Air Force senior Ty Paffett watched a preseason scrimmage in mid-August in shorts and a t-shirt and then walked off the field gingerly – as if trying to avoid pain with each step.
So it was pretty incredible to see Paffett on Wednesday participating in his first contact practice of the 2008 season and at one point throwing an effective cut block. There he was, the guy who seemingly could barely walk a month ago, getting his torso parallel to the ground while running and then diving toward the legs of a scout team player to spring a running back. And then bouncing right back to his feet.
Take it from a guy with a bad back – it was pretty impressive for a guy who had two offseason back surgeries.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun was cautious in his assessment of Paffett.
“He struggled,” Calhoun said. “It’s his first day back in contact. But you can tell he needs a lot of WD-40 on his knees and his joints and the whole bit. But it’s just good for him to be out here.”
For Paffett to return to game action soon – possibly by the Falcons’ next contest, Oct. 4 against service academy rival Navy – he’ll have to continue to work hard in practice. And show his back can take the contact he absorbed Wednesday.
“You want to see just physically, and it’s not just today, but when he wakes up in the morning, if he can say ‘I’m fine,’ and ‘I can go,’” Calhoun said. “If he does that, then mentally he’ll be better off too.”
We’ll know a lot more by the middle of next week. But today was a big first step. …
In other injury news, senior tight end Travis Dekker, who fractured his right ankle in the preseason, worked out on his own Wednesday. According to Calhoun, a fitted brace for Dekker’s injured ankle will arrive at the academy tomorrow morning. That should help him. …
Has either of the Falcons’ freshman quarterbacks (Tim Jefferson or Asher Clark) progressed to the point where Calhoun might use him for a few series in a game? I asked Calhoun Wednesday.
“I don’t know if they’re there yet,” Calhoun said. “They’re both progressing, but they aren’t quite to that point. … Without rushing them, I want to get them to a spot where they’re able to do that, too. At least one of them.”
Jake:
Some of comments while I observed practice yesterday. I thought Dekker’s and Paffet’s participation added much to our team. Dekker is an excellent, aggressive blocker which will be a big boost for our blocking schemes. Meanwhile, Paffet brings experience, albeit limited, and an attitude that contributes to success. If these guys are ready for the Navy game, we win. Also, I thought it special that Spencer Armstrong “participated” in practice on his crtuches in shells. He’s hoping to be back in a couple of weeks (more likely longer) if the Doctors give him the OK but he definetly wants to be back for the BYU and TCU games and potential Bowl game.
Jake,
I have two comments about stories in the gazette today.
First, I really liked Dave Ramsey’s article about the CIC trophy. After being really critical of him yesterday, I thought that today’s article was extremely fair and enjoyable to read. I don’t want him to be a homer, but I thought that he was very respectful of the past cadets but still saying their efforts weren’t getting it done in the last five years. No ad hominen attacks either! I wish he always wrote in today’s style, because I enjoy it so much more.
Second, there was a note about Navy signing on again with the San Diego bowl and that the MWC officials were negotiating with them as well. I would be curious to know if the MWC officials would insist that AF not be excluded from that bowl if Navy is selected to play in it. Can you dig around and see what their negotiating position is? There are plenty of precedents for rematches. BYU played UCLA three times in the last 12 months and I didn’t hear UCLA complaining about the bowl (although after the last 59-0 meeting they might be re-thinking that). Its seems curious that Navy could dictate those terms. Imagine an AF – Navy rematch. To paraphrase my good friend Dave Ramsey, the plot twists would be intriquing. Also, say AF wins the CIC trophy and then loses to Navy in the bowl, do they forfeit the trophy? I know, I know, regular season only. But as a fan, it would be an interesting rematch.
Stats –
Thanks for the thoughts. I’ll ask around about the Poinsettia Bowl problem. My initial take is that the bowl will continue its policy of not allowing a re-match (and thus barring Air Force from consideration). But I would think (as Calhoun has suggested) the conference would allow Air Force a contingency in those situations — another potential tie-in to a bowl for Air Force. The most obvious would be the new Congressional Bowl in Washington, DC. That way in those years in which Navy gets bowl eligible and gets to the Poinsettia Bowl, Air Force would be allowed to head to the Congressional Bowl (or whatever bowl with which it gets a contingency) if it is bowl eligible and shut out from the other MWC-affiliated bowls.
As for the idea of a re-match … I love it. I think a re-match last year would have been great. It would have given AF a shot at Navy with Chad Hall more prominently involved in the offense. Also, I think that the bowl would love to have it. Imagine AF v. Navy in San Diego with all the military presence in that city. It would be great.
However, the re-match puts the winner of the regular season game in a bad spot. It wins, big deal, it already won — sure there’s additional bragging rights, but there is so much more to lose. The other team gets the last word and the CIC Trophy (which I don’t believe would change hands) is tainted.
If Johnson remained at Navy, Service Academy Football there was a good chance you’d see a ranked Air Force vs a ranked Navy. It wouldn’t have happened this year – but I’m convinced it would have happened. I hope Navy’s new coach can keep them on at the same level, but don’t think he’ll raise their game the way Johnson did.