Flush with victory, Air Force coach appeals to voters

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 19, 2004 | by TODD JACOBSON THE GAZETTE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Air Force coach Joe Scott was approached by Bob King after the Falcons' 68-42 Mountain West Conference win over New Mexico on Saturday night.

The Pit's court is named for the legendary New Mexico coach, and King wanted to congratulate Scott on the Falcons' historic win -- Air Force's first in Albuquerque since 1962.

"I will tell you, your team played well," King said. "It's good to have met you."

Scott is hoping more people start noticing Air Force, starting with voters in the two national polls.

"There are probably just a handful of 11-2 teams in America," Scott said. "We have some quality wins. I think we are going to get it (attention), whether or not it's votes and all that."

Including Air Force, 24 Division I teams have records of 11-2 or better, so praise in the polls isn't likely to come just yet. Scott knows this. But he also knows heads will turn after the Falcons' second straight conference road victory.

Only Utah and San Diego State also remain undefeated in the Mountain West.

"The rankings would just be icing on the cake to show we are a legitimate program and that when we come into the building you have to take us seriously, and we are going to play," senior forward Joel Gerlach said.

Six of the Falcons' next eight games will be at Clune Arena, starting Wednesday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Air Force has set school records for best start and winning streak (nine) and expunged a history of conference road woes.

The Falcons hadn't beaten Colorado State in Fort Collins since 1991 and hadn't beaten New Mexico in Albuquerque in more than four decades.

There are still more hurdles, though.

Air Force hasn't secured its first winning record since 1978, has never won a game at UNLV and hasn't won games at Utah, BYU or Wyoming since 1989.

"I hope we are done talking about the past," said sophomore center Nick Welch. "Hopefully, people want to talk about how good we are going to be and how good we are getting and they are not talking about how bad we used to be because we are a different team now."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0256 or tjacobson@gazette.com