force
players will be running strong while some SDSU players are running out of gas. SDSU has one day less than a full week to
prepare for this game because SDSU has a game on Friday in the prior week (Week
6).
Week 8: October 15,
2013 through October 21, 2013
BYE WEEK
Week 9: Notre Dame at
Air Force
Game #: 8
Game Date: Saturday, October
26, 2013
Kickoff Time: 3:00pm MT (5:00 pm ET)
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for Notre
Dame:
increase by 5,896 feet
Travel Distance for Notre
Dame:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Notre
Dame:
decrease by 2 hours (ET to MT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: Last season, Notre
Dame was embarrassed in the National Championship Game. Notre Dame has a significant elevation
increase of 5,896 feet that will likely have an adverse effect in the 4th
quarter, especially on Notre Dame linemen.
Week 10: Army at Air
Force
Game #: 9
Game Date: Saturday, November
2, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for
Army:
increase by 6,460 feet
Travel Distance for Army: 1,630 miles (flight
time is approximately 3 ½ hours)(I doubt that Air Force would be intimidated if
Army arrived in attack helicopters, but it would be cool to watch. Besides, the flight time would be
approximately 9 hours in a helicopter.)
Time Change for Army: decrease by 2 hours
(ET to MT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is
TBA) temperature could drop down to the 30’s after sunset
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: Although Army has a
significant elevation increase of 6,460 feet, the elevation change will not
have any adverse effect on Army players because all players at service
academies have extremely high stamina.
Week 11: Air Force at
New Mexico (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 10
Game Date: Friday, November 8, 2013
Kickoff Time: 7:00pm MT
Stadium: University Stadium (Albuquerque,
NM)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,100 feet
Elevation Change for
Air Force:
decrease by 1,521 feet
Travel Distance for Air
Force:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Air
Force:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could
drop down to the 30’s by the end of the game; possible snow on the ground;
possible snow before and/or during game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Week 12: November 12,
2013 through November 18, 2013
BYE WEEK
Week 13: UNLV at Air
Force
Game #: 11
Game Date: Thursday, November 21,
2013
Kickoff Time: 7:30pm MT (6:30pm
PT)
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for UNLV: increase by 5,021
feet
Travel Distance for
UNLV:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for UNLV: increase by 1 hour
(PT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could drop
down to the 20’s by the end of the game; possible light snow before or during
game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: UNLV will be dealing
with both a significant elevation increase (5,021 feet) and significant
temperature decrease (approximately 40 degrees). Moreover, most UNLV players have significant
experience playing in hot weather, but little or no experience playing in cold
weather. Last season, UNLV played VERY
poorly in cold weather. Neither Air
Force nor UNLV will be adversely affected by the short week (Thursday game)
because both teams have a bye in the prior week (Week 12).
Week 14: Air Force at
Colorado State (MWC Mountain Division
Game)
Game #: 12
Game Date: Saturday, November
30, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field
at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for
Air Force:
decrease by 1,431 feet
Travel Distance for Air
Force:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Air
Force:
none
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is
TBA) temperature could drop down to the 20’s after sunset; likely snow on the
ground; possible snow before or during game
Stadium Noise: moderate
GRADE (higher grade indicates favorable schedule):
A
NOTE: Grading
Standards: Grades
are based on a national scale. Unlike
modern academia, my grades are not inflated.
A grade of “C” is average. A
grade of “C” is neither good nor bad; it is simply average. A grade of “A” or “F” is rare.
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