Ramsey: AFA's fun and games over with Navy on horizon

The Three Stooges — Nicholls State, New Mexico and San Diego State — are in Air Force’s rearview mirror, and for that we can all be thankful.

Straight ahead is Navy. Straight ahead is a renewal of one of the nation’s better rivalries. Straight ahead is the game that has busted hearts and egos across the Pikes Peak Region for six straight seasons.

The Falcons cruised to a 26-14 victory over San Diego State on Saturday in front of thousands of fans in dire danger of sunburn and boredom.

The win pushes the Falcons to 3-1 but only increases the mystery surrounding the team.

Coach Troy Calhoun shrugged after the victory.

“It wasn’t dazzling,” he said.

He’s right, and that’s a problem. The Falcons played mediocre football and never were threatened.

This follows a trend. Air Force’s three victims have been so cooperative, so generous and so inept that it’s difficult to gauge the Falcons’ might.

One thing is certain. The Falcons must soar to a higher place Saturday if they hope to upset the Midshipmen in Maryland. And, yes, an Air Force victory would be an upset.

Navy reigns as king of service-academy football, and it fails to matter that all six of their recent victories over Air Force have been close. Margin of victory is meaningless.

Center Michael Hampton shook his head as he considered Saturday’s victory.

“This team has the ability to play a lot better than we did today,” he said.

Hampton knows this team will have to tap fully into that ability against Navy. Hampton is a senior, and he’s traveled to Annapolis. He knows what awaits. He knows what will be required.

“This team has a lot of heart,” he said, “and it’s going to take a lot of heart. We’re going to have to dig down and earn every yard — every inch — and play mistake-free football.”

Mistake-free football would be a nice change for Air Force. Last season, two blocked punts doomed the Falcons, who outgained the Midshipmen 411-244.

I know the past six seasons have been brutal for Air Force coaches, players, cheerleaders, fans and athletic directors, but I also know the games have delivered great football theater.

For some reason, Navy-Army remains the marquee service-academy rivalry for the masses. In the olden days, yes, this was a great rivalry. In recent times, it’s been a one-sided disaster.

In the past six seasons, Navy has flattened Army six straight times by a total of 163 points. During the same era, Navy has slipped by the Falcons by 33 points. Every game has been terrific.

“From a fan’s perspective,” Hampton said, “it is always a great game. For us …”

He paused for a couple of seconds.

“I’m not going to call it bad blood, but we really don’t like each other.”

Of course, every word Hampton said is true. And that’s why Saturday will be so much more dramatic and so much better than another rout over one of college football’s helpless Stooges.