Air Force notes: Colorado senator : Put The mtn. on satellite TV

Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard has joined the fight to get The mtn. on satellite television.

The network — dedicated to the Mountain West Conference, which includes Colorado institutions Air Force and Colorado State — is offered by 21 cable providers but is not available on DirectTV or DISH Network. Allard is part of a coalition of seven U.S. senators from Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming urging a speedy resolution between The mtn. and satellite providers.

“Fans and alumni of Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy deserve the opportunity to see their team’s game on cable and satellite television,” Allard said in a statement.

The senators wrote a letter addressed to The mtn., the satellite providers and conference commissioner Craig Thompson that states, in part: “Our constituents have contacted us to express their concerns about their inability to access this programming....We urge all of the parties involved in this dispute to work together to ensure that Mountain West Conference games and events are broadcast to the widest possible audience.”

Go “Chair” Force?

Score one for Navy.

Earlier this week, exchange students from the Naval Academy painted a large blue “C” and a large blue “H” on the west seats in Falcon Stadium next to the “Air Force” that is painted in white. Along with their paint job, the students left a “Go Navy” sign.

Air Force plays at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., on Saturday.

“Love the spirit,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said, smiling. “There’s no way Navy should be doing that here, but I love the spirit.”

Etc.

Calhoun said senior tailback Kip McCarthy (knee) and junior outside linebacker Hunter Altman (ankle) both will be able to play in Saturday’s game....Senior outside linebacker Julian Madrid, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, said Wednesday he might forgo surgery for now in hopes that he could strengthen his leg enough to return this year.