BGM graduate helped the Air Force Falcons football team soar

​     Edie Worthington, kneeling, a senior at the Air Force Academy and volunteer manager and offensive line signaler for the Falcon football team, is shown with some of the players following the 31-28 win at the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 28. Pictured, from left, are: Jensen Jones, a sophomore from Florida; Haaziq Daniels, a junior from New Jersey, who is the starting quarterback for the Falcons and a close friend of Edie; Mike Thiessen, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach; Warren Bryan, a senior from California; and Zach Larrier, sophomore from Ohio. 

By J.O. Parker
 
     If you happened to watch the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 28 between the Air Force Falcons and Louisville Cardinals, you may have seen a familiar face on the sidelines.
      Elizabeth Worthington, a 2017 graduate of BGM, worked as a volunteer manager and offensive line signaler for the USAFA football team and could be seen giving pep talks to the players and play signals to the quarterback during the game.
         Air Force won the game, 31-28, finishing the season with a 10-3 record.
       Edie, as she is called, is a senior at the Air Force Academy and will graduate on May 25. She is currently working on a degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on concrete construction.
        Edie said her plans following graduation are to enter pilot training with the hope of flying a CV-22 Osprey, an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical and short takeoff and landing capabilities.
      “I hope to fly the osprey and be a part of the Air Force Special Operations,” she said. “I will be doing that for at least 10 years, maybe 20 or 30 years.” 
       She got involved with the Falcon football team following basic training her freshman year at the academy.
“During basic training, I met some other cadets who had been recruited to play football and they became my friends,” Edie said. “I had been talking with them and heard about an opportunity to work with the football team.”
       Edie said she has always enjoyed football and thought this would be a great opportunity.
     “They did interviews and asked about my skills and what type of person I am and how I could fit their mission,” said Edie.
       She landed a position with the Falcon equipment staff in August 2018 and it just grew from there.
       “I worked my butt off every single year because I really enjoy it,” Edie said.
       She then started working with the running backs and progressed to the quarterbacks.
      “That allowed me to learn the game even more,” she said. “I then moved into a dual role working with the equipment staff and also with the offensive coordinator, Mike Thiessen.”  
        Her junior year, Edie was promoted to the quarterback play signaler.
     “With every motion I’m doing, I’m telling the quarterback what play to run,” she said of being on the sidelines on game day.
       She participated in all home games and traveled to the away games as well as attended practice each day.
     “I went from a person who moved equipment around and helped with drills, to somebody who helped with film and with offensive game play calling,” she added. “I actually became an important part of the team.”
Edie said most days at the academy start at 6 – 6:30 a.m.
      “I go to morning accountability formation,” she said. “Then I’m off to class and other military duties from 7:30 a.m. – noon.”
      After lunch, Edie works out and at around 2 p.m., she joins the football team and stays until around 7 p.m. That is followed by a late supper and homework until 11:30 p.m.
“I do it all over the next day,” she said.
When asked what she loved the most about helping the team, Edie said the biggest thing was becoming invested in the lives of the young men.
“Having the opportunity to watch these young man grow and develop has been a pleasure,” she said.