Air Force Falcons football | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
First season | 1955 | ||
Athletic director | Nathan Pine | ||
Head coach | Troy Calhoun | ||
16th year, 120–78 (.606) | |||
Home stadium | Falcon Stadium | ||
Stadium capacity | 46,692 | ||
Stadium surface | Turf | ||
Location | Colorado Springs, Colorado | ||
Conference | Mountain West | ||
Division | Mountain | ||
Past conferences | Independent (1955)
University Division Independent (1956-1972) Division I/I-A Independent (1973–1979) WAC (1980–1998) | ||
All-time history | |||
All-time record | 427–342–13 (.554) | ||
Postseason bowl record | 15–13–1 (.534) | ||
Conference titles | 3 | ||
Division titles | 3 | ||
Rivalries | Army Black Knights (rivalry) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Navy Midshipmen (rivalry) Colorado State Rams (rivalry) Colorado Buffaloes | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 5 | ||
Current uniform | |||
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Colors | Blue[1] and Silver[1]
| ||
Fight song | "Falcon Fight Song" (unofficial: "The U.S. Air Force") | ||
Mascot | The Bird | ||
Marching band | United States Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corp "The Flight of Sound" | ||
Outfitter | Nike | ||
Website | GoAirForceFalcons.com |
The Air Force Falcons football team represents the United States Air Force Academy located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Falcons are a member of the NCAA FBS Mountain West Conference and play their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs. The Falcons are currently coached by Troy Calhoun.
The three major service academies—Air Force, Army and Navy—compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy which is awarded to the academy that defeats the others in football that year (or retained by the previous year's winner in the event of a three–way tie).
History[]
The Falcons are not only recognized by the lightning bolt on the side of their helmets, but their traditional option attack. Air Force is one of the premier rushing teams in the nation. Since Fisher DeBerry took over as Falcons head coach in 1984, they have ranked among the nation's top 10 in rushing 19 times in 21 years. The Air Force football team has enjoyed success not only on the field but also in the classroom. In 49 years of Air Force football, there have been 39 Academic All-Americans.[2]
The 1985 season[]
- Main article: 1985 Air Force Falcons
1985 was the most successful season in Air Force football history. Under second-year coach Fisher DeBerry, the Falcons came within one win of playing for the national championship. They recorded 10 straight wins to start the season, climbed the polls to #2 in the nation, but lost to BYU 28–21 in the penultimate game of the regular season. Air Force rebounded with a bowl game win over the Texas Longhorns in the Bluebonnet Bowl and finished with a 12–1 record as the #5 ranked team in the nation.
Conference affiliations[]
Air Force has been affiliated with the following conferences.
- Independent (1955–1979)
- Western Athletic Conference (1980–1998)
- Mountain West Conference (1999–present)
Championships[]
Conference championships[]
Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985† | Western Athletic Conference | Fisher DeBerry | 12–1 | 7–1 |
1995† | 8–5 | 6–2 | ||
1998 | 12–1 | 7–1 |
† Co-champions
Division championships[]
Year | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | WAC - Mountain | Fisher DeBerry | BYU | W 20–13 |
2015 | MW - Mountain | Troy Calhoun | San Diego State | L 24–27 |
2021 | MW - Mountain | N/A lost tie-breaker to Utah State |
Conference Championship Game appearances[]
Air Force has appeared in 2 conference championship games in their history, winning 1 of them.
Year | Conference | Coach | CG Opponent | CG Result | Game MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | WAC | Fisher DeBerry | BYU | W 20–13 | N/A |
2015 | Mountain West | Troy Calhoun | San Diego State | L 24–27 | Christian Chapman (QB, San Diego State)
Na'im McGee (S, San Diego State) |
Note: Includes appearances where the conference did not use divisions to determine championship game participants.
Bowl games[]
See also: List of Air Force Falcons football seasons
Air Force has played in 30 bowl games in their history, with a 16–13–1 (.550) record. Their highest finish in the polls was fifth (UPI coaches) in 1985.
Season | Bowl | Opponent | Result | Head coach | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1958 | Cotton | TCU | T 0–0 | Ben Martin | 9–0–2 |
1963 | Gator | North Carolina | L 0–35 | Ben Martin | 7–4 |
1970 | Sugar | Tennessee | L 13–34 | Ben Martin | 9–3 |
1982 | Hall of Fame | Vanderbilt | W 36–28 | Ken Hatfield | 8–5 |
1983 | Independence | Ole Miss | W 9–3 | Ken Hatfield | 10–2 |
1984 | Independence | Virginia Tech | W 23–7 | Fisher DeBerry | 8–4 |
1985 | Bluebonnet | Texas | W 24–16 | Fisher DeBerry | 12–1 |
1987 | Freedom | Arizona State | L 28–33 | Fisher DeBerry | 9–4 |
1989 | Liberty | Ole Miss | L 29–42 | Fisher DeBerry | 8–4–1 |
1990 | Liberty | Ohio State | W 23–11 | Fisher DeBerry | 7–5 |
1991 | Liberty | Mississippi State | W 31–15 | Fisher DeBerry | 10–3 |
1992 | Liberty | Ole Miss | L 0–13 | Fisher DeBerry | 7–5 |
1995 | Copper | Texas Tech | L 41–55 | Fisher DeBerry | 8–5 |
1997 | Las Vegas | Oregon | L 13–41 | Fisher DeBerry | 10–3 |
1998 | Oahu | Washington | W 43–25 | Fisher DeBerry | 12–1 |
2000 | Silicon Valley | Fresno State | W 37–34 | Fisher DeBerry | 9–3 |
2002 | San Francisco | Virginia Tech | L 13–20 | Fisher DeBerry | 8–5 |
2007 | Armed Forces | California | L 36–42 | Troy Calhoun | 9–4 |
2008 | Armed Forces | Houston | L 28–34 | Troy Calhoun | 8–5 |
2009 | Armed Forces | Houston | W 47–20 | Troy Calhoun | 8–5 |
2010 | Independence | Georgia Tech | W 14–7 | Troy Calhoun | 9–4 |
2011 | Military | Toledo | L 41–42 | Troy Calhoun | 7–6 |
2012 | Armed Forces | Rice | L 14–33 | Troy Calhoun | 6–7 |
2014 | Idaho Potato | Western Michigan | W 38–24 | Troy Calhoun | 10–3 |
2015 | Armed Forces | California | L 36–55 | Troy Calhoun | 8–6 |
2016 | Arizona | South Alabama | W 45–21 | Troy Calhoun | 10–3 |
2019 | Cheez-It | Washington State | W 31–21 | Troy Calhoun | 11–2 |
2021 | First Responder | Louisville | W 31–28 | Troy Calhoun | 10–3 |
2022 | Armed Forces | Baylor | W 30–15 | Troy Calhoun | 10–3 |
2023 | Armed Forces | James Madison | W 31–21 | Troy Calhoun | 9–4 |
Logos/Uniforms[]
Image gallery[]
Seasons[]
2020s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2024 | Troy Calhoun | 5-7 |
2023 | Troy Calhoun | 9-4 |
2022 | Troy Calhoun | 10-3 |
2021 | Troy Calhoun | 10-3 |
2020 | Troy Calhoun | 3-3 |
2010s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2019 | Troy Calhoun | 11-2 |
2018 | Troy Calhoun | 5-7 |
2017 | Troy Calhoun | 5-7 |
2016 | Troy Calhoun | 10-3 |
2015 | Troy Calhoun | 8-6 |
2014 | Troy Calhoun | 10-3 |
2013 | Troy Calhoun | 2-10 |
2012 | Troy Calhoun | 6-7 |
2011 | Troy Calhoun | 7-6 |
2010 | Troy Calhoun | 9-4 |
2000s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2009 | Troy Calhoun | 8-5 |
2008 | Troy Calhoun | 8-5 |
2007 | Troy Calhoun | 9-4 |
2006 | Fisher DeBerry | 4-8 |
2005 | Fisher DeBerry | 4-7 |
2004 | Fisher DeBerry | 5-6 |
2003 | Fisher DeBerry | 7-5 |
2002 | Fisher DeBerry | 8-5 |
2001 | Fisher DeBerry | 6-6 |
2000 | Fisher DeBerry | 9-3 |
1990s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1999 | Fisher DeBerry | 6-5 |
1998 | Fisher DeBerry | 12-1 |
1997 | Fisher DeBerry | 10-3 |
1996 | Fisher DeBerry | 6-5 |
1995 | Fisher DeBerry | 8-5 |
1994 | Fisher DeBerry | 8-4 |
1993 | Fisher DeBerry | 4-8 |
1992 | Fisher DeBerry | 7-5 |
1991 | Fisher DeBerry | 10-3 |
1990 | Fisher DeBerry | 7-5 |
1980s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1989 | Fisher DeBerry | 8-4-1 |
1988 | Fisher DeBerry | 5-7 |
1987 | Fisher DeBerry | 9-4 |
1986 | Fisher DeBerry | 6-5 |
1985 | Fisher DeBerry | 12-1 |
1984 | Fisher DeBerry | 8-4 |
1983 | Ken Hatfield | 10-2 |
1982 | Ken Hatfield | 8-5 |
1981 | Ken Hatfield | 4-7 |
1980 | Ken Hatfield | 2-9-1 |
1970s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1979 | Ken Hatfield | 2-9 |
1978 | Bill Parcells | 3-8 |
1977 | Ben Martin | 2-8-1 |
1976 | Ben Martin | 4-7 |
1975 | Ben Martin | 2-8-1 |
1974 | Ben Martin | 2-9 |
1973 | Ben Martin | 6-4 |
1972 | Ben Martin | 6-4 |
1971 | Ben Martin | 6-4 |
1970 | Ben Martin | 9-3 |
1960s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1969 | Ben Martin | 6-4 |
1968 | Ben Martin | 7-3 |
1967 | Ben Martin | 2-6-2 |
1966 | Ben Martin | 4-6 |
1965 | Ben Martin | 3-6-1 |
1964 | Ben Martin | 4-5-1 |
1963 | Ben Martin | 7-4 |
1962 | Ben Martin | 5-5 |
1961 | Ben Martin | 3-7 |
1960 | Ben Martin | 4-6 |
1950s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1959 | Ben Martin | 5-4-1 |
1958 | Ben Martin | 9-0-2 |
1957 | Buck Shaw | 3-6-1 |
1956 | Buck Shaw | 6-2-1 |
1955 | Robert V. Whitlow | 5-2-1 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "AF Branding & Trademark Licensing > About Us > The Air Force Symbol > Display Guidelines". USAF website link: https://www.trademark.af.mil/. Retrieved on January 8, 2020.
- ↑ http://www.airforcesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3000&KEY=&ATCLID=157958&SPID=804&SPSID=22383