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American college football season
The 1970 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy as an independent during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season . Led by 13th-year head coach Ben Martin , the Falcons compiled a record of 9–3, outscored their opponents 366–239, and finished No. 16 in the AP Poll . Air Force played their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado .
This was the last season that Army was off of the Falcons' schedule; the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy was introduced two years later which matched the three academies annually. Previously, Air Force played Army in odd years and Navy in even years.
Behind the passing of quarterback Bob Parker, the Falcons' notable wins were over No. 9 Missouri ,[ 1] and No. 6 Stanford , led by Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett .[ 2] Stanford went on to upset No. 2 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl .
For the first time since the 1963 season, the Falcons appeared in a bowl game, but lost by 21 points to No. 4 Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day .[ 3] The favored Volunteers jumped out to a 24–0 lead in the first quarter and the Falcons could not make up the difference.[ 3]
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 12 Idaho W 45–725,000 [ 4]
September 19 at Wyoming W 41–17
September 26 at No. 9 Missouri No. 20 W 37–14
October 3 Colorado State No. 10 Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO (rivalry ) W 37–2229,030
October 10 Tulane No. 8 Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO W 24–331,508 [ 5]
October 17 vs. Navy No. 7 W 26–3
October 24 Boston College No. 7 Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO W 35–10
October 31 at Arizona No. 7 W 23–20
November 7 at Oregon No. 9 L 35–4624,700 [ 6]
November 14 No. 6 Stanford No. 13 Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO W 31–14
November 21 Colorado No. 10 Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO L 19–4945,447
January 1, 1971 vs. No. 4 Tennessee No. 11 ABC L 13–3478,655
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 7]
Personnel
1970 Air Force Falcons football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
RB
Brian Bream
Jr
WR
Ernie Jennings
Sr
C
Orderia Mitchell
So
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DL
Eugene Ogilvie
So
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
References
^ "Air Force bombs Missouri" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. September 27, 1970. p. 6B.
^ "Air Force upsets Stanford, 31-14" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. November 15, 1970. p. 5B.
^ a b "Tennessee rips AFA" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1971. p. 2B.
^ Payne, Bob (September 13, 1970). "Air Force blitzes Vandals" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ "Greenie fumbles help Air Force win" . Sun Herald . October 11, 1970. Retrieved October 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Cawood, Neil (November 8, 1970). "Ducks shoot down Air Force, 46-35" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). p. 1B.
^ "1970 Air Force Falcons Schedule and Results" . Sports-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2017 .
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