Falcons eye 'Return to Dominance'

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- The Air Force football team broke out new uniforms for its annual media day following their first fall practice last week. The players told reporters the 2006 season will be the Falcons' "Return to Dominance."

"Their motto sends a great message to me," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said. "We've dominated the service academies in the past, and that's their attitude. This is a spirited, together, hungry team that's on a mission." 

The Air Force has won the Commander-in-Chief's trophy 16 times, compared to a combined 14 by Army and Navy.

The team's mission is to erase the memory of back-to-back losing seasons. The 5-6 and 4-7 records were the first consecutive sub-.500 campaigns in DeBerry's 22 years on the bluesuiters' sideline. Navy won the CIC Trophy both years.

"We've put the last two years behind us. The players are resolved to do something about that," DeBerry said. "We've been among the top teams in the country in winning percentage, so our players know expectations are always high at the academy. The team has taken it on as a group responsibility. Everyone is accountable. I like our leadership, not just the captains."

Senior defensive end Gilberto Perez, senior cornerback Chris Sutton, senior offensive guard Curtis Grantham and junior quarterback Shuan Carney were elected team captains by a vote of teammates and coaches.

Carney enters his third season as the Falcons' signal caller determined to correct the mistakes that haunted Air Force in 2005. The Falcons dropped four games by a total of just 10 points a year ago.

"I expect to do what we did last year offensively without turning the ball over," Carney told the media. "We had a lot of pre-snap penalties on second down that put us in bad situations, third and long. We weren't able to capitalize on third down, especially in the red zone. If we stop shooting ourselves in the foot, there's no reason we can't go 12-0."

For Carney and the Falcons to reach those heights they have to improve a minus six turnover ratio and a third down conversion rate of 42 percent (64 for 151).

The Falcons averaged 30 points per game last year thanks to 247 yards per game rushing and 171 yards passing. Although the top two pass catchers, Jason Brown and Greg Kirkwood, graduated in May, senior Vic Thompson expects to keep the air in the Air Force attack.

"I learned a lot playing behind those guys last year," the 6-foot, 190-pound Thompson said. "I'm a playmaker, and I'm going to fill that job with moves after the catch. We'll stretch defenses."

Playmakers will be counted on by defensive coordinator Richard Bell to shore up a unit that gave up an average of nearly 429 yards and 32 points per game in 2005.

"We've picked out guys that can make a difference for us," Bell said. "We'll put them in positions to make big plays for us. We're going to play to the strength of our players. Perez is one of many."

Perez's big play ability earned him pre-season recognition. The Tampa, Fla., native was named to the first-team all Mountain West Conference squad, and is on the watch list for the 2006 Lott Trophy, given to college football's impact player of the year.

"I'm honored to be on the list, but right now it's all about the season," said Perez, whose 9.5 tackles for losses led Air Force a year ago. "I'm only as good as my team. If they do well, good things will happen. We're getting this team back on track."

The road back kicks off Sept. 9 against perennial Southeastern Conference power Tennessee in Knoxville. 

"I can't wait," said junior free safety Bobby Giannini, who was among the MWC leaders with three interceptions last season. "Going to Tennessee, playing in front of more than 105,000 people is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Then having potentially the No. 1 team (Notre Dame on Nov. 11) come to our place would be phenomenal. It's not just about playing some of the biggest programs in college football, it's knowing we have a chance to shock the nation."

With 11 of Air Force's 12 games televised on various networks, more than any schedule in school history, the country will get a steady diet of the Falcons' new blue uniforms with silver numerals and lettering.

"It's great exposure. I hope we're not saturating TV with too much college football," DeBerry quipped. "It's like eating steak every night. After a while you don't crave it. If you have it now and then, it keeps the appetite whet."

Time will tell if the Falcons "Return to Dominance" is more than a media sound bite.