Air Force stunned to see playbook on Internet

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 23, 2000

You can learn how to build a bomb on the Internet.

Now you can learn how to throw one, Air Force Academy style.

Welcome to the Unofficial Air Force Spread Offense site, courtesy of the Internet.

It's a nine-page manual outlining Air Force's football offense, complete with diagrams, blocking schemes and play names.

It's something else too: a surprise to coaches who didn't expect the Falcons' offense available to the Internet masses (http:// lac.laci.net/

pweb/tbran1996/airforce/), thanks to someone identified only by the name tbran1996.

"I haven't heard anything about that," said Chuck Petersen, Air Force's offensive coordinator.

"I've never heard of that before," said Bronco Mendenhall, defensive coordinator with Mountain West Conference rival New Mexico.

Not exactly like some hacker wreaking havoc with ebay.com. But it's a little weird. Leaf through the pages and you find, for instance, the three types of triple options Air Force plays. You'll also see the names of the Falcons' six basic counter plays and blocking assignments, complete with diagrams.

All this doesn't really trouble Petersen, or help Mendenhall.

"We've got so many variations and so many different plays," Petersen said.

"Even if Air Force's plays were on the Internet, we'd have a tough time stopping them," Mendenhall said.

Take Air Force bitter rival Navy, for example.

"Last season, Navy had our playbook," Petersen said.

Air Force beat Navy, 19-14.

"Football's football," Petersen said. "It goes back to who blocks and tackles the best."

- Meri-Jo Borzilleri; The Gazette