Sept. 7, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 12, 6:02 p.m. Central
TCF Bank Stadium (50,000), Minneapolis, MN
TELEVISION
The Big Ten Network
Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), Chris Martin (analyst), Rebecca Haarlow (sidelines)
RADIO
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
KCKK 1510 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Goairforcefalcons.com
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Lee Douglas (anaylst), Jay Ritchie (pre- and post-game)
- Air Force begins a two-game road swing by traveling to Minneapolis, MN, to take on Minnesota in the first-ever meeting between the schools.
- Both teams enter the game coming off victories last week. Air Force defeated Nicholls State, 72-0, at home while Minnesota defeated Syracuse, 23-20, in overtime on the road. Both teams snapped losing streaks with the wins. The Falcons snapped a three-game skid while the Gophers ended a five-game streak.
- Opening the stadium: This week's game will be the first-ever at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. The last time Air Force played in a stadium-dedication game was in 1982 at BYU in the dedication game of Cougar Stadium. The Falcons defeated BYU, 39-38.
THE COACHES
- Air Force: Troy Calhoun (Air Force, 1989) has an 18-9 record in his third season at Air Force. Calhoun is 11-5 vs. the Mountain West, 10-3 at home, 7-4 in road games, 1-2 in neutral site games, 7-4 in non-conference games and 0-0 vs. Minnesota and teams from the Big Ten.
- Minnesota: Tim Brewster (Illinois, 1983) is in his third season. He is 9-17 overall. Last year he led the Gophers to a 7-6 record and finished tied for seventh in the Big Ten with a 3-5 mark.
THIS IS AIR FORCE FOOTBALL
- Air Force is playing its 54th season of varsity football. The Falcons played their first season of varsity football in 1956.
- Air Force has an all-time record of 321-269-13. The Falcons are 173-112-3 at home and 148-157-10 on the road and in neutral site games. AFA has played in 19 bowl games and has an 8-10-1 all-time record.
- This season marks the third under head coach Troy Calhoun, who is a 1989 graduate of the Air Force Academy. He is the sixth head coach in school history and first graduate to hold the position.
- Air Force is playing in its 30th year in a conference. This season marks the school's 11th year in the Mountain West Conference. Prior to 1999, Air Force was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1980-98. The school was an independent prior to 1980.
- Air Force is 37-37 as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is 22-15 at home and 15-22 on the road. The Falcons are 67-54 overall since joining the MWC in 1999, including marks of 38-23 at home, 25-27 on the road, 4-4 in neutral site games and 2-2 in bowls.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Minnesota are meeting for the first time.
AIR FORCE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
- This week's game vs. Minnesota is Air Force's first against a team from the Big Ten Conference since 2003. Air Force won at Northwestern, 22-21, in that game.
- The Falcons are 5-8-2 all-time against teams from the Big Ten.
AIR FORCE VS. TEAMS FROM THE BCS
- Air Force is 1-1 under head coach Troy Calhoun against teams from BCS conferences. The Falcons defeated Notre Dame, 41-24, in South Bend in 2007 and lost to California, 42-36, in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl.
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER CALHOUN
Air Force is 7-4 against non-conference foes under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons are 4-1 at home, 2-1 on the road and 1-2 in neutral site games.
MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS
- Air Force has five varsity players from the state of Minnesota.
32 - Jordan Waiwaiole - Sophomore - Spring Lake Park (Spring Lake Park)
46 - Nick Smith - Sophomore - Eden Prairie (St. Louis Park)
50 - Alex Means - Freshman - Mankato (Mankato East)
92 - Wylie Wikstrom - Junior - St. Paul (Cretin-Derham Hall)
99 - Erik Soderberg - Sophomore - Eden Prairie (Eden Prairie)
LAST WEEK
Air Force dominated Nicholls State of the Football Championship Subdivision, 72-0, in its home opener. The Falcons tied a school record with 45 points in the first half while jumping to a huge lead at the half. The second half was more of the same as the 72-point victory margin set a new Academy record. The 72 points is the third most in school history.
Backup quarterback Connor Deitz led the offense with 83 yards on seven carries. Backup fullback Nathan Walker added 73 yards and a touchdown for the offense that rolled up 576 total yards, including 474 rushing. Starting fullback Jared Tew scored a career-best three touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards while quarterback Tim Jefferson chipped in with 22 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. He also hit five of seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.
The defense dominated, holding Nicholls State to just 151 total yards and seven first downs, while producing the first shutout since beating Wofford, 49-0, in 2003. John Falgout led the defense with seven tackles.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force's 72 points is the third most in school history and most since scoring 73 vs. New Mexico in 1987. Air Force set a school record with 75 vs. Northern Colorado in 1984. The 72 points tie a Mountain West Conference record with New Mexico, who scored 72 points vs. Texas State in Aug. 30, 2003.
• The victory margin of 72 points is a school record, breaking the previous mark of 69 (69-0) vs. Northern Colorado in 1984.
• Air Force posted its first shutout since beating Wofford, 49-0, in the 2003 season opener. The shutout is the first in the Troy Calhoun-era.
• Air Force's 576 total yards are the second most under head coach Troy Calhoun and the most since Air Force had 670 vs. San Diego State in 2007 in Calhoun's first season.
• Air Force held Nicholls State to just seven first downs which is the seventh fewest in school history and fewest since holding Southern Methodist to six in 1971.
• Air Force held Nicholls State to just 151 total yards which is the eighth fewest in school history and fewest since holding Army to 100 in 1999.
• Air Force improved to 33-19-2 all-time in season openers, including a 28-8 mark at home. The victory is the team's third straight at home to open the season. The victory is the 12th straight season opening win vs. a non-ranked opponent dating back to 1994.
• Air Force improved to 14-0 all-time vs. teams from the Football Championship Subdivision.
• Air Force matched a school record for points in a half with 45 in the first half. Air Force also scored 45 points in a half vs. New Mexico in 1987, Northern Colorado in 1984 and Utah in 1990. All three of those games the record also came in the first half.
• Air Force's first-half shutout vs. Nicholls State is the first since the season opener last season vs. Southern Utah (21-0).
Individual Notes
• Freshman LB Alex Means is the first Air Force freshman to start on opening day since Shaun Carney vs. California in 2004. Means is the first defensive player to start the season opener since A.J. Scott vs. BYU in 1981. Means finished the game with five tackles, which was the third most on the team, and a fumble recovery.
• The Falcons had 11 players make the first start of their careers in the game: Ryan Gonzales (Sr., OL), A.J. Wallerstein (So., OL), Michael Hampton (Sr., OL), Jonathan Warzeka (So., WR), Myles Morales (Sr., DL), Rick Ricketts (Jr., DL), Alex Means (Fr., LB), P.J. Adeji-Paul (So., DB), Jon Davis (So., DB), Erik Soderberg (SO., SPC), Colton Reid (So., DS).
• Senior LB Justin Moore recovered the first fumble of his career. The turnover, which is the fourth of his career (2 FF, 1 INT, 1 FR), led to a field goal to give Air Force a 10-0 lead.
• Sophomore SPC Erik Soderberg hit the first field goal attempt of his career, a 23-yard boot in the first quarter. Soderberg scored the first point of his career earlier in the quarter when he hit the first extra point of his career.
• Sophomore QB Tim Jefferson recorded a career high in rushing touchdowns with two. Jefferson scored both touchdowns on one-yard runs.
• Sophomore WR Jonathan Warzeka recorded the first catch of his career, a four-yard catch in the second quarter which set up a touchdown to give Air Force a 31-0 lead in the second quarter.
• Junior FB Jared Tew rushed for 57 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns. Tew has scored five touchdowns in his last two games, as he scored a pair in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl vs. Houston. Tew has scored at least one touchdown in four straight games.
• Junior WR Kevin Fogler recorded the longest reception of his career, a 57-yard catch for a touchdown in the second quarter.
• Junior TE Chaz Demerath recorded the first catches of his career. He finished the game with two for 14 yards.
• Senior TE Sean Quintana recorded the longest catch of his career, a 27-yard reception in the first half. His previous long was 18 yards vs. UNLV last season.
• Sophomore QB Connor Dietz played the first game of his career. He finished the game with career bests of seven carries for 83 yards and a long run of 52 yards. His 83 yards and 52-yard run were the best by a Falcon in the game.
• Junior FB Nathan Walker scored the first touchdown of his career, a six-yard run in the third quarter to give Air Force a 52-0 lead. Walker finished the day with career highs of eight carries for 73 yards. He ranked second on the team in each category.
• Freshmen Darius Jones (RB) and Drew Coleman (WR) each played in the first game of his careers and scored their first-career touchdowns. The touchdowns mark the third straight season opener for Air Force in which a freshman has scored a touchdown. Last year, Jonathan Warzeka scored vs. Southern Utah and Savier Stephens scored vs. South Carolina State in 2007.
• Senior LB John Falgout led the team with seven total tackles to mark the first time in his career he's led the team in tackles for a game.
THE FALLOUT
- Air Force is atop the national rankings in several categories following its 72-0 victory over Nicholls State. The team ranks second in two more categories.
Category Stats Rank National Leader
Rushing Offense 474.0 1st --
Scoring Offense 72.0 1st --
Scoring Defense 0.0 1st --
Turnover Margin 4.00 2nd Arizona State, 5.00
Passing Efficiency 240.94 2nd Notre Dame, 290.44
- Air Force leads the conference in the categories above, as well as in total offense (576.0), total defense (151.0), punt returns (23.0) and pass defense (61.0)
AIR FORCE FOURTH NATIONALLY WITH 195-GAME SCORING STREAK
- Air Force has scored in 195 consecutive games dating back to 1992.
- The Falcons were last shutout by Mississippi, 13-0, in the 1992 Liberty Bowl.
- Air Force's streak is the second-longest active streak of teams in the Mountain West Conference and the fourth longest in the country.
- Air Force's 195-game scoring streak is the 15th longest in Division I-A college history
- Of the top 15 all-time, nine were started in the 1980s while the other five began in the 1970s.
100 YARDS RUSHERS UNDER CALHOUN
- Air Force is tough to beat when it has had a 100-yard rusher under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons are12-3 in games when they have a player rush for 100 or more yards.
- The team's only losses came in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. California, vs. No. 16/14 BYU and vs. Houston in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl.
2007
South Carolina State, W 34-3 (Kip McCarthy, 129); Utah, W 20-12 (Shaun Carney, 113); TCU, W 20-17 OT (Jim Ollis, 138); UNLV, W 31-14 (Chad Hall, 169); Colorado State, W 45-21 (Chad Hall, 256); Wyoming, W 20-12 (Chad Hall, 167); Army, W 30-10 (Chad Hall, 275); Notre Dame, W 41-24 (Chad Hall, 142); San Diego State, W 55-23 (Jim Ollis, 163; Chad Hall, 151; Ty Paffett, 105); California, L 36-42 (Shaun Carney, 108; Jim Ollis, 101).
2008
San Diego State, W 35-10 (Asher Clark, 109); UNLV, W 29-28 (Todd Newell, 134); Colorado State, W 38-17 (Asher Clark, 136); BYU, L 24-38 (Todd Newell, 116); Houston, L 28-34 (Jared Tew, 149)
AIR FORCE TAKEAWAYS
- Air Force is a combined +27 in two-plus seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.
- Air Force stands at +4 this season after forcing four turnovers against Nicholls State. The Falcons have forced two or more turnovers in four straight games dating back to last season. The team has done it in 14 of the last 17 games overall.
- Air Force's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average last season ranked second in the conference and 11th nationally.
INDIVIDUAL QUICK HITS
- QB Tim Jefferson - rushed for a career-best two TDs and threw for one vs. Nicholls State.
- RB Asher Clark - rushed for 66 yards on six carries vs. Nicholls State.
- SPC Brandon Geyer - one punt for 44 yards vs. Nicholls State.
- SPC Erik Soderberg - hit first-career field goal (23 yards) and all seven PATs in first game as starting kicker.
- QB Connor Dietz - rushed for a team-best 83 yards on seven carries in first-career game.
- LB Alex Means - recorded five total tackles and a fumble recovery in his first-career game ... became the first Air Force freshman defensive player to start opening day since A.J. Scott vs. BYU in 1981.
- LB Ken Lamendola - recorded five total tackles in limited action ... started last year with just one tackle in the season opener before finishing with a team-best 118 on the year.
- DB Chris Thomas - one assisted tackle vs. Nicholls State ... started last season without a tackle vs. Southern Utah before finishing season with 107 total.
TEW RUNNING WILD
Junior FB Jared Tew is making the most of being a starter. Tew made his first-career start in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl vs. Houston and set a school record for rushing yards in a bowl game with a career-best 149 yards on a career-most 27 carries. He set a then-career-high with two touchdowns.
Tew started the second game of his career last week and rushed for a career-best three touchdowns to help Air Force over Nicholls State. Tew is tied for third nationally in scoring with an 18.0 per-game average after one week. He also had 57 yards on nine carries and extended in consecutive games with at least one touchdown streak to four games. He is averaging 103 yards and 2.5 touchdowns on 18 carries in his two career starts.
MAKING THE WRIGHT MOVES
Sophomore Anthony Wright got off to a great start in his new role of starting punt returner. Wright returned two punts for 46 yards, including a career-long 34-yard return. Wright's 23.0 average per return is tied for eighth nationally.
PRETTY GOOD FIRST PLAY
Freshman linebacker Olawale Lawal made the most of his first-ever college football play. Lawal entered the game in the fourth quarter and his first play resulted in tackle for loss for 10 yards, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a 10-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown. He finished the game with one other assisted tackle for two total and joins fellow rookies Darius Jones and Drew Coleman as freshman to score touchdowns in their first-career game.
CHARLES ON THREE WATCH LISTS
- Air Force senior guard Nick Charles is one of 40 college football players named to the 2009 Outland Trophy Watch List. The annual watch list includes only interior linemen - tackles, guards and centers on both sides of the ball. The Mountain West Conference had two players on the list as Charles was joined by Utah offensive lineman Zane Beadles. In 1987, Air Force defensive end Chad Hennings won the Outland Trophy, to become the first and only Falcon to win the prestigious award.
- Charles has been named a nominee for the Allstate/American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. Charles is one of 106 nominees up for the 11-player Good Works Team which will be announced during the 2009 college football season. The Allstate/AFCA Good Works team honors college football players who make outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. With their acts, AFCA Good Works team members distinguish themselves among the more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year collegiate institutions through off-the-field accomplishments.
- Charles has been named to the 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. The annual watch list includes football linemen, on offense or defense. The Rotary Lombardi Award goes annually to the college football lineman -- offense or defense -- who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi. To be eligible, the player can be an offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebacker, or tight end.
Charles was a first-team preseason all-MWC selection. A second-team all-league selection as a sophomore and junior, Charles has anchored an offensive line that has helped the Falcons to a conference rushing title and a top 10 national rushing ranking each of the last two years. Last season, Charles led the Falcons with 16.4 knockdown blocks per game. He has started every game each of the last two years.
Charles is active in his squadron as the point of contact for the Cadet for a Day program. He was also the cadet in charge of the Sunrise Senior Living Center Valentine's Ball and an Academy representative for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Charles is a two-time academic all-conference selection and a member of the dean's list at the Academy.
THOMAS GOING FOR NO. 3
Senior safety Chris Thomas has recorded two straight 100-plus tackles. He had 107 last year and 110 as a sophomore in 2007. Thomas will become just the fourth player in school history to record three 100-plus tackle seasons if he can do it again this season. Thomas would join Terry Maki (1984-86), Tom Foertsch (1976-78), Brian Hill (1988-90).
LAMENDOLA GOING FOR 100, AGAIN
Junior linebacker Ken Lamendola was just the second sophomore with 100-plus tackles in a season since All-American Anthony Schlegel in 2002 with his 118-tackle effort last year. Lamendola could become the 15th Falcon with back-to-back 100-plus tackle seasons if he hits the century mark in 2009.
AIR FORCE INDIVIDUAL HONORS
- Chris Thomas , Sr., DB - First-team preseason all-MWC.
- Nick Charles, Sr., OL - First-team preseason all-MWC ... Outland Trophy Watch List ... Allstate/AFCA oaches Association Good Works Team nominee ... 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.
QUICK HITS
- Seniors Chris Thomas (DB) and Nick Charles (OL) were each named first-team preseason all-Mountain West Conference in 2009 at the conference's annual media day in Las Vegas. Both players were named second-team all-MWC in 2008.
- Air Force has posted 11 MWC wins in back-to-back seasons which is a school record. The previous mark was eight in 2000 (5-2) and 2001 (3-4). Air Force finished 5-3 in 2008 and 6-2 in 2007, marking the first time in school history the team has won four or more MWC games in back-to-back seasons.
- Falcon Stadium was ranked 24th by The Sporting News in a poll this summer on college football most unique stadiums. The poll measured everything from pregame tailgate parties to the roar of the crowd. Air Force was the only school from the Mountain West Conference in the top 25. Notre Dame Stadium was No. 1, followed by Ohio State's Ohio Stadium and Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
- Air Force is one of just 27 schools that didn't have a coaching staff change in 2009. Every position coach and coordinator returned from the 2008 season. Other schools without changes: UAB, Baylor, Colorado State, Duke, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Houston, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, Navy, Nebraska, Nevada, NC State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M, Troy, UTEP, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Washington State, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Air Force was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference in 2009 at the conference's annual media day in Las Vegas. TCU was picked to win the conference, followed by BYU and Utah.
Rk Team (1st place votes) Points
1. TCU (15) 207
2. BYU (6) 190
3. Utah (3) 179
4. Air Force 130
5. UNLV 108
6. Colorado State 107
7. New Mexico 60
8. San Diego State 53
9. Wyoming 46
- The Air Force-Army football game in 2012, originally scheduled for West Point's Michie Stadium, will be played at the new Yankee Stadium. The game will mark just the second time in school history that the Falcons will play in Yankee Stadium, the first being a 13-13 tie with Army in 1959.
