Head Coach Troy Calhoun spent the 2006 season as the Houston Texans offensive coordinator before coming back to the Academy in 2007.

Co-Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach Blane Morgan is a native of Dallas. He attended Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, where he played for his father, Barry.

Video Coordinator Dan Whisenhunt is a 1982 graduate of Texas Tech.

The 2012 Armed Forces Bowl featuring Air Force vs. Rice on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 10:45 a.m. CT will be available on ESPN.com. The link to watch the game is below.

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/688654/rice-vs-air-force 

Joe Theismann, an entrepreneur and former star quarterback for the Washington Redskins, has been named the keynote speaker of the 2012 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Team Kickoff Luncheon, presented by the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and American Airlines. Held at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, the luncheon will take place at noon (CT) on Friday, Dec. 28, the day prior to the 10th anniversary of the postseason bowl game. American's sponsorship stems from its long-standing support for military, veterans and their families.

A 1971 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Joe Theismann received All-American honors and led the Fighting Irish to consecutive Cotton Bowls and was runner-up to Jim Plunkett in the Heisman Trophy balloting. In 2003, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

After turning down offers from the Minnesota Twins and Miami Dolphins, Theismann began his professional career in the Canadian Football League, spending three years with the Toronto Argonauts before joining the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1974. From his humble beginnings as a punt returner to his triumph as Super Bowl Champion, Theismann has experienced many of the challenges we all face in our constant quest to find success, by overcoming adversity.

General Norton A. Schwartz has been named the 2012 recipient of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl's Great American Patriot Award. The award will be presented by Armed Forces Insurance, the sponsor of the award and the official insurance partner of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

General Schwartz served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. until his retirement on August 12, 2012. As Chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian personnel serving in the United States and overseas. While a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he also functioned as a military adviser to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.

General Schwartz will formally accept the award from Armed Forces Insurance during halftime of the 10th anniversary Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

There are several connections between Rice, the opponent in the 2012 Bell Helcopter Armed Forces Bowl, and Air Force.

AIR FORCE - RICE CONNECTIONS

• Ken Hatfield coached at both Rice and Air Force during his career. He led the Falcons to a 26-32-1 mark from 1979-83 ... Hatfield led the turnaround at Air Force, leading the Falcons to back-to-back bowl games while posting an 8-5 mark in 1982 and a 10-2 mark in 1983 ... The 1982 bowl game was the first for Air Force in 11 years dating back to the 1971 Sugar Bowl ... Hatfield also brought Falcon Legend Fisher DeBerry to the Academy as an assistant ... DeBerry replaced Hatfield and coach the Falcons from 1984-2006, compiling a 169-109-1 mark ... Hatfield was head coach at Rice from 1994-2005 and posted a record of 56-89-1.

• Rice offensive coordinator and running backs coach John Reagan was the offensive line coach at Air Force for Fisher DeBerry from 2003-04 ... Air Force led the conference and was ranked fourth nationally in rushing each year Reagan coached at Air Force ... The Falcons averaged 280.6 yards per game in 2003 and 277.4 in 2004.

• Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue and Air Force receiver Drew Coleman were high school teammates at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, Texas. The two have continued a close friendship since their playing days.

• Brandon Hamilton of Rice and Chris Miller of Air Force each attended Copperas Cove High School in Copperas Cove, Texas ... Bryce Callahan of Rice and Colton Huntsman of Air Force each attended Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas ... James Radcliffe of Rice and Alex Ludowig of Air Force each attended Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, Texas.

• Rice has two players that are transfers from Air Force. Trevor Caswell of Stony Point, Texas, and Ryan Pollard of Arlington, Texas, each began their careers at Air Force before transfering. Pollard saw action in four games as a freshman in 2011 at Air Force.

C-USA ANNOUNCES BOWL CONTINGENCY PLAN

IRVING, Texas - Conference USA will have five teams playing in bowl games this season and the league has announced its lineup of games, pending the result of this Saturday's C-USA Football Championship Game.  UCF will visit Tulsa in the championship and based on the result of that game, C-USA's bowl lineup will fall into place. East Carolina, Rice and SMU are the conference's other bowl-eligible teams.

If Tulsa wins the championship game, Rice will play Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

If UCF wins the championship game, Tulsa will play Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

C-USA Championship Game host Tulsa will be in a bowl game for the fourth straight season, while its opponent, UCF, will be bowling for the third time in four years.  After a one-year absence, East Carolina will play postseason football for the sixth time in seven seasons. SMU will be making a bowl trip a fourth consecutive year for the first time in school history.  Rice is back in postseason play for the first time since 2008.

Opponents for two of C-USA's bowl games have been confirmed.  Air Force will compete in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl and Louisiana-Lafayette will play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.  Opponents for the other games will be announced no later than Sunday, December 2.

The Air Force women's basketball team has announced that the game times on the opening day of the Air Force Classic have changed from their originally scheduled times. The Falcons' contest versus Kansas City on Friday, Nov. 30, has been moved up to a 4:00 p.m. start time (originally scheduled for 5:00 p.m.). Meanwhile, the second game of the evening, between Boise State and San Diego, is  slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. (originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m.).

Saturday's games will remain as scheduled, with Kansas City facing Boise State at 2:00 p.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. contest between Air Force and San Diego.

The Air Force - Hawaii game will be available on ESPN.com. To watch on your computer, go to the link below.

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/639773/hawaii-vs-air-force

(http://www.themwc.com/allaccess/?media=352102).  These highlights include footage from the ESPN SportsNation shoot at Air Force last Thursday. 

The 2012-13 Mountain West Basketball Countdown to Tipoff featuring the Air Force Falcons has been posted online for both the men's and women's programs.

Earlier this week, Jesse Kurtz of the Mountain West Digital Network visited the Academy and spoke to head coaches Dave Pilipovich and Andrea Williams, as well as seniors Todd Fletcher, Mike Lyons, Dymond James and Alicia Leipprandt.

The men's basketball preview is available by visiting http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-baskbl/mw-12-countdown-afa.html.

To check out the women's basketball preview, visit http://www.themwc.com/sports/w-baskbl/mw-12-countdown-afa.html.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - FOOTBALL PLAYS A RARE FRIDAY NIGHT GAME THIS WEEK VS. NEVADA
With last Saturday's 28-23 win over New Mexico, Air Force football has quietly accumulated three consecutive conference victories and stands within striking distance of Boise State for the top spot in the league.  At 3-1 in MWC play the Falcons are gridlocked in a four-way tie for second place in the standings.  Incoming Nevada (6-2, 3-1) is one of the teams that Air Force hopes to break away from and looks to make ground in that department this Friday.  The meeting will be the first ever between the schools.  Tickets are available for just $5 in the overlook section of Falcon Stadium and four packs can be purchased for just $60 in any section with an additional voucher for $20 in concessions.  Click Here for more information.

Coach Calhoun Show
Join Coach Calhoun and Jim Arthur at Back East Bar and Grill this Thursday, October 25th for the weekly People's Bank Coaches Show broadcast live at 6:30 pm.  Stop by after work for great food and drink and get insight on this Saturday's game vs. Nevada.

This Week's Football Luncheon Moved to Thursday - Catered by Noodles & Company
Falcon fans are invited to a pre-game lunch at the Falcon Stadium press box this Thursday, October 25th to get fired up for the Nevada game on Friday.  The menu includes Pasta Fresca, Japanese Pan Noodles, Caesar Salad, Rice Krispies and cookies.  Lunch is only $10 per plate and includes a program with door prizes and preview of this Friday's game with Coach Calhoun.

Men's Water Polo Big Home Stand This Weekend - The Air Force men's water polo teams will host a pair of  West Coast Teams this weekend for a full slate of competition.  The Falcons will open up in the water polo pool vs. Cal Baptist on Friday @ 6 pm.  On Saturday Air Force will be back in action early with a 9 am match vs. Fresno Pacific then again at 7 pm vs. Cal Baptist.  Air Force will turn around and play on Sunday to end the weekend vs. Fresno Pacific @ 1 pm.

Wrestling Blue/Silver Scrimmage - Wednesday, October 24th - Preview the Air Force wrestling team this Wednesday, October 24th at Clune Arena for a 6:30 pm intra-squad scrimmage.  Admission is free.

Volleyball Halloween Celebration vs. Boise State - Saturday, October 27th   - Stop by the Cadet Gymnasium this Saturday for a fun night of Falcon Volleyball.  Air Force hosts Boise State in a conference showdown and invites all fans to get decked out in their Halloween best before heading out for trick or treating.  All fans in their costume will receive free admission to the match.  Kids in attendance will also receive a free AFA trick or treat bag and candy at the gate.  That's not all!  The first 500 fans will also land a free AFA survival strap at the gate (pictured below).  Match time starts at 7 pm.