COLORADO SPRINGS — Following disappointing 5-7 seasons in 2017 and 2018, the Air Force football team is confident they'll turn their program around this year.
The Falcons host FCS opponent Colgate Saturday at Falcon Stadium (1:30 p.m.) in their season opener and don't believe they're in a position to take anyone lightly.
"The concept that we have nothing to gain is faulty," senior safety Garret Kauppila said. "We definitely have something to gain in establishing our 2019 team. We have some thing to prove. Among one another."
There are still plenty of question marks heading into 2019, such as who will start under center for the team's option-based attack. Currently senior quarterback Isaiah Sanders (Palmer Ridge) and junior Donald Hammond III are both listed as possibilities heading into the first game of the season.
"We'll make a decision on that shortly," head coach Troy Calhoun said.
The position battle is one of many on AFA's current roster with the team having to replace 30 seniors from last year's team. With the Raiders coming to town, it serves as an opportunity for many to prove they deserve playing time moving forward.
"There are a lot of guys that this is their initial interaction with college football on a gameday," Calhoun said. "We'll take the experience from this Saturday, We'll be able to build off the good things, and we will do some good things. And we'll move forward."
This is the second meeting all-time between the two programs with Air Force defeating Colgate 38-13 on Aug. 31, 2013 in Colorado Springs.
