Army West Point Athletics
Black Knight Blog - December 2009
December 01, 2009 | General
The Black Knight Blog is an 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 your feedback!
Click below to ready blogs from past months:
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Hopefully by now your New Year’s plans are locked down and you have an alternate for the weather because here in West Point, N.Y., there is a 70% chance of precipitation, according to those who tabulate things like that.
Ryan Yanoshak joining up on this cold Tuesday afternoon from a windy U.S. Military Academy. When I was checking the weather before the site said it feels like 2 degrees. Not sure it’s that cold but everyone who walks into our building looks absolutely freezing.
And it’s good that it’s cold. It’s New York, in late December, it should be cold and there should be hockey on the horizon.
And of course there is hockey on the horizon when the Black Knights return from a 28-day layoff and host Union, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Tate Rink.
The team came back from a quick break for the holidays and exams and hit the ice Sunday night. Head coach Brian Riley skated some off the rust off the players and even the dinner out of one as the squad prepares for its final non-conference game of the season against the Dutchmen.
Riley and his staff have put the team through some challenging workouts after the layoff as the Black Knights look to build on their four-game winning streak. Since Union is playing in a tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, I am holding off on posting my notes so
the info is up-to-date so check back later in the week for a full game preview.
If you are making the trek to Tate and I really hope you are, don’t forget to bring your skates. Following the game, members of the team will join the fans for a 20-minute Skate With The Black Knights. You must bring your own skates and store them under your seats but this has become a popular event with the crowd on the ice increasing every time we do it. If you have not yet purchased tickets, 1-877-TIX-ARMY or on-line at www.goARMYsports.com.
Hockey isn’t the only team in action in the coming days. The wrestling team made the trip to Greensboro, N.C., for the 30-team
Southern Scuffle. Wrestling began this morning at 10 a.m. and the final round of the day is scheduled for 6 p.m. so check back later tonight for an update on the 20-wrestler contingent.
On Wednesday, the final rounds of the Southern Scuffle will be held, the women’s basketball team hosts Ramapo at 5 p.m. and the men’s basketball team plays at SMU.
After a quick break to watch the Flyers win the Winter Classic, action resumes on Saturday with the hockey team hosting Union at 7, the men’s basketball team playing at Portland at 5 p.m., the women’s basketball team taking on Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. and the swimming and diving team competing in San Juan.
That’s it for me. Make it a safe one.
Good afternoon Black Knight Blog readers. I hope you are all in the midst of a joyous holiday season (and some time off from work if you are lucky like me).
I'm at my parents' house in Fairport, N.Y. composing today's entry. Not much to report, except that Santa put a brand new Garmin GPS under my tree this year. He must have heard about the wrong turn I took on our way down to the Army/Navy Football Game press conference a couple week ago and decided to make sure it wouldn't happen again - thanks Santa.
In other news, I got an email today that said our new men's soccer coach Russell Payne and his wife, Vanessa, welcomed their first child into the world over the weekend. Young Harper Elizabeth and mother are doing great. No word on how dad is doing but I am sure he is fine.
Talk about a good month. Taking your first head coaching job and having your first child all within a matter of two weeks is a pretty good way to wrap-up a decade.
Sorry for the short entry, but I have to go brush the six inches of snow that fell last night off my car.
Happy New Year everyone - see you in 2010!
Go Army -
Friday, Dec. 17
Good morning loyal Black Happy Friday! Brian Gunning with you on what is undoubtedly the coldest day of the year here at West Point. My car's remote starter is definitely the MVP of the day.
It's been a pretty slow week around here. With all the cadets taking term-ending exams, activities pretty much grind to a halt. From a personal standpoint, it couldn't have come at a better time. I've been able to catch up on a few things and check some blocks on the to-do list.
Things get cranked up again tomorrow though. Both basketball teams are in action on Saturday. The women's team is at Albany, while the men's team is at home against Mount Saint Vincent at 4 p.m. It should be interesting to see how quickly the Black Knights can shake the rust off. The team hasn't played since last Saturday and because of TEEs were only allowed individual workouts until everyone was done with exams. Coach Spiker and the guys will have two practices in (Thursday & Friday) before tomorrow's game, but with all the stress associated with finals, how quickly the guys can get back into rythymn will be a key in Saturday's game.
After Saturday, it's a quick turnaround for a rare Tuesday afternoon game when New Hampshire comes to Christl Arena for a 2 p.m. tip off on the 22nd. That will be the last game before the guys enjoy some well-deserved time off for the holidays. It won't be too much of a layoff though, as the players will all meet up in Dallas to prepare for the game at SMU on Dec. 30. That game starts a tough road swing that lasts into the new year.
SMU is 3-3 so far this season and will be coming off a trip to the Hawaiian Arilines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. The Mustangs will play nationall-ranked UNLV on Dec. 22, and then either the host Warriors or College of Charleston on Dec. 23. After a day off, they will play their final game on Dec. 25 before returning back to the mainland to face Army on the 30th.
After the Black Knights play at SMU, we'll be off to Portland, Ore., to face the Univeristy of Portland on Jan. 2. The Pilots have put together an impressive early-season resume with an 8-3 record that inlcudes wins over Oregon, UCLA and Minnesota. The Pilots were ranked 25th in the AP poll not too long ago.
Well after looking at that, I think I better cut this entry short. It seems I have some laundry to do.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season, and gets to spend time with friends and family.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! GO ARMY!
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Good morning loyal Black Knight Blog readers and welcome to a cold Wednesday here in the Hudson Valley.
Ryan Yanoshak joining you on this brisk morning and passing along my wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season for you and your loved ones.
While our cadet-athletes are busy with TEE’s, it allows us a little break, a time to catch our breath and to catch up on some things as well as work some time off in.
While there are no athletic events until this weekend, we did hire a new men’s soccer coach yesterday. You can read Volk’s story here.
We also announced a few promotions for upcoming basketball games as well.
I am working on some things for hockey when the Black Knights return to the ice in the New Year. Three dates to keep in mind. January 2 against Union and February 13 opposite RIT are our second and third Skate With The Black Knights events of the season. Bring you skates, camera and autograph supplies. While you do have to store your skates under your seat, you will have a chance to be on Tate Rink with members of the team after the game and if the photos from the last one we did are any indication, the players enjoy it as much as the fans. And mark January 22 as well for Scout Day and a postgame autograph session.
Speaking of hockey, click here to read a good story about former Army hockey player Chris Colvin, now a First Sergeant who is getting ready to deploy.
I would be remiss if I didn’t plug rinkside and courtside seating. Don’t feel like dealing with the crowds? Call 1-877-TIX-ARMY or visit www.goARMYsports.com and purchase these great tickets. Both premium seating options come with food and beverages and there is no way to be closer to the action.
That’s it for me. Thank you for your contributions and support of Army Athletics.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Good (late) afternoon everyone. Tim Volkmann coming to you late on a overcast Tuesday in the Hudson Valley.
It was a pretty busy weekend for everyone here in the Army Athletics Department as the annual Army/Navy showdown on Saturday consumed at least some of just about everyone's time in the department. While the Black Knights came up on the short end of the scoreboard again, it was good to see a close game that was still up in the air well into the fourth quarter.
Kudos to Coach Rich Ellerson and the guys for a great game as well as to everyone that had a hand in planning all the moving parts that go into making the weekend a success.
If you have never been to an Army/Navy game, by all means get your hands on some tickets for next year's game. From the big-time atmosphere provided by playing in an NFL team's stadium, and the Corps of Cadets marching onto the field before kickoff, to the parachute team displays and the flyovers, there really in no other rivalry like it in the country.
If you didn't see the opening that CBS put together to open their broadcast, click here to watch it. I thought they did a great job of catching both sides of the rivalry from the players' parents' points of view. It made me really proud to be a part of the rivalry, even the small role I play as an athletics communications person.
Friday night was the annual Army/Navy gala, where administrators, graduates, and athletic supporters of both teams from all different backgrounds got together to celebrate this great rivalry. The Philadelphia Convention Center was the perfect venue for the event, from the cocktail hour and dinner to the Army and Navy spirit squad performances and the great band that played well into the night. A great evening was had by all.
We got to Lincoln Financial Field around 9:30 Saturday morning to get ready in the press box for the game. It was perfect football weather - cool and sunny with hardly any wind in site. The stadium puts out a great spread of food for the media, which I took full advantage of throughout the day. Between the hot dogs and the Tasty Cakes, I'm going to be putting some extra mileage in next time I hop on an elliptical.
I'm sure by now you've all read about the outcome of the game, so I won't go into it again here. But I will say that it was nice to see that look of worry on a lot of the Navy players' faces as the game wasn't decided until late in the fourth quarter. I know a lot of people are already looking forward to next year's game and turning the tables once again on the Midshipmen.
In other news, Army named a new men's soccer coach today and boy does it look like a great hire. I wrote the release on Russell Payne, who spent the last five years at Maryland winning two national championships and making three other quarterfinal showings.
I talked to him on the phone a bunch of times and you can tell he is excited to make the move up to West Point. While it is always tough to leave a place that has meant so much for so long, especially when it is your alma mater, he couldn't be more pumped up to tackle what is in store for his first head coaching job. He has a great sense of humor to go along with an impressive resume of work and there is no doubt the Black Knights will be successful in the near future.
That is all I have for now. Gotta go do some Christmas shopping. (There is still plenty of time to buy your favorite Black Knight fan something cool from the on-line store. Click here to check out all the great stuff. I bought myself an early present in the shape of these great shorts today - niccceeeee.)
My next entry won't be until after Christmas so let me be the first to say Happy Holidays to you and all your loved ones and safe travels to everyone venturing out to see their family and friends.
Go Army - Beat Cold Weather and Rude Holiday Shoppers!
Friday, Dec. 11
Good (early) morning to you out there on the world wide web! I'm writing a bit early today (7:54 a.m. to be exact), so not that much has happened yet on this bitter cold Friday at West Point. The reason for the early post, you ask? It's Army-Navy Eve and our office is gathering in to head down to beautiful Philadelphia for the 110th gridiron meeting betwee two great service academy programs. In case you're wondering, Tracy Nelson with you today ...
I'll start off today with a little women's basketball flavor ... it was a late night last night as the Black Knights hosted #16 Oklahoma for the first time in program history. The Sooners, who escaped Marist with an 80-71 overtime victory on Wednesday night, made a run to the Final Four less than eight months ago. I stopped in the basketball offices yesterday afternoon while over in the Kimsey area and spirits were up! Perhaps the Marist scare got Army thinking upset fever as well. I like to think that I'm an eternal optimist, but when it came to last night's game, begrudgingly, I have to admitt that I was less than confident. When I walked in to meet the Oklahoma SID during the Sooners' shootaround, they were enormous in every sense of the word. I (standing about 5-7) always feel very short when standing next to the Army players. My meeting with the Sooners brought a little perspective.
What I lacked in confidence, our very own Mady Salvani made up for. Last night and Saturday's football game make this week better than Christmas morning for her. All day yesterday ... "We're going to do it! " ... "Keep them under 50 points and we can do it" ... she kept insisting. Little did I know, the Black Knights' lock-down defense resulted in a 29-23 halftime LEAD over one of the toughest teams in the land! It's was unreal. Those in attendance at Christl can truly appreciate how well the team was playing. It was something to see. Army did not come out deflated in the least after the half. In fact, the BKs kept the margin to single digits until the final 3:46 of the contest when OU used a 14-2 run to end the game and come away with a 59-46 win at West Point. "Keep them under 50 points" says Mady. And they nearly did. It was OU's second-worst scoring output of the season. Kudos on a wonderful performance ladies, kudos! Good luck next week with TEES!
Time is winding down quickly before our departure, but I certainly can't blog today without mentioning a little bit more about tomorrow's game. It all started last night with a bon-fire and traditional burning of the "boat" on the Plain here at West Point. I was even told that Army invaded Navy to paint the goat black and gold earlier in the week. It's all in good fun, as despite the bitter rivalry, there is so much respect between both of these storied programs. Coach Ellerson, coaching in his first Army-Navy game, harped all week long about managing emotions. It'll be a tough task with a packed house at Lincoln Financial Field and a bowl berth on the line ... don't forget, if Army wins, it will finish the regular season 6-6 and be bowl eligible for the first time since 1996. The BKs would head to the EagleBank bowl opposite Temple on Dec. 29.
Tonight's festivities will include the annual Army-Navy Gala, which yours truly will be attending (I hope my feet can handle the heels I have on tap) and conclude with a good night's sleep (I think!). We'll get to the stadium around 9 a.m. tomorrow to get things ready to roll for a 2:30 kick. Navy is the designated home team this year, so our office's responsibilities are lightened a bit. Don't forget, my blogging duties will continue during Saturday's game, so if you can't get to a TV to watch the national CBS broadcast, tune-in on www.goARMYsports.com around 2:15 or so to follow along.
Well, it looks like we're ready to roll. I should probably throw my last-minute things into the car and head out of here! Take care, stay warm and GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Good afternoon! Annie Holliday at the keyboard today, seated beneath our freshly decorated office Christmas tree and taking in the scent of the vanilla candle I won at a halloween costume contest earlier this fall. I've had many comments about the candle this time around. I guess it is particularly good at keeping the weightroom/eau-de-cadet smell at bay. Well, I have to share that this Holliday was a little less than happy this morning when I jolted awake to the sounds of the snow plow blasting by my house. I didn't expect it to snow and neither did half the other people in the neighborhoods around me, as it was apparent I wasn't the only one with a ticket for "obstructing snow removal" awaiting their cars still parked on the street. Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes. Just wish this town would have been a little more in the giving spirit of the season and let it be. The plows were plenty able to do their jobs, only about 3 inches fell and much of it is washed away now with the rain that fell earlier.
The weather made for the first Code Red of the season but everyone in our office was already in when I arrived at 9 (the code red ended at 10). It's Army-Navy week and it won't stop for the weather. Several auctions offering game day experiences closed this week, and there have been a few various media requests I've attended to as well. I found myself over in central area twice today picking up and delivering various items, and I also finally got my credential for the game Saturday. Found myself feeling a little lucky as it is number 0111, and 11 has always been "my number." Okay maybe it's silly but I'll take anything that adds fuel to my excitement of working the biggest event of the year.
Like last week when one of my yoga students shared with me the story of the meeting where the football team learned the patch that they would be wearing for this game would be that of the United States Corps of Cadets. As she described the atmosphere that was created by a great speech by the BTO and surprise performance by the glee club singing "The Corps", I got the chills. I can only imagine what it was like being there. Army vs. Navy is always a highly charged and emotional event no matter what the sport, but there's definitely a solid determination and hope in the air going into this football game. The support by the Corps, the season of hard work, the being one win away from a bowl as well... there's much to add fuel to the fire.
Well there are more FedEx packages to prepare and get out before the final pick-up today. I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday and until next time, GO ARMY! BEAT EVERYONE! (but especially NAVY!!!!!!!)
Tuesday, Dec. 8
Some Random Basketball Thoughts
Brian Gunning with a late entry today, but at least it's still Tuesday (I'm talking to you Tim).
Apparently there is a football game or something this weekend. As my counterpart at Buffalo joked last week when I apologized for getting him some basketball information a little on the tardy side because I had to finish an Army-Navy project, "Is that a big game?"
With just about everybody focused on the football team's quest for a win over Navy and a potential berth in the EagleBank Bowl versus Temple, you may have missed the men's basketball team's impressive start. Due to scheduling conflicts, I was able to take in my first road game last night. It was well worth the trip as the boys came away with a 61-40 win at Fairleigh Dickinson.
As promised some randome thoughts through the first eight games ...
- First-year head coach Zach Spiker has put himself into some pretty rarified air through the first month of the season. He is the first Army coach to win six of his first eight games on the Black Knights' sideline since Tates Locke in 1963-64. It's still early and he would much rather finish strong than start strong, but Coach Spiker is off to a very impressive start in his coaching career.
- Who would have thought that through the first month-plus of the season, Army would be the only team in the Patriot League above the .500 mark?
- I know most people come to games to see scoring, but coming to watch Marcus Nelson play defense is worth the price of admission. It's no real surprise, he is the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, but I still get a kick out of watching him put the other team's best scorer on lockdown. After about five minutes or so, there is just this look of frustration that comes across their faces when they realize they're in for a long night. My favorite thing though is when the player thinks he finally has an open shot and Marcus comes flying out of nowhere to throw it back into the third row. He's 6-0 tall and he is on pace to break the Army career blocked shot record. A 39-inch vertical leap lets you do a lot of things. Oh yeah, he jumps center too.
- I missed his plebe season, but watching Cleveland Richard mature as a player over the past three years has been a pleasure. Not only has he become a consistent scorer who can shoot from just about anywhere, but he is a tremendous passer and defender. Just his overall presence on the court seems to inspire a sense of confidence in his teammates. I'm not saying he's going to be an NBA first-round draft pick or anything, but his development reminds me of my time at Syracuse when I got to watch Hakim Warrick play for four years. I never thought I'd see anyone improve from year one to year four as much as that, but Cleve is pretty close.
- Obviously, I don't have the institutional knowledge of a lot of people, but from what others have told me this is the most athletic team Army has had in quite some time. FDU tried to put on a full-court press last night and Army, on most occasions, was able to break it and get a good look. At any given time there were usually three players with enough handle to attack off the dribble and make a good decision. Even the big guys are able to break to the ball and make a good pass to a cutting guard and start a break.
- Just for fun, I'd like to see Julian Simmons play 40 minutes so we could all find out just once and for all how many points he would score. His point-per-minute rate is ridiculous. Last night he managed to score 17 points, including five three-pointers in only 19 minutes. In case you don't want to do the math, that's about 36 points per 40 minutes. He took 12 shots, 11 of them from three, but very few, if any were forced, and I think he actually passed up a couple of good looks. You can tell he is just really comfortable and confident. Julian's defense seems to be getting better as well. I actually heard assistant coach Jim Platt give him some praise last night on that end of the floor. That's a big deal coming from Army's defensive guru.
- While the rookies haven't put up huge numbers, Jason Pancoe, Ella Ellis and Jordan Springer have become important parts of the rotation. Ellis has played in all eight games and has shown flashes of being an impact player. Pancoe is a great shooter, but unfortunately hasn't had a chance to show it off in a game yet, and Springer showed some ability in his first extended playing time at FDU. I love his aggressiveness going to the basket when he gets the ball in the post. These guys are going to be key to sustaining success both this year and in the future. It's tough to get through the grind of the Patriot Leauge with only seven or eight guys. Plus, with seven seniors on the roster, there will be plenty of need for some experience next season.
- Welcome back, Nate Hedgecock. He was absolutely money from deep at FDU (3-3). You can tell the confidence the coaching staff has in him despite his limited playing time so far this season. His three at the end of the half was drawn up for him to shoot.
I guess that about does it. Hopefully, the team can keep it rolling on Saturday at Dartmouth heading into term-ending exams.
Go Army!
Monday, Dec. 7
The Wait is Finally Over
If it seems like it's been a long wait for the Army-Navy football game, you're absolutely right. With the game officially moved back to the second Saturday in December, it seems like it's been a month since the football team defeated North Texas on Nov. 21. Bob Beretta with you for a Army-Navy Monday version of the Black Knight Blog.
Well, the wait is over and it's finally Army-Navy week. With the volleyball team advancing to the NCAAs last week, and hockey and basketball seasons in full swing, things have been a little crazy around the athletic department the past few weeks.
Hard to believe that Christmas is less than three weeks away, but there's quite a bit of business to take care of before things slow down (for a short period of time any way). Since the North Texas game, it's been apparent that with a win over Navy on Dec. 12 the football team would earn its first postseason bowl berth since 1996. While we knew the bowl was the EagleBank Bowl, we did not learn of Army's potential opponent until last night, when the EagleBank Bowl announced that Temple would face Army if the Black Knights are eligible. That was interesting news released on Sunday night as the bowl representatives around the country scrambled to find the perfect matches for their games. Army and Temple met back in October at Lincoln Financial Field and Army suffered a difficult 27-13 loss to the Owls as Temple scored 14 straight points in the last 7:25 to earn the victory.
While it's nice to think about a potential bowl game, we can't get too far ahead of ourselves - not with the biggest game of the year upcoming against a very good Navy team. While some folks will need a bit of time to get accustomed to the later date (yours truly included), the game should be spotlighted this weekend considering the dearth of competition against it. Just think how the classic would have been lost with the sweeping number of conference championship games this past Saturday. This week, Army-Navy will have the stage to itself, a fitting nominal end to college football's regular season. And the Army-Navy game should always be placed on a pedestal as one of the country's true national treasures.
Much work to be done between now and then, though. I'm heading to New Jersey with Brian Gunning for men's basketball game against Fairleigh Dickinson in a few hours. Then comes this week's media rush, with tomorrow's press conference and two separate days dedicated to CBS, one day with the announcers, another with cameras for player interviews. By the time Saturday rolls around, we'll be very much ready for the game.
Sorry to be so brief, but I've got to run. The phone keeps ringing. Only five days left before kickoff. Then, things could really get interesting.
Until next time, be well and Go Army!!! Oh yeah, happy holidays to all. It's that time of year you know.
Friday, Dec. 4
The sun is shining, hockey is home this weekend, the women’s volleyball team is playing in the NCAAs and the Army-Navy Game is next Saturday. What a great to begin the weekend.
Ryan Yanoshak at the controls on this beautiful Friday morning.
As Volk said yesterday, we were down in Philadelphia for the annual Army-Navy media luncheon, the start of game week leading into next Saturday’s contest at Lincoln Financial Field. Quotes from players Victor Ugenyi and Alejandro Villanueva, as well as head coach Rich Ellerson can be found here. Another sold out crowd will be on hand Dec. 12 for the 2:30 p.m. kick-off in the 110th meeting.
The hockey team plays its final games of the calendar year with a series against Sacred Heart. Games on Friday and Saturday begin at 7:05 p.m. at Tate Rink. In case you missed my notes (you can read them by clicking here), Army has won three of its last four games and is really playing well. Saturday is Scout Day and for the third year, Army will play the Long Island RoughRiders in a 20-minute sled hockey game after Saturday’s contest. This has become a fan favorite and I know the players enjoy the chance to compete on sleds. Army has not faired too well in its past two efforts which is certainly a tribute to the skills of the Long Islanders. For tickets, call 1-877-TIX-ARMY and don’t forget about the hospitality options.
Tracy has done a tremendous job with her volleyball coverage so no doubt you know the audio of this evening’s NCAA volleyball game is free and she will be doing an in-game blog when Army plays Pennsylvania at Penn State University at 5 p.m. tonight. You can read her notes here. No doubt the team is working very hard but I did hear a rumor there was a stop at a local creamery in University Park.
Today is your last day to bid on the Army-Navy auction items. The Experience, the Tee-Taker Experience and the Army Sports Network Experience all close today so get your bids in very soon for a unique way to take in America’s best rivalry. Auction items can be found by clicking here.
Sorry for the shortness of my blog this morning, need to get ready for hockey. Hope to see you at Tate Rink.
Go Army!
Good morning Black Knight Blog followers. Tim Volkmann coming to you this Thursday morning as myself, Shak and Mady are currently driving down to Philadelphia for the Army/Navy press conference at Lincoln Financial Field.
(For those of you scared that I am typing and driving at the same time, don't worry, I have the van on cruise control).
Today is the third Army/Navy press conference that I have attended since starting at West Point in the summer of 2006. We'll be meeting up in a little while with Coach Ellerson and senior captains Alejandro Villanueva and Victor Ugenyi to prepare for the media throng that will be descending on Philadelphia looking for the scoop on next Saturday's game. Gunny, Deputy AD Gene Marshall and Col. Bill Lynch are also driving down with the players for the day's events. Cody Chrusciel and Rich Demarco will also be on the scene covering everything for Knight Vision.
The back end of the van was sagging as we pulled out of West Point this morning because of all the media guides, game notes and clip books that we packed for the trip.
Not to be out-done by our counterparts at Navy, we have to be sure we have more of everything piled up on the media tables that await all the reporters at the press conference.
The players and coach will be made available for one-on-one interviews for about an hour starting at 10:30 a.m., before the formal part of the luncheon starts. While it is great to hear both coaches along with administrators and the players from each school talk about the game, etc., and wish each other good luck (yeah right), the part that I am looking forward to most is the actual lunch. The past two years there has been a spread laid out that has sent me home a waist size or two larger than when I arrived. I hope they have the same chocolate chip cookies they had last year - I must have eaten a baker's dozen before lunch had even started.
Check back later this afternoon for a Knight Vision Multimedia feature and a complete wrap-up from the press conference, complete with player quotes and everything else you'll need to know about the big game.
Have a great Thursday everyone - Go Army - BEAT NAVY.
Tuesday, Dec. 1
AND THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS ...
Riding through the streets of Brooklyn Heights last night, the light poles donned sparkly white lights in the shape of delicate snowflakes. The first sign that the holiday season is right around the corner! Tracy Nelson at the keyboard today and I'm very pleased to wish you all a very happy start of December.
The boss man Bob Beretta says it every year and this year it's really ringing true. The time before Thanksgiving and Christmas will fly by in the blink of an eye. There's been so much hustle and bustle going on at West Point over the last couple of weeks, Bob hit the nail right on the head. Can you believe that Army-Navy is less than two weeks away? Although the game is being played a week later than usual(Dec. 12 in Philadelphia), it is still sneaking up on everyone. My colleagues will head down to the City of Brotherly Love, which has become one of my favorite cities to visit in the country, for the annual Army-Navy press conference on Thursday. I can't make the trip this year, but I promise that my excuse is legit. I'll be making my first-ever trip to Penn State with the Army volleyball team as the Black Knights get set to take on Penn on Friday at 5 p.m.
I've worked volleyball in all five of my years in athletic communications and have loved every minute of it. This season, however, has been truly special. With such a young team on the floor and so many question marks heading into the year, I didn't know what to expect. The last thing from my mind was that I would be preparing for a team to be in the NCAA Tournament! It's been a very exciting journey and I can't wait to make the trip. If you live in the University Park, Pa., area or are just looking to make the trip, click here for ticket information. If you can't make it, don't fret! Check online at www.goARMYsports.com as Cody Chrusciel will make the trek to provide live audio of the match on ITT Knight Vision, while yours truly will provide a live blog and Twitter updates throughout the match. Army beat Penn during its non-traditional spring season this year. The Quakers earned an automatic bid to the tournament by virtue of an Ivy League title. America East Champion Binghamton faces a daunting task to say the least, as the Bearcats drew No. 1 overall seed and host Penn State in the first round. That match is set for a 7:30 p.m. start at Rec Hall. Penn State has won two-straight national titles and is currently riding an amazing 96-match win streak. They haven't lost since Sept. 15, 2007, in a 3-2 thriller to Stanford. Coincidently enough, our very own Annie Holliday was in the stands to witness that match, which took place at a tournament at Yale two years ago. What a great showdown that must have been!
Like I mentioned earlier, it's a busy time of year. The fall-winter crossover is in full-force at the moment. For myself, that means volleyball and women's basketball galore. I spent last night in Brooklyn with women's hoops as they collected a 68-56 win over St. Francis (N.Y.) for the team's first road win. Meanwhile, back on the banks of the Hudson, first-year head coach Zach Spiker's club extended its win streak to five and improved to 5-1 on the season. Hmmm, yes basketball is in the air ...
I would be remissed if I didn't mention that today has the makings of a unique one here at West Point. For those of you who may not have heard, President Barack Obama is scheduled to address the nation tonight with regards to the War in Afghanistan. With the Corps of Cadets and throngs of media in attendance, there will not be room in Ike Hall for yours truly. I will watch from the comfort of my own couch! However, it is still something special to have the most powerful person in the world walking the same ground that you walk every day. Parking around here is virtually non-existent today and security is up to the highest level. To avoid both disasters, I walked in to work this morning and as I sauntered along Washington Road, I was reminded again what a beautiful, inspiring place West Point really is. I think I take it for granted sometimes, but on days like these, I am thankful to be here.
Well, I hope you all enjoy a wonderful start to the month. It may fly by, but take the time to enjoy every moment!
GO ARMY! BEAT PENN! BEAT NAVY!
Mark Garrison's, be sure to check in every Wednesday afternoon for a sneak peek into what it means to be an athlete here at the U.S. Military Academy.
*SPOILER ALERT*If you want to wait until Wednesday afternoon to find out who the next Spotlight will be, go ahead and skip to the next section. Tomorrow's Spotlight is none other than volleyball senior captain Rachel Dunn.
If you skipped to this section to maintain the suspense, my hat is off to you. Although many would have jumped the gun, there's certainly something to be said for waiting until the official release. Good things come to those who wait - at least that's what my parents used to tell me.
Speaking of my parents, they came to visit this weekend for the first time since I've been on board, and were treated a great Army/Vanderbilt football game. Not only did the underdog Black Knights post an overtime win over the Commodores, but the weather was perfect. Michie Stadium has an absolutely spectacular view of the foliage in the Hudson River valley in the fall, and if you haven't checked it out yet you are really missing something. I'm glad they got to see such a good game and I'm also very grateful to them for making the trip down from Rochester to visit. Thanks Mom & Dad!
That's all I've got for now, stay tuned to goARMYsports.com throughout the week, as we'll have the latest news on football, golf, men's & women's soccer, men's tennis, rifle, volleyball, cross country, sprint football, and hockey, who will all be in action this week.
Go ARMY!
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Another day, another exciting slate of events filling the planner.
Good afternoon loyal Black Knight Blog followers. Bob Beretta with you for the first time in what seems like weeks, steering today’s edition of the BK Blog. Well, it only seems like it’s been weeks, because it has been since I missed my last entry last month. I believe I was traveling around the great Midwest, but the keeper of the fines jar, better known as Judge Shak, will hear none of it. My deal is that I keep a running tab and will ask the good Judge to shoot me an invoice at the end of the year for all my office faux pas. Probably up to double digits already this fall, I’m sure.
As Shak wrote yesterday, it was a double-shot of press conferences yesterday at Randall Hall with our normal weekly Rich Ellerson presser, followed by the introductory press conference for new men’s basketball head coach Zach Spiker. For Army fans yearning for positive news, take a few minutes and check out the transcripts from both conferences. Rest assured those two programs are in very good hands.
If you haven’t had a chance to learn much about Coach Spiker, he is without question a fast-rising star in the coaching industry. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the interview process a couple weeks back and Zach was an absolute find. When Mr. Anderson states that Zach clearly emerged from the pack, he certainly is spot-on. That’s quite a statement considering the candidate pool to which we spoke. It was an impressive group of current assistants and head coaches. And we couldn’t be more pleased to have reached an agreement with Zach.
He’s got quite a challenge taking over the program less than two weeks before the season officially begins, but we’re certain he will hit the court running and have the young men firing on all cylinders in short order.
Big weekend planned with CBS College Sports Network enjoying its Military Appreciation Day on Saturday. For what is believed to be the first time in history, one national outlet will carry Army, Navy and Air Force football games in succession and CBSC is treating the event with great care. CBSC has been airing service academy programming throughout the week and announced just this morning that it will air a special 30-minute documentary on Friday night at 7 p.m. CBSC’s cameras were here at West Point earlier this fall and followed senior wide receiver Alejandro Villanueva for a couple of days, attending classes, meetings and other events to provide viewers with an inside look at a normal day “inside the gates.” CBSC followed a player from Navy and another from Air Force in the same manner making for what promises to be a riveting show. I believe CBSC will re-air on Friday night at 11 p.m. with additional showing slated for throughout the fall.
CBSC will also broadcast a special one-hour pregame show on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. in honor of the day and some very special guests are planned for Saturday’s broadcast. So as you can see, CBS has dedicated a great deal of resources to our new relationship, which should excite Army fans a great deal. If you can’t make it out to Michie this weekend, be sure to tune in to CBS College Sports Network. Looks like they have things covered end zone-to-end zone. Oh yeah, I almost forgot there’s a game being played as well as Army hosts Vanderbilt, beginning at noon. A big crowd is expected so if you’re planning on attending the game, be sure to arrive at West Point early. Remember, the first 5,000 fans entering Michie Stadium Saturday will receive a Felix “Doc” Blanchard bobblehead as the Army Athletic Association officially retires Doc’s legendary uniform number 35 at halftime. You’ll definitely want to get your hands on one of those as we offer the latest in our legendary Army bobblehead series. Pete Dawkins last year; Joe Steffy this year. Can Glenn Davis and Earl “Red” Blaik be far behind? Don’t want to give away any state secrets for next year ...
Well, that’s all for now ... gotta run to another meeting. Keep your eyes peeled for some big announcements the next couple of weeks. We’re close to announcing the 2010 football schedule and soon we’ll release our ITT Knight Vision schedule for this winter.
Until next time, be well and GO ARMY!!!
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Good morning loyal Black Knight Blog readers. All kinds of double doses for you this morning. Ryan Yanoshak, with another buck in the pot thanks to Volk’s lateness, joining you on a gorgeous Tuesday morning.
So not only two relatively new blog entries, we also have a pair of press conferences for you, a pair of hockey games and just for fun, some wrestling and golf as well.
Volk touched on Zach Spiker’s press conference today. We will formally introduce the new men’s basketball coach today during a 3 p.m. press conference in Randall Hall Auditorium. Our basketball guru Gun-Boat has nothing but great things to say about Zach, his passion for this job, his extensive resume and his desire to send out this senior class as Patriot League champions. Check back this afternoon, around the time you are leaving work, for a full recap from the press conference.
Prior to Zach’s introductory news conference, football coach Rich Ellerson will hold his weekly presser. Coach never likes to look back so expect the majority of time to be spent discussing Vanderbilt and Army’s foray back into the vaunted SEC.
Hard to believe it but hockey season starts this weekend. Yes, this Friday, Army will don the black jerseys at the Mutual of Omaha Icebreakers Tournament against host University of Nebraska-Omaha at 8:05 p.m. The first official practice was Saturday during the well-attended Black and Gold scrimmage and now head coach Brian Riley and his talented, tireless staff of Rob Haberbusch and Trevor Large face the task of creating lines and taking the first step for a successful 2009-10 season. Check back to the site later this week for a game preview and ideally, an on-line version of the media guide.
If you need a taste of hockey, junior forward Chris Spracklen has taken over the diary reins and has posted his first entry. ‘Spracks’ has big shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of previous authors Chase Podsiad, Mark Tilch and Matt Hickey but assures me he is up for the challenge.
Interim golf coach Major Chad Bagley has done a great job with the cadet-athletes, including a win against Navy and is with the team at Andrews Air Force Base at the Service Academy Championships. Monday’s second round was halted due to darkness with the final group on No. 18 tee. If all goes as planned, Army will be in second place with 18 holes to play this morning. There is no host school for this event but we will do our best to bring you complete results as they become available.
Monday also marked the first official day of practice for the wrestling squad. Veteran mentor Chuck Barbee and his assistants Ryan Wilman and Rafael Vega officially kicked off the 2009-10 season. The squad begins its season Nov. 7 at the Clarion Open.
That’s it for me. Go Army, beat par!
Monday, Oct. 5
Hello Black Knight Blog readers. Tim Volkmann coming to you pretty late on a Monday afternoon. My apologies for being a bit tardy with today's entry. (Looks like a owe another buck.)
I'm sure it is Tuesday for most of you reading this, and you are getting a double-shot of Black Knight Blog this morning along with Shak's regularly scheduled entry.
Mondays before home football games are usually a bit hectic for me as I put the finishing touches on our award-winning Army Football Game Day program that is distributed at Michie Stadium for all our games. Out of the 216 pages that you read every week, all but 17 of them are what we call "static" pages that don't change all season and are pre-printed at the beginning of the season.
The remaining 17 "change" pages are what I put together and send to the printer to include with the rest of the book. I am able to layout most of the pages in the days leading up to my Monday deadline, but there are a couple pages that I have to wait to update until after our preceding game on Saturday. I update our overall team and individual statistics, pirate a bunch of tidbits from Gunny's game notes, give it a quick edit and away it goes.
If you didn't have a chance to grab last week's Tulane program, Dallas wrote a great feature on quarterback Carson Williams, while Tracy penned a great feature on women's volleyball player Maureen Bannon. Thanks to both of them for all their help with the features.
Coming up this week is a hockey preview ala Shak, and Mady's Doc Blanchard feature that she wrote about in yesterday's blog. I also wrote a feature on senior wide receiver Damion Hunter so be sure and pick up a copy of the program on your way into the Vanderbilt game this Saturday so you have something to read before the noon kickoff.
I'm sure a lot of you saw the release over the weekend that Army hired Zach Spiker as its new men's basketball coach. Make sure you tune in tomorrow (or later today if it is already Tuesday) to ITT Knight Vision at 3:00 p.m. for a live webcast of the event welcoming Zach into the Army fold.
I believe I met Zach about seven or eight years ago when he was an assistant at Winthrop. I went to graduate school at Springfield College with Zach's undergraduate roommate from Ithaca College, and I believe Zach came up for a visit at one point or another. Like I was talking about with Gunny on Saturday, I guess it is a sign that we are getting old when people we went to school with are getting head coaching jobs.
I have heard nothing but great things about Zach all weekend, so despite the fact that he went to Ithaca, this Cortland graduate is looking forward to watching the Black Knights under Coach Spiker during the coming season.
In another sign that time is moving way to fast around here, Mickey Wender and the swimming & diving squads kick off the 2009-10 campaign this Friday afternoon against Stony Brook and Marist. The diving events will start at 4:00 p.m. followed by the swimming events at 5:00 p.m. over at Crandall Pool so come on out and cheer on the Black Knights in their season opener.
That's all folks - have a great evening (or morning, depending upon when you are reading this).
Go Army - Beat Vanderbilt, Stony Brook and Marist
Friday, Oct. 2
Everyone in the office is reminding me that today is my day to Blog, so I guess you probably realized that if there is anyone who goofs up it is me - Mady Salvani.
I am not one to talk about weather because I hardly ever notice it, but the last few nights have been cold and the sky has taken on its fall look. I passed the West Point Reservoir, which is right next to Michie Stadium, on my in this morning and you could see the steam coming off the water. If I had a camera with me, that photo would be on today's blog.
I am busy doing research on Doc Blanchard and when I go back into the football annals I can feel him come alive. From everything I have read about the Touchdown Twins, Blanchard (Mr. Inside) and Glenn Davis (Mr. Outside), makes me yearn to be able to go back in time and watch them dominate on the gridiron.
However, in order to go back in time there would be a lot of concessions. I would not be able to watch them play unless I attended their games. The home games at Michie would be okay, but the luxury press box I watch today's games from would not be around. In its place would be a wooden structure with no heat and little protection from rain and no drinks. I would not have the high power binoculars I use now and the field conditions could be messy with players tearing it up compared to running around on today's Superturf that can handle anything. I image the clothing over 60 years ago would be heavy to wear and weigh me down - but it would be warm.
However, the drive to the Stadium might not be too bad as there wouldn't be as much traffic (at least I hope so), but then again would I be traveling on a gravel road instead of the supper highways of today. On the other hand would the seats be comfortable (recline) with a nice radio, forget the CD, and most importantly would I have heat. What kind of tires would I have - would they be able to hit 100 miles per hour - I don't think so.
How would I follow Army on the road? Forget about TV. I would have to sit in front of a radio with snacks (but what kind) and listen carefully (sometimes it would go in and out) so I would be able to follow the game from start to finish. What kind of stats would they give? Today the computer spits them out at the end of each quarter, but back then it was pencil and paper and NO CALCULATOR. How long after the game would stats be available and what if I couldn't read the handwriting. What about play-by-play - they didn't do that back then, - so how could I write my stories, and what about coach's quotes (NO TAPE RECORDER). .
And how would I write my story - on an Underwood typewriter - but it would take forever. If I change my thoughts now, I can delete or copy and move things around on a document. There would no computer just plain typing paper (and if you wanted copies you used carbon paper - that's another story) and you would have to start your story all over again. It would be hard to strike the keys just right -otherwise the letters would be light.
So would I give up today's comforts to go back in time (I would grab my own binoculars and my calculator) to see the Touchdown Twins - you bet I would. I feel like I know them because of the stories I have read over the years - but to be able to be there and be part of history would be well worth any discomfort I would encounter. Who knows I might even like the times better and stay on - but then again I would miss my coworkers and friends plus I do like some of my creature comforts (like McDonalds).
Thursday, Oct. 1
CELEBRATING A MILESTONE
It's chilly and overcast Thursday here on the banks of the Hudson. Brian Gunning at the controls today, and yes, we are completely out of order. Someone (I won't mention any names, Tracy) literally jumped "The Gunn" on Monday and took my spot in the rotation. My sincerest apologies to all my fans who have been waiting on the edge of their seat for my next entry.
Pardon me today for getting a little sentimental, but I want to recognize someone very special to me. My grandmother, Jeanne Gunning, turned 90 yesterday, and after talking with her last night, it became very clear that I was destined to become a sports fan. My father played football in college and coaches high school football in my hometown. He passed along his love of the Cubs and Bears to us (Well, he was 1 for 2 on the Bears. Somehow my brother ended up a Cowboys fan. Payback is fun though - his older son now roots for the Steelers), but I really believe his passion for sports was fueled from an early age by my grandmother. For example, after wishing her happy birthday and catching up on some family gossip, she couldn't resist taking a shot at the Cubs.
"Well, the Cubs figured out how to win after it doesn't matter any more."
Please forgive the tinge of bitterness. She's now 90 years old and has never seen her beloved boys in blue win a World Series.
Even while her vision has deteriorated some, she still doesn't miss a thing. She doesn't watch much TV these days, but she still keeps her ear to the radio to keep up on everything she needs to know. Usually, at least once during the course of our conversations she'll reference at least one of her favorite teams like she's calling into a sports talk show. I guess, not so coincidentally, they're my favorite teams too. One of my greatest memories with her was taking her to Wrigley Field when I was about 9 or 10. Even though she'd accomplished so much in her life, raising three kids and being an unbeliveable role model and mentor for her countless students during a 40-year teaching career, I'll never forget how excited she was to sit in the friendly confines and just take everything in.
It's not just the local pro or college teams she follows either. Just like everything else in her life, she is 100 percent devoted to her family's interests. Neither my brother or I have played at Galena High School in more than 15 years, and she doesn't know one single player on the current team, but because my father is involved, she's right there supporting him. As a matter of fact, my mom might be getting a nasty phone call today because she didn't call on Friday night with the score.
The woman who subscribed to a weekly newspaper from 100 miles away so she could read the football write ups when my brother and I played has never stopped trying to be our biggest fan. At every stop of my athletics administration career, she's become a fan of that school. I don't think she knew anything about Marshall or Syracuse or Ohio, but it just absolutely upset her to no end that the paper in Kewanee, Ill., didn't put those football scores in on Sunday morning. West Point has been no different. When I told her that the team lost on Saturday at Iowa State, she once again let loose her fury about not being able to find a score in the paper or on the radio.
While I don't get to see my grandmother as often as I would like, I think about her every day - especially if I'm watching a Cubs or Bears game. I'll especially be thinking of her this weekend. My family is holding an open house for her this Sunday, and she says she's not too happy about it. If I remember right her quote was, "I told those people 15 years ago I was done with this stuff!" She says she doesn't like surprises or being the center of attention, but I really think she's worried she'll miss the Bears game.
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
GO ARMY!!
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