Gridiron guru gets teamwork lesson, Academy style

  • Published
  • By Ken Carter
  • Academy Spirit editor
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Most would agree there's very little a two-time Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach could be taught about the critical nature of teamwork. 

But Mike Shanahan, head coach of the 1998 and 1999 Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, might disagree after his personal experience concerning a tandem jump over the Academy Airfield Monday. 

In very short order that morning, Coach Shanahan was given a medical exam, a jump briefing, equipment explanation, aircraft exit strategy and the opportunity to fulfill a dream of more than three decades ... all from the Academy members serving as his "coaches" for the day. 

The 98th "coaches" had his undivided attention. 

Desiring to sky dive during his college days, but finding it cost prohibitive then, Coach Shanahan took the plunge from 11,000 above ground level strapped to the chest of Lt. Col. Aldru "Dawg" Aaron, 98th Flying Training Squadron commander. The commander has some 1,200 jumps total to his credit -- about 125 of which have been tandem. "Coach Shanahan was an excited, eager student as most are. He took instruction very well and did an outstanding job," Colonel Aaron said. 

"I was going to do this one time in college but never got the opportunity," Mr. Shanahan said. After the jump, he referred to the experience as "one of the most fun things" he'd ever done. 

"He (Colonel Aaron) made it easy on me," Coach Shanahan said. "The problem is now I'm going to bug him to do it again. No wonder you guys do this all the time." 

As is always the case, personal safety was emphasized throughout the entire process.
"We give the training in segments so we don't give our students information overload," the commander said. "We share just the pieces needed to be known for that phase of the jump at the time they're needed." 

Colonel Aaron is quick to share the overall success of the day with Mark "Vern" Moss, 306th Flying Training Group program manager, who got Coach Shanahan lined up for the jump in the first place as well as with Master Sgt. David Fremin the unit's enlisted superintendent and program manager for tandem jumps. 

Fear wasn't part of the vocabulary for the 56-year-old whose free fall lasted between 40 and 45 seconds reaching speeds of approximately 125 mph. 

Mr. Shanahan praised those from the 98th who'd coached him from arrival, through briefings, freefall and landing. 

"They do such a great job of instruction you really feel comfortable. They go through all the safety situations," he said. "They really made me feel at ease." 

Concerning his wife's reaction to his jump, and she not being present to watch, Coach Shanahan explained the family was finishing moving into a new home Monday that had originally been planned for May 1. Neither their 29-year-old son nor their 27-year-old daughter knew of dad's plan to take the plunge ... but coach was eager to share the video footage with his family after the fact. 

Master Sgt. Justus Hanks, also from the 306th FTG, and Chad Henderson from the 98th Flying Training Squadron served as primary and secondary videographers respectively. 

"I probably have 700 or so video jumps," Sergeant Hanks said. "Every jump has something new. We're constantly checking camera settings as videographers to make sure everything is perfect. One little bump in the airplane can destroy the settings, but everything today came out pretty good." 

Sergeant Hanks' thoughts were substantiated during the video review with Coach Shanahan in the commander's office following the tandem jump. "Skydiving with Coach Shanahan will be something I'll always remember." 

Coach Shanahan refers to himself as an Air Force Academy fan, speaking highly of the football program here and his personal relationships with two Falcon coaches.