AFA shows class in defeat

BYU snapped the Air Force Academy's 30-game home court winning streak tonight 62-58. Air Force led by as many as 11 in the second half before the Cougars came back.

But it is what happened before the game that makes you proud of these cadets who represent all of us so well. ESPN tells the story:

After the game, Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik struggled to find the right words to describe his group of six seniors playing in their final game at Clune Arena.

"I'm so proud of them," Bzdelik said of the senior class that went 53-2 at Clune.

He'd give them all a hug if he wasn't afraid of catching the flu bug from them. Nick Welch and Matt McCraw had to go to the hospital Monday night and each received IV fluids. McCraw went back Tuesday morning for three more units.

The team also didn't get home from its Saturday afternoon loss to Texas Christian until Monday night because of dust storms and airplane problems in Dallas. The team could've taken the first flight out Monday morning, but gave up their seats to 18 military personnel trying to get back home to Fort Carson to see their families. They'd been in Iraq for the past nine months.

"It puts things in perspective," Bzdelik said.

Fighting to the end when you're sick, and giving up your seats to some vets fresh home from war -- it's no wonder they ran out of gas at the end to the fresher Cougars. But it also shows what makes this country what it is. Hats off to the Fighting Falcons!