The Air Force football team had the worst year in the Academy's history finishing 2-10 (one of those being a win over D-1 AA 4-8 Colgate team and the other over a 3-8 Army squad). And when you shoot a team getting blown out every other week you get kind of bored and look for something different, like these shots though the parabolic microphones that block my view from the sidelines:
The green is relaxing. Thank you to CBS Sports Network for the chill effect
ESPN U had the amber going and it would kind of angry up the blood, but did offer up a decent effect.
Even if nothing good is going on in the pic it still looks pretty cool.
The team never quit. They played hard, but were just over matched and/or out coached in those 10 losses. I've been shooting Air Force for the last 3 years and I've just had the feeling that they don't know how to win (or know what to do with a lead). In games where they were the better team, were dominating early (like Michigan & Navy in 2012 and Nevada & San Diego State this year), something just didn't click and the team just fell apart and lost the game. This year you can blame the young age of the team, but last year? Not so much. Hopefully 2014 will bring better luck to the Falcons.
For the past couple of years, while shooting Air Force football, I been obsessed with getting a picture of one of the falcon mascots inside a KFC bucket. Yes. When I dream, I dream big.
When you'se gots a big, giant head you'se sure gets hungry.
During the Wyoming game on September 21st Cowboy Steve, or whatever the hell this freak is called, wore the above sandwich board and wanted to hangout with the falcon mascots...
GET IN MY BELLY!
...the bird-handlers didn't take the bait and all us photographers lost the chance for a pretty sweet photo.
Living like we do, in a time where giant-headed mascots can start blatantly harassing performing birds, it was only a matter of time before someone trumped my idea and took all the 'bird in a bucket' glory from me. It was time to act (and act I did thanks to Russ who got me the KFC bucket! Thanks Russ!).
Here are the Air Force Cadet falconers in happier times.
Falconer John attempts to get his wee falcon, Howard Buzz, to chill in the KFC bucket.
Howard's in the bucket! Howard's Buzz is in the bucket!
And once the bird was set in his new bucket home all the vulture photographers started to jump my claim. Even the guy from CBS Sport Network turned his TV camera towards us (but since it was CBS Sports Network I wasn't too worried because if this pic below is what their in-stadium signage looks like how good could their camera shots be?)
Think there's some more room for tape on the bottom boys!
In the end this photo was too important to keep to myself. Smiles! Smiles everyone! Come shoot a picture of a wee bird in a fried chicken bucket!
Thank you John! And thank you Howard Buzz!
(for not clawing my eyes out you filthy bird!)
Shortly after this photo was taken the government shutdown ended. Perhaps all we needed to come together as a country was to see a live bird of prey standing in a KFC bucket. God Bless America!
UPDATE - The bird's name was not Howard, but Buzz. We apologize for the mix up.
Hey! Didn't you use to hang out at Falcon Stadium?
Any one out there that's a long-time Air Force Falcon football fan? Do you remember something like the the plane in the above photo at Falcon Stadium? I swear there were others too. Small replicas of a F-4, F-15, F-16 & Space Shuttle that use to putter about in the South end zone during games? I can only find vague Sasquatchesque photos of the damn things and want to confirm that I didn't dream up the whole, wonderful thing.
Nose of a F-15 peeking out behind a Eric Faison INT against Navy in 1990.
Tail fins of a F-15 in this old school Falcons photo.
The sidelines now are domain of photographers, military brass and other hangers-on. It'd be a nice distraction to see one of us get run down by a little jet every now and then. You know, for the kids? Just sayin'.
Falcon Stadium. A great place to watch the football.
Falcon Stadium, home of the Air Force Falcons, is a wonderful place. The views are beautiful. The pregame atmosphere is second to none. The Cadets marching on, THE WINGS OF BLUE parachute team:
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
And the most awesome of awesomes, the flyby:
A pair of QF-4 Phantoms. They were loud, fast and loud. It's was too cool!
The football team always plays hard, and for the most part, the games are competitive, there's not a bad seat in the house, parking is free (although getting in and out of the Academy is a pain it is still not that bad), and the ticket prices are very reasonable, for $15 for general admission/or upper reserved to $55 for the 50 yard line. But for some reason people avoid the games like they're going to get a poke in the eye if they show up.
Well, Saturday's game against New Mexico must have been billed, "Double Eye-Poke Day!" because a robust 29,726 (capacity 46,692) wandered their way in on a perfect night for baseball, let alone football. Game time temperature was 70. 70 flipping degrees on October 20th!). The game started at 500pm. And yes, that would be a 'night' game, there should be no issues with it going too late, even for the kids (it was over in 2 hours 51 minutes). You'd be home by 900pm. People in this town suck when it comes to sports. We really do suck. Anyhoo, onto the game:
Carrier ran it 68 yards to the Air Force 7. Lead to a New Mexico FG. Moral victory for the Falcons!
It started out with New Mexico's Kasey Carrier running for a lot of yards (that theme continues for most of the game. He finished with 338 yards and 3 TDs on 39 carries)...
Carrier up the middle for another 58 yards. Great hustle by Christian Spears to stop him at the one. Carrier scored on the next play.
...and a quick 0-10 Lobo lead. Air Force made it 7-10 on their 2nd drive and the quarter ended with a pair of punts (technically Air Force's punt opened the 2nd but that's no way to open a quarter is it?).
That's not very nice #90. Not very nice at all.
The game kept slogging along with New Mexico being stopped on a 4th down that was matched by Air Force being picked on a fake field goal. All the while Carrier was racking up the yards.
The play of the game occurred when Lobo quarterback BR Holbrook (who I thought had the last name of 'Oprah' due to me being me and the PA guy mumbling the name) tossed a swing pass that Falcon linebacker, and all around stud Alex Means, deflected, caught and ran 65 yards for a HUGE TD (New Mexico's offense was 90% Carrier. The other 10% was why they lost). After a long missed FG by the Lobos Air Force leads at the half 14-10.
Alex Means pick six was the play of the game. No way Air Force deserved to lead at the half.
For most of the 2nd quarter I was shooting from near the New Mexico bench. Close to halftime I realized I was pretty content, nay, happy, and had no clue why. They game was not that good. Lots of yards, but also, lots and lots of mistakes. There wasn't a ton of good shots. The light was fading. Why did I feel this way? XYLOPHONES! I was right next to the band's xylophones and they had been hypnotically practicing behind me. Dude! This was awesome! I'd never been so happy shooting a sporting event! I felt at one with the universe! Right then and there I fell in love with xylophones! You can't play 'angry' with those soft, little drumsticks. Just look at them! They shout, "chill dude. Everythings going to be all right". If I ever become an action hero I'm going to have a xylophonist follow me around playing my mellow, chill theme music. Super villains wouldn't stand a chance!
Such a peaceful, magical sound. I will now seek the xylophones out at every game. And, you know, just chill to their cool chill beats.
Mello on cool xylophonist. Mello on. (Though that cymbal in background is angrying up my blood).
The spell was broken when I was attacked by the mascot, or at least shocked back to reality when the dammed thing flew 10 feet over my head during its performance at the half, and the xylophones had to go play with the Air Force band and did Gangnam Style (which got the loudest applause I have ever heard for the band at an Air Force game. I guess Falcon fans like Korean pop).
Attacked by a hawk, or falcon, or bat at halftime.
In the 3rd Air Force opened with a fumble. New Mexico scored to make it 14-17. The Falcons answered right back to make it 21-17. Then a Lobo punt. And the quarter ended with Air Force driving to the NM 1.
Proof that Air Force did tackle Carrier at least once.
First play of the 4th Air Force goes in front 28-17 on a run by Wes Cobb. Time to blow. There may only be 29,000+ there but they all leave early and I don't want to get stuck in the parking lot.
Even this 'thing' couldn't ruin my vibe.
Just as I got to my car the Lobos answered on another TD by Carrier, but missed the two point conversion, making it 28-23 with 12:08 to go. Game not over. Air Force then fumbled the ball right back and it started to look (or sound since I was now listening on the radio cruising down a near empty I-25) bleak for the Falcons. They couldn't stop Carrier. Hadn't all game. So what happens? New Mexico runs Lamaar Thomas on a 4th and 4 at the Air Force 16. Not Kasey Carrier.Remember that other 10%? And he's stuffed. Air Force's ball. 4 1st downs later it's an Air Force victory! Probably should have lost, but probably should have beat Michigan and Navy. Go Falcons!
Two games left. Nevada on Friday and Hawaii November 16th. Come on out. Enjoy a game. You might even find Waldo.
So come on out to the Nevada game on Friday. Or maybe not since it's suppose to be in the 30's at kickoff, and Nevada is really good, and have the nation's #1 rusher in Stefphon Jefferson, and he might just run for 500 yards against this defense. But if you do come out look for me around halftime over near the Nevada bench chilling (or freezing) to the cool sounds of the xylophones.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun received an ear full from Wyoming coach Dave Christensen after the Cowboys fell to the Falcons 28-27 last Saturday. As they left the field we saw Calhoun smiling and Christensen upset and wondered what was being said. Troy would only say that it was "probably not a conversation I'd have with my mom." Well here's the video and Coach Calhoun was correct (unless his mom happened to be a very, very salty pirate). Warning, very NSFW language.
It was Military Appreciation Night in Laramie. Nothing says thanks to the military like the old "FU*K YOU!" Christensen later apologized to the Wyoming fans and the Mountain West Conference for the tirade, but funny enough, not to the person at the receiving end of his rant, Troy Calhoun. Class dude. Real class. How about apologizing for being 1-5? PengoSports has a feeling this video will haunt Coach Christensen for a long, long time. Or at least until he's fired sometime in the near future. Bye, bye Dave.
UPDATED - Coach Christensen was suspended for one game & fined $50,000. By the way, he was NOT suspended for the game after the tirade, but the one after the video went on YouTube. Message to all coaches - "You can be a prick, but make sure you're only a prick away from recording devices." Class Wyoming. Nothing but class.
Air Force vs Navy. Saturday @ 930am (YES! 930am. Stupid CBS. Probably want to show some SEC game at a reasonable hour. Stupid SEC. Think they're so tough because they win all the national championships. I'd like to see how they'd do if there was a 16 team playoff. Really. No, really. Okay. I just want a 16 team playoff. Screw the SEC, and Big 10, PAC 12, Big 12, ACC, etc...just give me a playoff and I'll be happy).
Almost everyone on defense was in on this tackle vs CSU on September 29th. The Falcons beat the Rams 42-21.
The CSU defense getting owned by Air Force's O-Line!
It's a service academy game. Great pomp. Great pregame. Great rivalry. Usually a great game. Be there!
