Air Force Academy

Feb. 20, 2010

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Senior defensive lineman Ben Garland won the Brian Bullard Memorial Award, the highest honor a Falcon football player can earn, at the annual Air Force Football banquet at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Garland earned second-team all-conference honors in 2009 while leading one of the top defensive units in the country. He led the Falcons in tackles for loss with 10.5 for 46 yards and sacks with 4.5 for 30 yards. In addition, he recorded 45 total tackles and two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Garland also blocked two kicks, field goals vs. New Mexico and BYU.

The Air Force defense allowed just 15.7 points per game to rank second in the Mountain West Conference and 10th nationally. The Falcons gave up just 288.3 yards per game in total defense which was second in the conference and 11th in the nation, including allowing just 154.3 yards passing per game to lead the conference and rank fifth nationally.

The Bullard Award, established in 1984 and voted on by the football team, is based on the criteria that typifies the late Brian Bullard - unselfishness, 110 percent effort, total team commitment and pride in his role on the team whether he's a starter or not. Bullard was a 1982 graduate of Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs. He attended the Academy the following year and played on the football team for two years. During Thanksgiving vacation in 1983, Bullard and his girlfriend, fellow cadet Dianne Williams, died from carbon monoxide poisoning while returning from a trip to Kansas in a snow storm.

Brian Bullard Memorial Award Winners

2009	Ben Garland
2008	Shea Smith
2007	Drew Fowler, Garrett Rybak
2006	Gilbert Perez
2005	Denny Poland
2004	John Rudzinksi
2003	Monty Coleman, Joe Schieffer
2002	Tom Heier
2001	Zach Johnson
2000	Nate Beard, Matt Dayoc, Mike Gallagher
1999	Charlie Jackson
1998	Mike Tyler
1997	Chris Gizzi
1996	Lee Gutherie
1995	Brandon Wilkerson
1994	Steve Russ
1993	Will McCombs
1992	Grant Johnson
1991	Kette Dornbush
1990	Bill Price
1989	Lance McDowell
1988	Anthony Roberson
1987	Rip Burgwald
1986	Pat Evans
1985	Pat Malackowski
1984	Steve Kelly