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AFA's world traveler Kemp isn't bag of bones upon return

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 30, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.

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Air Force defensive end Ryan Kemp traveled to France and Dubai this summer as part of a cultural exchange program. As a result, his conditioning work was unorthodox, to say the least. While in Paris, Kemp used the stairs of a seven-story building as a tool to improve his speed.

Kevin Kreck © The Gazette

Air Force defensive end Ryan Kemp traveled to France and Dubai this summer as part of a cultural exchange program. As a result, his conditioning work was unorthodox, to say the least. While in Paris, Kemp used the stairs of a seven-story building as a tool to improve his speed.

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Ryan Kemp is a 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end who was selected to the All-Mountain West Conference's preseason team.

So you figure that Kemp spent a lot of time this summer lifting weights, running and doing other conditioning drills to get ready for Air Force's preseason camp, which begins this morning.

Wrong!

Remember, summers for Air Force cadets are filled with various required duties in places all across the world.

Kemp spent the early part of June on an Olmsted trip to Paris, Dubai and Reims, France. The cultural exchange trip was part of the academy's summer programs.

It was difficult for Kemp to get in workouts, especially in Paris. He once had to do his speed training on the stairs of a seven-story building, and another time, he had security guards called when working out in a courtyard.

And he had to try to squeeze in all the workouts after busy days touring with fellow cadets on the trip.

"It was difficult to work out, especially in Paris," Kemp said. "In Dubai, the hotel had a weight room."

Kemp looked to be in good shape Wednesday and ready to begin preseason practice.

Coach Troy Calhoun will have a month to determine replacements for 14 starters lost off a 9-4 team that played in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Calhoun, beginning his second season as Air Force coach, has 17 seniors and almost as many sophomores (14) on the preseason depth chart. And freshmen haven't yet reported for football.

Missing from summer drills after graduating are the team's six leading rushers, the top two receivers and four of the five leading tacklers.

"You are always going to have turnover at the Air Force Academy," Calhoun said. "Ultimately, what you find is, you have new kids that emerge."

Air Force needs a player to emerge at quarterback since four-year starter Shaun Carney has graduated.

Eric Herbort, a junior who makes plays, is listed at No. 1 after spring drills, and steady senior Shea Smith, the 2007 backup, is running a close second.

"They are both extremely bright kids and they have some football intelligence," Calhoun said. "They are both coaches' kids. They've had a little ball in their crib, probably for some time. They are both great competitors."

Calhoun hasn't ruled out platooning quarterbacks or using somebody from what he labels a talented group of freshman quarterbacks. Tim Jefferson is one of those incoming freshmen.

Ty Paffett, a senior who was ticketed to take over for Chad Hall at the Z-receiver position, had back surgery in June for a herniated disk, and that will limit his ability to work out and practice next month.

Air Force starts the season Aug. 30 against Southern Utah at Falcon Stadium.