Air Force

Air Force bucks trend, re-ups NASCAR sponsorship

By Kevin Lilley on February 8, 2013 Air Force, NASCAR

The Army announced last summer that it would not return to NASCAR as a sponsor for 2013. The Navy and Marine Corps are also out of the NASCAR business. With rare exception. But the Air Force is back for 2013, renewing its deal to sponsor the Richard Petty Motorsports-owned No. 43 car, driven by Aric Almirola. The sponsorship lasts the entire season, but the Air Force will be the primary sponsor for two races on military-friendly weekends — the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C., over Memorial Day weekend and the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona Beach, Fla., two days after…

Air Force's 2015 showdown with Irish could be next door … or far from home

By Kevin Lilley on January 31, 2013 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

When Navy’s football team faced Notre Dame at a neutral site last year, the Mids had to travel to Dublin. When Air Force faces Notre Dame on a neutral site in 2015, the Falcons might have to travel to … Denver. Sports Authority Field at Mile High is less of a road trip than a weekend errand run from Colorado Springs, but it’s one of three neutral-field locations under consideration for the 2015 game, The Denver Post reports. Other options include Chicago — a short trip from South Bend for the Irish — and Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, better known…

Latest Big East departure means big change for … Air Force?

By Kevin Lilley on January 17, 2013 Air Force, Football, Navy

The Big East is going through another painful breakup. San Diego State joined the list of schools leaving the conference (here’s a roundup) Wednesday, announcing its football program would remain in the Mountain West along with the rest of its sports in 2013. SDSU had committed to join the Big East as a football-only member; instead, it’ll be the third school — along with Boise State and TCU — to leave the conference without playing a conference game. Navy’s been an interested spectator throughout this process, watching its future conference add and subtract teams before the Mids join up as…

Armed Forces Bowl preview: Air Force vs. Rice

By Kevin Lilley on December 27, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

What Air Force fans need to know heading into the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Who, when, where: Air Force (6-6, 5-3 Mountain West Conference) vs. Rice (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA), Saturday, 11:45 a.m. Eastern (9:45 a.m. Mountain), Fort Worth, Texas. TV: ESPN (Beth Mowins and Joey Galloway have the call). Gambling is illegal in most states: Air Force is a three-point favorite after opening as a one-point underdog. I only go to bowl websites with R. Lee Ermey videos: You’re in luck. Owls on a roll: Rice rolled off four straight wins to end its regular season and become…

Hockey homecoming for Navy dad, Air Force son

By Kevin Lilley on December 27, 2012 Air Force, Hockey, Navy, Uncategorized

Hockey. Homecoming. Holiday. Hartford. That about covers it. It’ll take more than season-crushing NHL lockout to spoil a family reunion. On Friday in Hartford, Conn., a joint puck-dropping operation prior to an American League Hockey game between the Connecticut Whale and the Providence Bruins featured a Navy father and his Air Force son, both home for the holidays and enjoying some minor-league ice time. Cmdr. Steve Wilkinson, a 30-plus-year Navy vet and skipper of the attack submarine Hartford, dropped the puck alongside Air Force 2nd Lt. Andrew Wilkinson, stationed with the 38th Cyberspace Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.,…

Senior academy stars tapped for postseason football showcases

By Kevin Lilley on December 20, 2012 Air Force, Army, Football, Navy, Uncategorized

Trent Steelman’s final snap under center for the Black Knights was one to forget. But he’ll have another chance to wear Army’s football uniform before leaving West Point. Steelman and six other senior service-academy standouts have been invited to play in postseason all-star games. The Army quarterback will join Navy wideout Brandon Turner and Air Force offensive lineman Jason Kons at the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 19 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (4 p.m. Eastern). The game will be broadcast on the NFL Network. Steelman capped his Army career as the school’s all-time rushing touchdown leader (45). His 3,320 career…

Week 12 football preview: Hawaii at Air Force

By Kevin Lilley on November 15, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

For the Friday night-owls out there, here’s what Air Force fans need to know about this week’s Mountain West Conference showdown. Who, where, when: Hawaii (1-8, 0-6 MWC) at Air Force (5-5, 4-2 MWC), Friday, 7:30 p.m. Mountain time (9:30 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Hawaii) TV: ESPN2 (Carter Blackburn and Rod Gilmore have the call) Gambling is illegal in most states: Air Force is a 22-point favorite. Must-win? The Falcons need one victory to secure bowl eligibility. If it doesn’t come this week, it’ll need to come Nov. 24 on the road against Fresno State (8-3, 6-1 MWC). The Falcons…

Big East announces future football divisions … how will Navy fit in?

By Kevin Lilley on November 14, 2012 Air Force, Football, Navy

It’s been a running joke for the last few years — the ongoing conference realignment in college football could eventually stretch the bounds of common sense to the point where someone would create a “Big East West” division. Well, welcome to that point. For the next two football seasons, the Big East Conference will have eastern and western divisions. Well, sort of — any geographic realignment that puts Philadelphia-based Temple in the same division with San Diego State hasn’t ironed out all the kinks. What does this mean for Navy? And what could it mean for long-rumored Big East expansion…

Week 11 football preview: Air Force at San Diego State

By Kevin Lilley on November 9, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

What Falcons fans need to know as Air Force hits the road, again, after a disappointing trip to West Point: Who, where, when: Air Force (5-4, 4-1 Mountain West Conference) at San Diego State (7-1, 4-1 MWC), Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Pacific (1:30 Mountain, 3:30 Eastern) TV: NBC Sports Network (Ari Wolfe and Blaine Fowler have the call) Gambling is illegal in most states: San Diego State is an 8-point favorite. Top of the Mountain: The MWC has four teams with one loss jammed atop the conference, meaning Saturday’s game could serve as a title eliminator of sorts. Fresno State and…

Week 10 preview: Air Force at Army

By Kevin Lilley on November 2, 2012 Air Force, Army, Football, Uncategorized

What Falcons and Black Knights fans need to know as Air Force fights for bowl eligibility and Army attempts to pull a home upset. Who, where, when: Air Force (5-3, 4-1 Mountain West Conference) at Army (1-7), Saturday, noon Eastern. TV: CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden and Randy Cross have the call). Gambling is illegal in most states: Air Force is a 7.5-point favorite. Would Air Force coach Troy Calhoun agree with that line?: Probably not, given all of Army’s advantages. Air Force’s advantages: David Ramsay at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette has the stats — Air Force has beaten…

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