Report: Air Force, Michigan's Week 2 opponent, removes 5 key players from football team
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke already has warned that Air Force could be a trap game for his team in Week 2.
That matchup might turn out to be more manageable than originally thought.
The Falcons have removed five key players from their team, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette and other local reports: Safety Anthony Wooding, receiver Mikel Hunter, receiver Brandon Hirneise, linebacker Jamil Cooks and tight end Devin Durden.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said the players were not suspended, but confirmed they are not on the team.
“Right now, they’re not practicing, they’re not here,” Calhoun said, according to the Gazette report. "They’re not on our team.”
If those players can't play against Michigan, it would be a blow to the Falcons' chances in Ann Arbor on Sept. 8. They already have lost 17 starters to graduation, and safety Jay Fullam will miss the season with a shoulder injury, according to the Gazette.
Hoke has said he's concerned about managing his team's emotions after it plays defending national champion Alabama in the country's most anticipated season opener.
Air Force lurks the following week. Compounding matters is it runs an option offense, which can be tricky to defend.
Michigan also has not fared particularly well against option teams in the past.
But its chances in this one could be looking up.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Tom
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
Something that Hoke the Joke would never have the courage to do. Talk is cheap.
Hailmary
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 5:08 p.m.
I'm referring to the Air Force as a whole of which I am a proud retiree.
Jarhead
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:54 a.m.
Sounds like your having fun. I can't hardley wait till September; Football, apple cider, leaves turning, no better time. Go Blue!
Hailmary
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
Yes Jarhead, Semper Fi. I live near 29 Palms and do my shopping on the Marine Corps Base. The desert is a hot, long summer and I'm looking forward to the college football season. I used to attend USC games only because I used to live in LA. My first, only and last love are the Michigan Wolverines. I fly my Michigan flag above my house on game day and when Mich. plays Air Force I will fly my Mich. flag and the Air Force Flag next to each other. My neighbors are Marines mostly retired and we share good, friendly natured banter and I've even got neighbors watching Mich. on game days.
Jarhead
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
Welcome Home Hailmary, and I thank you for your service. I have a brother who was in the Air Force and a niece who is currently a Captain and Commander of a C-17 Cargo Master. As well as many friends who are Air Force in the Vietnam Veterans 310 group here in Ann Arbor. Fly High, Aim High Semper Fi! Jarhead
Hailmary
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.
The Air Force has the greatest defense in the country.
edjasbord
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
I dont get the "Michigan has not fared particularly well against option teams in the past" sort of statement. This is tossed out by many sports writers. The past for this defense is one year. One year. We had a different defense before that, and several different defenses before that. With the coaching turnover we have had over the past 5 years, one can compare Michigan defenses across time only in the lofty abstract - really only in name. Its true that we have not faired well, but it is disconnected from the actualities that have transpired over the past 5 years, and really long before that. Its also disconnected from the growing familiarity with option offenses in college football in general, and its disconnected from the option-type offense that our defense confronts daily in practice - namely, Denard.
edjasbord
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
I agree '81 - It is a fair statement, but only in the very abstract. Its comparing apples to apples when looking across Michigan defense in the past in general, but its comparing apples to oranges when looking at the types of defenses, and the coaching staffs, across Michigan defenses in the past. My issue (not really with Kyle, but with this sort of comparison that's used quite often by sports analysts) is that we can compare anything the more abstract we make the comparison - but the more abstract we make the comparison, the more disconnected we become from actual on-the-ground events - and then the comparison becomes more meaningless.
heartbreakM
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
@81: Unfortunately, the teams from 2008-2010 had difficulty against any kind of offense (except Minnesota). Hard to fathom with some of the (paper) talent that they had. I think you are right--it was spread that did in Michigan more than option. Option alone Michigan usually has handled well since the days of Bo. Option with spread? I see 51 points against Northwestern, against FSU, a gazillion scores from App State, Oregon, Syracuse, MSU with Drew Stanton, even Freddie Hunter from Purdue in the late 80s. Those types of teams have given Michigan fits through the years.
81wolverine
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
Oops, I meant "traditional offenses".
81wolverine
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
The statement in the article seems fair to me, although instead of "option", "spread" is a better term. It's a true summary of recent history for MIchigan going back to the last several Lloyd Carr years (remember the App St. and Oregon games of 2007?) The Rodriguez teams had trouble against spread/option teams as well as traditional defenses. Last year's team was greatly improved for sure. But I think we are still undermanned on defense athletically at enough positions where there should be worry about stopping a spread or option offense.
edjasbord
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
Wow 7718, you have an issue with being able to agree to disagree, huh? Stop following me with a grudge from one story to another story - it's immature and it's creepy.
7718
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
Ok
Scott
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Our defense is great against option teams now. They have to run against Denard in practice. No one can come close to that.
TheWay
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 3:30 a.m.
A fast QB isn't the same as having a full-on option attack.
Shlobodon Dobodon
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.
They must not have bombed enough villages in the offseason. Chalk it up as a cake walk. Then again, never forget Appalachian State.
observer
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:10 a.m.
right, not too amusing.....try again...
Hailmary
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
The name fits the comment about our great Air Force, finest in the world.
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 5:01 p.m.
I can't imagine why anyone would forget a 1-AA program that changed the rules for 1-AA teams being included in the top-25 rankings. That was a heck of a team that did not lose a game that year. They would have beaten any of the MAC teams by 40.
Doug
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
Well the Army game will give our reserves much needed playing time.
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 6:24 a.m.
Of those, only Wooding started regularly last year, and I don't think Durden and Hirneise were projected to start this year. But it still hurts the depth of a relatively inexperienced team. If Michigan has a lot of trouble with Air Force, it's not going to be a good season regardless. But I do worry about a letdown if Alabama is as good as advertised.
TheWay
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 3:29 a.m.
Actually, Air Force gives fits to quite a few good teams because of their offense. You don't see it regularly, so you only have a week to prepare for it.
heartbreakM
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 2:01 a.m.
Too scared of us, huh? (Did I read that right--17 starters are gone? That's like total turnover).
Robert Granville
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
That much turnover is typical of service acadamies.
7718
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
Too many beers?