Among the service academies, Army and Navy typically get the most attention, but it’s best not to forget about the Air Force Falcons. As members of the Mountain West Conference, the Falcons know a thing or two about big-time football and cheap Air Force football tickets aren’t always easy to find. Despite many years of futility, the Falcons came alive in the 1990s and have become a perennial bowl team in the 21st century, keeping last-minute Air Force football tickets in high demand.

Old Ben

One of the most important figures in Air Force football history was longtime head coach Ben Martin. His 20 seasons as head coach weren’t filled with sustained success. However, Martin led the Falcons to some of their most memorable seasons. During his first year in 1958, Air Force went undefeated at 9-0-2 and finished the season ranked in the top-10 after a trip to the Cotton Bowl. Despite finishing his tenure with a losing record, Martin also led Air Force to appearances in the Gator Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

Going Fishing

The first true golden era of Air Force football came in the 1980s under Hall of Fame coach Fisher DeBerry. He took over the Falcons in 1984 and coached Air Force to a 12-1 record and top-10 finish in his second season at the helm. DeBerry stayed at Air Force through the 2006 season, ultimately winning three conference titles and guiding the Falcons to 12 bowl games.

Mr. Consistency

Troy Calhoun, who played quarterback for Air Force under DeBerry in the 1980s, took over for his former head coach in 2007, giving the Falcons another long-term head coach. Outside of a couple of hiccups, Calhoun has transformed Air Force into a model of consistency inside the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons regularly play in bowl games and have had multiple seasons of double-digit wins, most notably, the 2019 season, when Air Force went 11-2 and finished the year ranked inside the top-25 for the first time in over 20 years.