At least the Air Force Falcons didn’t have to scurry for information on their opponent in the Dec. 31 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
They learned Sunday they will be playing the Houston Cougars, a team they beat 31-28 in the third week of the regular season. The game was played at Southern Methodist University’s stadium in Dallas because Houston was pushed out of its home by Hurricane Ike.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun wasn’t disappointed with a rematch.
“Anytime you can get to a bowl game, you’re pleased — no matter who the opponent is,” Calhoun said.
He didn’t think either team would benefit from the previous meeting.
“The team that has the greatest advantage will be the team that practices the best and is focused the best to play on game day,” Calhoun said.
Houston coach Kevin Sumlin agreed.
“I have been involved in rematches before,” Sumlin said. “You play, and whatever happens, happens. They say you can’t beat a good team twice and you can’t beat a really good team once, but I don’t believe in that.”
Houston’s early season was filled with turmoil associated with the hurricane. The Cougars had to set up temporary quarters in Dallas for a week, and the disruption may have been a factor in losing three of the first four games. The Cougars came back to win six of their last eight games.
Air Force players were upbeat with the bowl assignment, but several said it would have been nice to experience a different location.
“It probably would have been cool to see something different and have a new experience,” kicker Ryan Harrison said. “But there are no complaints at all.”
Quarterback Shea Smith noted that TCU’s stadium, where the bowl game is being played, isn’t an inviting venue for the Falcons. They are 0-5 there all-time and 0-3 in the last three years, losing 38-14 to TCU in 2006, 42-36 to California in last year’s bowl game and 44-10 to TCU in the last game of this season.
“I have no reservations about playing Houston again,” Smith said. “We know they’re a very good team. We have to take care of the ball and not turn it over.”
Guard Nick Charles added: “We know Houston will come out on fire. It’s tough in a rematch for a team that already has won. Houston takes winning very seriously.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Eye on … The Cougars
Air Force vs. Houston, Armed Forces Bowl, 10 a.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
For the record: Houston finished 7-5 overall and 6-2 in Conference USA. The Cougars lost their season finale 56-42 to Rice.
Streaking: Going into the Rice game, quarterback Case Keenum was Conference USA offensive player of the week for two straight weeks. He earned the honor three times during the regular season.
Who’s hot: Senior linebacker Phillip Hunt led the team and the conference in sacks with 12 and led the conference in tackles for losses at 16 1/2.
Who’s not: Cougars ball carriers lost 15 fumbles. Houston’s opponents surrendered seven fumbles.
Key stat: Keenum led college football in total offense at 416.1 yards per game and in passing at 397.3 yards per game. His 43 passing touchdowns ranked second nationally.
FYI: Senior tight end Mark Hafner and Hunt were selected to the first team on Conference USA all-conference selections.
Injuries: None.
Coachspeak: “We are a very different team than we were earlier in the year, and I would assume they are too.” — Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, in looking back to the third game of the season, when Air Force defeated the Cougars 31-28 in a game played at Southern Methodist in Dallas after Hurricane Ike hit Houston.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
