AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Think positive.
With those words, Air Force quarterback Tim Jefferson set the tone for his team’s approach to Saturday’s key Mountain West Conference matchup with No. 8 Utah and the rest of the season.
“We have to have a positive outlook,” Jefferson said Tuesday when asked about bouncing back from the 38-7 loss at TCU. “It helps the motivation to be positive. We can’t afford to have people on the bus who aren’t with us.”
After being No. 23 in The Associated Press poll just two weeks ago, the Falcons are on a two-game losing streak.
Coach Troy Calhoun was ahead of Jefferson.
“Utah is a very, very good team, but we’re playing them at home,” Calhoun said. “We could have a really great football game.”
The Falcons and Utes play in what could be the final meeting at least for a while. Utah is moving to the Pac-12 Conference next season.
Jefferson said because of injuries, the Air Force team that is preparing for Utah isn’t the same team that lost 27-24 to Oklahoma on Sept. 18.
Gone are fullback Jared Tew and receivers Kevin Fogler and Zach Kauth.
“We’ve moved to wide receiver-by-committee,” Jefferson said. “We have to find the right pieces to fit where we have a missing link. Utah is just as fast as TCU. There are things you can do to beat speed.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
