2007 Armed Forces Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
was a college football
bowl game
that was played on December 31, 2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium
in Fort Worth
, Texas
, USA. The Armed Forces Bowl is part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
and one of 32 games in the 2007-2008 bowl season and matched the California Golden Bears
and the Air Force Falcons
.
The Golden Bears were a pre-season favorite to contend for the Pac-10 Conference, and possibly even for the BCS National Championship Game
, but after an injury to quarterback Nate Longshore
, the team struggled to a 6-6 season. On the other hand, the Falcons earned their first bowl bid since 2001 with a 9-3 mark, tied for second in the Mountain West Conference
.
on the backs of their uniforms, a change from their look throughout the season. In addition, three of their players, star kick returner
Desean Jackson
, wide receiver
Robert Jordan, and free safety Thomas DeCoud
were suspended for the first quarter of the game for violating team rules.
The Bears struggled early against the Falcons, who ran up 21 unanswered points under the leadership of quarterback Shaun Carney. The Bears had trouble in the early going of the game adjusting to the Falcons triple option
offense and unpredictable line formations. Nate Longshore started and played cleanly in the first quarter, but was hampered by the absence of DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan. Longshore completed 5 of 8 passes for 36 yards in the first quarter. As Cal coach Jeff Tedford
had planned, backup quarterback Kevin Riley
took over for Longshore in the second quarter. Riley completed two touchdown passes to DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins
to make it 21-14 Falcons at the half.
Carney was injured in the third quarter on a running play and did not return. He finished with one touchdown pass and 108 yards rushing. Backup Shea Smith
, who had not played all year, replaced Carney. The Falcons were limited to a pair of field goals, while Robert Jordan caught a pass for a touchdown and Justin Forsett
ran in for one. He rushed for another in the fourth quarter, as did Riley. Air Force was limited to field goals until they capitalized on a botched kickoff return to score a touchdown with just over two minutes left, but failed to recover an onside kick. Alongside Carney, Falcons running back Jim Ollis also eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark with 101, while Forsett had 140. Riley completed 269 passing yards and was the game MVP, leaving some to believe that there will be controversy over who will be the starting quarterback next year at Cal. Cal ended the 2007 season with its first win in four games, while handing Air Force their first loss in four games.
Armed Forces Bowl
The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is an annual postseason college football bowl game that was inaugurated in 2003 as the Fort Worth Bowl under corporate sponsorship of PlainsCapital Bank. In 2005, the game was without corporate sponsorship...
was a college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
that was played on December 31, 2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Amon G. Carter Stadium is an open-air football stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the home stadium of the TCU Horned Frogs football team. It was named after Amon G...
in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA. The Armed Forces Bowl is part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
and one of 32 games in the 2007-2008 bowl season and matched the California Golden Bears
2007 California Golden Bears football team
The 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford....
and the Air Force Falcons
2007 Air Force Falcons football team
The 2007 United States Air Force Academy Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the college football season of 2007–2008, getting second place in the Mountain West Conference, and losing the Armed Forces Bowl to California...
.
The Golden Bears were a pre-season favorite to contend for the Pac-10 Conference, and possibly even for the BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
, but after an injury to quarterback Nate Longshore
Nate Longshore
Nate Longshore is an arena football quarterback for the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League. He played collegiately at California, where he was a three year starter and led the Golden Bears to a share of the Pac-10 title in 2006.-High school:Longshore graduated from Canyon High School...
, the team struggled to a 6-6 season. On the other hand, the Falcons earned their first bowl bid since 2001 with a 9-3 mark, tied for second in the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
.
Game
The Bears came out for the game without last namesSurname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
on the backs of their uniforms, a change from their look throughout the season. In addition, three of their players, star kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
Desean Jackson
DeSean Jackson
Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver...
, wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Robert Jordan, and free safety Thomas DeCoud
Thomas DeCoud
Thomas DeCoud is a safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football for the California Golden Bears...
were suspended for the first quarter of the game for violating team rules.
Triple Option
The triple option is an American football scheme used to offer multiple ways to progress the football forward in the field of play. The triple option is based on the option run, but uses three players who may run with the ball instead of the two that are used in the standard option run.The triple...
offense and unpredictable line formations. Nate Longshore started and played cleanly in the first quarter, but was hampered by the absence of DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan. Longshore completed 5 of 8 passes for 36 yards in the first quarter. As Cal coach Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
had planned, backup quarterback Kevin Riley
Kevin Riley (quarterback)
Kevin Riley is a former American football quarterback for the California Golden Bears. He played for California from 2007-2010.-High school:...
took over for Longshore in the second quarter. Riley completed two touchdown passes to DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins
Lavelle Hawkins
Lavelle Hawkins is an American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
to make it 21-14 Falcons at the half.
Carney was injured in the third quarter on a running play and did not return. He finished with one touchdown pass and 108 yards rushing. Backup Shea Smith
Shea Smith
Shea Smith is a former American college football quarterback for the Air Force Academy football program.- High school :...
, who had not played all year, replaced Carney. The Falcons were limited to a pair of field goals, while Robert Jordan caught a pass for a touchdown and Justin Forsett
Justin Forsett
Justin Forsett is an American football running back and punt returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:Forsett was born in Lakeland, Florida...
ran in for one. He rushed for another in the fourth quarter, as did Riley. Air Force was limited to field goals until they capitalized on a botched kickoff return to score a touchdown with just over two minutes left, but failed to recover an onside kick. Alongside Carney, Falcons running back Jim Ollis also eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark with 101, while Forsett had 140. Riley completed 269 passing yards and was the game MVP, leaving some to believe that there will be controversy over who will be the starting quarterback next year at Cal. Cal ended the 2007 season with its first win in four games, while handing Air Force their first loss in four games.