Army coach Jim Young once had his players wear gas masks during the conditioning part of their practice sessions before traveling to Falcon Stadium to play Air Force.
Young’s purpose, according to Lt. Col. Mike McElrath, a former Army defensive back, was to simulate the breathing problems his players might encounter at an elevation of 6,621 feet.
Another time Young brought the Black Knights to Colorado Springs on a Friday night, played the game and departed right afterward. Still another time, Young brought his team in on a Wednesday and had the players dress in camouflage gear and faces painted that week as if going into battle.
Nothing worked.
Army is 3-18 at Falcon Stadium heading into Saturday’s game. None of those victories came during Young’s tenure (1983-90).
“It was big for Coach Young to win the mental battle,” McElrath said. “He wanted to show us that if we could run with our gas masks on, we could do it at the elevation at Air Force.”
Rich Ellerson, Army’s coach now, said Wednesday that he’s not into gimmicky tricks preparing to play at Falcon Stadium.
“I hate that. The altitude is no big deal,” Ellerson said. “If San Diego State can go in there and win, the altitude isn’t an issue. It’s a long trip for us, but the issue is the team that’s waiting for you when you get there.”
The Black Knights will find an Air Force team that needs a victory to clinch the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the second year in a row. Air Force owns a 35-34 victory over Navy. If Army wins Saturday, it can win the trophy Dec. 10 by beating Navy.
Army’s only victories at Air Force came in 1967 (10-7), 1977 (31-6) and 2005 (27-24).
McElrath remembers Falcon Stadium as a difficult road trip because of the quality of competition, as well as the altitude.
“When I played in Falcon Stadium, Air Force had a very good team and they expected to win,” McElrath said. “The stadium’s appearance was a little different with the west side up against a mountain. The altitude didn’t bother me, but I thought our linemen struggled with it a little bit.”
Army wide receiver Davyd Brooks played at Falcon Stadium two years ago and will be there again Saturday. “It’s no more difficult to play there than anywhere else,” said Brooks, a senior from Newburgh, N.Y. “The field’s 100 yards long.”
Footnote. Ellerson said senior Max Jenkins will start at quarterback against Air Force. Jenkins replaced junior Trent Steelman, who didn’t play last week against Fordham because of a leg injury. Steelman, who made an Army-record 32 consecutive starts, is listed as available for Saturday.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Novembers to remember
A look at the Army football team’s only victories at Falcon Stadium:
Date Score Coach
Nov. 4, 1967 10-7 Tom Cahill
Nov. 5, 1977 31-6 Homer Smith
Nov. 5, 2005 27-24 Bobby Ross
