10-3 Navy
The natives are restless. The natives are Air Force Football Fans who want to see the Commander In Chiefs Trophy back in Colorado Springs. The Falcons have won it once in the last nine years. That has to change. It starts Saturday at 10am at Falcon Stadium vs Navy on 740 KVOR. The Midshipman have won the trophy the last 2 years. In talking to players this week you do get the sense there is more urgency to getting the trophy back. Air Force last won it in 2022. Look, it’s a big deal to the community, to the Academy, to big Air Force in Washington and to tens of thousands of Air Force personnel around the globe. And not that there has been less urgency over the years. Not the case. I know fans want to see Head Coach Troy Calhoun talk more openly about that being a team goal. Trust me, it is, and trust me when I say he wants to win it as badly as anyone. He may not show that to the press and to the public, however that trophy means a lot to him and the team. Air Force did their first breakdown of Navy THIS SPRING. They did a second one for 2 days during the bye week. And they have obviously worked on the game plan since coming back from Nevada. Do not question this coaching staff or this teams desire to get the trophy.
So how do they start down this path? My keys to winning Saturday:
- Employ all your weapons. Navy will do everything they can to get the ball out of Liam Szarka’s hands. They know how good a player he is. Get the offense rolling early with the fullback game, Rocco Conti on the outside, and Szakra inside and outside.
- Throw the ball. Navy is young in the secondary and is giving up more than 250 yards a game through the air. Take advantage of that. And throw to the tight end Simon Kibbee. Last year TE Bruin Fleischman had 6 catches for 166 yards and a score.
- Defense-Saw some promising things from young guys on the defensive line against Nevada. Will need more of that. Navy will pound you with the quarterback and fullback and occasionally their slotbacks. First down in this game is important. Stuff the run on first down and you get the Midshipman off schedule. They can throw the ball but not as well as the Falcons. If I am DC Steve Russ I play man to man in the secondary and bunch the line of scrimmage.
Bring your radios to Falcon Stadium. Our coverage starts at 8am with the kickoff at 10 on 740 KVOR.
