WEST POINT, N.Y. — Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh couldn’t wait to share the travel plans.
With a 42-22 victory over Army on Saturday, the Falcons won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 2002.
“Tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock, our equipment truck will pick up the trophy in Annapolis,” Mueh said. “It’ll be at our place in a couple of days.”
Navy has had the trophy every year since 2002, but officials in Annapolis agreed to turn over the trophy to Air Force personnel, who diverted their route to Colorado Springs in order to swing by the Naval Academy in Maryland.
Mueh said he was tempted to ride in the truck himself to personally pick up the trophy.
“I thought maybe I was a jinx,” Mueh said. “I’ve been involved six years and we hadn’t won it.”
Mueh said he’ll plan a celebration for when the trophy arrives at Clune Arena. The celebration had already started underneath Michie Stadium outside the Air Force locker room.
“It means everything that we’re bringing the trophy back,” senior defensive end Rick Ricketts said. “It means more to me because year-in and year-out, we weren’t able to bring it home. This was my last chance. We didn’t win it just for my class. We won it for everyone who has played Air Force football.”
And with their sixth victory of the season, the Falcons also became eligible to play in a bowl game. The mostly likely destinations are the Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas or the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
