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Falcons coach fires up home crowd for Independence Bowl

  • Published
  • By Maja Z. Stevanovich
  • Air Force Global Strike Command
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The term "home team" will have special meaning to the Airmen of Air Force Global Strike Command when two of the nation's top college football ground attacks take the field in nearby Shreveport for the Independence Bowl Dec. 27.

The United States Air Force Academy Falcons with the nation's second best rushing game square off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets--who own the best rushing attack in college football--at Independence Stadium, just down the road from the Command's headquarters here at Barksdale.

Coming off three straight regular season wins, the Falcons are led by Coach Troy Calhoun, who recently visited Command senior leaders to rally support as his team prepares for the big game.

The Falcons are pushing for a big turnout of Air Force faithful from the Shreveport-Bossier community that could make it feel like a homefield advantage for the Academy.

Coach Calhoun said the freedoms Americans enjoy every day are earned through the service and dedication of those in the military. Academy football players "represent more than just the Academy," and owe much of their success to the fact that they represent the Air Force as a whole, he said.

Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and 1973 Air Force Academy graduate, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz said the team can expect strong local support.

"The good citizens of the Shreveport-Bossier area have always been such great supporters of Barksdale Air Force Base. So, we're absolutely delighted that the Air Force Academy Falcons are playing in this year's Independence Bowl," said General Klotz.

"It'll be a spectacular event. Not only will our Airmen and their families get to watch some really great football in person, they'll also have a chance to see a B-52 fly over and the Academy's Wings of Blue parachute team. Thousands of cheering Air Force fans will really give the Falcons a big boost to victory."

Air Force Chief of Staff and Air Force Academy graduate, Gen. Norton Schwartz will also attend the game.

The game represents the Academy's fourth consecutive bowl appearance under Coach Calhoun, a 1989 graduate of the school. In his fourth season at the helm, Coach Calhoun masterminds a rushing game that averages nearly 318 yards a game. Ga. Tech chews up an average of 327 yards on the ground per game.

"We have a great football team that goes through the rigors and demands of the Academy so that one day they can serve," Coach Calhoun told a packed conference room in the command headquarters building. "Thank you for being a great example to them."

Notes: Air Force played in the Independence Bowl in 1983 and 1984, winning both contests. Air Force and Georgia Tech have not played each other since 1979. The Academy won this year's Commander-in-Chief's trophy awarded to the top service academy football program, having defeated both Navy and Army this year. For the first time ever, all three of the service academies qualified and were invited to participate in post season bowl games.