Air Force's football schedule full of 'shark tank' games

Air Force should probably be excused for having one lesser opponent on its schedule.

This is the week the Falcons get a bit of a break. Coaches and players won’t say that, not wanting to show any disrespect for Northwestern State, today’s opponent. But the Demons were 0-11 last year in the Football Championship Subdivision, which is formerly Division I-AA.

The Falcons might blow out the Demons like last season’s 72-0 win against Nicholls State, but it starts getting tougher for them next week. Eight conference games, two intense rivalry games against Army and Navy and a tough challenge at Oklahoma are on the docket this season. And there’s no bye week.

“I think you’ll see Air Force plays as many games against the 'shark tank' as any team in college football,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “You’re chewing on a big old chunk of meat, and it’s not necessarily a tender piece of beef either. It’s challenging.”

Air Force is proud of its tough schedule, and has a template for filling it out. After the 10 games against the Mountain West and service academies, Air Force likes to schedule a “name” opponent that brings some exposure and money, like the game at Oklahoma, and a winnable nonconference game for Parents’ Weekend, which is this week. Air Force superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould is adamant the academy will fight to stay at eight conference games because of that plan.

“We need to retain the ability to have two discretionary games,” Gould said, before BYU left the Mountain West. “Regardless of where the conference goes in size, I will continue to stand on that ground.

“We have special challenges at Air Force. And with our commitment, which we will always have, to play Army and Navy – that is huge for us. We need those games for exposure and variety, to play games of our choosing.”

The Falcons point out they face six 2009 bowl teams this year, and four that were ranked in the top 25 a majority of the season. After the Northwestern State game, the next four opponents (BYU, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Navy) all went to bowls last year.

According to Air Force, over the past five years it has played nine more regular-season games against what it terms the seven power conferences (the six Bowl Championship Series automatic-qualifying conferences and the Mountain West) and independents than any other team in the nation. Air Force has skewed the stats a bit to make a point. Games against Army and Navy aren’t nearly as emotional and hard-fought for non-service academy opponents, for example, and most experts consider the six BCS conferences the elite of college football. But the stat does show that Air Force does challenge itself.

For the players, playing so many intense games can be a grind, but they have no problem with it.

“Mentally, you just have to be ready to play every week,” cornerback Reggie Rembert said. “It’s a lot of fun, because you’re going to be putting all your effort in and working that much harder every practice and every second of the day.”

Calhoun wants it that way too. Facing a couple of bigger teams like BYU and Oklahoma early in the season could wear down Air Force a bit, but he doesn’t think the tough schedule can’t be overcome.  

“I think it’s healthy,” Calhoun said. “I’m not unaware that some points may be overburdening too much, but at the same time I think you need to be challenged.”

These teams have scheduled the most games against opponents from the six BCS conferences, the Mountain West and independents from 2006-2010, according to Air Force:

Air Force 55

Florida 47

Alabama 46

Ohio State 46

Virginia Tech 45

Air Force’s schedule in 2010

Team, bowl in 2009?

Sept. 4 vs. Northwestern State No

Sept. 11 vs. BYU Yes

Sept. 18 at Oklahoma Yes

Sept. 25 at Wyoming Yes

Oct. 2 vs. Navy Yes

Oct. 9 vs. Colorado State No

Oct. 16 at San Diego State No

Oct. 23 at TCU Yes

Oct. 30 vs. Utah Yes

Nov. 6 at Army No

Nov. 13 vs. New Mexico No

Nov. 18 at UNLV No