First off I wish you luck on your upcoming game with Air Force and I hope your visit to Colorado Springs is a pleasant one. Lt Mandy has expressed the sentiments of most Air Force followers here as read at the Air Force Insiders Board. Well done. That said, I'd like to attempt to allay some farfetched misconceptions posted by the two morons below. I also realize they do not speak for the majority of Mean Green backers. But allow me to correct their poor spelling and grammar. Not "kinda"--kind of. Not "excusses"--excuses. I before E except after C. Received not "recieved." Academies not "Acadamies." Read The Rivals by Sheridan you closely mirror a character in his satire on English society in the early 19th Century. But he knew what he wrote unlike you. "Isnt" requires an apostrophe. "When when"; I suggest using only one. "Hypocracy" is actually hypocrisy. Nice try though. "Provication" is spelled provocation. "Throwing a punches." Enough said here. "Behavoir" is corrected to behavior. Sorry I just could not resist. Now to address the alleged "cheating scandals and sex abuse scandals." There have been no "cheating scandals." Cadets adopt an honor code during basic cadet training to "not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate anyone among us who does." If a cadet is discovered violating this code he or she is brought before an honor board comprised of his or her peers. If found guilty, the cadet may be asked to resign from school. When was the last time a student from UNT resigned from school due to an honor violation? If the cadet is new to the code or simply made a mistake with no intent to violate the code they may be placed on honor probation for a specified amount of time--usually six months during which the cadet holds no rank, cannot represent the Academy in any capacity, and cannot leave the Academy grounds except during major holidays. The Honor Code is a minumum standard easily achievable which becomes internalized over the course of four years and expanded upon during a career. As for the "sex abuse scandal" I suggest you read the papers then talk to those close to the situation. In my arrogant opinion the alleged rapes mirror society and college life at most civilian universities. However, the Air Force, the Academy, and its leadership will do its utmost to clean house and correct any flaws uncovered as we are accountable to the American public. People like this do not deserve to serve our country. As for Harridge's misbehavior, I believe he was ejected from the game for misconduct and not fighting. Seems to me there he was punished for his transgression as a player and not as a cadet. Having a nephew on the team, I can promise you Chance received a stern warning from Coach DeBerry. Now the side of Chance you didn't read about in the paper. I have two young sons who often watch practice with me. On several occasions Chance has given them his helmet to wear. He is as humble as he is explosive. Frankly having flown fighters for 25 years I'd rather have someone with his personality than a meely-mouthed yesman. He will make a fine officer and I will be proud to serve with him in the future. Cadets are held to higher standard than the average college student. Moreover they are even held to a higher standard than some of our past executives occupying the White House. You are getting your money's worth on graduation day and should be proud of each and every one of them. When was the last time you observed an enemy fighter flying over your neighborhood? Ask Saddam if our Air Force is any good. Check 6 and good luck on Saturday. "I'm kinda glad they are letting Harridge play. I don't want to hear any excusses as to why the Mean Green recieved a "W" in Colorado Springs on Saturday." "What a sad state our service acadamies are in. Cheating scandals, sex abuse scandals, what's next? I know that this incident isnt in the same ballpark, football games and throwing a punches are much, much less serious then the scandals that have rocked the service acadamies. But when when a cadet misbehaved there was a time when the service academies found it more important to teach him a lesson rather than play him in a football game. "Forget about the hypocracy of NCAA athletics and just focus on the hypocracy of the USAFA! Used to be a time when the service acadamies stood for something. These young people are supposed to be the best our nation has to offer, the future leaders of our nation. When a cadet acts inappropriately no matter what the provication, and especially in such a public manner, there should be some consequences. I don't care if he was provoked, cadets behavoir should be held to a higher standard, instead the Acadamey chooses to make excuses for it."
