Falcons freshmen garner plenty of playing time

Cody Getz didn’t expect to play for Air Force as a freshman.

“I wanted to come in and just gain some more weight, try to get a little bigger,” the receiver said.

But, late in the first half of the opener, there he was on the field.

He wasn’t alone. Approximately 15 freshmen made their debuts in Saturday’s 72-0 victory over Nicholls State.

While the large lead allowed the Falcons to empty their bench, several freshmen got on the field well before what could be considered garbage time, including outside linebacker Alex Means, who started, and receivers Drew Coleman and Getz.

Means joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second freshman to start an opener since 1981, when defensive back A.J. Scott started (the other was quarterback Shaun Carney, who started the 2004 opener).

“Probably never been more nervous in my entire life,” said Means, who had five tackles and recovered a fumble.

Five freshmen carried the ball, including tailback Darius Jones, who rushed for 43 yards and a score on seven carries, and Coleman, who raced for a 20-yard touchdown.

“We had a bunch of young ones that I think down the road are going to be good players, and yet what we’re going to do is we’re going to ask them to do it real soon,” coach Troy Calhoun said.