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DIRECTOR OF

ATHLETICS COL. FRANCIS

MERRITT

i:jr

Intercollegiate Athletics Lt. Col. James H. Keating

100

Physical

�:.;�.

Education

Lt. Col. Robert K.

Strickland

FOOTBALL ANYBODY?

FIRST, YOU NEED A BALL

A FIELD TO PLAY ON

FANS TO PLAY FOR

STANDING (L-R): Jerry Davitch, offensive line coach; Jack Braley, defen sive backfield coach; Leland Kendall, defensive line coach; Jim Bowman, head freshman coach. Kneeling: Spike Hillstrom, offensive line coach; Bernie Raetz, offensive backs coach; Ben Martin, head coach; John Carney, linebackers coach; Terry Isaacson, receivers coach.

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COACHES TO ORGANIZE

103

^^^iSSi^^SSSSISSImSSBIf^^^^BimESa&iL^

PLAYERS WITH TALEN AND A WILL TO WIN

BOTTOM ROW (L-R): Rod Hennek, Bob Thompson, Bob Farr, AI Bready, Larry Fariss (CoCaptain), Terry Young (Co-Captain), Ralph Buron, Bill Murray, Wayne Willis, Joe Debes. SECOND ROW: Bruce Fritzsche, Gary Potter, John Hazen, Craig Puz, Tom Peterson, Dave Lawson, Mike Scott, Rick McGraw, Corrie Kundert, Mike Mark. THIRD ROW: Fred Lorenz, John Covington, Dave Podolny, Kevin White, Steve Schaefer, Ray Wild, Mike Gould, Tim Cantwell, Mike Renner, John Frozena. FOURTH ROW: Doug Kupersmith, Al Nuytten, Rich Riche,

Cliff

Smith, Dave Reiner, Jim Monahan, Mike Worden, Chris Milodragovich, Brad Sharpe. FIFTH ROW: Randy Spetman, Brian Carney, Phil Richmond, Mike Ellis, Tom Lange, Jim Dolan, Jeff Hass, Frank Cox, Ken Wood. SIXTH ROW: Doug Downey, Jim Miller, BiU Withers, T. G. Parker, Mike Ryan, Craig Adams, Rob Shaw, Dwight Hartman, John Hunt. TOP ROW: Dave Slack, Gary Mittelstadt, Darrell Mastin, Brian Lindell, John Michels, Mark Kenney, Ken Vaughn.

AND YOU PUT IT ALL

TOGETHER.

.

.

105

To Get: FALCON FOOTBALL 7

106

107

"N

AIR FORCE

**HO-HUMS'' PAST IDAHO 37-0 On

at Falcon Stadium, Falcon fans were crispy 37�0 victory. With a new the helm. Junior Mike Worden led the

opening day

entertained

to

quarterback offense in

a

at

a

basic

ground attack

in which the Falcon

run

4 passes ning backs gained 285 yards. Completing only all day, for 51 yards, it seemed as though running would be the name of the game for the '74 Falcons.

Defensively, the rugged Gringos held the Vandals to and allowed them to cross the a total of 146 50ďż˝ yard line

yards only twice. This tenacious defense, led by

Bob Potter's 8 tackles, in addition to Junior Dave Lawson's excellent kicking and Idaho's inability to mount of victory for the any type of drive, dampened any hopes

Vandals.

i

109

y

"V

TIME RUNS OUT IN 27-23 LOSS

TO OREGON

no

/^

"X

In

a

thrilling,

seesaw

battle,

Falcon's hopes for a second victory were dashed during a last desperate drive of the

by Oregon's third interception day on the Duck's own 3 yard ďż˝

line.

Besides the 3

interceptions, it was passing day for the Falcons, who completed 12 of 24 passes for 15fi yards. However, the passing attack along with 86 total yards rushing was not enough to beat the fired up Ducks, led by quarter back Norval Turner, whose pinpoint passing kept the Ducks in the game a

successful

the whole way.

Most of the

second

half the

against the wall due to the excellent Oregon pun ting. This poor field position kept Air Force's offense crippled until the Falcons had their backs

fourth

quarter, where the Falcons close, yet so far.

came so

/^

COWBOYS LASSO

FALCONS 20-17

and penalty� filled game, the Wyoming Cowboys scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to give the Falcons their second con In

an

error

secutive loss of the young

l

season.

Cowboys' winning touchdown came on a surprising four yard draw play with 8:32 left to play in the game.

Offensively for the Falcons, reserve quarter back Ken Vaughn did most of the damage to Wyoming by throwing two touchdown passes, a 15� yard pass to flanker Al Bready and a 25� yard pass to split end Bob Farr. This air at tack, however, was not enough to beat the under dog Cowboys.

The

m

/^

113

MISSED FIELD GOAL

RUINS BID FOR BUFF UPSET 28-27

Falcon Coach Ben Martin called it "the game of the century." Indeed the fans got their money's worth in the

scheduled

last

Air

Force/Colorado clash.

The game started out like the

typical Colorado rout when the Buffs jumped out to a 21 3 first quarter lead, with Dave Lawson's record breaking 60 yard field goal the Falcon's only rebuttal. How �

�

ever,

a

combination

of

some

ex

cellent

passing and a defensive ad justment to Colorado's option turned the game completely around in the middle of the second quarter. From that point on, Falcon hopes were

kept alive until the final seconds when a 50 yard Lawson field goal �

attempt fell wide to the left.

Even in

Falcons

a

frustrating defeat, the

off the field with a moral victory in their pocket and a brand new teammate� the twelfth came

man.

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115

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It 117

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U III

118

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TULANE

DROWNS FALCONS 10-3 Losing their fourth

game

in

a

row,

the

Falcons still couldn't find the winning combina tion in a game marred by a rain soaked field. ďż˝

Both teams

the weather in

hampered by fumbles, 3 interceptions, and a mere 262 total yards.

It was definitely a defensive battle. The only touchdown scored was a 54 yard punt return in which the Falcons were caught by surprise think ing a fair catch would be called under such slippery field conditions.

Offensively, the Falcons had to remain on the ground and could not use their usual wide open style of attack. If it had been another day, the which there

were

were

14

ďż˝

story may have been different. However, as the old saying goes, the effects of air power, under poor

weather

siderably. This day.

conditions, was

the

case

diminishes

con

for the Falcons to

119

*N

FALCONS SINK NAVY IN **EVERYTHING GAME**

The Falcons finally broke their four� game losing streak in exciting, come� from� behind victory over Navy which probably will go down as the "hairiest" game in Air Force history. The victory meant everything to the Falcons for they pulled it out from what seemed to be a certain defeat and proved that they could win the close ones.

Offensively, the Falcons failed to cross the goal line in first half. They had to settle for Dave Lawson's two field goals and went into the locker room trailing 9�6.

During the entire third period, both teams exchanged punts as Navy gradually gained excellent field position. At this point, the Falcon passing attack was still stymied.

The fourth quarter began with Navy's powerful fullback cutting through Air Force's sticky defense for a 4 yard an

�

touchdown and

already "losing

6 lead. At this time, many Falcon fans their hair" in defeat. However, the Falcons

not to be denied

as

a

16

�

were were

Navy then proceeded to give away the game.

At the midway point of the fourth period, it seemed as though Navy had the game under control when the Falcons were again forced to punt. However, Navy fumbled the punt and Air Force recovered on their 19 yard line. Four plays later on a crucial fourth and eleven situation, Vaughn connected to Bob Farr, on his first completion of the day, to the Navy 4 yard line.

Runningback Ken Wood then proceeded to score to pull the �

�

Falcons within three, 16

�

13.

Two blocked punts and Lawson came on to kick a 34

one

�

tie the

score

16 all.

missed field

yarder with only

goal later, Dave remaining to

2:08

Again the Falcon defense held and the

off and running on Mike Mark's 26 yard punt return to the Navy 48. Four running plays later, Dave Lawson,

F'alcons

were

�

the weekly hero he is, kicked the winning field goal with 8 seconds remaining on the clock. A great victory for the Falcons in which the "will to win" and the "never die" attitude

certainly

shined through in this game that meant everything.

121

�

ec-

THANKS I PERuTi

TIME OUTS LEFT

FALCONS

EMBARRASSED

BY RUTGERS 20-3

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I.

^

�^XL

�^

'�'�

The Falcons were simply outhit and out-tackled in this embarrassing 20 3 loss to the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers.

Furthermore, they tried playing without one of their key in gredients emotion.

Offensively, the Falcons failed in their passing at tack�a key to past success� by completing only 10 passes �

�

for 87

yards.

On the other side, the Falcon defense had their backs up against the wall all day long due to the six turnovers in their own territory. Thus, a combination of numerous tur novers

along with

a

fifth loss of the '74

lack of emotion season.

generated

the Falcon's

BYU's first appearance in Falcon Stadium was nothing to brag about,

however, their performance was enough to keep the Falcons stumbling along their losing ways.

Against the third ranked quarter back in the nation Gary Sheide, the Falcons' passing defense was to get its biggest test of the year. As it turned out, BYU's quarterback was not shut out, however, the Falcon's did a respectable job in intercepting 2 passes while holding the Cougar signal caller below his normal performance.

While on the subject of quarterbacks, the Falcons found a new field general in Sophomore Rob Shaw. In his first varsity start, Shaw kept the Falcons in the game by completing 16 of 28 passes for 246 yards. Even though Shaw seemed to get the ball moving, it was not enough to beat the highly spirited Cougars.

126

BYU BURNS FALCONS 12�10

I s

127

FALCONS SHELL� SHOCKED

BY OWN MEDICINE In

a

hard

fought,

seesaw

battle, the Falcons' rush for ser yard field goal

vice school supremacy fell short on an Army 33 with only 17 seconds remaining in the game.

�

It looked as though Air Force had the game put away when they turned the ball over with only 2:39 left on the clock, leading 16 14. However, Army's reserve freshman quarter back, Leamon Hall, directed his passing specialty unit, made up of an entirely new backfield and receiver corps, on a 64 yard field goal drive to turn the game around.

The 6 '5" plebe seemed to have magic on his fingertips as he threaded his way through the Air Force secondary in the clos ing moments. To be honest, however, the Falcons were operating at the time without the services of its defensive quarterback Mike Mark, who broke his leg on the seventh play �

�

of the game and was lost for the season.

Again the story of the game was the Falcons'

capitalize

on

their

scoring opportunities.

inability

to

17-16

ED

S

129

"N.

In their last home game of

the year, the Falcons again lost in the final seconds to the Arizona Wildcats, 27�24.

With the Falcons ahead

21, freshman punter Frank Foster stepped up to kick the Falcons out of trou 24

�

ble. However, as fate had it; Airzona took over on its own

\%W

yard line with 1:44 remaining, and six plays later, scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass to pull out a victory in the continuing sage 21

�

of the last second reversals for

the Falcons.

The newest member to the Falcon

defensive

Defensive

End

squad. ''Tug''

McGraw, led his teammates in his first varsity start with 13 tackles, 3 for losses, and a fumble recovery.

A final high note game.

Falcon

Lawson

goals 19,

kicked

to lift

his

on

kicker

three

season

the

Dave

field

total to

new Collegiate record. however, would gladly be traded for a long sought vic a

This

�

tory.

SNAKE-BIT FALCONS LET ANOTHER SLIP AWAY 27-24 ^

^

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I

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f

131

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IRISH PUT FINISHING TOUCHES ON

FRUSTRATING SEASON 38-0 Air Force final game of the season, the of Notre Irish the from Falcons took a 38-0 pounding In the

537 yards The Orange Bowl bound Irish rolled up 117. to only Falcons total rushing while holding the to be able to seemed Falcons the On their first drive, stalled on the 1-yard line by a move the ball at will until on, it was all Notre Dame interception. From that point second offen his started Notre Dame. Coach Parseghian built a 28-0 Irish the after third period sive unit in the

half time lead.

a few more breaks, the Falcons could there, seconds of an inch here, a couple credit should be given to Much 9-2. been have easily back under such such a talented team, to be able to fight stated, "They circumstances. As Ara Parseghian team 2-9 you'll ever best the are probably

To summarize the season, with

(Falcons) see."

132

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