Air Force flying high again

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun was in the news quite a bit in the offseason, and it wasn’t good.

As chairman of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, he had to change course on a proposal to slow down hurry-up offenses after criticism from some of his colleagues.

His Falcons were picked to finish last in the Mountain Division at Mountain West media days, and there was speculation Calhoun — who was coming off a 2-10 season and had gone 6-7 the year before that — might not be long for the job.

Then in August, he was criticized nationally for declaring injured players persona non grata as it relates to his team.

Now all of that seems like a distant memory, and Calhoun might even wind up becoming Mountain West Coach of the Year by the time the season is done. Air Force is coming off victories over Boise State and Navy, and is 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference with hopes of contending for at least the Mountain Division title.

“People were calling for his head,” Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told the Colorado Springs (Colo.) Gazette. “Not me. I know what we have in Troy Calhoun. He’s a great football coach. We were lucky to get him.”

That may be true, but Air Force has some challenging games ahead beginning with Saturday’s at Utah State.

But unlike last season’s team, the Falcons are showing they are a team to be taken seriously this time.

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Boise State’s Grant Hedrick completed 12 passes in a row in the first half of the Broncos’ 51-46 victory at UNR. He finished 26 of 31 for 346 yards and two touchdowns. ... Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson will not go through full practices this week because of an injured right shoulder, his throwing arm. ... Hawaii coach Norm Chow’s wife, Diane, suffered a brain aneurysm at the couple’s home in Los Angeles, and underwent two operations at UCLA Medical Center. ... San Diego State coach Rocky Long said the Mountain West admitted to 10 officiating mistakes in the Aztecs’ 24-13 loss at Fresno State. ... Utah State has won five consecutive Mountain West games and 18 of 19 in league play going back to 2011 when the Aggies were in the Western Athletic Conference.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Colorado State (4-1, 0-1 MW). Last game: Defeated Tulsa 42-17. Next game: at UNR, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 38-17 in 2013. Line: Colorado State -1.

2. Utah State (3-2, 0-0). Last game: Defeated Brigham Young 35-20. Next game: vs. Air Force, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 52-20 in 2013. Line: Utah State -7.

3. Air Force (4-1, 1-1). Last game: Defeated Navy 30-21. Next game: at Utah State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 52-20 in 2013. Line: Utah State -7.

4. Boise State (4-2, 2-1). Last game: Defeated UNR 51-46. Next game: vs. Fresno State, Oct. 17. Last meeting: Lost 41-40 in 2013. Line: N/A.

5. Fresno State (3-3, 2-0). Last game: Defeated San Diego State 24-13. Next game: at UNLV, Friday. Last meeting: Won 38-14 in 2013. Line: Fresno State -10½.

6. UNR (3-2, 1-1). Last game: Lost to Boise State 51-46. Next game: vs. Colorado State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 38-17 in 2013. Line: Colorado State -1.

7. San Diego State (2-3, 1-1). Last game: Lost to Fresno State 24-13. Next game: at New Mexico, Friday. Last meeting: Won 35-30 in 2013. Line: San Diego State -6.

8. Wyoming (3-2, 1-0). Last game: Lost to Michigan State 56-14. Next game: at Hawaii, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 59-56 in overtime in 2013. Line: Hawaii -4.

9. San Jose State (2-3, 1-1). Last game: Defeated UNLV 33-10. Next game: at Wyoming, Oct. 18. Last meeting: Won 51-44 in 2013. Line: N/A.

10. New Mexico (2-3, 0-1). Last game: Defeated Texas-San Antonio 21-9. Next game: vs. San Diego State, Friday. Last meeting: Lost 35-30 in 2013. Line: San Diego State -6.

11. Hawaii (1-4, 0-0). Last game: Lost to Rice 28-14. Next game: vs. Wyoming, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 59-56 in overtime in 2013. Line: Hawaii -4.

12. UNLV (1-5, 0-2). Last game: Lost to San Jose State 33-10. Next game: vs. Fresno State, Friday. Last meeting: Lost 38-14 in 2013. Line: Fresno State -10½.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Air Force at Utah State. The Falcons are the Mountain West’s surprise team, but this will be a difficult test for Air Force. Utah State is following last season’s script of overcoming a devastating knee injury to quarterback Chuckie Keeton and becoming a Mountain Division contender. This is amazingly Utah State’s first conference game, but the Aggies come off an impressive victory at Brigham Young.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.