Bowl game helps Falcons coach recruit
FORT WORTH, Texas - Air Force’s first appearance in a bowl game since 2002 has given coaches something extra to highlight along the recruiting trail.
The Armed Forces Bowl’s location has been especially helpful to quarterbacks coach Blane Morgan, who is in charge of recruiting in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
During each of Air Force’s four practices at TCU in preparation for Monday’s game against California, there were area high school coaches and potential future Falcons on the sidelines.
“I think it’s a huge asset for me recruiting-wise,” Morgan said. “Our practices are open to the public, so those guys can come out and watch. This time’s a dead time, so we can’t really talk to our recruits, but it’s huge as far as exposure and these guys coming out and seeing us.”
Morgan has been able to talk to high school coaches after practices, and he said that has been beneficial in building and keeping relationships.
The Dallas/Fort Worth area is among the most fertile for Air Force recruiting, along with Atlanta, Houston and Ohio.
“There is so much good football in such a concentrated area,” Morgan said. “And for the most part, the schools in the Metroplex are good schools academically, so there’s a pretty large pool of student-athletes to draw from in this area.”
Eye of the beholder
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun gives Cal a significant advantage in size and speed in Monday’s game. Cal coach Jeff Tedford said he isn’t so sure.
“I don’t buy that,” Tedford said. “They have nine wins. They got there somehow. They’re a good football team, there’s no question about it. So playing the little card is not going to lull anybody to sleep....They don’t play little, I’ll tell you that.”
Etc.
Cal quarterback Nate Longshore said he feels as healthy as he has since “early in the season.” Longshore missed a game and was hampered in others because of an ankle injury.
“This time off has been good — allowed everything to heal up,” he said....Air Force freshman Z receiver Kyle Halderman was back at practice. His left knee sprain, suffered Thursday, was not as severe as first thought, team trainer Tony Peck said.
