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SPORTS STAFF

Col. Don L Education

Peterson

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Asst.

Athletic Director for

Physical

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FIELD GENERAL

EXTRAORDINAIRE The 1979-80 Football season marked the end of in Falcon football. More precisely, it marked the end of the Ziebart era. For the better part of the past four years, David Alvin Ziebart courageously commanded as quarterback of the Air Force Academy football team. During his reign as quarterback he proved to be what most of us called the "best" quarterback that ever played here. Anyone would be hard-pressed to deny this, because on the field, he proved himself to be a very intelligent, hard running, and accurate passer. In the last play of his collegiate

an

era

he proved his brilliance by throwing a touchdown pass to freshman Andy Bark to defeat our archrival, Vanderbilt. It was certainly an example of his exciting career here.

Ziebart was a classic example of a quarterback, playing well in even the most difficult of times. In his first season as a starter, he set a total offense record against the University of Wyoming when he rushed for 36 yards and passed for 339 more. Even in losing games he proved his remarkable ability by setting records.

Remember the time when he passed for 281 yards against Georgia Tech in 1978? Dave threw 18 completions out of 41 attempts for two touchdowns.

Time and time again, Ziebart confirmed his worth by playing with an offensive line that was very small career,

with other major college teams. lines compensated for that offensive his However, disadvantage with the three vital characteristics that essential in the game of football: courage, are determination and aggressiveness.

Ziebart's standing records at the United States Air Force Academy include: most total offense yards in

comparison

-

1340,

passing attempts 424, and the longest

most

plays passing completions play 89 yards to Paul Williams against the University of Wyoming in 1976. He also holds the Air Force all-time record for passing yardage with 4789 passing 5511, 879, -

most career

-

most

-

-

yards.

His records

were

only secondary

to

his ultimate

Every time he stepped upon goal an innate a gridiron, he played for victory. It was came in contact with who him. within Everyone quality -

that

was, to win.

recognized this fact almost immediately.

Probably one of the best compliments was paid fine to him by one of his teammates, Shelby Ball, a his own right. Shelby said that, "As a person, in player Dave

he is the greatest friend you could ever have. You can More always count on him to help you at any time. have We words. than rather of action over, he is a man been together three years and in every game we have been in, he has always given 100%. Dave has always

given his best shot."

past four years, David Ziebart proved well-rounded cadet. Most known for his football

In these

be

a

to

so, he also managed to amass record. He also proved to be off the football field. an excellent leader both on and his friends, and of teammates, the He gained respect coaches, as well as his adversaries. More importantly, for he has class and loves to win. Thank you, Dave, sivine your best.

Dyrel L. P. Bartee, '82

exploits, and rightfully an impressive military

FALCONS FINISH 2-9 Despite

a

third

new

head coach in 3 years and

only

16

returning seniors,

were high for the 1979 football Falcons. The Cadet Wing's eternal apathy the football program seemingly vanished; spirit and enthusiasm filled the atr, and wt / not? Freshman head coach Ken Hatfield was bringing 14 years of assistant c( iching experience to the Academy, including a stint at West Point and his year's ei jerience as Air Force's offensive coordinator last season. Also, senior Dave Ziebart w uld be at the offensive helm for his fourth straight year. He needed only 582 yards e>

lectations

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fo y( Fa cc

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break all passing records at the Academy, and teamed with senior running backs, ce Fortson and Shelby Ball, the backfield would be a potent threat. Add the mighty t of senior placekicker Jim Struch, who was eighth in the nation in scoring last r, and the Falcons offensive machine was primed to roll. So when Tulsa came to on Stadium for the season opener, fans were ready to put a big "W" in the win-loss jmn. The offensive unit chalked up 247 yards of total offense against the Golden ricane, including 112 yards on 20 carries by tailback Shelby Ball. But defense is name of the game in college football, and the freshman-dominated defensive unit not up to the task. Tulsa scored 10 points in the final quarter to coast to a 24-7 ory.

O

The Falcons dropped to 0-2 the following Saturday at Wisconsin. Despite 16 solo les by senior defensive tackle Ryan Williams, the Badgers rolled up 38 points and

br

;zed

ar

they

victory. The loss didn't hamper the Falcon's feistiness however, roaring back against Illinois. Behind Ball's 101 yards rushing and

to an easy came

Zi 'art's 117 yards through the air, AFA took a 13-0 lead. Defensive lapses allowed �III ois to take the lead late in the game, but the Falcon's never let up. Only a brilliant de nsive play, with 6 seconds left, by the Illinois defensive secondary kept Ziebart frc I hitting Ken Dressel with the winning touchdown pass and the Blue and Silver dr >ped to 0-3. The story was much the same against Kansas State. Two brilliant goal Iin stands by the cadet defense went to waste when their inexperience allowed two SCI

late in the fourth quarter and the Falcons remained winless.

Air Force played like champions against the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Ziebart ed 207 yards against the Squids, which pushed his career total offensive mark new Academy record. Fullback Mike Fortson hauled in 10 and strikes from "Z" '1 yards and placekicker Jim Struch tied a national record for most consecutive goals (11) when he connected on a 37 yarder in the second quarter. But lady again abandoned the Falcons in the fourth quarter when a Ziebart pass was barely

2s

�d away in the end

ped

zone as

time

ran out.

The

score

ended 13-9 and the Falcons

to 0-5.

rhe size and

strength

"v^ ^ ^

of Notre Dame

proved

too

much for the Cadets

as

the

Irish handily defeated the Falcons 38-13 at Falcon Stadium on October Again the bright spots of the game were Ziebart and Fortson. "Z" made good

Fighting

13. on

15 of 26 attempts for 132 yards and a TD. Fortson was the receiver on 8 of those passes, and added 53 more yards on the ground.

A late night pep rally at the Supt's house fired up the Falcons when they travelled to Oregon the following Saturday. The defensive unit gave Air Force the lead when strong safety Johnny Jackson intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards for a score.

Defensive Ryan Williams added 16 tackles that preserved the lead for 56 minutes,

but the Ducks plucked the Falcons 17-9 on two last minute scores.

The Falcons played like a 8-0 team against Army at Falcon Stadium on November 3. The offense rolled up 305 yards on ground anci Ziebart added 47 more through the air to rack up 28 points. The defense was even more impressive as they held Hudson High to 39 yards total offense in the second half including 11 yards in the final quarter. The 28-7 victory over arch rival Army made the painful memories of the winless season much easier to take. Finally, the hard luck Falcons had hit paydirt.

The team went alt out against Georgia Tech the following week, but once again the Falcons came out on the short end. Despite 171 yards from Ziebart and six receptions for 95 yards by freshman Andy Bark, the Ramblin' Wreck disposed of the Blue and Silver 21-0.

The season finale pitted the Falcons against the Commodores of Vanderbilt. For the 16 seniors Dave Ziebart, Ryan Williams, Shelby Ball, Bill Becker, Bob Buehler, Kory Corum, Ken Dressel, Steve Drewnowski, Mike Fortson, Tim Gulliver, Pat Meagher, Eric Nelson, Charlie Shugg, Jim Struch, and Jim Tubbs the season couldn't have ended better. Down by six points with less than 3 minutes remaining, Ziebart and company took control of the ball seventy yards from the goal. Ziebart, skillfully using the clock and the first down markers, drove the offense down the field and with no time showing on the scoreboard clock, connected with split end Andy Bark to tie the score at 29. Jim Struch calmly added the extra point and the Falcons finished the 1979 season with a fitting victory.

The comeback win exemplified the 1979 team. Despite their youth, inexperience, and just plain bad luck \f\ the fourth quarter, the Falcons never gave up. No matter what the score, they battled their opponents until the final gun. Losing team leaders Dave Ziebart and Ryan Williams will be a blow to next year's team, but the future for Ken Hatfield's Falcons still looks bright. The many underclassmen will be a year older and wiser come 1980. In addition, the acceptance of the Air Force Academy into the Western Athletic Conference will provide extra incentive as the team strives for the league championship. Winning football Is In the Academy's future.

-

-

past football season was forget. We could have

For 16 seniors this one

we

will

never

doubled or tripled what we gave to our team and not matched what it gave to us, both as and as persons. This was a tribute to and his our new head coach, Ken Hatfield, staff. We accomplished our two top goals this ourselves and our year: to bring respect to in the team and to be competitive every game

players

fourth quarter. Although we didn't win our share of the football games, no one closely

associated with this team will forget our wins over Army, and that comeback win over Vanderbilt in the last second. But more

important, we'll

never

forget

those

precious

shared together as a team: Drew's Hanson brothers, phone calls the of version moments

we

during pre-game meals, Becker's jokes and

our

before the games. For the seniors our season and careers ended in a very are special way, but the bonds we now share much more important because they will never

time

together

end. �Dave Ziebart 1979

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