As expected, memories of Georgia Tech halfback Eddie Lee Ivery entered the conversation Monday when Air Force coach Troy Calhoun added his response to Sunday’s announcement that the Falcons and Yellow Jackets will meet Dec. 27 in the Independence Bowl.
Calhoun and the 2010 Falcons don’t have to face Ivery, because his connection to Air Force goes back 32 years. On Nov. 11, 1978, when Air Force was coached by Bill Parcells, Ivery set an NCAA single-game rushing record with 356 yards and No. 19-ranked Georgia Tech beat the Falcons 42-21 at Falcon Stadium.
Even with Ivery long gone, Calhoun put the Yellow Jackets of today into the category of “great challenge.”
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson provides a more recent connection to the Falcons. Until moving to Atlanta three seasons ago, Johnson coached Navy for six years and posted a 5-1 record against Air Force.
His Midshipmen beat the visiting Falcons 31-20 in Calhoun’s first year at Air Force in 2007.
“Our staff had just gotten to Air Force when he left Navy,” Calhoun said of any book he might have on Johnson-coached teams.
During Johnson’s time at Navy, the service academy rivalry became rather heated. The Midshipmen took the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy from Air Force in 2003 and kept it until this year when the Falcons regained it.
Johnson and Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney had an exchange during Carney’s years, 2003-06, over the player’s decision to attend Air Force instead of Navy. Carney claimed he met with indifference from the Navy staff when he visited Annapolis.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
