The autumn air outside Falcon Stadium carried more than just the usual anticipation of a weekend kickoff on Friday, September 11, 2026. It carried deep reverence, nostalgia, and gratitude. Hundreds of former players, coaches, academy leadership, and family members gathered outside the Kucera Legacy Center to witness a living legend receive a permanent place in the landscape he helped shape.
Legendary former head football coach Fisher DeBerry, arms raised in a familiar touchdown celebration, was officially immortalized in bronze. READ MORE
The unveiling event marked a cornerstone moment for the United States Air Force Academy, serving as the public centerpiece of the newly established Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment. Funded through the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, the endowment aims to generate a minimum principal balance of $2.5 million to support high-priority operational needs, coaching retention, and facility enhancements. But on Friday afternoon, the focus was squarely on the man whose name has become synonymous with the golden era of Falcon football.
For 23 seasons, DeBerry patrolled the Air Force sidelines, accumulating a program-best 169-109-1 record. Yet, as speaker after speaker took to the podium, the afternoon underscored that DeBerry’s impact extended far beyond the scoreboard.
Among the massive throng of former players in attendance was Lieutenant General (Ret.) and former USAFA Superintendent Clark, who played under DeBerry during his first two seasons. “I just appreciate him as a man,” Clark reflected during the ceremony. “He represents what this academy represents, because for him it was about winning football games, but it was more about developing leaders and creating people that could go out and serve our country in a variety of different ways.”
Current Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun—a 1989 Academy graduate and former quarterback under DeBerry—echoed that sentiment on behalf of generations of lettermen. “Coach, I just want to say on behalf of everyone here, all the former players, former coaches, everybody, how blessed we are that you’ve impacted our lives,” Calhoun said.
During his historic tenure, DeBerry captured the Academy’s only three conference championships, guided the Falcons to 12 post-season bowl games, and dominated the service-academy rivalry with a 35-11 record and a record 14 Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy titles. He was named National Coach of the Year in 1985 after a stunning 12-1 campaign capped by a Bluebonnet Bowl victory over Texas.
Yet, characteristically humble, the 88-year-old coach admitted he initially resisted the idea of a statue. “I said, ‘No, that’s not necessary. I had my time and glory,’” DeBerry shared. Standing alongside his wife of 61 years, LuAnn, along with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, DeBerry’s perspective shifted to one of profound appreciation.
Recalling one of his own iconic aphorisms—a famous piece of folksy wisdom passed down through team lore that “if you see a turtle on a fence post, just remember one thing—he didn’t get there by himself”—DeBerry made sure to credit the network of family, coaches, and players who built the program alongside him.
“I’m overwhelmed,” DeBerry said. “We’ve been blessed.”
Following the unveiling and a subsequent reception in the stadium’s Heritage Plaza, the celebration continued into the weekend. DeBerry and his family were formally recognized during the first quarter of Saturday’s prime-time matchup against North Dakota State at Falcon Stadium.
As fans stream through the gates of Falcon Stadium for years to come, they will walk past a permanent bronze reminder of excellence, integrity, and leadership. And while the statue depicts a coach signaling six points, for the hundreds of cadets whose lives he altered, the monument stands for something immeasurably greater.
