“When you look at them offensively and defensively, really what you see is highly motivated people that are quick-bodied, that are playing the game extremely hard, tough,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said of the Air Force players.

The Falcons’ motivation and quickness, however, does not dissipate as they walk off the gridiron. In fact, it comes from off the gridiron. The schedule of an Air Force player consists of strict regimens which allow for little down time.

“We definitely face some unique challenges here. Really just time wise, we have so much other stuff that is expected of us that we have to get done that you really just have to make use of all your time,” senior Air Force linebacker Connor Healy said. “I think if you want to be a good football player and have a good football team, you’re going to do what it takes to use your time efficiently and get that done.”

Healy plans to be a pilot for the Air Force after his time in the Academy.

“I came here and didn’t have that many aspirations to fly, but the culture and everything about it, it’s a pretty neat job and it’s something I definitely look forward to doing and am fortunate to be able to do,” Healy said.

Healy said his decision of committing to the Air Force was based on the level of education and opportunities a military academy provides.

“Some of the things you get to do when you’re in and after you graduate is just something that you really can’t get anywhere else, so that was really the deciding factor for me,” Healy said.

Healy was quick to point out, though, that the schedule of a cadet-athlete compared to a student-athlete is more alike than different.

“I definitely think time is the biggest factor. As far as other things, I think there are a lot of similarities to football programs across the country,” Healy said. “I think a program as good as [MSU] holds their players to just as high of standards as our coaches hold us. So I really think the only difference is the time.”

Riley Bullough, senior linebacker for the Spartans, said he see’s the Falcons as an in sync unit and acknowledged their unique talent.

“They are going to play 60 minutes of football no matter if they are up by 50 points or down by 50 points and I think we need to understand that because you don’t face guys like this every week,” Bullough said.

When the MSU student-athletes play the Air Force cadet-athletes on Saturday it will be the first time a service academy has come to Spartan Stadium.