Airforce1999yb

S�ctb>ii Editoi: John Tuit�r

integral part of cadet life. Whether it is on the football field or playing intramural flickerball, each cadet learns what it means to be part of a team hghting for victory.

As classes end for the day, cadets head down to the "friendly fields of strife" to train, play and win as well as work off academic frustrations. Cadets Athletics is

an

involved in intramurals have several sports to choose from each semester.

Squadron pride is often shown during those fierce intramural competitions.

Each team is

battling for the ultimate goal

in their

sport

-

the title of

Wing

Champions.

Some cadets go beyond the intramural helds to become intercollegiate athletes. For those individuals, the stress of the Academy increases due to the demands of the sport. These cadets are the first in the gym and the last to dinner. Each intercollegiate athlete must sacrifice weekends and free time to

represent the Academy Whether

at various

competitions.

cadet participates in an intercollegiate or intramural sport, ev ery cadet is expected to be in top physical condition, learn leadership and practice teamwork on the athletic fields. a

Justin Kieffer skates behind the goal looking for an open teammate.

The hockey team continued to improve under second year coach Frank Serratore. Photo by B, Brandow

i .^^

|23'

Blane Morgan, Tim stand on the winners

Curry. Jason Sanderson, and Jemal Singleton podium after the Falcon's victory in the Oahu

Bowl. Many felt that the 1998 Falcon football team Force history. Photo by B. Brandow

was

the best in Air

A^

COMMITMENT is to

oneself to

a

pledge

position.

COMMITMENT

^NTESTtO s

the

con

season

opener

verses

Wake Forest

approached,

many Fal

supporters wondered aloud about the effectiveness of team included

a com

line. This year's young linebacker corps and an offense that needed to put big points on the board. A highly touted, and nationally ranked Wake Forest

pletely revamped offensive

provide the football world glimpse of what was to become

team would

with

a mere

of the most successful season's in Falcons football history.

From the opening kickoff, it was clear that the national pollsters had voted for the wrong team in the preseason rankings. De spite sporting one of the nation's top senior

one

quarterbacks, as well as a physically imposing and highly skilled wide receiver Wake Forest was completely dominated by the Falcons' de fense containing seven new starters. Capital izing on the momentum gained by the defense, the Falcon's offense jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead en route to a 42-0 final.

"It's great if you get interceptions. It's if great you get fumbles. But a shutout there's no better feeling," said Tim Curry, defensive back.

The defense showed its strength and stamina by holding Wake Forest to a mere 178 passing yards. In addition to the solid perfor ďż˝

a

the defense, the special teams play as it has been so many other times.

A blocked punt by Curry, the sixth of his ca reer resulted in a touchdown. Wide receiver

mance was

by

stellar

Dylan

Newman followed

Curry's example by

mishandled punt in Wake Forest's end zone to score his first career touchdown.

Next, the Falcons faced off against the UNLV Running Rebels in Las Vegas. Quar terback Blane Morgan lead the Falcons to a 52-10 victory over UNLV by tallying a careerhigh three touchdowns. Once again, the young Falcons' defense devastated their op ponent, recording two interceptions, while

recovering

a

holding UNLV's running game to an amazing -6 yards. The Falcons' offensive line silenced many of their critics preseason doubts by pro ducing an impressive 482 total yards.

continuned

on

pg 84

Defensive back Tim CJurry brings down Wake Forest's player for another solo tackle. The Falcons did not allow a single point in their home opener. Photo by B. Brandow

^'1 Running

back

Chris

Wade

charges

forward in his pursuit of a tiuicluliiwn. The Falcons rushed for M)Z yarils against the Oeacons. I'hoto bv R. Caldwell Defensive tackle Shawn I'hiuuas grabs (LSf's i|iiarterback attempting to

onto

bring him down, Phimi bv B, Braiuhiw

Quarterback Blane Morgan rolls out for an option play. The Falcons used the option as their most effective play this year. Photo bv r. lyler Fullback

Matt Paroda

endzone untouched. This

runs was

their six touchdowns. Photo

into

the

the last of

by M Brown

Dclciisuc backs Tim Warren combine

Curry

and Charlton

stop New Mexico's play.

The b'alcons held New Mexico to only 14 to

paints compared

to

their 56. Photo

by

P.

Udse Wide receiver Matt Famer heads for the open field after

blowing past a SMI! defender. I'armer had five catches for .S7 yartis

and

one

touchdown. Photo bv I*. Rose

^^4"^

*

.

^

ďż˝

'COMING

TOGETHEtl

The Falcons carried the momentum of their back to back routs into a match up against in-state rival and preseason Western Athletic Conference favorite, the CSU Rams. A fumble on the first play of the game lead to a quick CSU touchdown and struck fear in the hearts

of Air Force football fans. The outcome looked dismal when another Falcons' fumble was converted for a field goal, and a punt was returned 77-yards making the score 170 in favor of the Rams. Finally, the Falcons' had placed some points on the board leaving the score at 24-10 by the end of the first half.

In the second half, Air Force continued to chip away at the lead, following the leader ship of quarterback Morgan, who ran the op tion scoring three touchdowns. With less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 27, defensive tackle Bryce Fisher sacked the CSU quarterback for

10-yard loss forcing a punt. Morgan con verted on fourth and one to keep the drive alive. Jackson Whiting kicked the 44 yard field goal with 1 1 seconds left another Falcon victory. Defeating the CSU Rams propelled the Falcons into a first place standing in the a

-

'My best game of the season was against CSU," said

senior defensive tackle Fisher "The

whole team

played great

and

we

did it

as one

Ranked 23"* in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls, the Falcons faced a highly underrated TCU team. Despite hold a lead into the fourth quarter, the Falcons suffered what would prove to be their only loss of the season. This loss was, however, quickly

ing

in what was touted as a potentially difficult match up against New Mexico.

Air Force dominated the Lobos on both sides of the ball. Wide receivers Matt Farmer and Newman completed big plays helping the Falcons record a strong and convincing 56-14 victory. The special teams contributed a blocked punt, and the returned punt for a touchdown

by Farmer solidified the win.

After sinking Navy, the Falcons traveled to Oklahoma. Inspired by the tough running of senior fullback Spanky Gilliam and Morgan's 190 yards air assault, Air Force turned a 1414 half-time tie into a 42-21 victory. The Fal cons fought their way to nearly 500 total yards

avenged

WAC's Pacific Division. continued

on

pg 86

W!f:<*rf:3nm.vsm

Sports 85

Uk

II

unit."

'^Ji

Quarterback Cale Bonds lunges forward to gain a few more yards. Bonds rushed for 89 yards and 1 touchdown. Photo by B. Brandow Linebacker Mike

Tyler

intercetpion against

Rice. The

soon

to

be known

as

Falcons in the lead game. Photo

makes the

'The Pick' put the the end of the

near

by B. Brandow

86 Sports

key interception,

5:3ďż˝^T

ENDLESS

POSSIBIUTIE

offense while limiting Tulsa, a team that had been averaging 418 yards per game, to 276 yards.

The Falcons returned home to prey on the SMU Mustangs. With only 45 seconds left in the game, it appeared the Falcons would have another shutout but somehow SMU got a touchdown. Jason Sanderson's blocked punt combined with Jason Blevins touchdown and the six sacks by defensive tackle Shawn Tho mas lead the Falcons to 35-7 victory.

With the Commander-in-Chief's trophy in the hands of its rightful owner the eight and one Falcons were on their way to the last WAC

on

Championship

game

by defeating Wyoming.

defensive battle between two teams known for a strong offense. The Falcon's of fense had difficulty scoring all day and a final score of 10-3 was representative of this hard

It

was a

fought victory.

"I broke quite a few tackles and almost broke away," said Gilliam. "I think it helped motivate the team to play harder. Everyone told me after the game, that run really got them hyped."

The Falcons returned home to face their final WAC opponent, the Rice Owls. A loss to Rice would be demeaning enough since former

Fullback

Spanky

Falcons head coach Ken Hatfield was at the helm of Rice but jeopardizing the chance for a WAC title was more pressing in the player's minds. Rice brought a balanced and poten tially explosive offense but in the end, it was Air Force's defense that provided the final mar

gin of victory. Playing

on a

bad knee, senior

Tyler made the biggest play of the season. Tyler intercepted an Owl pass and returned it 26-yards for a touchdown. linebacker Mike

"This

season

is

one

of fulfilled expecta

tions," said Mike Barron. "Every

year

we

set

accomplish several goals, and now we're accomplishing each of these in turn. This is a season every senior should go out on."

The Falcons won their seventh straight game and improved to 10-1 on the season.

USA Today/ESPN ranked them 14* in the nation, but that was not enough. As a result of Tyler's interception and his teammates hard work, the Falcon's were one step closer to ac complishing what no other Falcon's team in history had done a WAC Championship. out to

-

by

Stuart Solomon

(;illiam tucks the ball

he prepares to roll over a Wyoming defender fjilliam ran for 5H yards against away

as

Wyoming.

Photo

by

S. (iatto

Sports 87

liilllKuk Spankv Cilliam c\|)hides into theopenficld with the hcl|>iif the offensive line. Against ,'\rmy, (iilliam had live carries

Safety Jeff l-elton wraps up this Navy player by the ankle. The Falcons defense held Navy to only seven points. I'hoto by

lor .S4 vartls. Photo bv S. (iatto

li. Brandow

��*"|,VARI.� nticipation filled the air as the Falcons prepared to combat not only the Navy Midshipmen but begin their quest to reclaim the Chief trophy. The day started off with some anxi ety since Quarterback Blane Morgan would be absent from the of fensive lineup. Morgan would be absent from the offensive lineup.

Commanders

in

The anxiety was quickly to turned into confidence as back-up Cale Bonds stepped in.

On the first four drives of the game.

Bonds proved that his lack of experience would not hinder his focus by helping the Falcons place the points on the board. At the end of the first quarter Navy was sinking quickly 21-

kept them to less than half of their average rushing yards per game.

"We were only half way to winning the trophy so we didn't want to get too excited," said Tim Curry, defensive back.

0.

emy.

Bonds continued to show his determina tion and strength throughout the remainder of the game. Under Bonds' leadership, the Fal 49-7. con offense literally sunk Navy "The team performed very well. Every one played hard, just as every week this year,"

"The team feeling before this game was that of any other they went to win," said Dvlan Newman, wide receiver The Commander in Chief's trophy wab one step closer with a 35 to 7 victory over the

-

-

said Bonds.

Bonds rushed for 167 yards and passed for 194, the most for an Air Force offense since 1989. Bonds did not do it alone though. The offensive line stopped the Navy defense and averaged 7.8 yards per play.

Even though Navy's offense was second best at rushing in the nation, the defensive line

The Falcons headed to Michie Stadium on the cadets of the U.S. Military Acad

to take

Black

Knights.

Morgan then threw two passes, 54 and the other 74 yards resulting in

one

for

two Air

Force touchdowns.

By defeating both Navy and Army, the Force Falcons had clinched the Commander's in Chief Trophy for the twel

Air

time.

by Chris

Reteneller arts

89

i

I