Ramsey: Beating top-10 foe could restore AFA football season

After Troy Calhoun’s worst week at Air Force, it’s the right time to return to his best week.

Yes, we’re talking about the Falcons’ 20-17 overtime upset of TCU’s Horned Frogs in 2007. The victory shouted that a daring, fresh football era had arrived on the edge of Colorado Springs.

It might seem the fresh era ended Saturday in Annapolis, where the Falcons took a dull, paint-by-the-numbers route to defeat, but I believe Calhoun is merely hibernating. He will awaken, and so will his team.

Tonight doesn’t seem to offer a great chance for revival. Air Force again faces TCU’s violent defense and a disciplined, score-enough-to-win offense. The Falcons are expected to get trampled by the nation’s No. 10 team.

And yet …

The Falcons were expected to get trampled in 2007. The Horned Frogs had demolished Air Force in consecutive seasons by a combined score of 86-24.

And the Horned Frogs had every reason to expect another smackdown. The Falcons returned 16 senior starters, but that seemed bad news for Air Force. All those seniors had done through three season was lose, finishing with 21 losses in 34 games.

It bothered them immensely.

Jim Ollis, a halfback for the 2007 team, spoke forcefully on the phone about his team’s conversion from loser to winner.

“Our senior class, we were so close knit,” Ollis said. “We came together during the preseason and kept saying to each other, ‘Dang, we’re tired of losing, and we know we’re good enough to win.’”

Against TCU in 2007, Calhoun announced his faith in those seniors.

Air Force faced fourth-and-18-inches at its 29 with a little more than 6 minutes left. Trailing 17-10, Calhoun defied traditional football strategy by going for it.

“That was coach Calhoun’s way of saying to us, ‘They may be bigger, faster, stronger, but I know ya’ll are going to make it happen. You’ve got enough experience and talent to make it happen,’” Ollis said.

Calhoun was right. Ryan Williams and Chad Hall made crucial blocks, allowing Ollis to turn the corner.

“All I did is catch the ball and run,” Ollis said. “I had the least amount to do with that play.”

Ollis faced one obstacle to the end zone. TCU strong safety Stephen Hodge had the angle on him, but Ollis reached speeds that evaporated Hodge’s advantage.

“Never in my entire life have I ever run that fast and never will I again,” Ollis said.

Hodge barely brushed Ollis. The Falcons tied the game and won in overtime.

Ollis sometimes calls up the play on his computer and watches over and over. This isn’t an ego trip. Ollis savors selfless teamwork as he watches his friends transport him to one of the signature touchdowns in Air Force history.

The 2007 Falcons went on to nine wins and four losses. Calhoun’s fourth-down gamble served as fuel for the team’s resurrection.

Ollis is stationed in the Boston area, and he traveled to Annapolis for last week’s 16-13 overtime loss to Navy.

He was, like the Air Force players on the field, depressed and confused by yet another loss to the Midshipmen.

But Ollis remembers a big night against TCU. He remembers how a team revived after years of losing.

And he wonders what the current Falcons will do tonight.