AIR FORCE ACADEMY — A few years ago, when Chris Gizzi was establishing himself as one of college football’s best linebackers, he compared his mind-set when approaching the season to that of a hunter-warrior anticipating the fall hunt.
The Air Force Academy has had a number of stalwarts, such as Gizzi, whose attitude and focus helped carry them to greatness when a hint of snow penetrated the air along the Rampart Range. Middle linebacker Brady Amack is fast taking his place among that lineage of notable hitters.
“Brady’s like a bunch of players on our team. All he needed was an opportunity,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said recently. “He’s extraordinarily tough and an absolute leader. He’s every bit a warrior.”
Over the past two seasons, Amack has made 189 tackles, most on the team. His 10.7 average this season is 11th best in FBS.
“It gets the adrenaline going when you know the season is about to begin,” Amack said. “Everyone knows it’s about go time.”
Amack is small for a big-time college linebacker, at 6-foot, 227 pounds, but he fits the profile of past AFA greats, with a ferocious desire to get to the ball carrier.
“You have to have a certain mentality to play defense and specifically linebacker,” Amack said. “You’re involved in hard contact every play.”
Amack drew attention from smaller schools out of high school on the West Coast, but he decided to follow his older brother, Andy Amack, to the academy for the education, as well as the chance to play BCS-level football and eventually to accept a slot to begin pilot training.
“I wanted to go somewhere that would push me as a football player, a student and a person,” he said.
He drew special-teams duty mostly in his first two seasons but gained the starting lineup as a junior.
“He’s a student of the game,” said Matt Wallerstedt, Air Force’s defensive coordinator and Amack’s position coach. “He has very good instincts, and when the ball is snapped, he’s very aggressive when he gets to the point of attack.”
Amack said he has heard of Gizzi, but he doesn’t have to go back that far to find inspiration. As a freshman, he watched sophomore Ken Lamendola provide lessons on how to play middle linebacker. Lamendola led the team in tackles with 118, but his promising career was derailed by injuries. He gave it a final try this season but wasn’t able to play.
“I looked up to Ken from Day One,” Amack said. “I learned a lot from watching him play. I wish he could have played more.”
Amack grew up in a family that relished sports competition. He tried Boy Scouts but lasted only two weeks before seeking a different activity. His youngest sister, Stephanie, is an elite soccer player attending Stanford.
“We always gave her a hard time because she was the youngest,” Amack said. “She’s very competitive. I might have to take a little credit for her being that way.”
Amack is one of 28 seniors who will play their final game Saturday at Falcon Stadium against UNLV. Then the Falcons finish the season Nov. 26 at Colorado State. AFA needs two victories to clinch a winning season and to become bowl-eligible.
“Yes we can and we should,” Amack said when asked if the Falcons can win out. “It’s a matter of buckling down and not taking things lightly.”
Amack isn’t thinking about his football days being about over. He’s not sure what he’s going to do without an opportunity to get back into the spirit next fall, when the leaves are turning color and there’s a hint of snow in the air.
He might have to slip on some shoulder pads for old time’s sake.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
1. Will Air Force’s defense face a team it can get off the field and correct a deficiency of allowing third-down conversions? In 10 games, Air Force’s defense has allowed opponents to convert 50 percent (70-of-140) of their third-down plays. Even worse, the Falcons have allowed foes to convert 10-of-13 on fourth-down tries. Not to worry too much: UNLV is just 25 percent (31-of-123) on third downs and 42 percent (8-of-19) on fourth downs.
2. Will it matter whether Tim Jefferson or Connor Dietz starts at quarterback for Air Force against a scoring defense that ranks 117th in the country, allowing 39.2 points a game? Jefferson’s playing status has been in doubt all week because of concussion symptoms. Dietz played the last three quarters Saturday against Wyoming. UNLV, which is allowing opponents an average of 446.7 total yards per game, has lost 14 consecutive road games.
3. Will the 5-5 Falcons win out and not become the first of coach Troy Calhoun’s five teams to lose more than five games? Calhoun’s teams from 2007-10 finished 9-4, 8-5, 8-5 and 9-4. But the 2011 Falcons already have established the worst record in the Mountain West for Calhoun’s teams. The best Air Force, which was third in the conference preseason poll, could do in conference play is 3-4.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Three questions for Air Force
1. Will Air Force’s defense face a team it can get off the field and correct a deficiency of allowing third-down conversions? In 10 games, Air Force’s defense has allowed opponents to convert 50 percent (70-of-140) of their third-down plays. Even worse, the Falcons have allowed foes to convert 10-of-13 on fourth-down tries. Not to worry too much: UNLV is just 25 percent (31-of-123) on third downs and 42 percent (8-of-19) on fourth downs.
2. Will it matter whether Tim Jefferson or Connor Dietz starts at quarterback for Air Force against a scoring defense that ranks 117th in the country, allowing 39.2 points a game? Jefferson’s playing status has been in doubt all week because of concussion symptoms. Dietz played the last three quarters Saturday against Wyoming. UNLV, which is allowing opponents an average of 446.7 total yards per game, has lost 14 consecutive road games.
3. Will the 5-5 Falcons win out and not become the first of coach Troy Calhoun’s five teams to lose more than five games? Calhoun’s teams from 2007-10 finished 9-4, 8-5, 8-5 and 9-4. But the 2011 Falcons already have established the worst record in the Mountain West for Calhoun’s teams. The best Air Force, which was third in the conference preseason poll, could do in conference play is 3-4.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
