AIR FORCE ACADEMY – Troy Calhoun calls Colorado State “battle hardened,” but adds his Air Force squad “should be, too.” With that, the Falcons coach drew a line in the sand going into Saturday’s game.
Calhoun knows the Rams’ 12-game losing streak has to end, and it’s no comfort that CSU has won 10 of the past 15 games against the Falcons, including four of the past six.
“I understand that it’s something (losing streak) that has to be covered thoroughly because it is a fact, but it’s not like we’re going up there as three-touchdown favorites,” Calhoun said Wednesday. “It’s not like we’ve really rolled up there the last 15 years.
“Most of our players have played a lot of football, and they realize they don’t have a lot of football left. They want to make sure that they make what is left a treasure.”
Senior outside linebacker John Rabold said he doesn’t see an 0-5 team when he watches game tapes of CSU.
“They can turn it around and get the momentum going the other way,” Rabold said.
CSU’s Kyle Bell had 197 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the 2005 game, a 41-23 CSU victory. But Air Force survived UNLV’s Frank Summers last week, holding the 240-pounder to 100 yards.
“I see Bell being a north-south runner the way he operates,” Calhoun said. “Summers is more east-west before turning it north-south.”
Footnotes. CSU safeties Klint Kubiak (ulcer) and Mike Pagnotta (sprained ankle) remained spectators at practice Wednesday, leaving it unlikely either starter will play. … Calhoun expects senior tailback Kip McCarthy (knee) to play for the first time since the season opener. Last week’s starting tailback, Chad Smith (ankle), is out.
Natalie Meisler contributed to this report.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
