1983 Air Force Falcons football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1983 Air Force Falcons football Air Force Falcons logo 1963-1994.png Western Athletic Conference WAC 15 13 10–2 5–2 Ken Hatfield 5th Fisher DeBerry 3rd Wishbone triple option Fred Goldsmith 2nd 3–4 All seniors Falcon Stadium Independence Bowl champion Independence Bowl W 9–3 vs. Ole Miss The 1983 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 5th season under head coach Ken Hatfield, Air Force played its home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs and finished the regular season at 9–2 (5–2 in WAC, runner-up). The Falcons were invited to play in the Independence Bowl and defeated Ole Miss 9–3.Football Schedule/Results: 1983-1984 http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/afa-m-footbl-sched.html Air Force Athletics April 7, 2017 October 8, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131008194827/http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/afa-m-footbl-sched.html dead1983 Air Force Falcons Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/air-force/1983-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference April 7, 2017 With a 10–2 record, Air Force climbed to thirteenth in the final AP poll. After the season in December, Hatfield left for Arkansas, his alma mater,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hVdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1673%2C4026921 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Air Force's Hatfield hired by Razorbacks December 23, 1983 22 where he succeeded Lou Holtz as head coach.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gVdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2203%2C2333257 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Tired, burned-out Holtz quits as Arkansas coach December 19, 1983 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hVdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2978%2C4026885 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Holtz will take on Big Ten's worst December 23, 1983 22 Days later, offensive coordinator Fisher DeBerry was promoted,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LQ5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6649%2C7397958 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press AFA hires DeBerry to replace Hatfield December 28, 1983 4C and he was the Falcons' head coach for the next 23 seasons.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sV5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5049%2C3894521 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Stapleton Arnie DeBerry decides it's time to fly December 16, 2006 B2 Schedule 1983 AP September 3 w y Colorado State Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO rivalry 34–13 28,652 https://www.newspapers.com/article/camarillo-star-air-force-falcons-bomb-co/166411198/ Camarillo Star Air Force Falcons bomb Colorado State September 4, 1983 February 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 10 w y Texas Tech Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO ABC 28–13 26,800 Air Force bombards Texas Tech The Shreveport Times September 11, 1983 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115456050/air-force-bombards-texas-tech/ December 30, 2022 Newspapers.com September 17 l y Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY 7–14 30,194 Pokes win wishbone showdown https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/123917038/ May 2, 2023 The Billings Gazette Associated Press September 18, 1983 3B Newspapers.com September 24 l BYU Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO 28–46 34,255 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-byu-downs-air-force-4628/166409762/ Star Tribune BYU downs Air Force 46–28 September 25, 1983 February 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 w y y Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD Commander-in-Chief's Trophy 44–17 34,257 Jackson James H. Mistake-prone Middies fall, 44-17, to Air Force https://www.newspapers.com./article/the-baltimore-sun/123917308/ May 2, 2023 The Baltimore Sun October 9, 1983 C13 Newspapers.com October 15 w UTEP Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO 37–25 27,474 https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-air-force-drops-utep/166411409/ The El Paso Times Air Force drops UTEP October 16, 1983 February 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w Utah Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO 33–31 23,248 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-spectrum-falcons-come-back/166411604/ The Daily Spectrum Falcons come back October 23, 1983 February 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 w y Army Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO Commander-in-Chief's Trophy 41–20 47,032 Air Force Clobbers Army 41–20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald/123917653/ May 2, 2023 The Daily Herald United Press International October 30, 1983 11 Newspapers.com November 5 w Hawaii Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO rivalry 45–10 26,501 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk-streaking-air-force-bombs/166411790/ Alexandria Daily Town Talk Streaking Air Force bombs Hawaii November 6, 1983 February 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 w y y Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 23–22 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-air-force-blocks-f/166411902/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Air Force blocks field goal to beat Notre Dame November 20, 1983 February 22, 2025 Newspapers.com December 3 w y 17 San Diego State Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA 38–7 8,444 Aztecs Finish Their Year Appropriately The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California San Diego County Steve Dolan December 4, 1983 F-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8426551/aztecs_finish_their_year_appropriately/ Newspapers.com January 17, 2017 December 10 w y y 16 Ole Miss Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA Independence Bowl 9–3 41,274 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-41000-see-afa-win-stormy-indy/134603998/ The Shreveport Times 41,000 see AFA win stormy Indy, 9–3 December 11, 1983 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com Game summaries Notre Dame Chris Funk blocked a field goal in the final seconds to preserve the win for Air Force. Roster 1983 Air Force Falcons y Sr John Kreshner FB Bart Weiss QB 96 Jr Chris Funk DL 50 Jr Steve Kelly DL 62 Jr Larry Nicklas DL 74 So John Ziegler DL Fr Terry Maki LB Fr Tom Rotello CB So Scott Thomas S Ken Hatfield (5th year) Fisher DeBerry (OC) Awards and honors John Kershner, 3rd Team All-American (Football News) References 2 Air Force Category:Air Force Falcons football seasons Category:Independence Bowl champion seasons Air Force Falcons football Category:Long stubs with short prose