Falcons have gained national attention, not respect

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999 | 11:35 a.m.

Wyoming head coach Dana Dimel is known as a straight shooter. So his comments at last month's Mountain West Conference kickoff dinner in Colorado Springs shouldn't have been that startling.

Despite sitting on the same dais as legendary college coaches such as LaVell Edwards of BYU, John Robinson of UNLV and Sonny Lubick of Colorado State, Dimel said, "Considering what he's accomplished, I think Fisher DeBerry is the best college coach in the country."

Air Force

Head coach: Fisher DeBerry (120-64-1, 17th year)

1998 record: 12-1 (WAC champions)

Returning starters: 12

Guy they'll miss: Cornerback Tim Curry

Player to watch: Quarterback Cale Bonds

Key game: Oct. 30, at Brigham Young

Projection: 2nd (MWC coaches poll)

He might be right.

Over the past two years, DeBerry's Air Force Falcons have won 22 games, including a 45-25 thumping of Washington in the Oahu Bowl last December. Only one team -- defending national champion Tennessee (24) -- has won more games in Division I football. The Falcons are tied with noted football powerhouses Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska and Kansas State for second.

Not bad considering the Falcons don't give out athletic scholarships and are often at a fair size disadvantage when they take the field. They also don't redshirt. And the student part of student/athlete actually carries a lot more weight when it comes to admitting prospective players.

But thanks to quick and disciplined defenses and the great equalizer, the option on offense, DeBerry has managed to build one of top programs in the nation.

Still, the Falcons believe they don't get their share of respect.

Air Force was rated No. 32 in the preseason coaches' poll. They were even lower than that in many of the preseason magazines.

All of which didn't go unnoticed by Air Force players.

"You look in the magazines, like Athlon, they have us ranked 53rd in the nation," defensive tackle Shawn Thomas said. "It kind of makes you real, real mad."

Added linebacker Craig Thorstenson: "I love it when we are underdogs. It gives us something to throw back at the newspapers. That's what we are trying to do, make you guys look bad. I think Air Force is always a bit slighted."

For the first time in five years, Air Force won't have a Morgan starting at quarterback.

Blaine Morgan, who followed brother Beau Morgan at quarterback for the Falcons, graduated as the winningest quarterback in school history (20-3). But the Falcons should be strong again at the position. Senior Cale Bonds rolled up 361 yards in total offense in the Falcons' win over Navy last year while filling in for injured Blaine Morgan. And junior Mike Theissen, who had a 30-game hitting streak and won the WAC regular season batting title last year at shortstop for the Falcon baseball squad, will likely see playing time as well.

Qualario Brown, who rushed for 521 yards and two touchdowns last year, returns to head up the running backs although he'll likely miss the Falcons' Sept. 4 against Villanova with a stress fracture of a toe he had surgically repaired over the summer.

The defense has five starters back but loses all-WAC corner and kick blocker deluxe Tim Curry as well as defensive tackle Bryce Fisher, the WAC Mountain Division Defensive Player of the Year.

Beating BYU in last year's final WAC title game at Sam Boyd Stadium has done wonders for the Falcons' confidence heading into to their initial season in the Mountain West Conference.

"We think we can win this year, even more so than last year," Thomas said. "We believe we're going to have a stronger defense, we believe we're going to have a good offense, and we believe we're going to be there week-in and week-out just competing. I'm ready to play a game right now."

One thing that isn't in Air Force's favor is the schedule. The Falcons play three of the top contenders for the MWC title --- San Diego State, BYU and Colorado State --- all on the road.

Air Force plays UNLV on Nov. 13 in Colorado Springs.

MWC PREVIEWS: AIR FORCE

This is the first in a seven-part series previewing the Mountain West Conference. Friday: Brigham Young.