AFA Z-receiver Paffett faces possible surgery

Air Force senior Z-receiver Ty Paffett is scheduled to undergo surgery for a herniated disc on June 26, his father, Andy Paffett, said Tuesday.

Paffett, a Lewis-Palmer graduate, originally was scheduled to have surgery on June 11 but pushed it back to "give it every chance in the world to heal itself naturally," his father said. "But we're getting mixed results, and he's in a bit of pain."

Each day Paffett is doing about eight hours of conditioning and therapy - including spinal decompression therapy, his father said. He could avoid surgery if he feels better in the next week or so, but his father said Paffett is "mentally prepared" for surgery.

The surgery would be to relieve pain, Paffett's father said.

Paffett finished spring practices listed as the Falcons' starter at Z-receiver - the hybrid running back/receiver position Chad Hall played in 2007 when he earned Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Paffett showed flashes of big-play ability in 2007. In the regular season finale against San Diego State he ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries, including a 73-yard burst for a score.

Paffett's father said if his son has the surgery he should be able to walk within two hours after it and jog in two weeks.

"The goal is to get him out there for the first day of football, July 31," Paffett's father said.

Dekker not bothered by predictions

It's the time of year that college football preview magazines come out, but Air Force senior tight end Travis Dekker won't be perusing them.

"I know we're ranked low, that's all I know," Dekker said. "Just more to prove this year."