Army West Point Athletics
Ask The AD - March 12,2007
March 26, 2007 | General
RD: Hello again everyone, Rich DeMarco, on another edition of “Ask the AD.” Your chance to ask questions of Army Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson, and have Kevin Anderson answer your questions about the Army Athletic Department. Kevin, always good to be with you on another edition of “Ask the AD.”
KA: Rich, it’s great to be a Black Knight. We had a tremendous winter season, with both men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, indoor track and swimming. So I’m proud of how each and every team competed this year and I see us just getting better in the future.
RD: Kevin, let’s go to questions on “Ask the AD.” And we’ll start in Emeryville, California. Chuck Muncie has a question. And Kevin first of all he says to say hi, and also has questions to him from parents and coaches of high school athletes wanting to know what type of commitment is required for an athlete that is accepted at West Point. And are there additional commitments after the four years as a cadet?
KA: First of all, Rich, yes that is THE Chuck Muncie. I go back a long way with Chuck. I knew him when he played back at the University of California at Berkeley and also when he played with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers. Chuck, to answer your question... after your last game of eligibility and when you graduate from the Academy and are a commissioned officer, you have a five year commitment after that to go into the Army. But we do have a professional option where you can serve your country and pursue a professional career. So there are many ways you can play and pursue athletics at the United States Military Academy but then you do have some great career options after you are through with your eligibility.
RD: Our next question, Kevin, is from Hank Erbe from New York City. And Mr. Erbe grew up at West Point and wants to know if there are ways to get involved with Army Athletics as a booster, through an alumni organization or simply to make a donation to athletic programs at the United States Military Academy?
KA: There are many ways for one to contribute, Rich. One way is to go into our website, www.goarmysports.com, click on the “A” Club, and you can make an online contribution. We’re always looking for volunteers to come in and there are a variety of ways that one can contribute their time to help us. Go in, click on goarmysports.com, click on the “A” Club link, and there are many ways and many explanations on how one can give back to Army Athletics.
RD: Moving on to football, Kevin, Spring Football right around the corner. Chuck King from Houston, Texas, has just one question. When does Spring Practice begin for the Army Football team?
KA: Rich, we start March 20th, and we’re very excited to get going. Coach Brock has put together a wonderful coaching staff and we’re ready to strap it on get it going. Another date I would like everybody to pencil in on their calendar is April 14, which will be our Spring Game at 1pm. So come out and root on the Black Knights.
RD: Kevin, continuing with football, we move on to Brian Brennan from New Orleans, Louisiana. And Kevin, Brian wants to know why has Army hired a football coaching staff that he says is intent on “opening up” the Army offense, instead of hiring a staff that has a “run first” offensive attack”?
KA: To address that question, Rich, we have hired a football staff that’s dedicated to winning football games. And in talking with Coach Brock and his offensive and defensive coordinators, the philosophy is to put us in the best position to score and win... so that’s what we’re going to do. We’re not locked into one thing or another. I think what you will see during the Spring is that we’ll do an assessment on our talent, and then we’ll put in the best system that will utilize their talents so that we can win football games. I do want to address something else. We are committed to winning. There’s no question about that. I’m here. The staff is here. Everybody that works here in the athletic department of the United States Military Academy is committed to winning. And we’re not going to do anything short with the football team, the basketball teams, hockey or whatever we’re playing. We’re committed to win and give our people the best possible situation in which they can go out and compete at the highest level and be successful. I believe this football staff is committed to it and that you will see progress and we’ll continue on what Coach Ross started to build.
RD: Kevin, we move on to Nathan Daly from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. And Kevin, Nathan wants to know if the Wisconsin Badgers will be showing up on the Army Football schedule anytime soon?
KA: I could tell you right now that we’re putting schedules together and nowhere in the near future will Wisconsin show up on our schedule. But we are committed to being America’s Team and we will travel and we will have people come here from across the country to compete and play football. But I have not heard from Coach Alvarez about scheduling a football game but I more than welcome him calling me and inviting us to Wisconsin.
RD: Kevin, our next question is from Bruce Randolph from North Richland Hills, Texas. And Bruce wants to know is there any chance of Army returning to the Wishbone Offense, an offense which he says Navy and Air Force are both running with success?
KA: First of all, Rich, unless I’m incorrect I don’t believe either Air Force or Navy run the Wishbone. I know they run the option offense, but not a true Wishbone. But regardless, we are going to put ourselves in a position as I stated before to win football games. And you will probably see us run some variation of the option. I know our coaches liked the variations that both West Virginia and Wake Forest ran this year and there was some of that offense in their gameplan. So, you will see us running the kind of offense we need to do to sustain the football and to win. So that’s the best I can answer that question.
RD: Kevin, continuing with football, William Adams from Georgetown, Texas, wants to know if there will be an Army Football Camp this summer as his son would be interested in attending?
KA: I could tell you that Coach Brock is very interested in having a Summer Football Camp. So, I don’t think it’s going to happen this year, but keep reading our website and keep your ear to the radio and I’m certain in the next couple of years Army will have a Summer Football Camp.
RD: William Kemeney from Newton, New Jersey, has a question, Kevin. And he wants to know if the Army Football Team is going to have more night games than one a year and is there anything in the works to get the Army fans more fired up for the team after a couple of tough years? He’s obviously looking for things to turn around this year.
KA: Well, yes, we’re looking to fire up the fans. And the way to fire up the fans is to win. And Coach Brock knows it, and I know it. So, we’re geared up to fire up the fans and we’re going to start winning some football games and have people come out and root for the Black Knights. So, I truly believe that’s the way we’ll start getting people fired up. However, with our contract with ESPN and the popularity of the Army Football team, they do like us to play at least one football game at night per season so I’m sure again they’ll be coming back to us this season and seasons to come and asking us to play night games. But if we had our druthers, we would stay away from night games.
RD: Moving on from football and onto the Army Athletics logos. Jim Mesite from Colorado Springs, Colorado, wants to know if there’s been any consideration given to bringing back the old Army logo with the kicking mule over the Army “A?”
KA: Yes, we are looking at a retro line with Nike and one or two other vendors, so we are moving closer and closer to establishing a retro line so you will see some of the old Army “A” and the kicking mule in the future.
RD: Kevin, it’s been such a positive year for Army basketball during the 06-07 season. The Army women’s basketball team wins a Division I for them record 24 games. The Army men’s basketball teams has one of its great seasons in several decades by winning 15 games. And Larry Crane from Southport, Maine, wants to know how you feel Jim Crews did in coaching the Army men’s basketball team this year and how you look forward to Jim Crews coaching this team next year?
KA: Coach Crews did a fantastic job. Since I’ve been here as the Athletic Director I’ve seen nothing but progress. And this year, you could see in the record. And there were four or five games that we were right there until the last minute and could have won the game. So, I’m very pleased with what the coach has done. The kind of players that he’s brought in to run his system. And I see bigger and better things happening for the Army men’s basketball team. I think it was my third or fourth week on the job, and one of the papers ran an article on whether I would keep Jim Crews... will he stay. And my response to that from the very beginning that was that “I’m going to do everything in my power to keep Jim Crews.” Because, not only is he the kind of basketball coach we want to have represent the Academy, but he’s the kind of person. Jim’s a wonderful person, and a great basketball coach. So, there’s no question in my mind that we’ll do everything in our power to keep Jim Crews and his staff because we think we’re going to continue to be successful on the basketball court.
RD: Kevin, that does it for questions on this edition of “Ask the AD.” If anyone out there does have a question for a future show, just log onto the official website of Army Athletics, goarmysports.com, click of the “Ask the AD” button, and you can submit your question there. Kevin, it’s always to a pleasure to be with you on another edition of “Ask the AD.” Spring Football right around the corner and the Army Spring Sports season already underway.
KA: Rich, there’s just one thing I’d like to add before we sign off. I know there are many questions that are submitted and don’t address them on the radio. And sometimes it’s not in the best interests of anybody to either have the questions asked or have me respond. I just hope that everybody understands that and that we do our best to address all the issues but sometimes questions are not appropriate to have on the website. So, I hope everybody understands that and I hope that explains why some questions might not be answered during a session of “Ask the Athletic Director.”
RD: Kevin, always good to be with you on “Ask the AD.” We’ll catch up next month.
KA: Thanks, Rich.
RD: That’s Army Director of Athletics, Kevin Anderson. I’m Rich DeMarco on another edition of “Ask the AD.” Have a great day, everyone.
