Air Force Academy
Reggie Rembert has earned his stripes, just completing his second go-round of basic training at the Air Force Academy.
As was the case last year, when he did the deed for the first time in order to gain admission to the academy’s prep school, it was a humbling experience. While he was out in the woods in the Rampart Range learning how to survive in the wilderness, he had to ask permission of squad leaders to even talk to his fellow classmates. It was easier to just nod as they passed by, but even this simple form of communication provided a welcome boost to any waning morale.
The days in the wilderness are over, and the freshman cadets are in the dorms. But life remains a struggle. Talking now is permitted, but Rembert still has to gain permission from a leader to leave the building even to attend a required film session.
“It’s pretty strict,” Rembert said. “This place isn’t for everybody. Every day is tough. Anyone who would say that leaving didn’t go through their heads at times would be lying.”
No wonder Rembert couldn’t wait to get back on the football field. He didn’t leave, and now he is a new face among a lot of new faces trying to get the football program back on a track that produced 17 winning seasons from 1984 through 2003.
But the Falcons haven’t been above .500 in each of the past three years, and they haven’t won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy or gone to a bowl game in the past four years.
New coach Troy Calhoun, a former Air Force quarterback who knows the academy’s routine, has placed importance on freshmen in his rebuilding plans. He has said from the beginning that his search for the best football players would involve all four classes.
“I look at our team right now and see a sturdy senior class,” Calhoun said. “We’ve got to get to a point where we are a junior and senior team, and that might not happen for three years. This year, we’ll probably have a half-dozen freshmen on our two-deep, and next year it could be 12 or 13 who are on the varsity and contributing.”
Calhoun’s bullish attitude on using freshmen is unusual in Air Force’s football history.
In the previous 50 years of varsity football, there have been only 61 players earn four letters. George Pupich was the first in the class of 1960, and fullback Jacobe Kendrick earned his fourth letter last season. The Class of 1984, a group that began in coach Ken Hatfield’s second year in 1980, had 11 four-letter winners.
The current senior class has four players who could earn a fourth letter: quarterback Shaun Carney, safety Bobby Giannini, cornerback Carson Bird and strong safety/linebacker Julian Madrid.
Guard Caleb Morris played in 10 games and started six in 2004 as a freshman, but he missed the 2005 season with an injury and didn’t letter.
All agree their college careers haven’t reached the promise indicated by substantial playing time as freshmen.
“We want to get this program back to having winning seasons,” Carney said. “We want to compete for a conference championship, win our service games and get back to a bowl game. We don’t even want to think that six or seven wins and we’re good.”
Giannini bemoans the fact he’s heading into his last season and hasn’t been to a bowl game.
“We have a lot of things to prove to our conference and to the nation,” Giannini said.
Bird acknowledged that sometimes when freshmen play, it could mean a hitch in recruiting along the way.
“When I was a freshman, we had only three cornerbacks and we needed a fourth,” Bird said. “I kind of looked at it that they either had a recruiting loophole or they lost some players.”
Rembert isn’t the only freshman forming the new face of Air Force football. Linebackers Andre Morris and Kenny Lamendola earned backup roles on the depth chart heading into the final week of preseason practices. Lamendola got the first mark, making it to the first day of practice.
“We have a good class and our main goal is to do what we can to help our team to a winning season,” Lamendola said.
Said Bird: “We’re definitely comfortable with freshmen coming in and playing. They really can play. Reggie Rembert is going to be a great lock-down cornerback.”
Rembert comes from what he calls football country in Texas, between Dallas and Denton.
“I didn’t play cornerback until I was a junior in high school,” Rembert said. “I learned the techniques, worked hard and kept evolving from running back to cornerback as I went along.”
At 5-foot-7, 175 pounds, he admits to being “undersized.”
But he knows the answer.
“Coach Calhoun told me it’s all about heart,” Rembert said. “I don’t know if I surprised anyone by getting on the depth chart.
“I’ve gotten close to all the varsity players. It’s nice to see them on my side.”
And on the football field, he can talk to them without asking permission.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
ABOUT THE FALCONS
COACH TROY CALHOUN, FIRST SEASON (0-0) | 2006 RECORD: 4-8, 3-5 MOUNTAIN WEST
WHAT’S NEW
It might be easier to say what isn’t new. A new offense, a new defense and a new attitude offer new hope for a program that hasn’t had a winning season in the past three years.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The biggest change is the offense. Don’t look for a version of the wishbone on many plays. But the option will be part of the attack. The defense will be more aggressive, with blitzes from all directions. Coach Troy Calhoun says the Falcons will still be a running team, but he wants more balance between the running and passing games.
PREDICTION
The Falcons should be improved over the past three years. However, it might be too big of a jump to go from the bottom of the Mountain West Conference to the top. So, we’ll split the difference and say 6-6. A .500 record wouldn’t meet goals, but if the six victories include Army and Navy and regaining the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, the Falcons would be flying high.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Shaun Carney, senior
With three years of experience as the starter under his belt and the prospect of more passing, he could have his best season.
WR Chad Hall, senior
He has moved from halfback to a wideout position. His talents could work well in the open field, but he will still be involved in the running game.
LB Drew Fowler, senior
An active, strong linebacker who has a knack for being around the ball. Led the MWC in tackles (123) last year.
PK Ryan Harrison, junior
Sat out last year, but provides the Falcons with a field-goal threat from long distances.
SS Chris Thomas, sophomore
He could dominate in Air Force’s blitz package.
