Air Force senior got start at McChord Field

  • Published
  • By Dean Siemon
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  There are 128 college football teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), each with about 125 total players both on and off the rosters -- a grand total of around 16,000 players.

Jamal Byrd, a senior defensive back for the Air Force Falcons, is one of only 375 -- about 2.3 percent of FBS -- who is serving at a military academy and playing against some of the best Division I programs nationally.

The Air Force Academy was a perfect fit for Byrd when choosing where to play college football while at Foss High School in Tacoma.

"I loved the atmosphere and all the opportunities they talked about -- a guaranteed job after I graduate and playing football while serving the country that I love," he said.

Byrd was born at the Air Force Academy before moving to Tacoma in 1995 when his father was stationed with the 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron at McChord Air Force Base.

When he was 11, Byrd's parents divorced. A few years later his father, Ernest Byrd, retired from the Air Force as a staff sergeant and, in 2003, moved to Montgomery, Alabama.

Growing up with his mother in Tacoma, Byrd said he was thankful for the coaches and mentors at Foss High School to help keep him motivated and driven while going through difficult times as a child.

"I think that helped prepare me that not everything is handed to you," Byrd said.

Even thousands of miles away, Byrd's father was still supportive of his football career. He attended one of Byrd's best games during his senior year against Gig Harbor High School in 2009. Although Foss lost to Gig Harbour 31-28, Byrd had 10 tackles at cornerback and 10 catches as wide receiver.

Byrd concluded his high school football career with eight interceptions on defense and four touchdowns on offense, during the 2009 season, which led to interest from college football teams including the Washington Huskies, the Eastern Washington Eagles and the Army Black Knights; however, Byrd decided to join the Air Force Falcons.

Byrd's father watches from his home in Alabama, and even attended games at the academy in his freshman and junior seasons. But his pride extends past his son's performance on the football field.

"Knowing his future, he'll be a second lieutenant when he graduates," Ernest Byrd said. "I hope he likes it and makes a career out of it."

Byrd said he's already excited about where he will be sent after graduation and hopes to pursue a career in acquisitions. But for now, his immediate goal is for the Falcons to go to 1-0 each week of the football season.

Despite missing a number of games due to concussions, Byrd has a total of seven tackles, including three in a 30-21 win over Navy to advance one step closer to claiming the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Navy held the trophy in 2012 and 2013, but the Falcons hope to claim the title when they face Army Nov. 1 at the Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Jamal hopes the team can continue to compete for the Mountain West Conference title and qualify for a bowl game. At 5-2, the Falcons just need one more win to clinch a berth.

His dad admits he's keeping an eye on which of the 39 games on the 2014-15 bowl schedule the Falcons might be invited to. The last bowl game Air Force played in was the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 29, 2012, at in Fort Worth, Texas.

"If they can win six games, they could go to the Armed Forces Bowl again," Ernest said. "That's only a 10 or 12 hour drive."