Reservist ‘biggest fan’ of step-son USAFA football player

  • Published
  • By Maj. Kallece Quinn
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  His eyes focus, his heart races and he takes a deep breath as the kicker loafs the ball off the tee signaling the start of another game for the Falcons. His eyes follow number 22 in an Air Force Blue Jersey; Cadet Second Class Brenton Byrd-Fulbright, his step-son.

Brenton is a junior at the U.S. Air Force Academy and his step father, Tech. Sgt. Andrew Fulbright, is his biggest fan. "There's only one emotion that I feel, the proudest dad in the stands, not only for playing football, but just for being at the Air Force Academy...it's an accomplishment within itself," said Fulbright.

Sergeant Fulbright is assigned to the 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron as a dispatch supervisor.

The Falcons surprised many this year finishing 8-4, fourth in the Mountain West Conference and qualifying for a bowl game for the second straight season. "The season went a lot better than we had hoped," Brenton said. "We thought this would be more of a rebuilding year, because of our lack of experience on both sides of the ball." However the players' hard work and determination, along with outstanding coaching, enabled the team to excite fans and outscore many opponents.

"If you look over the season you see different ways we win and what we've been able to do is keep the glue," said Head Coach Troy Calhoun. "It's not easy to do in this day and age when you're dealing 19- and 20-year old young men, but at the Air Force Academy, it's always going to be collectively being able to operate in a cohesive way."

This season marks the first back-to-back bowl appearance since 1997-98 and Coach Calhoun is just the second coach in program history to take the Falcons to bowl games in his first two seasons.

"I think the three toughest schools to get into a bowl game each year are Vanderbilt in the SEC, Stanford in the PAC-10 and Air Force in the MWC," stated Coach Calhoun. "To get a bowl invitation is a quality achievement. You have to have enough humility to be discipline on a day-in and day-out basis and that is us at the Air Force Academy."

All season long, Sergeant Fulbright has been Brenton's biggest supporter and Brenton loves having his family close as he endures the challenges of the Academy and college football.

"They support me in everything I do; they come to all the games and events at the Academy," said Brenton. "They are great people to be around. We have very strong values that are based on support and togetherness."

Brenton says his family has been the greatest influence on his sports career and the choice to attend USAFA. His stepfather always told him to never let anyone or anything stand in his way of accomplishing his goals and whatever you want to do in life, do it because the sky is the limit.

This season Brenton has needed the support of his family even more as he was moved from running back to corner back during spring practices; marking first time in his career he has played on the defensive side of the ball. "The move to cornerback has been an eye opening experience, but a good move," stated Brenton. He enjoys the competitiveness and being able to contribute to the team's success, especially on special teams. Brenton has chalked up 6 tackles and been a force on kick-off coverage.

Besides football, Brenton has been busy in the classroom taking a number of engineering courses and being active in Cadet Squadron 31. After graduation Brenton is "excited to serve my country as an Air Force Officer while living life to the fullest." He hopes to buy a house and a dog soon after graduation.

Brenton has enjoyed being a Falcon and says, "if anyone wants to play college football they need to love the sport and put all their heart and mind into it so they can give their all." If they want to attend the Academy, they need to do their best in high school and learn everything they can. According to Brenton, "your mind can never be too full of information." Fulbright thinks USAFA is "a big stepping stone for any young person with high goals, getting one of the best educations in the world and learning the ability to lead equals greatness."

Did you know?
> Air Force's 17 wins since 2007 are the best in back-to-back seasons since 1998-99 when they combined for 18 (12-1 in 1998, 6-5 in 1999). 

> Air Force has posted 11 MWC wins in back-to-back seasons, which is a school record. The previous mark was eight in 2000 (5-2) and 2001 (3-4). Additionally, this season marked the first time in school history the team has won four or more MWC games in back-to-back seasons. 

> Head coach Troy Calhoun has led Air Force to 17 wins in his two seasons at Air Force. The 17 wins are the second-best of any service academy head coach in his first two years. Fisher DeBerry, who took over Air Force in 1984, has the best mark with 20 wins. Air Force was 12-1 in 1985 and 8-4 in 1984. 

> Air Force will play in its 19th bowl game in 2008. The Falcons are 8-9-1 all-time in bowls, dating back to the 1958 season. Last season, the Falcons snapped a five-year bowl drought and playied in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl.