Former Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry has “tried to lay low,” he said, as new coach Troy Calhoun and his staff put their stamp on the program DeBerry ran for 23 seasons.

“I intentionally haven’t bugged Troy,” DeBerry said Monday while traveling from South Carolina to Oklahoma. “I know how demanding it is, I didn’t want to be a nuisance calling the office and all that.”

DeBerry, whose house in Monument is for sale, said he was unsure if he would return to the academy for a game this season. He said he will be in Oklahoma watching his grandsons play football when Air Force opens against South Carolina State on Sept. 1. And after Labor Day, he said he will head back to South Carolina with his wife, Lu Ann. They’ll stay there in September, DeBerry said, and then take a trip along the East Coast.

“They’re honoring (former Air Force coach and associate athletic director) Jim Bowman on the first of November, so there’s a good possibility we might get back for that,” DeBerry said. “You might see us before then, but we haven’t made those definite plans yet.”

Air Force plays host to Army, the last team DeBerry beat as coach, on Nov. 3.

DeBerry resigned as coach in December after 23 seasons and 169 victories. A source told The Gazette that DeBerry had been told he could return for a 24th year as coach on the condition he replace offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen and defensive coordinator Richard Bell. DeBerry, the source said, chose to resign instead.

DeBerry has disputed that report, calling his retirement “totally my decision.” And Monday he said he was not staying away from the academy because it would be difficult emotionally to return.

“I’m their biggest fan,” he said.

Carney on O’Brien watch list

Air Force senior quarterback Shaun Carney is one of 35 players on the “watch list” for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. It is the third straight year Carney has made the list, which is based on preseason All-America recognition from football magazines.

Four other Mountain West Conference quarterbacks made the list — Colorado State senior Caleb Hanie, UNLV junior Rocky Hinds, Utah junior Brian Johnson and Wyoming sophomore Karsten Sween.

Injury update

Sophomore Anthony Schelstrate, the Falcons’ backup left tackle, left practice early Tuesday with a sprained left knee. In addition, senior tailbacks Chad Smith (right knee sprain) and Jim Ollis (left ankle) did not participate. … Head football trainer Tony Peck said tackle Chris Campbell could return to practice this week.