Army West Point Athletics
Black Knight Blog
July 22, 2008 | General
The Black Knight Blog is a new initiative provided by the Office of Athletic Communications to offer Army fans an even more in-depth look into the everyday happenings here at West Point. The intent of this blog is to keep readers informed with a light, personal touch that will further enhance the fan experience. Please enjoy and send any comments, questions or concerns to tracy.nelson@usma.edu. We welcome as much feedback as possible!
Note: This blog will be updated as information warrants throughout the remainder of the summer. Entries will be available daily at the start of the 2008-09 academic year.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29, 2008
Sports Fever Hits West Point
While the women's soccer team is already two games into its season - with two WINS I might add - the rest of the fall sports get underway with the start of the weekend. It's certainly hard to believe that the summer flew by so quickly. I hope that some of you got a chance to relax, spend time with family and just recharge the batteries a bit!
I'm writing this blog with less than five hours until kickoff of the 2008 Army Football season. Typically, the Office of Athletic Communications arrives at Hoffman Press Box about 5-6 hours prior to kick to ensure that everything is in order and ready to go for the game. Things are already buzzing around West Point - Black Knights Alley is currently in the set-up stages, facilities crews are working tirelessly and the road block signs are starting to go up all over the place. If you're making your way to West Point for tonight's contest vs. Temple, I would suggest the earlier the better. Get here, park the car, tailgate and then check out the new and improved Black Knights Alley. Located between East Stands and Lusk Resevoir, BKA features food, face painting, live entertainment and interaction with the cadet teams. I already took a walk down there to see the work in progress, and I might have to sneak down again for some kettle corn! All-in-all, a great time had by all!
Back to the sports side of things, as I mentioned, women's soccer is off and running to a 2-0 start after a thrilling 2OT win over Sacred Heart last night in the BAE Systems Classic. The Black Knights will play Saint Louis on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Clinton Field. I am definitely not an expert, but the BKs looked solid in last night's win. Pia White had the game-winner and a handful of freshmen are contributing like upperclassmen! Looks good for coach Gene Ventriglia and his group.
The Army cross country team starts its season today in the Army Open, which is being run in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., due to the rare home Friday night football game. Volleyball opens its season on Saturday with a pair of matches. A veteran-laden squad went 24-5 last year and are looking to improve on that outstanding feat. Army will play Manhattan at 10 a.m. and later Wagner at 2 p.m. at Gillis Field House. The girls only lost once last year at home, so hopefully they will continue that trend tomorrow! Something will have to keep me entertained after the long night that this will prove to be!
Heading out on the road, the men's soccer team travels to Olean, N.Y., to take on St. Bonaventure tomorrow in its season-opener. Now I have to give a shameless plug to my glorious alma mater, SBU! Although my allegiances are tied to West Point at the moment, it's always fun to see the Bonnies in action again...
I guess that's it for now. Nothing much to this blog entry, but just wanted to give a quick update as to what's going on around here on game day! It's not too late to come on out and enjoy the game...if not, here a few ways to follow the action:
Knight Vision
Live In-Game Blog (see top story on www.goARMYsports.com at the start of the game)
Live Stats
GO ARMY! BEAT TEMPLE!
THURSDAY, AUG. 28, 2008
Football Is Definitely in the Air!
With less than 36 hours before the Army football team opens its 2008 season at Michie Stadium versus Temple, you can definitely tell things are getting ramped up for the game around here. In addition to all of our last minute preparations (those TV commentators don't get all that information on their own!), the new look at Michie is starting to take shape.
If you're coming to the game Friday night, you will be very impressed by the new video board. The installation is complete and the game day production staff is hard at work ensuring everything goes off flawlessly. The team will actually get a look at the board in action as a test is scheduled during the team's walk-thru this afternoon. We've been able to preview several of the elements, and all we can say is the West Point Tank Race alone is worth the price of admission. For fans who love the West Point tradition, the video that will be played before the team takes the field will certainly give you your fix of Army Football history.
Aside from the video board, there are new murals both outside and inside the stadium. Installation on the exterior wrap was completed this week and looks fantastic. There's nothing like a 30-foot Glenn Davis staring down at you! The interior wrap that rings the field should be completed today. The wraps along with the new design of the field and the video board definitely give the venerable facility a great look.
Tents along Black Knights Alley are also starting to pop up. BKA, as we refer to it around here (I've come to learn that everything in the military has an acronym), is definitely something every fan coming to the game should experience this season. There will be live music, the live broadcast of the Army Football Tailgate Show, autograph sessions, carnival-type food, a military hardware display and even a clown to entertain the kids (of all ages).
Speaking of kids, don't forget that Friday is Back to School Night. The first 5,000 youngsters 14 and under receive a free Army football-themed lunch box.
I know everyone at West Point is anxious for tomorrow night. There are a lot of changes, both on and off the field, and we can't wait to see all the hard work that has gone into the preparations for this season put into action. Of course, as Coach Brock said last night on the first edition of "This Week in Army Football," we'd gladly hold the game in a parking lot if it meant getting a win!
Other Rumblings
The women's soccer team is in action tonight as the BAE Systems Classic gets underway. The tournament starts at 5 p.m. at Clinton Field with a match up between St. Louis and Seton Hall. The Black Knights have the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. versus Sacred Heart ... For you basketball fans, keep checking the web site. I have a sneaking suspicion that the schedule is going to be announced very soon ... The ESPN folks are on the post. Play-by-play man Eric Collins and analyst Shaun King will be meeting with coaches and players today as part of their preparation for tomorrow night.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27, 2008
The fall sports season is now officially underway. The women’s soccer team had the first official competition of 2008 and downed NJIT 3-1 last night at Clinton Field. Freshmen Dymon Washington and Ashleigh Sheets opened the scoring for the Black Knights with Elizabeth Betterbed netting the final tally. Three keepers teamed for the shutout though Army’s defense did a tremendous job limiting opportunities. Washington is the early leader for “best new first name for a plebe.”
There was a great turnout of cadets, too, during a cool night at Clinton Field. Army’s hard-working marketing staff was out and about as well, with a halftime contest for t-shirts.
The new library was also on display and looks amazing when all lit up. Now only if there was a Starbucks inside ...
Mady Salvani has the complete game recap here.
Radio Show
The football season-opener is three days away and you can help kickoff the season tonight at the Thayer Hotel when “This Week in Army Football” debuts. Join Rich DeMarco and Head Coach Stan Brock as well as captains Collin Mooney and Frank Scappaticci for the hour-long show. Food and drink specials and giveaways will be offered and those in attendance can ask questions. If you can’t make it to the Thayer, you can follow along via Army’s multi-media package at Knight Vision.
More Football
Coach Brock met with the media Tuesday during his weekly teleconference. Quotes are here.
Caught glimpses of the new high-definition video board at Michie Stadium on the way into work this morning and it looks amazing. It will definitely add to the game-day experience at West Point. See it for yourself Friday night at 7 p.m. against Temple.
Coming to the game? Don’t forget, every car needs a parking pass. Game Day Central has all the information you need by clicking here.
Times-Herald football beat writer Sal Interdonato had a great piece in this morning’s paper about defensive back Lowell Garthwaite and his return to the field. Lowell spent some time in Jordan and dealt with some family issues. Now, he’s back and taking a leadership role in the secondary.
Keep an eye out for an Army-Temple preview on the site Thursday.
Coming Soon
Nothing on the sports calendar today. On Thursday, the women’s soccer team hosts Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m. at Clinton Field in its quest to open the season 2-0.
Hall of Fame
We continue to feature the Army Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2008 with a pair of stories each week. Dr. Curt Alitz was Tuesday’s feature with lacrosse standout Jose Olivero coming on Thursday.
Media Guides
Lots of hours being put in here at Athletic Communications to wrap up fall media guides and start winter books. All of the media guides are posted on-line and you can download a PDF. You can save the ink on your printer and buy them as well.
Winter?
Speaking of winter, keep an eye on the site today for a look at the women’s basketball recruits. Coach Dave Magarity brought in five newcomers who will look to improve on an 18-12 mark last year.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20, 2008
Men's Soccer Looks Solid In Exhibition With Albany
The men’s soccer team kicked off the 2008 season with an exhibition match against Albany Wednesday night at Clinton Field. After graduating 10 seniors from last year’s squad that finished with a 9-7-2 record (the highest win total since 1996), I was interested to see what head coach Kurt Swanbeck would have in store heading into his seventh season.
The Black Knights and the Great Danes played four 30-minute periods, giving both teams ample opportunity to see what they would be working with in 2008. Army, which only has three seniors on the squad (all of which are goalkeepers), will be looking to a strong group of returning sophomores and juniors for success this year. There will also be some talented newcomers who will be counted upon as well.
A spirited first period saw play go back and forth between both ends. With just under 10 minutes left on the first period clock, junior midfielder Bryan Connolly, who missed all of 2007 with a knee injury (but did a great job keeping the game clock for all the home games last season while he was healing thanks Bryan) scooted down the left side and drove home a nice feed from classmate Jonathan Brege from about 10 yards out to put the Black Knights on the board.
The other three periods saw a lot of substitutions on both the sides of the ball and solid contribution from many new faces for the Black Knights. Albany snuck in the equalizer with about two minutes left in the second period and then added another goal later to “win” the night, 2-1, but Coach Swanbeck has to be pretty pleased with what he saw this early in the season.
Also before the game, the team’s nine “cows” (or juniors) participated in an affirmation ceremony where they took an oath stating their intention to stay at the Academy for the next two years and then fulfill a five-year commitment in the Army after graduation. They weren’t the only “stars” on hand for the ceremony as Gen. Michael Linnington, the new Commandant of Cadets and Gen. Patrick Finnegan, Dean of the Acadmeic Board, joined Col. Mark McKearn, the Brigade Tactical Officer, in administering the oath. Congratulations guys and good luck this season.
Army will finish its preseason tune-up this coming Monday, Aug. 25, with another exhibition at Seton Hall starting at 7:00 p.m., before opening the regular season on the road at St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 1:00 p.m. The home slate starts Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 7:00 p.m. versus Philadelphia.
Women's Soccer Travels To Massachusetts For Preseason Exhibition, Wednesday Evening
The women's soccer team headed to New England today to take on Massachusetts in its second and final preseason exhibition game of the season, while on the homefront the men's squad hosted Albany at Clinton Field in the first of its two preseason scrimmages.
The women, who defeated Manhattan 3-0 in their opening exhibition game at Clinton Field Sunday afternoon, came up short against Atlantic 10 member Massachusetts, bowing 1-0. Army had chances in the first half when senior forward Pia White' s shot in the 13th minute just missed the top of the net by inches in sailing over the crossbar. Just prior to intermission, the keeper made a fingertip save on a shot by freshman Deanna Clegg that was headed for the upper left corner of the net.
The Black Knights, posting a 1-1 mark in their preseason exhibition games, have a busy slate next week as they usher in their 23rd season of intercollegiate ball. Army hosts New Jersey Institute of Technology in the first meeting between the two schools Tuesday evening, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m., which is also the first competition of the 2008-09 calendar year. The Black Knights host their own tournament, the BAE Systems Fall Classic, Aug. 28 and 30, taking on Sacred Heart and Saint Louis. Sandwiched in-between the games is football's debut Friday evening, Aug. 29, at Michie Stadium.
Academy Leadership Speaks to Athletic Department
Today was the annual all-department meeting within the Army Athletic Department, better known as ODIA (Office of the Directorate of Intercollegiate Athletics). One day each August, the leadership of the Academy (the superintendent, commandant and dean of the academic board), speak to everyone in the department to discuss their personal messages, themes, areas of concern, etc. In addition, Kevin Anderson, West Point’s athletic director and the Army Athletic Association’s compliance director, Monica Love, speak to the masses.
What an enlightening session it was. I cannot imagine a more synchronized leadership team than what is currently in place at West Point. From the Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck, to the Commandant, Brig. Gen. Michael Linnington, to the Dean of the Academic Board, Brig. Gen. Patrick Finnegan, to our athletic director, Kevin Anderson, everyone seems to be on the same page which is wonderful to see. Our cadets will benefit greatly from this synergy. It seems we are in store for an outstanding 2008-09 academic year.
We’re just over one full week away from our season opener in football. In fact, we held our first exhibition contest of the academic year on Sunday when our women’s soccer team defeated Manhattan at Clinton Field. Both soccer teams are in exhibition action tonight with the women at Massachusetts and the men hosting Albany at 7 p.m. So as one can imagine, the athletic department is back in full swing. Lots of other things on the horizon so we figured we’d try to touch on many of them with in blog entry.
Volleyball Practice In Full Swing
It's that time of year again when the majority of the fall sports are in high-gear preparing for the start of the competitive season right around the corner (some less than a week away!), and the Army volleyball team is no exception. After taking time to stop in at this afternoon's practice, the Black Knights were dripping in sweat and moving pretty well together. They seem quicker this year, which is a great asset for volleyball as you can imagine!
The team is coming off an amazing year in which it went 24-5 and is certainly looking to better that this fall. With four fantastic seniors that make up much of the offense, the Black Knights have their best shot at capturing the Patriot League title in a couple of years. In just her second year on the sidelines, head coach Alma Kovaci seems to think this group has the talent and discipline to get the job done.
Army opens its season with a doubleheader in just over a week, hosting Manhattan (10 a.m.) and Wagner (2 p.m.) on Saturday, Aug. 30.
News and Notes
We received delivery of our first football giveaway item yesterday ... the lunch box for “Back to School Night” on Aug. 29 and it looks very sharp ... kudos to Brian Gunning of the Athletic Communications staff for his tremendous design work ... Brian claimed he had never designed a lunch box before, but clearly this was not his first ... our fans will be very pleased with all the giveaways they receive at football games this year ... they are of very high quality so make sure you get out to Michie to pick up the collectibles ... speaking of Michie Stadium, the place is abuzz with workers these days ... as the live web cam on will attest, our video board is almost completely installed and promises to be ready to debut on Aug. 29 ... the outside of Michie Stadium is also prepping for a new look as in the next few days workers will begin installing a new exterior “stadium wrap” along the east stands facing Lusk Reservoir ... the wrap will feature a montage of a timeline of Army football greats of sorts and will look very impressive gracing the outside of Michie ... to that end, we will be installing a new interior “stadium wrap” as well, one that will look quite similar to the outside work ... game day at West Point promises to take on a different look this fall with our Wednesday announcement of the revamped Black Knights Alley ... we have put a great deal of time and effort into restructuring Black Knights Alley to gear it towards our younger fans ... we hope everyone gets a chance to check it out this fall ... we think BKA will be a lot of fun for fans of all ages, but particularly our younger guests ... we plan on holding autograph sessions in Black Knights Alley each game with cadet-athletes and those that we will be honoring at halftime, among others ... for a full breakdown of the new Black Knights Alley click here ... we’ve also spent a great amount of time and energy on programing the new video board as we strive towards enhancing our guests’ game day experience ... not to let the cat out of the bag, but we have some great video features in store -- interactive fan games, graphics and multi-media packages all ready to unveil next Friday ... we appreciate any and all feedback ... please don’t be afraid to tell us how we’re doing ... we are trying to make a concerted effort to listen to our fans’ requests and make alterations whenever possible ... we value the support you provide and continue to work hard to produce a quality product ... around the AC office, we announced earlier this week that we will be conducting live blogs during football games this year ... we started the practice last winter and the initiative was tremendously well-received ... it seems only fitting that we expand our “blogosphere” to football games this fall ... Tracy Nelson, our prime blogger for softball and lacrosse in the spring, will be at the keyboard on Friday night ... the Army vs. Temple game will be broadcast live by ESPN Classic ... we just learned today that Eric Collins and Shaun King (yes, Army fans, the former Tulane and NFL quarterback) will call the game ... Eric called two games at West Point last fall, while Shaun last visited Michie Stadium during his playing days back in 1998 when he directed the Tulane Green Wave to a wild 49-35 victory ... if memory, serves the teams combined for over 1,000 total yards of offense that day ... had a chance to listen in on an interview between Times Herald-Record beat reporter Sal Interdonato and Army offensive coordinator Tim Walsh yesterday ... Tim said some very interesting things about the coaching staff’s decision to switch offenses this spring and talked about how confident the players have already become in the new system ... keep your eyes peeled for Sal’s story in the next week or so ... it should be a good one ... finally, we launched our online DVD store today, which we are very excited about ... we have received many requests over the last year from fans wishing to purchase classic highlights films from our archives and/or our Knight Vision broadcasts ... we now have a method by which to offer these to our fans ... learn more about the online store by clicking here.
That’s enough news for one day ... stay tuned as we begin our daily blog updates next week ... GO ARMY!!!
SATURDAY, AUG. 16, 2008
Defensive Coordinator Evaluates Second Scrimmage
John Mumford, the Black Knights' defensive coordinator, liked the improvement he saw from his charges in Army's second scrimmage on Saturday. While still giving up some points, the Black Knights' offense had to work for their scores this time around as opposed to the big plays put up in the first scrimmage.
Coach Mumford was very honest in his post-practice comments about things that need to be fixed and his take on Army's new offensive system. For a complete scrimmage recap, click here.
Defensive Coordinator John Mumford
(Ref.: his take on Saturday's scrimmage)
“We improved. They (the offense) didn’t get all the big plays they did last time. I thought they had to work. The big plays they did get were a result of guys not necessarily reading their keys well. Some of the things they got, we gave to them because our eyes weren’t locked on our keys long enough. They’re easy fixes. I give the kids credit because it’s been difficult going from a Temple-type offense to this. We do that every day, two or three times. I think we showed enough improvement today that we’re okay on that."
(Ref.: the offense's performance this fall)
"We’re getting great work for Navy and Air Force. Our offensive line is doing outstanding. It’s a hard-nosed offense and they’ve responded very well. They’re as physical as they’ve ever been. Collin Mooney is better than any fullback we’ve played against, period. If we knock him down for a 1-yard gain, that’s a win. Generally, he’s going to get three. I’m pretty pleased. I thought our corners did some good things in pass coverage on the screen at times. We improved. Scoring four times is unacceptable in our eyes, but that’s just the competitive nature of playing against each other.”
(ref.: the practice plan for the two weeks prior to the opener)
“We’ll still service each other to get good on good, but right now I’m not into tweaking the defense to stop our offense. I could care less right now. We don’t play our offense. That’s for spring ball. We have to lock in on Temple. We might look at New Hampshire for a day and then focus on Temple so they have some sort of recall on those guys because they’re all over the place.”
(ref.: the number of players that saw action on Saturday)
“I wanted to get our seconds a ton of reps in there. I thought Arlance Jenkins played well at Mike, and then Steve Erzinger, I think is going to be a tremendous football player. He has some instincts that make a linebacker coach’s job easy.”
THURSDAY, AUG. 14, 2008
Lt. Col. Greg Gadson Visits Football Practice
There was a special guest taking in the action at football practice today. Lt. Col. Greg Gadson made the trip down from Albany and New York Giants training camp to get a glimpse of his other favorite team getting ready for the upcoming gridiron season. He will be on hand all weekend as the Black Knights continue their preparation for the season opener on Friday, Sept. 29 versus Temple.
After losing both his legs while serving in Iraq in May of 2007, the former Army standout played an inspirational role in the Giants’ improbable run to victory in the Super Bowl last February. He was selected an honorary captain before the NFC Championship Game and was on hand not only for the squad’s victory in Green Bay, but two weeks later in Arizona when the Giants shocked the world with their victory over the New England Patriots.
For all you Giants fans that don’t already have Sept. 6 circled on your calendars, go grab your favorite Sharpie and mark down New York Giants Appreciation day. The first 10,000 fans (ages 15 and older) entering Michie Stadium for the Black Knights’ showdown with New Hampshire will receive a special New York Giants Appreciation Day mini-helmet complete with a unique West Point mark to commemorate the event. Representatives from the New York Giants will be on hand and will be recognized during a halftime ceremony.
Gadson was originally scheduled to be on hand, but will be unable to attend due to a recent development. However, members of the New York Giants organization will be in attendance to participate in the special halftime festivities.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13, 2008
Volleyball Tournament Moves To Christl Arena
It's official - volleyball's 2008 West Point Challenge is moving to Christl Arena! Originally scheduled to take place at Gillis Field House, which is where the team normally plays, the four-team tournament changed venues hopefully to accommodate a growing crowd. Much of the reason for this change is the participation of USC in the event! The Trojans advanced to the Final Four of last year's NCAAs and remains one of the top teams in the country. Army and USC square-off in the premiere match of the tournament on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m.
For those of you that don't know, the volleyball match will kick start Hall of Fame Weekend here at West Point. The induction dinner (click here for ticket information) will take place on Friday night to honor the likes of Bobby Knight and the nine other outstanding inductees. Army then hits the gridiron at Michie Stadium to take on Akron (click here for ticket information). It should be a fantastic weekend, so if you don't have plans yet, I would suggest getting to West Point to soak up at least some of the festivities!
Other rumblings around the office: We were kindly reminded in an office meeting that game week for football is literally just around the corner, which officially marks the end of summer as far as we are concerned ... Rising-sophomore Stephen Scherer placed 27th in the 10m Air Rifle at the Olympics ... Swimmer Stewart Glenister is also competing in the 2008 Olympics, representing American Samoa ... Head coach Mickey Wender is coaching Stewart and still finding time to keep a daily online diary of his time in Beijing ... If you haven't had a chance to read it, it's worth your time - Mickey is doing a GREAT job! ... Click here to catch up with Mickey and his hysterical, yet very insightful, diary entries ... Many thanks to Mrs. Sharon Moore for her delicious package that arrived in our office on Monday ... Mrs. Moore is the mother of one of our standout baseball players, Clint Moore, that really took a liking to the Athletic Communications Office (we managed not to scare her away!) last spring ... You certainly know all too well that our weakness down here is sugar! Thanks again!
SATURDAY, AUG. 9, 2008
Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation On Post
As you would imagine, a lot of people want to visit West Point and one of the perks of the job is giving tours. Today, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation as on post. Mr. Snider is the owner of the Flyers and Sixers and sponsors a hockey program for kids.
The group, ages 12-17, called and wanted to stop on the way to a hockey camp in Canada. This is the second year the organization has made the trip to the Durham Hockey Institute in Oshawa, Ontario. A group of 30 kids and six chaperons, including Jim Britt, the executive director of the ESYHF, arrived around lunch time, about three hours into the trip. The bus stopped at the Plain, where Maj. John Bryan, Executive Officer, Commandant of Cadets, spoke about West Point’s rich history and answered a slew of questions. A quick trip around Post took the group to Tate Rink. Associate Head Hockey Coach Rob Haberbusch then guided them through the hockey locker room and team room and showed the team’s highlight video. After a group photo, it was back on the bus.
The trek was scheduled to stop for the evening in Batavia, N.Y., before continuing to Niagara Falls and then to the camp run by Keith Primeau, a former Flyer. Primeau was with the Flyers three years ago when the team spent part of its training camp at West Point and is highly thought of by the coaching staff.
Kudos to Major Bryan and Coach Haberbusch for spending parts of their Saturday with a great group of kids who asked some terrific questions and appreciated the opportunity to be at West Point.
Other Happenings: Don’t forget to check back to the official Army web site at www.goARMYsports.com. Complete coverage of Saturday’s practices can be found there as well as another diary from swimming and diving coach Mickey Wender who is at the Olympics. Wonder if coach Wender had a chance to catch Latavia’s beach men’s volleyball upset of the U.S. (it's on NBC as I type this) or meet President Bush?
Catching Up With The Coordinator
Since the end of the 2007 season when head coach Stan Brock announced that the Black Knights would take a look at chaging their offensive system, how the new offense would operate has been on the minds of every Army fan. While a lot of work remains to be done before the Temple game on Aug. 29, if Saturdays' first preseason scrimmage is any indication, the Black Knights are well on their way to a potent, and multi-faceted, offensive attack.
Following Saturday's scrimmage, which featured two touchdowns and a field goal by the first unit and a 60-yard touchdown pass by the second group, offensive coordinator Tim Walsh chatted about his thoughts on the new system.
(Ref.: evaluating Saturday's scrimmage)
“I think the indicator is playing against our defense because we think they’re one of the best in the country at defending it (the option). It was base stuff against base stuff. Coach Mumford didn’t pull out all his tricks he has to defend the option so we kind of knew where they were going to be, and I thought we executed well considering that. The indicator will be how much we can progress in the next week as he starts to progress with his option defenses.”
(Ref.: what he liked about the offense on Saturday)
“Two things we don’t want to turn the ball over, and the first two groups didn’t do that. We don’t want to turn the ball over and we want to move the chains. We want to give ourselves some fourth-down chances which for the most part we were able to do.”
(Ref.: how much more he plans on putting in the playbook)
“We have a lot of formation stuff still to install, but the basis of the offense is pretty much in. There are still a couple of wrinkles that we haven’t put in.”
(Ref.: the big plays during Saturday's scrimmage)
“I think in the option, that’s part of the game. You play the game, play the game and lull them to sleep then you pick and choose when you want to make a play. There are big plays to be had out there. Part of it is when you call them and part of it is how you execute them. I thought the kids did a good job. When we call those things, we’re telling them, Lock it up because I think it’s got an opportunity to go right now.’ Part of it is frustrating the defense, and I think they probably got a little frustrated today.”
For a complete scrimmage recap, click here. Also, be sure to check out Rich DeMarco's Knight Vision report on Saturday's activities. Rich chatted with head coach Stan Brock, senior RB Tony Dace and junior DT Ted Bentler following the scrimmage.
The Black Knights will have a Sunday-free practice before its second double-session of camp on Monday.
THURSDAY, AUG. 7, 2008
Lt. Col. Retirement And Other Goings On
The Army Athletic Association lost a great team member today when Lt. Col Boe Barinowski officially retired. Boe chose a breakfast instead of dinner and a large crowd turned out on the steps of the Holleder Center to honor him. Boe, who joined the Army in 1985, pulled out all the stops this morning. Donuts, bagels, fruit, coffee, sunny skies and the beginning of football practice served as the backdrop. Boe, as always spoke for the heart during his remarks and made special mention of his great wife Lori, his parents and in-laws and of course his four children.
Boe started in the athletic department last year as a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director and later ran the West Point Gift Shop. In between, you could find him at all matters of sporting events from an away football game at Boston College to a hockey roadtrip to Rochester, N.Y., over Thanksgiving.
Boe is leaving a distinguished military career and returning to his hometown in North Carolina and will work with the ROTC program at a high school.
One of the things we always admired about Boe was he asked questions and learned as much as he could about everyone's job. Athletic Communications is one of the gigs where you don't get noticed a lot unless you make a mistake but Boe took the time to learn what we did and why we did it.
A host of officers were on hand for the celebration, along with the large majority of coaches and administrators.
Around The Office: Some things to keep an eye out for on the official Army Athletic Association web site. Men's and women's swimming diving coach Mickey Wender, who is coaching the America Samoa team, is writing a diary from the Olympics. Coach Wender, who was missed in the 6 a.m. hockey game today, has arrived in China and will be chronicling his experience. Swimmer Stewart Glenister and rifleman Stephen Scherer are also in Beijing and will have reports as well.
Our feature stories on the Class of 2008 Army Sports Hall of Fame inductees will begin next week. Right now, we plan to run two a week on Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the Sept. 19 event.
We're back up to full staff in our office as well with the addition of Mark Brumbaugh. Mark is a University of Massachusetts graduate and will be handling the publicity for sprint football, cross country, track and field and men's tennis. One of the first assignments you get in our office is writing your hiring release so keep an eye out for that soon.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6, 2008
Some Rumblings from Wednesday's Football Practice
Not only was Wednesday's football practice notable because of the first full-contact drills, but also because of its location. The Black Knights ventured on to the newly-installed FieldTurf at Michie Stadium for the first time.
Head coach Stan Brock has tried to make Michie Stadium hallowed ground by not practicing in the venerable facility on a regular basis. He deemed the first day of full pads a special occasion and moved the entire practice operation into Michie.
“Today was our first day in full pads and I felt like it would be a special occasion to come out here," Brock said. "We have our new turf down, and this is really our first day of full contact with full pads on so we came out and got it started out here today.”
“I like the fact that Coach doesn’t have us practice at Michie until game day," junior DE Nick Emmons told the BK Blog. "It definitely has a different aura out here. It’s definitely special.”
Senior C Trey Miranne echoed those sentiments.
“It was something special and something he expected us to get cranked up for," he said. "I think we responded to that.”
Emmons and Miranne also offered up their evaluation of the new FieldTurf surface recently installed at Michie Stadium.
“Right now it’s a little slow, but I think as camp goes on it will get packed down more and be a little quicker," Emmons said. "It is a little softer than the old turf. It definitely looks good."
“It’s exciting, but just like all these new fields, you have to break them in a little bit," Miranne offered. "It’s good that we’re getting out here a little bit and doing that before the first game.”
You can read more about Wednesday's workout on the main page by clicking here. Knight Vision ace Dennis Trapani also filed a report from Wednesday's practice.
New Addition To Michie Stadium Begins Construction Thursday
Those of us lucky enough to get to come to West Point every day may have to deal with a little traffic inconvenience when driving by Michie Stadium. Our travel headache is great news for Army Football fans as the steel used to support Michie Stadium's new scoreboard and HD video board will begin to be put in place on Thursday.
As always, you can count on www.goARMYsports.com to keep our fans in the loop. Starting Thursday the live webcam that was running during the FieldTurf installation will be re-activated and trained on the video board installation.
The new video board will be a tremendous addition to the already stellar atmosphere at Michie Stadium. Our marketing staff is hard at work ensuring that the content will enhance our fans' game day experience. If Bob Beretta and Rich DeMarco's meeting schedule is any indication, Black Knight fans are in for a real treat this season.
Soon To Be Hall of Famer Stops By Athletic Communications Office
Jose Olivero, a 1978 graduate, and a member of the Army Sports Hall of Fame class of 2008 ventured back to West Point today, and was gracious enough to stop by the Athletic Communications office. Jose hand delivered some tremendous items for the display that will go up in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports -- his helmet and goalie stick from his lax playing days. Jose starred in lacrosse and men’s soccer here at West Point. He was a three-time All-American goalie in lacrosse, as well as a Regional All-American as a soccer fullback.
The highlight of the trip may have been the impromptu fashion show when our very own Mady Salvani donned the helmet and stick. She definitely was ready to get between the pipes and stop some rippers. If you e-mail Tracy Nelson at the feedback address I'm sure she'd be happy to pass along some shots of "The Coach" in the old-school lacrosse garb. Mady is usually the one that embarrasses us by taking a lot of photos at not-so-great moments so a little payback could be fun.
Mark your calenders for Friday, Sept. 19 when the 10 honorees will officially be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame A special afternoon plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Center, with the formal black-tie banquet set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army’s football game against Akron the next day at Michie Stadium with a special photograph and autograph session planned in Black Knights Alley prior to the contest.
The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army’s rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army’s massive football training facility.
In addition to the 10 Hall of Fame members to be honored in September, Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson will also present the Office of Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (ODIA) Distinguished Service Award to Gus Fishburne. Fishburne, a vital resource in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, has been a generous supporter of the United States Military Academy. His daughter, Holly, was a women’s soccer player while his son-in-law, Mark West, competed in sprint football. Both athletes graduated with the Class of 1991.
Tickets for the Army Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet presented by Lockheed Martin are available to the public and can be purchased by calling Army's External Operations Office at 845-938-2322. Tickets can be purchased on-line by clicking here. Proceeds will be directed to a fund that supports the daily care, maintenance and growth of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and Army Sports Hall of Fame.
Women's Basketball Visits Girl Scout Heart of the Hudson Camp
Click here for pictures from the Black Knight's visit
One of the most impressive things about the cadets here at West Point is their ability to make a lasting impression on anyone that they may meet. People outside of the gates have a true appreciation for what these kids sacrifice and really look to them as role models. Any chance that they get, the cadets go out into the community and lend their advice to youth groups, veterans, wounded soldiers, etc.
On Monday, the women's basketball team spent the day in Otisville, N.Y., at the site of the Girl Scout Heart of the Hudson camp as a part of the organization's "Players Week." Camp manager Krystal Bullock could not say enough about the impact that the team had on the girls.
"I was blown away with the team's enthusiasm and energy when interacting with the campers," Bullock said. "They are wonderful role models and exactly the type of character that we want our campers to become. It's great having female athletes around as well to teach the kids that if they enjoy sports, they should go after their dream and maybe someday they will play at the collegiate level as well."
The Black Knights spoke to and played around with about 30 kids, ages 5-13, and even tried their hand at a friendly game of soccer in the process. The camp's motto is "Building Courage, Confidence and Character," and the cadets certainly had a hand in doing that during their short visit.
It's such a great way to give back to the local community, so I tip my hat to the women's basketball team for their generous effort! Keep up the good work ladies!
MONDAY, AUG. 4, 2008
Army Offense Revealed During Information-Packed Media Day Session
It was a pretty interesting afternoon around Michie Stadium on Monday as the Black Knights held their annual Media Day, followed by the “Afternoon With The Knights” photograph and autograph session with the local community.
Less than a week after undergoing prostate surgery cancer, there was head coach Stan Brock taping a couple of segments for Time Warner Cable’s Sportswire show that will air this week and next, then enduring the setup process for a pair of team photos and winding things down by answering every media inquiry that came his way. Talk about a high threshold for pain. That’s one impressive individual.
As far as media days go, this one ranked up their on the informational scale, as for the first time since implementing a new offense this spring, Brock went on record to discuss the Black Knights’ new option-based system. There’s some very interested quotes posted on the Media Day story that is located here. Brock discussed his reasoning for making the change, the background work that he and his staff shouldered in making their ultimate decision and the specific system itself. All the information that Army fans have been clamoring for in one insightful interview. You can also view coach Brock discussing the new offense on Rich DeMarco's multi-media report on Knight Vision.
Just over 200 players dressed out on Monday, with the freshmen wearing white jerseys as has been Army Football Media Day custom the past few years. There’s a photo gallery on the Army site linked to the story if fans would like to check out how things looked on Monday.
There was a nice turnout for the community event that followed with a solid representation of Army fans, old and young alike, taking to the cushiony new Blaik Field turf. It is an event that should continue every year, so plan your calendars appropriately for next year’s Media Day and the second “Afternoon With The Knights.”
Some Other Interesting Notes Coming Out Of Media Day
Captain-Free
Several media members have inquired, but Army has not named team captains for the 2008 football season yet. Head coach Stan Brock plans on naming team captains in the near future, but none have been selected as of yet.
New-Look
Army will sport a couple of subtle changes to its on-field dress code this season. For the first time since 1971, Army’s players will feature uniform numbers on their helmets this fall. The Black Knights utilized black numbers on gold helmets from 1959 through 1971. Army has not featured numbers on helmets since that time. Additionally Army head coach Stan Brock elected to return players’ names to the back of their respective game jerseys this fall. Homer Smith was the first Army head coach to introduce the concept of names on the backs of uniform tops. The Black Knights sported names on their jerseys from 1975 through 1978. Nameless jerseys returned for the 1979 through 1982 campaigns under head coaches Lou Saban and Ed Cavanaugh before head coach Jim Young re-introduced the names on the back of game jerseys in 1983. The players names remained in place on Army’s uni9form tops through the 1999 season before head coach Todd Berry elected to utilize the “anonymous” look in 2000. Army has featured nameless game jerseys since that time.
Brotherly Love
Army features four sets of brothers on its 2008 roster. Ted and Fritz Bentler rank as the only holdover group of siblings from last year. The Bentlers are joined by David and Robert Kava (David is a senior and Robert a freshman); Richard and John King (Richard is a sophomore and John is a freshman); and plebes Ben and Marc Johnson.
Local Ties
Army sports four players on its roster with local ties, three of whom graduated from James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls. Senior Joe LeForte, a three-year member of the Army squad, returns for his final year in the Black, Gold and Gray. He is joined this year by fellow O’Nell graduates Ben and Marc Johnson and Newburgh native Davyd Brooks, a Newburgh Free Academy alumnus.
The coaching staff is particularly high on Brooks, a talented wide receiver who attended the USMA Prep School last fall. At 6-3, 205, Brooks boasts the physical tools to become a valuable weapon in Army’s new option-based offensive attack.
“It’s really nice and a great advantage to be so close. It’s unfortunate everyone doesn’t have it. It’s really hard to get home with the way the Academy works,” Brooks said on Monday. “My dad has already been at a practice and I had a chance to talk to him so it’s huge.”
The Johnsons’ story is also an interesting one. While Marc attended Binghamton last year and transferred to West Point this summer, Ben is in the midst of his first year in college. Orientation to West Point should not be a problem for either seeing as their father, Anthony, is a major in the U.S. Army and assigned to the Academy’s math department as a permanent professor. Ben, who did not begin playing football until high school, spoke about the fondness he held for Army football while growing up at the Academy (his parents live in Stony I housing area at West Point).
“I never dreamed I would be playing football anywhere in high school, much less West Point. I came to West Point to become a military officer and thought I could try out for the football team. I remember coming to Army games the past few years, whenever O’Neill didn’t have a game at the same time. My parents have front row seats, but I never bought a ticket. I would come in at halftime and watch the rest of the game”
Ben Johnson also recalled his first meeting with Brooks when both attended a local summer football camp. “I talked to Davyd and realized we attended the same football camp. He attended camp with his team and I attended it with mine. We would scrimmage against each other every night. I just remember he was the big guy that nobody could stop.” That statement bodes well for Army followers.
Both Johnson brothers are walk-ons to the Army team this fall. They could participate in some interesting matchups down the road as Ben is listed as a wide receiver and Marc is listed as a defensive back.
Quick-Hitters
Army donned helmets, shoulder pads and shorts for the first time during its Monday morning session ... Wednesday will mark the first day of full contact drills ... junior QB Carson Williams appears to have a firm hold on the starting quarterback job ... sophomore Chip Bowden is providing the most heated competition ... senior Carlo Sandiego, who spent most of the spring at quarterback, has returned to the backfield ... the elusive Sandiego could be a force with the ball in his hands in Army’s new option attack ... the footings for Army’s new high definition video board have been board and fans should begin seeing steel erected later this week ... be sure to check out Army’s live webcam to check on the construction progress ... the cameras chronicled the Michie Stadium turf replacement in “real-time” this summer ... they will be trained on the new video board installation beginning this week ... lots of talk circulating about the revamped Black Knights Alley that will be located in front of Michie Stadium on game days ... the Army Athletic Association will release details in the coming days, but the Alley promises to be a “must-see” family destination for Army fans on game days with plenty of giveaways and a carnival-like atmosphere for Black Knight backers of all ages ... Army’s football media guides arrived on Monday and will be available to the public for purchase beginning next week ... the media guide was voted 14th-best in the country by College Sports Information Directors of America last year and features a bit of a different look this season.
FRIDAY, AUG. 1, 2008
News and Notes From Around The First Day of Preseason Football Camp
Boy, it was great to see Army head coach Stan Brock at football practice on Friday. What an inspirational sight for the Black Knights to see their field boss tooling around on a golf car, just three days removed from prostate cancer surgery.
Brock informed the team of his diagnosis on Monday, underwent surgery on Tuesday, was released from the hospital on Thursday and visited his squad later that evening. And there he was on Friday, arriving at practice straight from a follow-up appointment with his doctor earlier in the afternoon. He attended team meetings and a walkthrough on Friday before his doctor’s appointment. You’d really expect nothing less of a 16-year veteran of the National Football League. Think he knows something about mental and physical toughness?
Stan has been very forthcoming about his prostate cancer diagnosis, hoping to draw attention to the importance of completing annual physicals. It was through his annual West Point physical that his prostate cancer was diagnosed. He had no previous symptoms and had no inkling that something was wrong inside his body.
And how did he react to the news?
“How did I take it? I wanted it out of there. Somebody told me I had cancer inside of me and I wanted it out. I wanted it out as fast as I could. I didn’t want to wait. I didn’t want it on my mind. I don’t think it’s healthy. And now I get it out during training camp and I’ll recover. It will probably take me a couple of weeks to get rolling pretty good. So I feel real good. I feel super good right now. My outlook is really good. (The doctors) feel real confident that (the cancer) is all contained within the prostate and they took it all out. It looks like I will have a full recovery with no problem.”
And that’s the best news of all.
Here’s some other sights and sounds from the first day of practice
Head Coach Stan Brock
“We’re all in this together. Everyone has to believe that it is going to take all of us to win, I mean all of us. I think we’re rubbing off on each other.”
Senior DE Victor Ugenyi
“We had fun last year, but we’re trying to destroy people. You’ve got to have fun when you do that.”
(ref.: the team’s reaction to seeing Stan Brock at practice today)
“Seeing him come out here and wanting to be out as much as he does actually helps us. If he wants to be out here this much going through something like that, nothing that we’re going through is that bad.”
Junior DE Nicholas Emmons
“Things went well ... we were a little rusty, but everyone came out and worked. We feel that everything is lined up for us to to be successful. Our experience on defense is definitely going to help. The fact that everyone has started along the D-Line’ right now should really help.
“It was a good summer. We were able to train hard. I think we’re bigger, faster, stronger. We’re ready to go.”
Junior OT Jason Johnson
“I thought our first day went really well. We got some kinks loose. The offensive line right now is the best we’re seen in a couple of years. We’ve got a lot of veteran returners, guys like Mike Lemming, Trey Mirrane and Braondon Cox they’re great leaders along the offensive line and they’re really helping us.
We’ve got a lot of returning talent on offense and everyone is real confident that we can have a great season.”
Practice Notes
Army’s quarterbacks have switched from wearing green practice jerseys to gold this fall ... the color gold signifies that the player wearing those jerseys is “off-limits” for contact ... more than a dozen quarterbacks dressed for Friday’s workout ... among the group was incumbent starter Carson Williams, highly regarded freshman Paul McIntosh and newcomer Taylor Hall ... Hall is the son of former Army standout signal caller Leamon Hall, who virtually re-wrote Army’s passing record book during a sensational career in the Black, Gold and Gray from 1974 to 1977 ... McIntosh sported the same uniform No. 9 that he sported during a record-breaking career at Reitz High in Evansville, Ind. ... Army ran the majority of its drills on Howze Field ... the Black Knights utilized Foley Athletic Center as well ... a full practice report and photo gallery from today’s session can be located here ... Knight Vision also features multi-media coverage of Friday’s workout.
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008
Preseason Football Camp Opens Friday; Sessions Open To Public
The Army Athletic Association announced Thursday that preseason football practices will be held on Howze Field, Foley Athletic Center and Michie Stadium depending on the day, and that the practices would be open to the public. Army held its spring practices in the controlled environment of Foley Athletic Center and limited public access. That will not be the case this summer.
Fans wishing to attend practice are still asked to contact the Army Football Office in order to confirm the practice's site and access status each day before heading out to the field. Coach Brock and his staff retain the right to change a practice venue or to limit access at any given time, and things do change. Friday will be the first opportunity to gain a look at this year's football team as the squad heads out to Howze Field for a 3:40 p.m. workout in shorts and helmets. Dress cool ... temperatures are forecast to reach 90 degrees on Friday. You can access a full practice preview and preseson practice schedule by clicking here.
For the first time in several years, Army will also hold a "meet-and-greet" session with the public on Monday from 3-4 pm at Michie Stadium. The event will follow the Black Knights' annual Media Day at Michie, which will run from 1-3 p.m. Fans are asked to enter Gate 1 of Michie Stadium for what is being dubbed "An Afternoon With The Knights." This is a terrific opportunity for fans to gain autographs and take photos with their favorite players and coaches as all will be available on the sparkling new Blaik Field playing surface. Again, dress appropriately and be ready for warm weather. It's generally about 20 degrees hotter on the artificial playing surface as it is on grass, so if it's 90 degrees on Monday, it will feel like 110 degreees on the turf!! See you then.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008
Get Your Football Parking Passes Now!
As another football season at West Point draws closer each day, we wanted to remind everyone about the parking policies in effect for 2008 as you plan your trip to beautiful Michie Stadium. Army “A” Club members, season ticket holders and those purchasing Army football mini-plans will be mailed passes this summer. All parking passes are allocated based on current A-Club donation level and priority points.
Now for the new part - fans purchasing single-game tickets will be required to pay the $10 fee for a parking pass.
We want to make sure our fans are well informed on the subject in order to make their trip to West Point and Michie Stadium more enjoyable. FANS SHOULD MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO SECURE THEIR PARKING PASSES BEFORE ARRIVING AT WEST POINT. This will make the process of getting through the security gates and into the parking lot much smoother and more efficient for everyone. Single-game passes are just $10 per game and can be purchased in advance by calling the Army Ticket Office at 1-877-TIX-ARMY. For our more web-savvy patrons, and honestly, if you’re reading this you’re probably one of them, the passes can be ordered on-line. If you’ve already purchased your game ticket, first of all, thank you! You can click here to secure your parking pass. If you have yet to make your ticket purchase, what are you waiting for? Click here to get both your single-game ticket and parking pass.
The 2008 season is less than a month away so make your plans to watch the Black Knights today!
Home Schedule
Aug. 29 vs. Temple (7 p.m.)
> Back to School Night/1958 Team Celebration; The first 5,000 fans ages 14-and-under will receive an Army-themed lunch box
Sept. 6 vs. New Hampshire (1 p.m.)
> New York Giants Appreciation Day; The first 10,000 fans 15-and-over will receive a New York Giants mini-helmet
Sept. 20 vs. Akron (TBA)
> Hall of Fame Weekend/Scout Day; The first 10,000 fans will receive a limited edition 8x10 print of the 2008 Hall of Fame Class
Oct. 11 vs. Eastern Michigan (TBA)
> Homecoming; The first 10,000 fans ages 15-and-over will receive a mini-replica of Michie Stadium
Oct. 25 vs. Louisiana Tech (TBA)
> Pete Dawkins Day; The first 10,000 fans ages 15-and-over will receive a Pete Dawkins bobblehead doll
Nov. 1 vs. Air Force (TBA)
> 1988 Sun Bowl Team Celebration; The first 10,000 fans will receive a limited edition 8x10 print commemorating the 1988 squad
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008
Scherer Interviewed Wednesday Evening On NRAnews.com
The upcoming Olympics have been grabbing the headlines, and Army riflema
