AFA: Determination defines Carney

Friday, August 31, 2007

The late Vince Lombardi, the legendary Green Bay Packers coach, once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."

For Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney, an admirer of Lombardi, those words hold special meaning for the 2007 season.

Carney, entering his fourth season as Air Force's starting quarterback, already is the most accurate passer in Falcons history.

He holds Air Force's three best single-season completion percentages and needs 890 yards to pass Dave Ziebart for the all- time academy record of 4,789 passing yards.

Still, Carney, a 5-foot-10 senior, wants to prove he's a winner, something he hasn't been able to do.

Carney, the first Air Force freshman to start the season as starting quarterback, went 24-3 in three seasons as the starter at St. Edward High School in North Olmstead, Ohio, but has won only 12 of the 31 games he has started for Air Force.

The Falcons have had three consecutive losing seasons with Carney as the quarterback.

"We have something to prove after the losing seasons," Carney said. "We have to get some wins. We have to get more wins than losses this year, get to a bowl game and compete for the conference championship, which we are definitely capable of doing.

"I put it all on my shoulders. I take responsibility for what has happened, and I'll take responsibility for what is going to happen. That's the pressure I put on myself. I've got to win."

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has installed a multiple offense that will take advantage of Carney's passing abilities, though the Falcons still will emphasize the run.

"I feel a little more comfortable, but we still have to block and run and tackle, complete passes and do everything we have to do up front and in the backfield to make sure we put points on the board," Carney said.

"The passing game is something I really enjoy. I think it's something that is really going to help us, too. It's fun and it's really going to open up this offense. It's going to be difficult to prepare for us."

Carney's leadership will be vital to Air Force's bid for a winning season.

"Shaun is excited, and I think all of our quarterbacks are," Calhoun said. "It's an offense where you really have a chance to develop as a complete player and definitely at the quarterback position. He'll be a key instrument, and it's something he's looking forward to. The fact he's a senior will only help.

"(Senior leadership is) the key at the Air Force Academy. This is the world's finest leadership institution. For us, whenever we have good teams, we have phenomenal senior leadership. It is crucial to our year."

Outlook

6-6 Coach Troy Calhoun has installed more than new offensive and defensive philosophies. Preseason practices at Air Force have been packed with a rehabilitated spirit and enthusiasm that could result in a couple of more wins, which could produce a break-even season.

Preseason report card

• RUSHING OFFENSE: Calhoun wants a balanced offense that starts with a strong running game. Look for the Falcons to run a lot with plenty of the option plays, and expect quarterbacks, tailbacks, fullbacks and receivers to carry the ball. The shotgun will be a part of the package. The rebuilt offensive line will have to jell quickly. Grade: B

• PASSING OFFENSE: Shaun Carney is back for his fourth season as a starter and has established himself as the most accurate passer in school history. Calhoun will make sure the Falcons take advantage of Carney's abilities. Grade: B

• RUSHING DEFENSE: All-Mountain West Conference linebacker Drew Fowler sparks a defense that was better stopping the run last season. The Falcons will use a 3-4 alignment and plan to attack more. Grade: C

• PASSING DEFENSE: Air Force's aggressive defensive philosophy should help the pass defense, which gave up too many big plays in key situations last season. Grade: C

• SPECIAL TEAMS: Ryan Harrison finally will get a chance to show his skills as a punter and place-kicker this season after sitting out last year because of an academy suspension. Air Force needs to regain some of its special-teams magic. Grade: C

• STATE OF PROGRAM: The program is down after three consecutive losing seasons, but Calhoun and the revamped coaching staff seem to have reinstalled the enthusiasm. Grade: C

Depth chart

OFFENSE Pos. Starter Backup Comment

QB Shaun Carney Shea Smith Carney most accurate passer in AFA history.

TB Kip McCarthy Chad Smith Looking for reliable runner to carry load.

FB Scott Peeples Ryan Williams Dynamics of position have changed.

WR Chad Hall Ty Paffett Versatile Hall moved from running back.

WR Mark Root Sean Quintana Root should be Carney's prime target.

TE Travis Dekker Keith Madsen Tight ends should play a larger role.

LT Keith Williams Anthony Experience will result in improvement. Schelstrate

LG Peter Lusk Nick Charles Position manned by promising sophomores.

C Blaine Guenther Andrew Pipes Guenther and Pipes are new to the position.

RG Caleb Morris Tyler Weeks Oft-injured Morris needs to stay healthy.

RT Chris Monson Chris Campbell Monson moved from defense to offense.

PK Ryan Harrison Trey Eaton Ball explodes off Harrison's foot.

DEFENSE Pos. Starter Backup Comment

DE Jake Paulson Ben Garland Paulson solid but must avoid injuries.

NG Jared Marvin Ryan Gonzales Marvin started two games in 2006.

DE Josh Clayton Ryan Kemp Clayton will be tough if he stays healthy.

OLB John Rabold Andre Morris Rabold was second in tackles last season.

ILB Aaron Shanor Kenny Shanor primed to play after sitting out 2006. Lamendola

ILB Drew Fowler Austin Randle Fowler 11th nationally in tackles per game.

OLB Hunter Altman Julian Madrid Game experience won't be a problem.

CB Carson Bird Kevin Rivers Bird comfortable in new defensive scheme.

CB Garrett Rybak Reggie Rembert Rybak playing ahead of talented freshman.

FS Bobby Giannini Luke Yeager Giannini a three-year starter with 233 tackles.

SS Chris Thomas Luke Hyder Thomas played in 12 games as a freshman.

P Ryan Harrison Brandon Geyer Harrison missed last season (suspension).

Three things the Falcons must prove

1 That they can win close games. Air Force is 4-11 the past three seasons in games decided by seven points or fewer.

2 That they again can be a dominant service academy team. The Falcons have lost four consecutive games to Navy and haven't won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy in four years.

3 That they can win with their new offensive and defensive philosophies. Air Force will employ a more balanced offense and an aggressive, attacking defense. How long will it take for the changes to translate into victories?

Schedule, forecast

Date Opponent Time Last year Pick

Saturday SOUTH CAROLINA STATE Noon Did not play Air Force

Sept. 8 at Utah 4 p.m. Lost 17-14 Utah

Sept. 13 TEXAS CHRISTIAN 6 p.m. Lost 38-14 Texas Chr.

Sept. 22 at Brigham Young 1 p.m. Lost 33-14 Brigham Young

Sept. 29 at Navy 11 a.m. Lost 24-17 Air Force

Oct. 6 NEVADA-LAS VEGAS 7 p.m. Lost 42-39 Air Force

Oct. 13 at Colorado State 3:30 p.m. Won 24-21 Colorado State

Oct. 20 WYOMING Noon Won 31-24 Air Force

Oct. 25 at New Mexico 7 p.m. Won 24-7 New Mexico

Nov. 3 ARMY 1:30 p.m. Won 43-7 Air Force

Nov. 10 at Notre Dame 12:30 p.m. Lost 39-17 Notre Dame

Nov. 17 SAN DIEGO STATE Noon Lost 19-12 Air Force

• NOTE: Home games in CAPS. All times Mountain and subject to change.

• RADIO: KVOR-AM (740) in Colorado Springs, KBJD-AM (1650) in Denver.

• TICKETS: Information: 1-719-472-1895 or 1-800-666-8723.

Getting to know Shaun Carney

• If you could take somebody out to dinner, other than a member of your family, it would be . . .

"Beside my fiance (Lauren), it would be great to meet somebody like Vince Lombardi (right). He was great coach and somebody that you could really pick his brain about the game."

• The athlete you admire most is . . .

"I'm a big fan of Brett Favre — just the way he goes out and has a blast playing the game of football."

• The person you admire most is . . .

"My grandfather, Grandpa Carney (Patrick Carney). He's a guy who didn't come from a lot but worked his way in the business world and was very successful and raised a great family with seven kids."

• The most exhilarating thing about your first solo flight this summer was . . .

"I think that first landing. You realize all your previous landings, your instructors always had their hands on the stick in case they needed to make any small corrections. This time, it is all you."

• When channel surfing you always stop on . . .

"Any football game. I get the Mtn., I get CSTV, I get ESPNU, all the classic sports networks. If there is a game on, I'm watching it."

• The songs you have to listen to before a game are . . .

"I always listen to rap on the way to the game. Then, on the walk down the tunnel and to the field, it's time to mellow out so I go with some country, some Kenny Chesney or something."

MWC vs. BCS

Mountain West Conference schools will face teams from Bowl Championship Series-eligible conferences 17 times this season, up from 13 regular-season meetings in 2006.

• Each of the nine schools plays at least one BCS school this season.

• Last season, including Brigham Young's win against Oregon in the

Las Vegas Bowl, the Mountain West finished 4-10 against BCS schools.

• This season's MWC-BCS games:

Aug. 30

Utah at Oregon State (Pacific-10)

Sept. 1

Colorado State vs. Colorado (Big 12)*

Brigham Young vs. Arizona (Pacific-10)

Texas Christian vs. Baylor (Big 12)

Wyoming vs. Virginia (ACC)

Sept. 8

Brigham Young at UCLA (Pacific-10)

Colorado State vs. California (Pacific-10)

San Diego State vs. Washington State (Pacific-10)**

UNLV vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten)

Texas Christian at Texas (Big 12)

Sept. 15

New Mexico at Arizona (Pacific-10)

San Diego State at Arizona State (Pacific-10)

Utah vs. UCLA (Pacific-10)

Sept. 29

San Diego State vs. Cincinnati (Big East)

Oct. 5

Utah at Louisville (Big East)

Oct. 13

Texas Christian at Stanford (Pacific-10)

Nov. 10

Air Force at Notre Dame (independent)

If near-prohibitive conference favorite Texas Christian is as strong as advertised, there's a good chance a Mountain West team will run the table in league play for the fourth consecutive season. Utah went through the conference with a spotless record in 2004. TCU did it in 2005. BYU pulled it off last season.

Bowl lineup

The Mountain West Conference has guaranteed berths in four bowls as long as that many league teams are eligible. The Las Vegas Bowl has the first choice of teams, with the other three then making their picks. The bowls with tie-ins to the Mountain West (all times Mountain):

• Poinsettia Bowl, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego. 7 p.m. Dec. 20. Opponent: Navy (if bowl-eligible) or at-large team.

• New Mexico Bowl, University Stadium, Albuquerque. 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Opponent: Western Athletic Conference team.

• Las Vegas Bowl, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas. 6 p.m. Dec. 22. Opponent: Pacific-10 Conference team.

• Armed Forces Bowl, Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas. 10 a.m. Dec. 31. Opponent: Pacific-10 Conference team.

Note: A fifth Mountain West team could go to the Houston Bowl at Reliant Stadium on Dec. 28, but that spot isn't assured by contract.

Hanie a winner

Colorado State quarterback Caleb Hanie had a productive night at the casino at Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, Nev., site of the MWC Media Day events. Hanie wouldn't say how much he won at the craps tables, but one rumor had the figure at more than $1,400.

"Let's just say I did pretty well and leave it at that," Hanie, 21, said with a grin.

NCAA student-athletes are barred from sports betting, but there's no rule against other casino gambling.

Lack of respect?

0 players placed by San Diego State on the media's preseason all-conference team. Said Aztecs senior defensive lineman Nick Osborn: "I know that will push a lot of guys, and I know it's going to push me. I think it's a lot more important to get an honor like that at the end of the season than before the season."

He said it

"That's a life-and-death situation. Football's important, too, but it's only life-and-death figuratively."

Shaun Carney, Air Force quarterback, on a memorable day this summer soloing in an Air Force propeller plane.

Numbers and such

• Consistency: TCU is one of only five major-college teams in the nation to win at least 11 games in three of the past four seasons. The others: Southern California, Louisiana State, Oklahoma and Boise State.

• Back home: Air Force first-year coach Troy Calhoun, right, is one of 17 Division I-A coaches to hold the job at his alma mater. The only other Mountain West coach at the helm of his alma mater is New Mexico's Rocky Long.

• Staying power: With Air Force's Fisher DeBerry retired, Colorado State's Sonny Lubick is the dean of Mountain West coaches. Lubick is in his 15th season at CSU. Long is second with his 10 seasons with the Lobos.

• Challenges: Mountain West schools have nonconference games against 16 schools that played in bowls last season.

• Streaking: BYU has won 10 consecutive games, the second-longest current win streak in Division I-A after Boise State's 13. TCU is fourth on the list with eight, behind third-place Wisconsin's nine.

* Invesco Field At Mile High, Denver. ** Qwest Field, Seattle. Running The Table

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PREVIEW

1 Texas Christian

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas.

• Coach: Gary Patterson (54-20 overall and in six seasons at TCU).

• Last year: 11-2 overall, 6-2 in Mountain West, second. Beat Northern Illinois 37-7 in the Poinsettia Bowl.

• Returning starters: Five on offense, nine on defense, kicker.

• Key players

RB Aaron Brown. Nice runner, threat in passing game.

G Marty Lindner. Big senior anchors tough line.

K Chris Manfredini. 25-for-27 on field goals the past two seasons.

DE Tommy Blake. Scary quick; All-America candidate.

DE Chase Ortiz. If Blake doesn't get you, this guy will.

LB Jason Phillips. Third-year starter will man middle.

SS Brian Bonner. Another polished veteran on defense.

• Pivotal game: at Brigham Young Nov. 8.

• Prove it: The conference media generally get the champion wrong in the preseason poll, but it would be a major shock if TCU doesn't prove the writers and broadcasters prophetic this year. This is a gimme. The Horned Frogs are loaded, especially on defense, and it's not unrealistic to think they can make some noise on the national scene. A Week 2 game at mighty Texas could be telling for the Horned Frogs. If they win that one, they will have the nation's attention the rest of the season as long as they keep winning. TCU-BYU in Provo, Utah could be for all the conference marbles.

2. Brigham Young

• Location: Provo, Utah.

• Coach: Bronco Mendenhall (17-8 overall and in two seasons at BYU).

• Last year: 11-2 overall, 8-0 in Mountain West, first. Beat Oregon 38-8 in Las Vegas Bowl.

• Returning starters: Six on offense, seven on defense.

• Key players

QB Max Hall. Could sophomore be next great BYU quarterback?

RB Fui Vakapuna. Former missionary has speed, power.

TE Dennis Pitta. Filling big shoes of Jonny Harline.

K/P Mitch Payne. Cougars hope he can excel at both.

C Sete Aulai. Senior anchors one of nation's best offensive lines.

FS Quinn Gooch. Should be one of conference's top safeties.

LB Kelly Poppinga. Moves to the middle.

• Pivotal game: vs. Texas Christian Nov. 8.

• Prove it: The Cougars want to show their resurgence under Mendenhall is not a mere two-year blip, and there's a good chance they will. The biggest question mark is behind center, where the largely untested Hall will attempt to perform a passable impression of John Beck, who wrapped up his excellent BYU career last year. Vakapuna has the potential to be one of the league's best runners, and the defense should be sufficiently stingy to keep the Cougars in games. Look for BYU to challenge TCU for the title if Hall, or someone, eases nicely into the quarterback job.

3. New Mexico

• Location: Albuquerque.

• Coach: Rocky Long (52-57 overall and in nine seasons at New Mexico).

• Last year: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in Mountain West, fifth. Lost to San Jose State 20-12 in New Mexico Bowl.

• Returning starters: Seven on offense, nine on defense, punter.

• Key players

QB Donovan Porterie. Athletic sophomore is a dual threat.

RB Rodney Ferguson. Might be league's best runner.

FB Matt Quillen. At 260 pounds, he's a huge escort for Ferguson.

P Jordan Scott. Hopes to dial up his 40.2-yard average.

CB DeAndre Wright. Could be best cover guy in the conference.

LB Cody Kase. Senior anchors experienced linebacker corps.

• Pivotal game: vs. Brigham Young Sept. 29.

• Prove it: Lobos loyalists have seen Long take the program from infamy to consistent contention for bowl berths, and now they want to see the team take that next step to a conference title. Could this be the year? Maybe, but there are a lot of questions. How will new offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin's multiple offense fare, and is Porterie the dynamic force some think he can be? Serious conference contention would solidify the Lobos as major players in the Mountain West.

4. Colorado State

• Location: Fort Collins.

• Coach: Sonny Lubick (126-84 in 18 seasons overall; 105-65 in 14 seasons at Colorado State).

• Last year: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in Mountain West, tied for eighth.

• Returning starters: Nine on offense, nine on defense, kicker, punter.

• Key players

RB Kyle Bell. Missed last season (right knee); 1,288 yards in 2005.

QB Caleb Hanie. Needs to improve interceptions/touchdowns ratio.

WR Johnny Walker. Key figure in deep receiving corps.

TE Kory Sperry. Needs to step up in passing game.

DE Jesse Nading. Should be disruptive to opposing quarterbacks.

DT Blake Smith. Team-high nine tackles for loss in 2006.

LB Jeff Horinek. Sure tackler will man middle-linebacker spot.

P Jimmie Kaylor. Pro prospect craves big senior year.

• Pivotal game: at New Mexico Nov. 10.

• Prove it: Whenever CSU has been good under Lubick, the Rams have done it with tough defense and a bullish running game. Fans are hoping for a return to those staples, a potentially opportunistic defense complementing the comeback of the running game with the help of Bell's return and an improved line. If both those things happen, this can be a nice bounce-back season. If they don't, it could be another losing year, something CSU followers are starting to see with disturbing regularity.

5. Utah

• Location: Salt Lake City.

• Coach: Kyle Whittingham (15-10 overall and in two years at Utah).

• Last year: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in Mountain West, tied for third. Beat Tulsa 25-13 in Armed Forces Bowl.

• Returning starters: Nine on offense, six on defense, kicker/punter.

• Key players

QB Brian Johnson. Leader again after knee surgery.

WR Derrek Richards. Senior will be target for Johnson.

WR Brent Casteel. Could form top duo with Richards.

OT Jason Boone. 300-pound senior with NFL potential.

K/P Louie Sakoda. The junior again will do double duty.

S Steve Tate. Second in conference with 102 tackles in 2006.

LB Joe Jiannoni. Senior is mobile and experienced.

• Pivotal game: at Texas Christian Oct. 18.

• Prove it: Whittingham has put together two nice seasons, but whether the Utes ever again can approach the breakout, BCS-busting season they had under Urban Meyer in 2004 is iffy. Utah is a swing team in this conference: If Johnson has a season like he did in 2005 and the defense bucks up, Utah could contend for the conference title. But if everything doesn't go just right, this will be a middle-of- the-pack team. Don't be surprised if Boone is the top conference player taken in the 2008 NFL draft.

6. Wyoming

• Location: Laramie.

• Coach: Joe Glenn (179-85-1 in 22 seasons overall; 21-26 in four years at Wyoming).

• Last year: 6-6 overall, 5-3 in Mountain West, tied for third.

• Returning starters: Seven on offense, five on defense.

• Key players

QB Karsten Sween. Starter should improve in Year 2.

RB Wynel Seldon. Bullish junior will be workhorse.

RB Devin Moore. Big-play complement to Seldon's grit.

WR Michael Ford. Mullen High School graduate now No. 1 threat.

LB Ward Dobbs. Could be big-play guy.

CB Michael Medina. Tested tandem with Julius Stinson.

KR Hoost Marsh. Can break a big one at any time.

• Pivotal game: vs. Texas Christian Oct. 6.

• Prove it: The Cowboys will find out in a hurry where they stand, facing Virginia and Boise State in the nonleague season (plus Utah State and Ohio) before opening conference play against TCU. A lot will depend on Sween, whose arm could augment a rushing attack that should be one of the conference's best. The defense must replace John Wendling, a do-everything safety who made teammates better with his presence. This would be a nice season to show they can be more than a conference also-ran. But why would Wyoming schedule Boise State?

7. Air Force

• Location: Air Force Academy.

• Coach: Troy Calhoun (first season as coach).

• Last year: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in Mountain West, tied for sixth.

• Returning starters: Four on offense, six on defense.

• Key players

QB Shaun Carney. League's top quarterback in game experience.

RB Chad Hall. Should be the workhorse runner.

K/P Ryan Harrison. Will handle punts, placements.

DL Jake Paulson. Junior is only returning starter on line.

LB Drew Fowler. Leader of struggling defense.

S Bobby Giannini. Key element in improving secondary.

• Pivotal game: at Colorado State Oct. 13.

• Prove it: The hiring of Calhoun — a former Fisher DeBerry quarterback and assistant — has been lauded in Air Force fan circles. But he hasn't lost a game yet, either. One thing's for sure: Calhoun will impose his will on an offense that grew stale in DeBerry's final seasons. But the Falcons' upward mobility depends as much on better defensive play as it does on Calhoun's new offensive wrinkles. Can the Falcons regain the swagger they had a few years back? It's Calhoun's show. He has been given the keys to the once-steady, now-coughing vehicle that is the Air Force football program.

8. San Diego State

• Location: San Diego.

• Coach: Chuck Long (3-9 overall and in one year at San Diego State).

• Last year: 3-9 overall, 3-5 in Mountain West, tied for sixth.

• Returning starters: 10 on offense, four on defense, kicker, punter.

• Key players

QB Kevin O'Connell. Steady and experienced leader.

RB Atiyyah Henderson. Looking for breakout year.

OG Brandyn Dombrowski. At 335 pounds, senior moves bodies.

OT Will Robinson. Impressively mobile at 290 pounds.

K Garrett Palmer. One of conference's best placement guys.

LB Brett Martin. Leader on defense that needs work.

• Pivotal game: vs. New Mexico Oct. 20.

• Prove it: Long said when he took the job there was no reason the Aztecs couldn't win right away. He was wrong, and it remains to be seen if his reclamation project will move forward this season. The good news is 10 offensive starters, including tested quarterback O'Connell and fine young running back Henderson, return. The bad news is San Diego State will be green at several crucial defensive positions. People have been saying for years the program is a sleeping giant in the Mountain West. Long is the latest entrusted with the task of awakening it.

9. Nevada-Las Vegas

• Location: Las Vegas.

• Coach: Mike Sanford (4-19 overall and in two seasons at UNLV).

• Last year: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in Mountain West, tied for eighth.

• Returning starters: Seven on offense, seven on defense, kicker.

• Key players

WR Ryan Wolfe. Gifted wideout with terrific athleticism.

WR Casey Flair. Teamed with Wolfe for 1,127 yards.

K Sergio Aguayo. Hopes for big return from knee injury.

LB Beau Bell. Makes big play after big play.

DE Jeremy Geathers. Quickness scares quarterbacks.

CB Mil'Von James. Senior leads secondary.

• Pivotal game: vs. Brigham Young Oct. 13.

• Prove it: There is a culture of losing when it comes to UNLV football, and Sanford is the latest to try to change that culture. It hasn't been easy, and it won't be this season. Yet there are valid reasons for optimism. After consecutive midseason blowouts by BYU and Utah last year, the Rebels were reasonably competitive the rest of the way and capped the year with a win over Air Force. Sanford and his staff still have a long way to go, and they don't mind saying that. But hope always springs eternal in the land of out-of-nowhere jackpots.