Air Force Football: Glenn never doubted Thomas

Wyoming coach Joe Glenn was prophetic last week when talking about Air Force strong safety Chris Thomas.

"I think Chris Thomas may be one of the better football players in the league, as we look at film," Glenn said during a conference call with media several days before his Cowboys played host to the Falcons. "He's a terrific football player, and he makes plays all over the place, whether they line him up down on the line or in the secondary."

In Saturday's 23-3 victory over Wyoming, Thomas was all over in leading a stifling defensive effort. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound junior from Westerville, Ohio, made a team-high 13 tackles, including eight unassisted stops. He also forced a fumble with a sack and recovered a fumble, and the turnovers led to the team's first two scores.

On Monday, he was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

"I think he had a heck of a game," said defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, whose scheme is based on the 3-4 defense made famous by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In it, the strong safety is supposed to be the playmaker. And like hard-hitting Troy Polamalu does for the Steelers, Thomas made plays Saturday - and not just with the turnovers but by making key stops and big hits.

"He had the kind of game that we expect from him," DeRuyter said. "He's got that kind of ability, and our defense leans on him, and he came through on Saturday."

Thomas, who plays with a fiery intensity on the field but is soft-spoken off it, shrugged off the honor.

"I'm just happy we won the game," he said.

And DeRuyter noted his entire defense - which forced five turnovers and held Wyoming to 216 yards - had a hand in winning the award.

"A lot of guys take on blocks to let (Thomas) have the opportunity" to make plays, DeRuyter said. "So, obviously, when he gets that award, it's not just an individual thing, it's a compliment to our defense."

Ike watch

Air Force officials are keeping tabs on Hurricane Ike, which was battering Cuba on Monday. According to The Weather Channel's Web site, the storm should move into the Gulf of Mexico late today or early Wednesday and move toward the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts.

Sports information director Troy Garnhart said Jim Trego, the academy's senior associate athletic director for external affairs, is in on-going contact with Houston officials. Trego told Garnhart that right now all Houston is expecting is heavy rain but that the school is exploring all options if the game has to be moved or postponed.

"We've just got to make sure that we've got a very reasonable playing surface," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said.

Too many flags

Air Force committed seven penalties covering 42 yards against Wyoming. The Falcons have been flagged 13 times in two games after averaging only 4.8 per game last season.

"There need to be fewer," Calhoun said.

Etc.

Tackle Keith Williams (ankle), quarterback Shea Smith (foot) and receiver Kyle Halderman (knee) all practiced. ... Save for freshman Tim Jefferson being listed alone as the backup quarterback, there were no changes on the depth chart. ... Calhoun said he didn't consider playing Jefferson against Wyoming. "It may happen down the road," he said. ... Air Force, which likely will play in the rain at Houston, spent parts of practice working with wet footballs that managers dunked in coolers of water.

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Contact the Writer: 636-0365 or jake.schaller@gazette.com. See our Air Force blog at gazetteafasports.freedomblogging.com