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Air Force Falcons Due for a solid season
'99: 6-5, 2-5 Mountain WestCoachFisher DeBerry (17th season, 126-69-1)Key offensive playersMike Thiessen, QB, Sr.Baseball shortstop needs to keep improving and, above all, stay healthy.
Scotty McKay, RB, Sr.
Qualario Brown, RB, Sr.
Key defensive playersMatt Pommer, LB, Sr.Led the Falcons with 78 tackles last season.
C.J. Zanotti, LB, Sr.
Key newcomerKeith Boyea, QB, Junior Missed last season for disciplinary reasons, but figures to be quality backup to Thiessen.
Throwback playerDefensive tackle Kyle Allen missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, but returns this season looking like he might become a force like departed Shawn Thomas.21st century playerHe might not seem too "new-age" since the Falcons always have somebody like him in their offense, but halfback Scotty McKay does everything. He is the team's leading returning rusher, pass-catcher and kick and punt returner -- and he's only 5-foot-8.Fast factThe Falcons have had only two losing seasons under Coach Fisher DeBerry, and have won the Commander-in-Chief's trophy 13 times in its 27 seasons of existence.OutlookHistory shows that the Falcons never have two bad seasons in a row, although they will be trying to rebound this year with a new offensive coordinator and a specific coordinator for the special teams. It might not be that hard, as long as they don't get hurt the way they did last year. Quarterbacks coach Chuck Peterson was promoted to call plays after Bob Noblitt retired, and he has been at Air Force for more than a decade. Longtime assistant Tom Miller will handle the special teams, which have always been a Falcon trademark. The biggest key will be avoiding injury, which decimated the defense last year.--Michael C. Lewis
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