Air Force wasn't expected to get off the ground this season. With four new starters and an unproven coach, the Falcons were picked to finish eighth in the Mountain West.

They may not have reached the same heights as the past couple of seasons, but they did soar above expectations and finish fifth in the league standings.

"We wanted to try and finish higher in the league than we were predicted to finish. We wanted people in the league to continue to worry about playing this program," first-year head coach Jeff Reynolds told the Denver Post. "We have accomplished that."

Air Force finished above .500 for the fifth consecutive season. The Falcons were 26-9 in 2006-07, 24-7 in 2005-06, 18-12 in 2004-05 and 22-7 in 2003-04. Prior to that, they had not experienced a winning season in 25 years.

Reynolds, whose only previous head coaching experience was at Division II Wingate, followed the familiar Falcons formula that mixes a methodical, clock-eating offense with intelligent and tireless defense. During the regular season, the only Division I schools that gave up fewer points per game than Air Force were Wisconsin, Stephen F. Austin and Washington State.

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