Air Force Football Opts Out of Extra Practice Time

Air Force begins football practice Friday, even though technically it could have cranked up earlier this week.

An April rules change from the NCAA banned two-a-day practices that include player contact, which impacted few teams since the practice had largely been abandoned. But to make up for the lost opportunity for on-field time, teams were allowed to start earlier to still allow for the 29 total permissible practices before the first game.

Air Force stuck with the August calendar it has used in previous seasons, despite the fact that it even if it utilized all available practice time from Friday through the Sept. 2 opener against Virginia Military Institute it would fall four days short of its allowable sessions.

Coach Troy Calhoun acknowledged that practice could have begun earlier by NCAA rules, but that doing so would mean the team would be without its freshmen, who are still engrossed in basic training.

“We’re going to start when we’re allowed,” Calhoun said. “With what the academy directs.”

This calendar change took place late in the spring, leaving teams little time to adjust. It is unclear if Air Force will make changes in future seasons to utilize the extra sessions.

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