AIR FORCE ACADEMY — At the conclusion of a lively practice under blue skies and ideal temperatures Thursday, the Christmas spirit was evident throughout the Air Force football team.
And why not? The Falcons, who Dec. 31 will play in their first bowl game in five years, finished final exams Wednesday and concluded a two-day practice session Thursday.
It was time to part ways and look forward to spending the holiday at home and sharing their bowl excitement with family.
Air Force (9-3) plays California (6-6) in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. The Falcons will reconvene in Fort Worth on Dec. 26, arriving separately from their hometowns.
“We had a great practice today,” senior quarterback Shaun Carney said Thursday. “Everyone is playing real sharp and real excited about our opportunity. We’re going to go home, relax a bit, and be ready to go after Christmas with four practices in Fort Worth.”
Said senior cornerback Carson Bird: “With finals and everything, it’s tough. Football isn’t our No. 1 focus. To go home and get a break will be good for us. I love going home, but at the same time I can’t stop thinking about the game.”
Unlike Wednesday, Falcons coach Troy Calhoun was pleased with Thursday’s practice.
“Much more productive,” he said. “We aren’t close to where we have to be (and) we’ll have to completely utilize those four practice in Fort Worth but it will be good to get away for a few days.
“You think of the demands that are place on these kids for an entire semester — they have a lot on their plate on a daily basis. The rigors of this place can take its toll.”
Bird on the Bears. Air Force has won three consecutive games and six of its past seven. Cal has lost three in a row and six of its past seven.
“We expect to get everything they have,” Bird said of the Bears. “A lot of people said they weren’t playing real well because they were running out of players. Now, they’ve had a month or two off, so there’s no reason they shouldn’t be 100 percent. We expect to get the team that beat Tennessee and Oregon.”
Footnotes. Senior linebacker John Rabold remained out with a viral infection, but Calhoun expects his all-Mountain West Conference linebacker to play against Cal. “Just knowing the kid and kind of competitor he is, I got a feeling he’s going to get real healthy,” Calhoun said. Air Force kicker and punter Ryan Harrison grew up in Keller, Texas, near Fort Worth. “It’s a fun town; we’ll have a lot of fun,” Harrison said. “It’s at sea level, so that should help us, too. Anybody that wants to come over to my house is welcome.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
