Army West Point Athletics
Army Football Game Notes: The Penn State Game
September 28, 2015 | Football
Fresh off a record-setting victory over Eastern Michigan, the Army football team will play on the road for the second consecutive week with a noon kickoff, Saturday at Penn State.
Army collected 654 yards of total offense in the 58-36 win at Eastern Michigan's Rynearson Stadium, the most yards the storied program has accumulate against a team currently competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The 556 rushing yards were third all-time for the Black Knights.
Army also won a regular season road contest for the first time since 2010 and halted a 21-game losing streak on the road.
The Black Knights are now 1-3 and will play at State College, Pa., in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd of nearly 107,000 at Beaver Stadium. ESPNU will televise the game nationally.
Army is now ninth in the country in rushing yards with 294.5 per contest and is averaging 31 points per game. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw leads the team with 341 rushing yards and four touchdowns while completing 11-of-22 passes for 194 yards and another three scores. Fellow quarterback A.J. Schurr has rushed for two touchdowns and thrown for another. Freshman Drue Harris scored twice last weekend and is among the eight players who have accounted for Army's 13 rushing touchdowns.
Aaron Kemper is second on the squad with 223 yards, while Joe Walker averages 9.8 yards per carry. John Trainor has a team-best four catches for 72 yards and has rushed nine times for 89 yards.
Army's defense is allowing 28.0 points per contest, has intercepted four passes, collected eight quarterback sacks and registered 27 tackles for losses of 119 yards. Jeremy Timpf leads the team with 31 tackles, while Andrew King is one behind with a team-best 8.0 tackles for losses of 45 yards. Ten Black Knights have registered at least 12 tackles this season.
EASTERN MICHIGAN LEFTOVERS
Army won a regular-season road game for the first time since topping Kent State, 45-28, on Nov. 13, 2010, a stretch of 21 games. Army's last win away from Michie Stadium was a 35-21 neutral site victory over Connecticut on Nov. 8, 2014 at Yankee Stadium.
Army's last win at an opponents' stadium was a 16-14 win over at SMU in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30, 2010. That game was played at Ford Stadium in Dallas.
Saturday marked Jeff Monken's first game against Eastern Michigan.
Connor Farley and Joey Giovannelli served as game captains and joined season captains Jeremy Timpf and Matt Giachinta for the coin toss.
Michael McFadden led the team on the field with the American Flag.
The 58 points was the most for Army against a current FBS opponent in regulation since scoring 58 against Boston College (Nov. 9, 1968; W, 58-25).
The last time Army scored more than 58 points in regulation against a current FBS opponent was on Nov. 11, 1944, a 59-0 victory over Notre Dame.
The 58 points scored for Army is the most since Oct. 7, 2006 vs. VMI.
Army's 654 yards of total offense marked the second most yards of total offense in a single game in school history.
The 654 yards of total offense is the most against a current FBS opponent in Academy history.
Army's 556 rushing yards were the third most in school history and the most since 546 yards on Oct. 12, 1996 vs. Rutgers.
The 556 rushing yards is the most against a current FBS opponent in Academy history.
Army ran for over 500 yards for the first time since hosting EMU on Oct. 12, 2013.
Army had over 40 minutes of time of possession for the first time since Sept. 15, 2012 against Northern Illinois.
Joe Walker ran for a 63-yard touchdown in the first quarter, his longest career run.
Walker finished with 86 yards on five carries, both career bests.
Army scored on its first possession of the game for the third time this season.
Army's 13-play scoring drive in the first quarter took 7:06 and covered 77 yards. The plays and time of the drive were season bests for the Black Knights.
Kemper ran 13 times for a career-high 147 yards.
Giachinta ran 13 times for a career high 88 yards.
Drue Harris had a career high 60 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
DeAndre Bell hauled in career-long 49-yard reception in the third quarter.
A.J. Schurr rushed for a two-yard touchdown, his first of the season and the eighth of his career.
Drue Harris rushed for his first career touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Schurr rushed for two touchdowns in a game for the third time in his career.
Army's defense held Eastern Michigan to just a field goal after the Eagles had first and 10 from their 21-yard line.
Army limited Eastern Michigan to one first down, one passing yard and 16 rushing yards in the first quarter.
Timpf led the team in tackles with eight, all solo stops.
Army forced a turnover for the fourth consecutive game.
Xavier Moss intercepted his first career pass in the third quarter. Moss spent his first two seasons as a wide receiver before asking to move to defense
Army didn't punt in a game for the first time since Oct. 29, 2011 against Fordham.
Kelvin White threw a two-point conversion to Connor Farley in the first quarter. It was the first reception for Farley.
The two-point conversion was the second of the season for Army and first via pass.
Matt Giachinta ran for 34 yards on Army's first fake punt of the season.
A.J. Schurr also ran in a two-point conversion in the final quarter.
GIACHINTA AND CAMPBELL TROPHY
Army senior running back Matt Giachinta is among the semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced.
Giachinta, from Cold Spring, N.Y., is one of 135 semifinalists that were announced today. The NFF will release 15 finalists on Oct. 29 and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will be in New York City for the 58th NFF annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8. The winner of the 26th William V. Campbell Trophy will be announced and his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Named in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, the Campbell Trophy is a 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the amount of the recipient's grant by $7,000 for a total postgraduate scholarship of $25,000. A total distribution of more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, pushing the program's all-time distribution to more than $11 million.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
Giachinta is one of 83 team captains among the semifinalists and one of 71 offensive nominees. He is a Systems Engineering major.
The past recipients of the William V. Campbell Trophy include: Air Force's Chris Howard (1990); Florida's Brad Culpepper (1991); Colorado's Jim Hansen (1992); Virginia's Thomas Burns (1993); Nebraska's Rob Zatechka (1994); Ohio State's Bobby Hoying (1995); Florida's Danny Wuerffel (1996); Tennessee's Peyton Manning (1997); Georgia's Matt Stinchcomb (1998); Marshall's Chad Pennington (1999); Nebraska's Kyle Vanden Bosch (2000); Miami (Fla.)'s Joaquin Gonzalez (2001); Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) Brandon Roberts (2002); Ohio State's Craig Krenzel (2003); Tennessee's Michael Munoz (2004); LSU's Rudy Niswanger (2005); Rutgers' Brian Leonard (2006); Texas' Dallas Griffin (2007); California's Alex Mack (2008); Florida's Tim Tebow (2009); Texas' Sam Acho (2010); Army's Andrew Rodriguez (2011); Alabama's Barrett Jones (2012); Penn State's John Urschel (2013); and Duke's David Helton (2014).
NFF FINALIST
Army freshman Kenneth Brinson is among eight finalists for the south region's 2015 National Football Foundation High School Scholar-Athlete Award.
Overall there are 40 finalists throughout the country for the NFF High School Scholar-Athlete Awards. The honors go to one young man from each of the nation's five regions as the best and brightest for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens at the high school level. The finalists all graduated from high school in 2015 and are now playing college football. The five honorees, which are being recognized for their previous accomplishments in high school, will be announced the week of Oct. 5.
Brinson, from Kennesaw, Ga., was a three-sport athlete at The Marist School in Atlanta and earned four letters in football, track and field and wrestling. He is the school's all-time leader in career sacks and was a two-time team captain.
The five honorees will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards have become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include but are not limited to academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
BROTHERS
Army has a pair of brothers on its 2015 roster. Junior Edgar Poe and his freshman brother Christian are both wide outs, while junior Lofi Tomasese and his freshman brother Riko are offensive linemen.
ARMY-PENN STATE SERIES
Army and Penn State first faced off in 1899 and will play for the 25th time on Saturday. Penn State owns a 13-9-1 edge in the all-time series, including a 6-3 mark at State College, Pa.
Army will play Penn State for the first time since a 24-3 Nittany Lions victory at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 13, 1979. Army's last win against Penn State was an 11-0 victory in 1966 at Michie Stadium. Army's last win at Beaver Stadium was in 1963, 10-7.
BRISTOL VISIT
Army head football coach Jeff Monken appeared live on SportsCenter, met with a host of college football administrators and received a full tour of the ESPN Campus on Sept. 11.
Because of weather delays at the U.S. Open, Monken's live interview time kept adjusting. The second-year head coach did a segment live on SportsCenter during the 10 a.m. hour in the broadcast companies' large set.
Monken, who concluded his interview with "Beat Navy," then met with members of ESPN's College Football programming department before embarking on a tour of the massive facility.
Monken visited the NFL studios where most professional football programming is broadcast from and passed the helmet locker which houses most college football teams for its popular helmet sticker segment.
The new college football set was next and Monken was the first college football coach to see it. He also stopped in the Major League Baseball studio where he took a few swings and stepped on the mound in the appropriately named set.
From there, Monken witnessed First Take being shot live from the floor and then into the control room to see the backend operations.
he college football hallway is one of the newest additions to ESPN. A touch screen allows you to click the logo of your school and the fight song is then played. Photos of every Division I college football program are displayed as well.
Stops in the cafeteria and gift shop were mixed in on the tour which included the newsroom, the ESPN audio wing, the ESPNW section and the X Games area.
Monken concluded his tour and then met the team for its walkthrough at Rentschler Field where the Black Knights were set to take on Connecticut.
DUAL THREATS
Junior Xavier Moss spent his first two seasons as a wide receiver. In the offseason, he approached the coaching staff about switching to defense. Now, Moss is a starting safety, yet still contributes on offense.
Moss made four tackles in his first collegiate game as a defender and also hauled in a 26-yard pass in the fourth quarter opposite Fordham. Moss has 24 tackles and an interception and has one catch on the season
Senior Kelvin White began his career at Army as a quarterback. He is now the team's top tight end but still may play under center. White didn't make a catch against Fordham but did complete one of two passes in the fourth quarter for 26 yards.
In addition to tight end and quarterback, White has also played tackle and lined up as wide receiver this year.
PLAYING WITH HEAVY HEARTS
Sean Callahan, 12, who the Army football team adopted through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, passed away on August 22. Head coach Jeff Monken, his staff and the upperclassmen attended his services in Mahopac, N.Y.
"Our entire program is saddened to hear about the passing of our teammate, Sean Callahan," Monken said. "Sean was the toughest young man you would ever want to meet. He taught our players and staff so much about overcoming adversity, about working hard and about enjoying life. He became part of the Army football brotherhood. We are grateful we had the opportunity to spend time with Sean and his terrific family and we will value the lessons he taught us. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with Sean's family at this terribly difficult time."
Callahan joined the Black Knights in June of 2014 in conjunction with the New York Yankees HOPE Week and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Callahan, who suffered from brain tumors, had a locker with the Black Knights and attended every home game during the 2014 season as well as the contest at Yankee Stadium. He was a vital part of the annual team awards banquet, helping Monken distribute the awards.
During the annual Black-Gold Spring Game, Callahan was voted the game's most valuable player after he ran for a 73-yard touchdown on the first play of the contest setting off a wild celebration that included him being carried off the field as players chanted his name. He also ran for a 75-yard touchdown to conclude the scoring in the game.
The team wore a sticker on is helmet against Fordham honoring Callahan. The sticker was the jersey Callahan wore in the spring game with Sean's number 18 and CALLAHAN across the top.
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State is in the midst of a stretch of five consecutive home games at Beaver Stadium and enters Saturday contest at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 10 East.
The Nittany Lions opened the season with a 27-10 loss to Temple but have since beaten Buffalo (27-14), Rutgers (28-3) and San Diego State (37-21) at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State is scoring 25.5 points per game and allowing just 16.2 points per contest.
Quarterback Christian Hackenberg has completed 56-of-106 passes for 668 yards, two interceptions and four touchdowns. Chris Godwin leads the team with 19 catches for 283 yards, while DaeSean Hamilton has 14 receptions for 146 yards. Saquon Barklet is the top rusher with 373 yards on 42 carries and four touchdowns.
The Nittany Lions have registered 18 sacks and 40 tackles for losses this season and intercepted three passes. Austin Johnson has 23 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss, while Troy Reeder has 23 stops.
Penn State is allowing 80.5 rushing yards per game and 191.2 passing yards per contest.
HELMET STICKERS
The Army football team will continue to honor the U.S. Army this season, wearing helmet stickers for the below divisions.
9/4 Fordham: 1st Infantry Division
9/12 at Connecticut: 7th Infantry Division
9/19 Wake Forest: 82nd Airborne
9/26 at Eastern Michigan: 2nd Infantry Division
10/3 at Penn State: 101st Airborne
10/10 Duke: 25th Infantry Division
10/17 Bucknell: 1st Armored Division
10/24 at Rice: 1st Calvary Division
11/7 at Air Force: 4th Infantry Division
11/14 Tulane: 3rd Infantry Division
11/21 Rutgers 10th Mountain Division
12/12 Navy: Players will wear specific stickers
CLASSROOM SUCCESS
The Army football team continues to excel in the classroom. The team improved its grade point average .13 points in the spring, raising the team GPA to the highest it has been since 1977.
SCHEDULE CHANGE
Army will use Monday as its day off this season and will practice on Sunday. In Monken's first season, the team utilized Sunday as its mandated off day.
125 YEARS OF ARMY FOOTBALL
Army football be celebrating 125 years during the 2015 season. Game program stories will highlight the years of the Black Knights with a special commemorative cover for the Bucknell contest.
Army began playing football in 1890 and shows a 662-500-51 all-time record.
This year is also the 92nd season that the Black Knights have called Michie Stadium home.
BLOGGING ALONG
Junior linebacker Andrew King will offer a blog during the season, called King in the Middle, providing insights into the Black Knights. King's entries can be found at www.GoArmyWestPoint.com.
BLACK AND GOLD NFL
A trio of Army football players continue their National Football League dreams.
Collin Mooney, a 2009 graduate, is a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Mooney, a fullback, spent two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, before moving to Atlanta. He is currently on the injured reserve list.
Alejandro Villanueva, a 2010 West Point graduate, made the Pittsburgh Steelers' 53-man roster. Villanueva served two tours overseas before being invited to Philadelphia Eagles camp. He spent last season on the Steelers practice squad and made the roster as a backup offensive lineman. Villanueva was used as a tight end and defensive lineman at Army.
Josh McNary, a 2010 graduate, was signed to the Indianapolis Colts' 10-man practice squad and later elevated to the active roster on Sept. 15.
Trent Steelman, a 2013 graduate, was invited to the Baltimore Ravens' camp as a wide receiver before being released. He is currently with the Fall Experimental Football League and will play for the Hudson Valley Fort. The team plays its home games at Dutchess Stadium, 30 miles from West Point.
THE CAPTAINS
Senior fullback Matt Giachinta and junior linebacker Jeremy Timpf have been named team captains for the 2015 season following a vote by their teammates in the spring.
Timpf is the first underclassmen to hold the role since Stephen Anderson in 2009.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Army West Point head coach Jeff Monken has also instituted a team leadership council. The group includes players from all four classes and includes frequent meetings with Monken and staff to determine team issues like uniforms, discipline and goal setting.
The 2015 Leadership Council includes: Jeremy Timpf, Matt Giachinta, Chris Carnegie, A.J. Schurr, Kelvin White, Matt Hugenberg, Andrew King, Joe Walker, Scott Washle, John Voit, Calen Holt, Luke Langdon and Darnell Woolfolk
SUMMER LEADERS
Members of the Army West Point football team are not only finding success on the gridiron and classroom, but also in military training as well.
Joshua Boylan and Justin Fahn were recently recognized for their hard work during separate summer training sessions.
Boylan, an offensive lineman from Tyler, Texas, was named the most outstanding cadet for Cadet Field Training. Fahn, a linebacker from Bristol, Tenn., received similar honors for Cadet Leader Development Training.
Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy participate in training to instill the foundational military competencies necessary to win in a complex world while inspiring for professional excellence.
Summer training is focused on being proficient as a soldier and as a member of the team, solving tactical problems, understanding roles of officers and non-commissioned officers, demonstrating effective leadership and demonstrating courage, character, integrity and toughness.
Cadet Field Training (CFT) is a three-week session while Cadet Leader Development Training (CLDT) lasts two weeks.
Most Outstanding Cadets are selected by their assessments on scores for patrols for CLDT and who received the highest marks on tasks and scores for CFT.
CFT is designed to train, mentor, and assess basic leadership skills focusing on Troop Leading Procedures (TLPs), effective communication, and tactical decision making in order to develop competent and confident small unit leaders capable of operating in an uncertain and rapidly changing environment. In a series of tactical scenarios that reflect the Decisive Action Training Environment, cadets rotate through leadership positions which provide the cadet with a common experience to further enhance their leadership ability to solve difficult tactical problems, lead under stress and develop the technical proficiencies expected of 2nd Lieutenants.
CLDT assesses juniors and seniors abilities to lead under stress, solve tactical problems and demonstrate proficiency in individual, leader and small unit tasks. The training and assessment contributes to each cadet's development as a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in their service.
Cadet Field Training is a three-week program of instruction that emphasizes general military skills, individual preparedness training, preparations for extended field operations, and leading, participating in, and conducting small unit tactical operations. The purpose of CFT is to develop, train, test, and validate specific tasks; prepare cadets to assume duties as non-commissioned officers in the Corps of Cadets; instill the warrior ethos in each cadet; and inspire each cadet to professional excellence through physically- and mentally demanding training.
FIRST AND GOAL
Army West Point head football coach Jeff Monken and his staff were among the counselors that participated in Lauren's First and Goal Foundation football camp at Lafayette College over the summer.
More than 2,100 athletes were on hand for the one-day high school camp and a bevy of coaches, including the Army West Point staff, provided instruction.
Army West Point assistant coach John Loose is the founder of Lauren's First and Goal Foundation. His daughter, Lauren, was front and center when Michigan head coach John Harbaugh spoke to the campers. Monken was last year's featured speaker and is an honorary foundation board member.
Lauren's First and Goal Foundation's mission is to fund pediatric brain tumor research and patient services and assisting families living with the disease. More than $114,000 was raised at the 12th annual Pennsylvania camp. Another camp was also held in Ohio at Otterbein University where Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was the featured speaker.
"We want to thank Jim Harbaugh for bringing his entire staff and sharing a great message with the campers, families, coaches, volunteers and fans," said Loose. "I also want to thank our major sponsors, the Marines, Coordinated Health and Schutt Reconditioning, for their generous sponsorship at the Pennsylvania camp. We also couldn't do this without the many local businesses that provided critical in-kind donations and support, the Lafayette College football staff and community for their tremendous support over the last 12 years, and the hundreds of loyal and dedicated volunteers that come back to help year after year."
Lauren's First and Goal Foundation has awarded $1.46 million to pediatric research, patient services and families since 2004.
THE CLASS OF 2019
Approximately 1,270 cadet candidates, including 280 women, 425 minorities, 17 international cadets and 13 combat veterans began Cadet Basic Training this summer.
The incoming class was selected from a pool of 16,000 applicants. The 280 women represent 22 percent of the class. Minority enrollment, roughly 33 percent, includes 189 African-Americans, 93 Asian-Americans, 119 Hispanic-Americans and 10 Native Americans.
The Class of 2019 includes cadets from every state in the nation and 17 international cadets entering the class under the sponsorship of their respective countries. The countries represented include Bangladesh, Guyana, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Malaysia, Pakistan (two), Panama, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Upon graduation, these cadets will return to their respective countries as officers in their armed forces.
NEW TURF
Michie Stadium has new turf for the 2015 season. The playing surface at the historic stadium was replaced over the summer.
Michie Stadium had FieldTurf Revolution installed as well as new branding reflecting the Black Knights' new logo.
FieldTurf Revolution, the result of innovative science, engineering and technology provides a soft, strong monofilament fiber with extraordinary durability and longevity. A three-layer infill system and state-of-the-art SureLock coating method are underneath the turf.
Michie Stadium will have limited permanent markings on the surface, allowing for an easy transition from football to men's lacrosse to women's lacrosse. All three sports use different line markers and with the new field, lines will be painted on for specific competitions.
GAME DAY IS BACK
For the second consecutive year, ESPN's College Gameday will broadcast live from Philadelphia prior to the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA on Saturday, Dec. 12.
ESPN's signature college football show will air from Philadelphia, Pa., the site of the 116th Army-Navy Game presented by USAA.
College Gameday, with host Rece Davis and analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard, are expected in Philadelphia for the show.
College Gameday was at West Point, N.Y., on Sept. 27, 2003, prior to the Black Knights' game against South Florida. Lightning and heavy rains in both Connecticut and West Point cut the show short. The set was arranged between Doubleday Field and the library on Patton Field.
Last December the show made its Army-Navy debut from the inner harbor of Baltimore, Md.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The last time Army scored a special teams touchdown was against Temple on Sept. 29, 2007. Corey Anderson returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a score and Jeremy Trimble returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown opposite the Owls.
Army has gone 472 kickoffs and 346 returns and 350 punts and 127 punt returns without a score.
SUMMER TRAINING
In 2014, Army altered its summer training, moving up the time the players spend in the field and allowing the team the opportunity to take a class and train in the summer.
Traditionally, players took leave and participated in summer military training. Now, training starts around the time of graduation and players gather at West Point for school and training, forgoing their leave time.
CLASS MOTTO
One of the duties of the new cadets is selecting a class motto. That motto, selected during Cadet Basic Training, is displayed during March Back on a large banner during the 12-mile return to West Point. The Class mottos are
2019 So Freedom Will Reign
2018 So Others May Dream
2017 With Honor We Lead
2016 For Those We Lead
12TH MAN
Army has retired four numbers and does not issue number 12, a number reserved for the Corps of Cadets as the 12th man.
Numbers 24 (Pete Dawkins), 35 (Felix "Doc" Blanchard) and 41 (Glenn Davis) have been retired for Heisman Trophy winners, while Joe Steffy's number 61 is also retired.
ARMY/CBS SPORTS NETWORK
Army West Point is in its sixth season of an exclusive television agreement with CBS Sports Network that ensures all Black Knights home football games are broadcast live on national television.
In January, Army and CBS Sports announced a five-year agreement that runs through 2019. As part of the agreement, most of the Black Knights games will be played in the afternoon. It also calls for CBS Sports Network to broadcast neutral site contests where Army is the home team.
OFFICER PLAQUE
As the Army football team enters the field, one of the long traditions is to touch the Officer plaque. A team member holds the plaque aloft and the players reach up as they are passing by.
The plaque states: "I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player." Gen. George Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during World War II, made the statement at the Pentagon when he needed an officer to train and lead a ranger-type battalion on a secret mission.
SUPERINTENDENT
Lieutenant General Robert L. Caslen, Jr. became the 59th Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on July 17, 2013.
Lt. Gen. Caslen graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1975. He earned master's degrees from Long Island University and Kansas State University.
Caslen earned varsity letters as a member of the football team in 1973 and 1974 as an offensive lineman.
Previous to this assignment, Lt. Gen. Caslen served as the Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq. His prior deployments and assignments include serving as the commander of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the command that oversees the Command and General Staff College and 17 other schools, centers, and training programs located throughout the United States; commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and commanding general of the Multi-National Division-North during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commandant of Cadets for the U.S. Military Academy; Deputy Director for the War on Terrorism, J-5, The Joint Staff; Assistant Division Commander (maneuver), 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized); Chief of Staff, 10th Mountain Division (Light); Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force Mountain during Operation Enduring Freedom; Commander, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Chief of Staff, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Senior Brigade C2 Observer/Controller, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center; Commander, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light); Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy; J-3 in Honduras for Joint Task Force Bravo; Brigade Operations Officer, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Lt. Gen. Caslen's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and is Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger qualified.
CLASS RINGS
Each senior at West Point is presented with their class ring during the Ring Weekend. The rings are distributed at Trophy Point with the cadets wearing their "India White" uniforms.
The rings presented to the Class of 2016 include steel from the World Trade Center as well as gold from past class rings which have been donated.
THIS WEEK IN ARMY FOOTBALL
"This Week in Army Football" radio show will be held Thursday's during the 2015 football season at 7 p.m.
Head coach Jeff Monken will join Assistant Athletic Director for Multi Media Rich DeMarco as well as an assistant coach and former player.
The show is held at the "relocated" First Class Club which has been moved to the Class of '63 Lounge at Eisenhower Hall. For the 2015 season, fans can attend the show in the former Benny's Lounge, on the third floor of Eisenhower Hall in Crest Hall.
Food and beverage specials, the opportunity to ask questions of the Army head coach and prizes will all be offered.
For those fans unable to make the show live, WALL 1340-AM and WEOK 1390-AM will air the show and a video stream will be offered at www.GoArmyWestPoint.com.
SPIRIT LUNCHEONS
The next Spirit Luncheons, presented by USAA, will be held Thursday, Oct. 8.
Lunch will be held at the West Point Club at the U.S. Military Academy and begin promptly at noon with food service beginning at 11:15 a.m. Head coach Jeff Monken and selected players and coaches will be part of the program. Tickets are $10 in advance (845-938-5120) or $12 at the door.
Army collected 654 yards of total offense in the 58-36 win at Eastern Michigan's Rynearson Stadium, the most yards the storied program has accumulate against a team currently competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The 556 rushing yards were third all-time for the Black Knights.
Army also won a regular season road contest for the first time since 2010 and halted a 21-game losing streak on the road.
The Black Knights are now 1-3 and will play at State College, Pa., in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd of nearly 107,000 at Beaver Stadium. ESPNU will televise the game nationally.
Army is now ninth in the country in rushing yards with 294.5 per contest and is averaging 31 points per game. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw leads the team with 341 rushing yards and four touchdowns while completing 11-of-22 passes for 194 yards and another three scores. Fellow quarterback A.J. Schurr has rushed for two touchdowns and thrown for another. Freshman Drue Harris scored twice last weekend and is among the eight players who have accounted for Army's 13 rushing touchdowns.
Aaron Kemper is second on the squad with 223 yards, while Joe Walker averages 9.8 yards per carry. John Trainor has a team-best four catches for 72 yards and has rushed nine times for 89 yards.
Army's defense is allowing 28.0 points per contest, has intercepted four passes, collected eight quarterback sacks and registered 27 tackles for losses of 119 yards. Jeremy Timpf leads the team with 31 tackles, while Andrew King is one behind with a team-best 8.0 tackles for losses of 45 yards. Ten Black Knights have registered at least 12 tackles this season.
EASTERN MICHIGAN LEFTOVERS
Army won a regular-season road game for the first time since topping Kent State, 45-28, on Nov. 13, 2010, a stretch of 21 games. Army's last win away from Michie Stadium was a 35-21 neutral site victory over Connecticut on Nov. 8, 2014 at Yankee Stadium.
Army's last win at an opponents' stadium was a 16-14 win over at SMU in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30, 2010. That game was played at Ford Stadium in Dallas.
Saturday marked Jeff Monken's first game against Eastern Michigan.
Connor Farley and Joey Giovannelli served as game captains and joined season captains Jeremy Timpf and Matt Giachinta for the coin toss.
Michael McFadden led the team on the field with the American Flag.
The 58 points was the most for Army against a current FBS opponent in regulation since scoring 58 against Boston College (Nov. 9, 1968; W, 58-25).
The last time Army scored more than 58 points in regulation against a current FBS opponent was on Nov. 11, 1944, a 59-0 victory over Notre Dame.
The 58 points scored for Army is the most since Oct. 7, 2006 vs. VMI.
Army's 654 yards of total offense marked the second most yards of total offense in a single game in school history.
The 654 yards of total offense is the most against a current FBS opponent in Academy history.
Army's 556 rushing yards were the third most in school history and the most since 546 yards on Oct. 12, 1996 vs. Rutgers.
The 556 rushing yards is the most against a current FBS opponent in Academy history.
Army ran for over 500 yards for the first time since hosting EMU on Oct. 12, 2013.
Army had over 40 minutes of time of possession for the first time since Sept. 15, 2012 against Northern Illinois.
Joe Walker ran for a 63-yard touchdown in the first quarter, his longest career run.
Walker finished with 86 yards on five carries, both career bests.
Army scored on its first possession of the game for the third time this season.
Army's 13-play scoring drive in the first quarter took 7:06 and covered 77 yards. The plays and time of the drive were season bests for the Black Knights.
Kemper ran 13 times for a career-high 147 yards.
Giachinta ran 13 times for a career high 88 yards.
Drue Harris had a career high 60 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
DeAndre Bell hauled in career-long 49-yard reception in the third quarter.
A.J. Schurr rushed for a two-yard touchdown, his first of the season and the eighth of his career.
Drue Harris rushed for his first career touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Schurr rushed for two touchdowns in a game for the third time in his career.
Army's defense held Eastern Michigan to just a field goal after the Eagles had first and 10 from their 21-yard line.
Army limited Eastern Michigan to one first down, one passing yard and 16 rushing yards in the first quarter.
Timpf led the team in tackles with eight, all solo stops.
Army forced a turnover for the fourth consecutive game.
Xavier Moss intercepted his first career pass in the third quarter. Moss spent his first two seasons as a wide receiver before asking to move to defense
Army didn't punt in a game for the first time since Oct. 29, 2011 against Fordham.
Kelvin White threw a two-point conversion to Connor Farley in the first quarter. It was the first reception for Farley.
The two-point conversion was the second of the season for Army and first via pass.
Matt Giachinta ran for 34 yards on Army's first fake punt of the season.
A.J. Schurr also ran in a two-point conversion in the final quarter.
GIACHINTA AND CAMPBELL TROPHY
Army senior running back Matt Giachinta is among the semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced.
Giachinta, from Cold Spring, N.Y., is one of 135 semifinalists that were announced today. The NFF will release 15 finalists on Oct. 29 and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will be in New York City for the 58th NFF annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8. The winner of the 26th William V. Campbell Trophy will be announced and his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Named in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, the Campbell Trophy is a 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the amount of the recipient's grant by $7,000 for a total postgraduate scholarship of $25,000. A total distribution of more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, pushing the program's all-time distribution to more than $11 million.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
Giachinta is one of 83 team captains among the semifinalists and one of 71 offensive nominees. He is a Systems Engineering major.
The past recipients of the William V. Campbell Trophy include: Air Force's Chris Howard (1990); Florida's Brad Culpepper (1991); Colorado's Jim Hansen (1992); Virginia's Thomas Burns (1993); Nebraska's Rob Zatechka (1994); Ohio State's Bobby Hoying (1995); Florida's Danny Wuerffel (1996); Tennessee's Peyton Manning (1997); Georgia's Matt Stinchcomb (1998); Marshall's Chad Pennington (1999); Nebraska's Kyle Vanden Bosch (2000); Miami (Fla.)'s Joaquin Gonzalez (2001); Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) Brandon Roberts (2002); Ohio State's Craig Krenzel (2003); Tennessee's Michael Munoz (2004); LSU's Rudy Niswanger (2005); Rutgers' Brian Leonard (2006); Texas' Dallas Griffin (2007); California's Alex Mack (2008); Florida's Tim Tebow (2009); Texas' Sam Acho (2010); Army's Andrew Rodriguez (2011); Alabama's Barrett Jones (2012); Penn State's John Urschel (2013); and Duke's David Helton (2014).
NFF FINALIST
Army freshman Kenneth Brinson is among eight finalists for the south region's 2015 National Football Foundation High School Scholar-Athlete Award.
Overall there are 40 finalists throughout the country for the NFF High School Scholar-Athlete Awards. The honors go to one young man from each of the nation's five regions as the best and brightest for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens at the high school level. The finalists all graduated from high school in 2015 and are now playing college football. The five honorees, which are being recognized for their previous accomplishments in high school, will be announced the week of Oct. 5.
Brinson, from Kennesaw, Ga., was a three-sport athlete at The Marist School in Atlanta and earned four letters in football, track and field and wrestling. He is the school's all-time leader in career sacks and was a two-time team captain.
The five honorees will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards have become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include but are not limited to academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
BROTHERS
Army has a pair of brothers on its 2015 roster. Junior Edgar Poe and his freshman brother Christian are both wide outs, while junior Lofi Tomasese and his freshman brother Riko are offensive linemen.
ARMY-PENN STATE SERIES
Army and Penn State first faced off in 1899 and will play for the 25th time on Saturday. Penn State owns a 13-9-1 edge in the all-time series, including a 6-3 mark at State College, Pa.
Army will play Penn State for the first time since a 24-3 Nittany Lions victory at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 13, 1979. Army's last win against Penn State was an 11-0 victory in 1966 at Michie Stadium. Army's last win at Beaver Stadium was in 1963, 10-7.
BRISTOL VISIT
Army head football coach Jeff Monken appeared live on SportsCenter, met with a host of college football administrators and received a full tour of the ESPN Campus on Sept. 11.
Because of weather delays at the U.S. Open, Monken's live interview time kept adjusting. The second-year head coach did a segment live on SportsCenter during the 10 a.m. hour in the broadcast companies' large set.
Monken, who concluded his interview with "Beat Navy," then met with members of ESPN's College Football programming department before embarking on a tour of the massive facility.
Monken visited the NFL studios where most professional football programming is broadcast from and passed the helmet locker which houses most college football teams for its popular helmet sticker segment.
The new college football set was next and Monken was the first college football coach to see it. He also stopped in the Major League Baseball studio where he took a few swings and stepped on the mound in the appropriately named set.
From there, Monken witnessed First Take being shot live from the floor and then into the control room to see the backend operations.
he college football hallway is one of the newest additions to ESPN. A touch screen allows you to click the logo of your school and the fight song is then played. Photos of every Division I college football program are displayed as well.
Stops in the cafeteria and gift shop were mixed in on the tour which included the newsroom, the ESPN audio wing, the ESPNW section and the X Games area.
Monken concluded his tour and then met the team for its walkthrough at Rentschler Field where the Black Knights were set to take on Connecticut.
DUAL THREATS
Junior Xavier Moss spent his first two seasons as a wide receiver. In the offseason, he approached the coaching staff about switching to defense. Now, Moss is a starting safety, yet still contributes on offense.
Moss made four tackles in his first collegiate game as a defender and also hauled in a 26-yard pass in the fourth quarter opposite Fordham. Moss has 24 tackles and an interception and has one catch on the season
Senior Kelvin White began his career at Army as a quarterback. He is now the team's top tight end but still may play under center. White didn't make a catch against Fordham but did complete one of two passes in the fourth quarter for 26 yards.
In addition to tight end and quarterback, White has also played tackle and lined up as wide receiver this year.
PLAYING WITH HEAVY HEARTS
Sean Callahan, 12, who the Army football team adopted through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, passed away on August 22. Head coach Jeff Monken, his staff and the upperclassmen attended his services in Mahopac, N.Y.
"Our entire program is saddened to hear about the passing of our teammate, Sean Callahan," Monken said. "Sean was the toughest young man you would ever want to meet. He taught our players and staff so much about overcoming adversity, about working hard and about enjoying life. He became part of the Army football brotherhood. We are grateful we had the opportunity to spend time with Sean and his terrific family and we will value the lessons he taught us. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with Sean's family at this terribly difficult time."
Callahan joined the Black Knights in June of 2014 in conjunction with the New York Yankees HOPE Week and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Callahan, who suffered from brain tumors, had a locker with the Black Knights and attended every home game during the 2014 season as well as the contest at Yankee Stadium. He was a vital part of the annual team awards banquet, helping Monken distribute the awards.
During the annual Black-Gold Spring Game, Callahan was voted the game's most valuable player after he ran for a 73-yard touchdown on the first play of the contest setting off a wild celebration that included him being carried off the field as players chanted his name. He also ran for a 75-yard touchdown to conclude the scoring in the game.
The team wore a sticker on is helmet against Fordham honoring Callahan. The sticker was the jersey Callahan wore in the spring game with Sean's number 18 and CALLAHAN across the top.
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State is in the midst of a stretch of five consecutive home games at Beaver Stadium and enters Saturday contest at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 10 East.
The Nittany Lions opened the season with a 27-10 loss to Temple but have since beaten Buffalo (27-14), Rutgers (28-3) and San Diego State (37-21) at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State is scoring 25.5 points per game and allowing just 16.2 points per contest.
Quarterback Christian Hackenberg has completed 56-of-106 passes for 668 yards, two interceptions and four touchdowns. Chris Godwin leads the team with 19 catches for 283 yards, while DaeSean Hamilton has 14 receptions for 146 yards. Saquon Barklet is the top rusher with 373 yards on 42 carries and four touchdowns.
The Nittany Lions have registered 18 sacks and 40 tackles for losses this season and intercepted three passes. Austin Johnson has 23 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss, while Troy Reeder has 23 stops.
Penn State is allowing 80.5 rushing yards per game and 191.2 passing yards per contest.
HELMET STICKERS
The Army football team will continue to honor the U.S. Army this season, wearing helmet stickers for the below divisions.
9/4 Fordham: 1st Infantry Division
9/12 at Connecticut: 7th Infantry Division
9/19 Wake Forest: 82nd Airborne
9/26 at Eastern Michigan: 2nd Infantry Division
10/3 at Penn State: 101st Airborne
10/10 Duke: 25th Infantry Division
10/17 Bucknell: 1st Armored Division
10/24 at Rice: 1st Calvary Division
11/7 at Air Force: 4th Infantry Division
11/14 Tulane: 3rd Infantry Division
11/21 Rutgers 10th Mountain Division
12/12 Navy: Players will wear specific stickers
CLASSROOM SUCCESS
The Army football team continues to excel in the classroom. The team improved its grade point average .13 points in the spring, raising the team GPA to the highest it has been since 1977.
SCHEDULE CHANGE
Army will use Monday as its day off this season and will practice on Sunday. In Monken's first season, the team utilized Sunday as its mandated off day.
125 YEARS OF ARMY FOOTBALL
Army football be celebrating 125 years during the 2015 season. Game program stories will highlight the years of the Black Knights with a special commemorative cover for the Bucknell contest.
Army began playing football in 1890 and shows a 662-500-51 all-time record.
This year is also the 92nd season that the Black Knights have called Michie Stadium home.
BLOGGING ALONG
Junior linebacker Andrew King will offer a blog during the season, called King in the Middle, providing insights into the Black Knights. King's entries can be found at www.GoArmyWestPoint.com.
BLACK AND GOLD NFL
A trio of Army football players continue their National Football League dreams.
Collin Mooney, a 2009 graduate, is a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Mooney, a fullback, spent two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, before moving to Atlanta. He is currently on the injured reserve list.
Alejandro Villanueva, a 2010 West Point graduate, made the Pittsburgh Steelers' 53-man roster. Villanueva served two tours overseas before being invited to Philadelphia Eagles camp. He spent last season on the Steelers practice squad and made the roster as a backup offensive lineman. Villanueva was used as a tight end and defensive lineman at Army.
Josh McNary, a 2010 graduate, was signed to the Indianapolis Colts' 10-man practice squad and later elevated to the active roster on Sept. 15.
Trent Steelman, a 2013 graduate, was invited to the Baltimore Ravens' camp as a wide receiver before being released. He is currently with the Fall Experimental Football League and will play for the Hudson Valley Fort. The team plays its home games at Dutchess Stadium, 30 miles from West Point.
THE CAPTAINS
Senior fullback Matt Giachinta and junior linebacker Jeremy Timpf have been named team captains for the 2015 season following a vote by their teammates in the spring.
Timpf is the first underclassmen to hold the role since Stephen Anderson in 2009.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Army West Point head coach Jeff Monken has also instituted a team leadership council. The group includes players from all four classes and includes frequent meetings with Monken and staff to determine team issues like uniforms, discipline and goal setting.
The 2015 Leadership Council includes: Jeremy Timpf, Matt Giachinta, Chris Carnegie, A.J. Schurr, Kelvin White, Matt Hugenberg, Andrew King, Joe Walker, Scott Washle, John Voit, Calen Holt, Luke Langdon and Darnell Woolfolk
SUMMER LEADERS
Members of the Army West Point football team are not only finding success on the gridiron and classroom, but also in military training as well.
Joshua Boylan and Justin Fahn were recently recognized for their hard work during separate summer training sessions.
Boylan, an offensive lineman from Tyler, Texas, was named the most outstanding cadet for Cadet Field Training. Fahn, a linebacker from Bristol, Tenn., received similar honors for Cadet Leader Development Training.
Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy participate in training to instill the foundational military competencies necessary to win in a complex world while inspiring for professional excellence.
Summer training is focused on being proficient as a soldier and as a member of the team, solving tactical problems, understanding roles of officers and non-commissioned officers, demonstrating effective leadership and demonstrating courage, character, integrity and toughness.
Cadet Field Training (CFT) is a three-week session while Cadet Leader Development Training (CLDT) lasts two weeks.
Most Outstanding Cadets are selected by their assessments on scores for patrols for CLDT and who received the highest marks on tasks and scores for CFT.
CFT is designed to train, mentor, and assess basic leadership skills focusing on Troop Leading Procedures (TLPs), effective communication, and tactical decision making in order to develop competent and confident small unit leaders capable of operating in an uncertain and rapidly changing environment. In a series of tactical scenarios that reflect the Decisive Action Training Environment, cadets rotate through leadership positions which provide the cadet with a common experience to further enhance their leadership ability to solve difficult tactical problems, lead under stress and develop the technical proficiencies expected of 2nd Lieutenants.
CLDT assesses juniors and seniors abilities to lead under stress, solve tactical problems and demonstrate proficiency in individual, leader and small unit tasks. The training and assessment contributes to each cadet's development as a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in their service.
Cadet Field Training is a three-week program of instruction that emphasizes general military skills, individual preparedness training, preparations for extended field operations, and leading, participating in, and conducting small unit tactical operations. The purpose of CFT is to develop, train, test, and validate specific tasks; prepare cadets to assume duties as non-commissioned officers in the Corps of Cadets; instill the warrior ethos in each cadet; and inspire each cadet to professional excellence through physically- and mentally demanding training.
FIRST AND GOAL
Army West Point head football coach Jeff Monken and his staff were among the counselors that participated in Lauren's First and Goal Foundation football camp at Lafayette College over the summer.
More than 2,100 athletes were on hand for the one-day high school camp and a bevy of coaches, including the Army West Point staff, provided instruction.
Army West Point assistant coach John Loose is the founder of Lauren's First and Goal Foundation. His daughter, Lauren, was front and center when Michigan head coach John Harbaugh spoke to the campers. Monken was last year's featured speaker and is an honorary foundation board member.
Lauren's First and Goal Foundation's mission is to fund pediatric brain tumor research and patient services and assisting families living with the disease. More than $114,000 was raised at the 12th annual Pennsylvania camp. Another camp was also held in Ohio at Otterbein University where Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was the featured speaker.
"We want to thank Jim Harbaugh for bringing his entire staff and sharing a great message with the campers, families, coaches, volunteers and fans," said Loose. "I also want to thank our major sponsors, the Marines, Coordinated Health and Schutt Reconditioning, for their generous sponsorship at the Pennsylvania camp. We also couldn't do this without the many local businesses that provided critical in-kind donations and support, the Lafayette College football staff and community for their tremendous support over the last 12 years, and the hundreds of loyal and dedicated volunteers that come back to help year after year."
Lauren's First and Goal Foundation has awarded $1.46 million to pediatric research, patient services and families since 2004.
THE CLASS OF 2019
Approximately 1,270 cadet candidates, including 280 women, 425 minorities, 17 international cadets and 13 combat veterans began Cadet Basic Training this summer.
The incoming class was selected from a pool of 16,000 applicants. The 280 women represent 22 percent of the class. Minority enrollment, roughly 33 percent, includes 189 African-Americans, 93 Asian-Americans, 119 Hispanic-Americans and 10 Native Americans.
The Class of 2019 includes cadets from every state in the nation and 17 international cadets entering the class under the sponsorship of their respective countries. The countries represented include Bangladesh, Guyana, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Malaysia, Pakistan (two), Panama, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Upon graduation, these cadets will return to their respective countries as officers in their armed forces.
NEW TURF
Michie Stadium has new turf for the 2015 season. The playing surface at the historic stadium was replaced over the summer.
Michie Stadium had FieldTurf Revolution installed as well as new branding reflecting the Black Knights' new logo.
FieldTurf Revolution, the result of innovative science, engineering and technology provides a soft, strong monofilament fiber with extraordinary durability and longevity. A three-layer infill system and state-of-the-art SureLock coating method are underneath the turf.
Michie Stadium will have limited permanent markings on the surface, allowing for an easy transition from football to men's lacrosse to women's lacrosse. All three sports use different line markers and with the new field, lines will be painted on for specific competitions.
GAME DAY IS BACK
For the second consecutive year, ESPN's College Gameday will broadcast live from Philadelphia prior to the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA on Saturday, Dec. 12.
ESPN's signature college football show will air from Philadelphia, Pa., the site of the 116th Army-Navy Game presented by USAA.
College Gameday, with host Rece Davis and analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard, are expected in Philadelphia for the show.
College Gameday was at West Point, N.Y., on Sept. 27, 2003, prior to the Black Knights' game against South Florida. Lightning and heavy rains in both Connecticut and West Point cut the show short. The set was arranged between Doubleday Field and the library on Patton Field.
Last December the show made its Army-Navy debut from the inner harbor of Baltimore, Md.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The last time Army scored a special teams touchdown was against Temple on Sept. 29, 2007. Corey Anderson returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a score and Jeremy Trimble returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown opposite the Owls.
Army has gone 472 kickoffs and 346 returns and 350 punts and 127 punt returns without a score.
SUMMER TRAINING
In 2014, Army altered its summer training, moving up the time the players spend in the field and allowing the team the opportunity to take a class and train in the summer.
Traditionally, players took leave and participated in summer military training. Now, training starts around the time of graduation and players gather at West Point for school and training, forgoing their leave time.
CLASS MOTTO
One of the duties of the new cadets is selecting a class motto. That motto, selected during Cadet Basic Training, is displayed during March Back on a large banner during the 12-mile return to West Point. The Class mottos are
2019 So Freedom Will Reign
2018 So Others May Dream
2017 With Honor We Lead
2016 For Those We Lead
12TH MAN
Army has retired four numbers and does not issue number 12, a number reserved for the Corps of Cadets as the 12th man.
Numbers 24 (Pete Dawkins), 35 (Felix "Doc" Blanchard) and 41 (Glenn Davis) have been retired for Heisman Trophy winners, while Joe Steffy's number 61 is also retired.
ARMY/CBS SPORTS NETWORK
Army West Point is in its sixth season of an exclusive television agreement with CBS Sports Network that ensures all Black Knights home football games are broadcast live on national television.
In January, Army and CBS Sports announced a five-year agreement that runs through 2019. As part of the agreement, most of the Black Knights games will be played in the afternoon. It also calls for CBS Sports Network to broadcast neutral site contests where Army is the home team.
OFFICER PLAQUE
As the Army football team enters the field, one of the long traditions is to touch the Officer plaque. A team member holds the plaque aloft and the players reach up as they are passing by.
The plaque states: "I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player." Gen. George Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during World War II, made the statement at the Pentagon when he needed an officer to train and lead a ranger-type battalion on a secret mission.
SUPERINTENDENT
Lieutenant General Robert L. Caslen, Jr. became the 59th Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on July 17, 2013.
Lt. Gen. Caslen graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1975. He earned master's degrees from Long Island University and Kansas State University.
Caslen earned varsity letters as a member of the football team in 1973 and 1974 as an offensive lineman.
Previous to this assignment, Lt. Gen. Caslen served as the Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq. His prior deployments and assignments include serving as the commander of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the command that oversees the Command and General Staff College and 17 other schools, centers, and training programs located throughout the United States; commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and commanding general of the Multi-National Division-North during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commandant of Cadets for the U.S. Military Academy; Deputy Director for the War on Terrorism, J-5, The Joint Staff; Assistant Division Commander (maneuver), 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized); Chief of Staff, 10th Mountain Division (Light); Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force Mountain during Operation Enduring Freedom; Commander, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Chief of Staff, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Senior Brigade C2 Observer/Controller, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center; Commander, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light); Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy; J-3 in Honduras for Joint Task Force Bravo; Brigade Operations Officer, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Lt. Gen. Caslen's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and is Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger qualified.
CLASS RINGS
Each senior at West Point is presented with their class ring during the Ring Weekend. The rings are distributed at Trophy Point with the cadets wearing their "India White" uniforms.
The rings presented to the Class of 2016 include steel from the World Trade Center as well as gold from past class rings which have been donated.
THIS WEEK IN ARMY FOOTBALL
"This Week in Army Football" radio show will be held Thursday's during the 2015 football season at 7 p.m.
Head coach Jeff Monken will join Assistant Athletic Director for Multi Media Rich DeMarco as well as an assistant coach and former player.
The show is held at the "relocated" First Class Club which has been moved to the Class of '63 Lounge at Eisenhower Hall. For the 2015 season, fans can attend the show in the former Benny's Lounge, on the third floor of Eisenhower Hall in Crest Hall.
Food and beverage specials, the opportunity to ask questions of the Army head coach and prizes will all be offered.
For those fans unable to make the show live, WALL 1340-AM and WEOK 1390-AM will air the show and a video stream will be offered at www.GoArmyWestPoint.com.
SPIRIT LUNCHEONS
The next Spirit Luncheons, presented by USAA, will be held Thursday, Oct. 8.
Lunch will be held at the West Point Club at the U.S. Military Academy and begin promptly at noon with food service beginning at 11:15 a.m. Head coach Jeff Monken and selected players and coaches will be part of the program. Tickets are $10 in advance (845-938-5120) or $12 at the door.
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