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Jarvis Croff tosses up a

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Ne\1\1 IVIexico defenders. Photo by E. BOcbv

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ECTION EDITOR: CHRISTOPHER RETENELLER The value of athletics to the Academy education is one that cannot be overlooked.

The various programs offered to cadets enable them to hone their leadership skills in

Baseball

an environment avvay from the "hilL" \ n retrospect. .. intramurals provided an outlet to relieve the stress of the duty day ... the Wing Open really vvas as exciting as you remember ... it felt damn good to vvin the Commander-inChief's Trophy, again ...

Whether it vvas taking your first scuba dive or embarassing your friend in a game of bas-

lntra.,urals

ketball, the memories made dovvn on the athletic fields vvill alvvays be looked upon admiration.

SPORTS

Sports 7S

Mthe circle i

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76 Sports

As the Academy's athletic director, I feel I have come full circle ¡ learned what i expenence pion condilearned Acaden and ough to ¡cs one of that our in educati d intercollegiaoo :p gg~ms G-tf@r all cadgts an-GpportuRity tG strengthen their resolve to become future Air Force leaders. I know that I became a better person and officer because of my athletic expenence.

Col. Randall Spetman Director of Athletics Sports 77

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by Patrick Godinez

Tradition is a main building block here at the Academy.

The football program is no exception. In 45 years, the team has had only four coaches, and two of them have combined for 35 of those years. Our Falcons have had some of the best coaches in collegiate football. This is shown in the fact that one football coach has become a NFL coach, who has won the most prestigious game in football: The Super bowl.

Our second coach, Ben Martin, started in 1958, three years after the Academy's first team took the field. Coach Martin did something special that year. After a dismal 3-6-1 record the previous season, Martin led the Falcons to an undefeated season, the first in its history. That year the Falcons also beat the Colorado State Unlversity Rams and the University of Colorado Buffalos. Martin's team was rewarded with a Cotton Bowl appearance, another first for the Academy, where they tied CSU in the game. ~ -----~ After Martin's departure in 1977, a now famous Bill Parcells took the helm of the Falcons distinguished program. In the next few years, Parcells reshaped the Academy's team to resemble a professional team. What no

one knew at the time was that the New York Giants were seeking to hire Parcells to take over their team. They wanted him to do the same to their team as he had done to the Falcons. In I 982, Parcells took over the Giants team and lead them to a Super Bowl victory.

Coach Fisher DeBerry replaced Parcells and is currently the head coach. He has been here for 16 successful seasons, second in years only to Coach Martin.

Coach Fisher DeBerry has had four trips, between 1989 and 1992, to the Liberty Bowl. His teams have received, and accepted, this honor by winning the Western Athletic Cbnference.

No other team in the WAC, which is no longer in existence, can claim anything close to that record.

Just this season, Coach DeBerry led the team into a new conference. This new conference was formed from the strongest teams in the former WAC and has been named the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons will surely have many successful seasons ahead of them in the MWC.

Qahtjtt-Jit'Q ~~n~~

thraLJgh t~ ~~~ Sports 79

Strong Corner "ls hawn Smagh holds up a running back [or Nol'a "hlle Outside Linebacker Corey Nelson strips the ball a11 a Turnovers became a key to the win 0\ er Vill anO\ a. Photo b) JD Roberts

tackle against a member of the Villanova secondary. Air Force~ ability to run over the Nova defense opened up holes in the defense.Photo by P. Rose

Wide Receiver Matt Farmer gets some help from Tony Jones on a run after the catch . Having a strong running and air game gave the Falcons a double tllreat. Photo by E. Bixby

Sports 81

Kicker Jackson Whiting attempts a field goal as Scott Gribben holds. Whiting was perfect on the season with 12 field goals and 26 extra points.

Photo by BJ Lingle

Fullback Jeremy Laster takes the handoff from quarterbac~ Cale Bonds. Laster was third on the team in coring with five TDs for 30 points. Photo

by BJ Lingle

The Falcons ce lebrate after a TD by halfback Scotty McKay. McKay led th e t ea m with 1258 allpurpose ya rd s. Pho t o by JD Roberts

allil ude Sports 83

Quarterback Mike Thiessen takes the ball for positive yardage against the tough BYU defense.

Thiessen carMed for 78 yards and one touchdown In a close MWC game. Photo by P. Rose

Middle Unebacker Jamie Arthur and defensive tackle Justin Pendry take the high-low approach to bring down this 8YU running back. Both players made a big impact on defense combining for 55 tackles and four sacks. Photo

by P. Rose

Halfback Scotty McKar slid es along the frozen tundra during the frostbite ga me against Utah. Snow and below freezing temperatures dominated the game. Photo by J. Param

Halfback Chris Wade makes the extra effort for the end zone. Wade was the third on the team with 7.4 yar(ls per carry with a long of 31 yards. Photo by ?

The offensive line congratul at e Scottie McKa y on his touchdown against UNLV. McKay and his fellow runningbacks would alway return the congratulations and th ank-yous for the offensive lines support.

Photo by ?

Junior hatrback Scotty McKay tries to escape a leg tackle by this Army defender .

McKay and his running mates rushed for 244 yards against Army that led to a 28-0 whitewashing of the Black Knights. Photo

by P. Rose

Junior fullback Nathan Beard cradles the ball and looks for running room against the Black Knights of Army. falcon teammates Andy Malin and David Hildebrand do the dirty work up front for Beard during this hard-fought I 9- I 4 victory by Air force. Photo by Sports Information