Army West Point Athletics
Football Off and Running
April 01, 2016 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point football team opened its spring football practice schedule this evening with temperatures in the 70s at Howze Field.
The Black Knights held the first practice for around two hours in helmets and finished up with a punt return competition between the offense and defense. Â
After its usual warm up and stretching, the team broke off into special teams, beginning with punt. Following position drills, the offense stayed on Howze Field and the defense took to Foley Athletic Center. There were two team sessions followed by a quick break, then more individual drills. The workout concluded with another team period.
Army returns to the practice field on Monday for a 4:50 p.m. start. The annual Black-Gold Spring Game is set for April 30 at 1 p.m.
REMAINING SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICES
Monday, April 4, 4:50 p.m.
Wednesday, April 6, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9, 10:15 a.m.
Tuesday, April 12, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 14, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 16, 10:15 a.m. (at USMAPS)
Tuesday, April 19, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 21, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 23, 10:15 a.m. (at USMAPS)
Tuesday, April 26, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 28, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 29, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 30 – Black-Gold Game, Michie Stadium
PRACTICE NOTES
- Coach Jeff Monken begins his third spring session with the Black Knights after he was hired in December 2013.
- ShaDon Brown, Daryl Dixon and Chad Wilt took to the practice field for the first time as assistant coaches. Mike Viti, who was an off the field member of the staff last year, was out coaching the fullbacks.
- Ahmad Bradshaw, Chris Carter and Matthew Kaufmann to the bulk of the snaps at the quarterback position.
- Edgar Poe is the top receiver coming into the spring after 441 yards receiving in 2015 with six touchdowns, which was the most since Jeremy Trimble had seven in 2007.
- J.D. Mote takes over punting duties for Alex Tardieu coming into the spring. The place-kicking job is up for grabs with Daniel Grochowski graduating in May. Mitchell Howard and Nick Schrage were handling kicking duties this evening.
- Aaron Kemper returns as the top rusher from 2015 with 544 yards on the ground on 101 carries and three touchdowns. Joining him in the backfield is John Trainor, Jordan Asberry, Joe Walker, Nicholas Black and Tyler Campbell.
- Jeremy Timpf is back as the leader of the defense, along with Andrew King. The two tied for the team lead in total tackles with 92, while King posted 16.5 tackles for loss.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Jeff Monken
On the message to the team coming into spring practice
"Spring practice is an opportunity to get better. We are five months away from playing, we have a lot of time between now and kickoff. It will go a lot faster than we realize. We are just trying to get better. I am glad we have spring practice, it allows us to be able to see the younger guys and how they have developed over the winter. It is amazing to see how a guy transforms during his first season when you are in college. It shows the difference through the weight and nutrition programs. We have had a lot of guys gain weight and strength and I am anxious to see what they will look like in a different body."
On what the staff has been doing since last December
"We took some time off. Our families deserve that. We spent a lot of time preparing and a lot of the time after the last game we spend recruiting. We dive right into it in December."
On the leadership of the team
"I think we have a lot of great leaders on our team. Jeremy Timpf was voted captain as a junior and I certainly know he is capable of doing that. I don't know if we have a better leader on the team than Andrew King. He does a great job. These guys that have been around and feel a sense of urgency to get it turned around. A guy like
The Black Knights held the first practice for around two hours in helmets and finished up with a punt return competition between the offense and defense. Â
After its usual warm up and stretching, the team broke off into special teams, beginning with punt. Following position drills, the offense stayed on Howze Field and the defense took to Foley Athletic Center. There were two team sessions followed by a quick break, then more individual drills. The workout concluded with another team period.
Army returns to the practice field on Monday for a 4:50 p.m. start. The annual Black-Gold Spring Game is set for April 30 at 1 p.m.
REMAINING SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICES
Monday, April 4, 4:50 p.m.
Wednesday, April 6, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9, 10:15 a.m.
Tuesday, April 12, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 14, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 16, 10:15 a.m. (at USMAPS)
Tuesday, April 19, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 21, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 23, 10:15 a.m. (at USMAPS)
Tuesday, April 26, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 28, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 29, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 30 – Black-Gold Game, Michie Stadium
PRACTICE NOTES
- Coach Jeff Monken begins his third spring session with the Black Knights after he was hired in December 2013.
- ShaDon Brown, Daryl Dixon and Chad Wilt took to the practice field for the first time as assistant coaches. Mike Viti, who was an off the field member of the staff last year, was out coaching the fullbacks.
- Ahmad Bradshaw, Chris Carter and Matthew Kaufmann to the bulk of the snaps at the quarterback position.
- Edgar Poe is the top receiver coming into the spring after 441 yards receiving in 2015 with six touchdowns, which was the most since Jeremy Trimble had seven in 2007.
- J.D. Mote takes over punting duties for Alex Tardieu coming into the spring. The place-kicking job is up for grabs with Daniel Grochowski graduating in May. Mitchell Howard and Nick Schrage were handling kicking duties this evening.
- Aaron Kemper returns as the top rusher from 2015 with 544 yards on the ground on 101 carries and three touchdowns. Joining him in the backfield is John Trainor, Jordan Asberry, Joe Walker, Nicholas Black and Tyler Campbell.
- Jeremy Timpf is back as the leader of the defense, along with Andrew King. The two tied for the team lead in total tackles with 92, while King posted 16.5 tackles for loss.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Jeff Monken
On the message to the team coming into spring practice
"Spring practice is an opportunity to get better. We are five months away from playing, we have a lot of time between now and kickoff. It will go a lot faster than we realize. We are just trying to get better. I am glad we have spring practice, it allows us to be able to see the younger guys and how they have developed over the winter. It is amazing to see how a guy transforms during his first season when you are in college. It shows the difference through the weight and nutrition programs. We have had a lot of guys gain weight and strength and I am anxious to see what they will look like in a different body."
On what the staff has been doing since last December
"We took some time off. Our families deserve that. We spent a lot of time preparing and a lot of the time after the last game we spend recruiting. We dive right into it in December."
On the leadership of the team
"I think we have a lot of great leaders on our team. Jeremy Timpf was voted captain as a junior and I certainly know he is capable of doing that. I don't know if we have a better leader on the team than Andrew King. He does a great job. These guys that have been around and feel a sense of urgency to get it turned around. A guy like
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