Laramie, Wyoming - As Air Force makes the trip up to Laramie for their annual game against Wyoming, head coach Troy Calhoun and key players Camby Goff and Brandon Engel shared their insights on the intensity of the matchup last July during Mountain West Football Media Days in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Is the game between Air Force and Wyoming a rivalry? Coach Calhoun quickly clarified, stating, "It's a game we want to play really well." While some may consider the annual meetings with Wyoming a rivalry, Calhoun emphasized that Air Force takes a different approach. "We don't have a game where you say this is the rivalry game. We just don't," he explained. However, he did acknowledge the consistency of facing Wyoming and Colorado State year after year. "You're playing in a good atmosphere... they're going to be very sound on both sides of the ball," Calhoun said of Wyoming. Despite Calhoun’s view, many still see the game as a rivalry.
Calhoun praised Wyoming's recent success, saying, "Since 2016, they've been to a bunch of bowl games... they've had a bunch of winning seasons." He also applauded the university's commitment to its football program, stating, "The amount that they've contributed or committed to their program, I think, is impressive." With the game taking place in Laramie, Calhoun anticipates a challenging contest.
Air Force defensive back Camby Goff offered his perspective on the growing intensity of the Wyoming-Air Force matchup. "I think there actually is something to Wyoming, just the fact that they're right there, Border War and everything," Goff said. Despite the rivalry not being officially labeled, Goff expressed a deep respect for Wyoming as a tough opponent. "We love playing Wyoming because they're always a good competition... they always bring it every single time," he added.
Goff also spoke about the physicality Wyoming brings to the field, especially on the offensive line. "They're known for having some big offensive linemen," he noted. "Anytime someone's big, you know, they're definitely powerful." Preparing for the Cowboys, Goff said, demands a physical approach: "We gotta put our cleats in the ground, we gotta be physical... we always know Wyoming will be physical."
Wide receiver Brandon Engel echoed Goff's sentiments, acknowledging the Wyoming game as a tough, physical battle. "Yeah, it's definitely a game you look forward to playing. It's a tough matchup for sure. They're just like us, just an extremely tough team," Engel said. He noted that it's one of those games players "mark down on your calendar" and that they must "buckle chinstrap" for the contest.
Engel also recognized the challenges of playing against a team as unpredictable as Wyoming. "They're definitely a team where you gotta, you know, understand their scheme and understand what they're trying to do," he said. "Every play, you know, you could break one or else they're going to stop it at the line of scrimmage."
The Wyoming Cowboys and the Air Force Falcons will kick off in Laramie on Saturday at 6 PM.
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