Army West Point Athletics
Army Begins Week Two Of Camp
August 09, 2010 | Football
Army Unveils New Uniforms
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army football head coach Rich Ellerson opened his second week of training camp with a 12.2-mile march.
Ellerson, Army's second year coach, joined the Class of 2014 for the annual "March Back" from Camp Buckner, signifying the end of Cadet Basic Training.
Following the nearly seven-hour march that included the freshman class, alumni, faculty, staff and coaches walking behind a banner with the class motto, "Forever One Team" that culminated in Central Area, Ellerson began the second week of football practice.
"For me, it was an opportunity to spend some quality time if you will with some guys that I probably haven't sat down one-on-one with and just visited since we recruited them," said Ellerson following his second march back. "Even though we've had them through mass athletics and training camp, it was an opportunity for me to spend some individual time in one of those iconic moment at the end of 'beast barracks' where you can reflect on what has been happening through 'beast' and on the football field. I really value that part. It was a great thing to be able to share with the guys."
Because the freshmen members of the football team completed the march back and were being issued computers, phones and identification cards, the practice fields were missing quite a few bodies.
Utilizing the spacious Foley Center as well as the new Field Turf on Howze Field, Ellerson and his staff led the players through a high energy, high tempo practice in shorts and shoulder pads.
Players were given more repetitions and a lot of players were out of position to make up for the lack of freshmen on the field.
"Without the freshmen today, we did a lot of things where the first and second teams are scouting the first and second team and we flipped it around," said Ellerson. "A good football team, a quality football team will take pride in its ability to prepare itself. A good offense will take pride in its ability to prepare the defense. A good defense will take pride in its ability to prepare its offense. That's all that today was about. While there were some things we weren't willing to do from a combative standpoint against those guys, we should be able to look at that tape and see we had some really seasoned athletes doing their best to give them a quality look of what the initial look from an opponent might be. That's a good thing for a football team developmentally when the offense and defense are taking responsibility for one another's development."
That development continues with a full week of practice and a scrimmage scheduled for Saturday. All sessions are slated to run from 2:30 to 5 p.m. The practice schedule and the tentative multi-media coverage plan for www.goARMYsports.com are listed below.
Army opens its 121st season of intercollegiate competition on Saturday, Sept. 4 when the Black Knights visit Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. Army begins its home slate the following week, hosting Hawai'i on Sept. 11.
Full season, mini-plan and single-game tickets for all Army home contests are currently on sale at the Army Ticket Office, by phone at 1-877-TIX-ARMY or online by clicking here. Full season ticket packages in a special section dubbed "Coach E's Army," begin at just $99 for lower-deck seating locations in Michie Stadium. Fans who purchase tickets in that section will receive a special "Coach E's Army" T-shirt. A limited number of tickets remain available to Army's game against Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. In order to purchase Army-Notre Dame tickets, fans must hold membership in the Army "A" Club and purchase 2010 Army football season tickets.
Sights and Sounds of Summer
Major Adisa King, the admissions liaison for the football team, also marched back with Coach Ellerson ... senior DB's Jordan Trimble and Donovan Travis making interceptions early in practice ... junior QB Jimmy Reitter playing wide out against the top defense ... sophomore DB Waverly Washington posting a nice interception off a tipped pass ... junior Austin Barr laying out for a catch of a well-placed pass from Trent Steelman ... sophomore slot back Malcolm Brown catching a pass in traffic ... sophomore DB James Whittington with an acrobatic interception ... Barr snaring a pass one-handed along the sidelines ... junior Alex Carlton making all three of his field goal attempts late in practice.
Monday's Quotables
Head Coach Rich Ellerson
"We're always going to invest a certain amount of time on those things that are fundamental to our offense and defense. There are things in the offense and defense that are foundations: coverage's, routes, plays what have you. We also have a chance to explore some things. While we're busy evaluating and trying to unravel the personnel puzzle, we have to make some decisions here about how we invest this practice time going forward. It's important that we get our eyes on some of the young guys and get a sense of who are some of the relative newcomers who might impact this football team. Who are the guys that as plebes last year were not quite physically developed or physically far enough along to compete? They may have taken a giant step forward so we revisit that group. Are they at right position? Are we giving them enough opportunities? Unwinding the personnel puzzle is a huge part of our training camp objectives. That absolutely comes to a head this weekend. "
Senior C Zach Peterson
(Ref.: unveiling of new uniforms)
"I like the white-on-white, that's the best looking one. I have never seen it on an Army player and it's a good change. It's something different, has new materials and is much tighter and sleeker. I think they will be perfect for a warm game.
(Ref: week two of camp)
"This week we are turning it up a notch. Everyone knows the routine and the pattern of practice so we can go at it at a higher rate of speed."
Senior LB Stephen Anderson
(Ref.: new uniforms)
"It's a nice little change. At the same time, we made a decision on the team to make sure we got excited about them now so that when it becomes game time, we will wear just another jersey when we go out there and do what we want to do on any other Saturday."
(Ref.: Monday's practice)
"It was a little bit more like spring ball today. We had a day off yesterday and came out today a little sluggish. We got our rest on Sunday and tomorrow will be a better day."
(Ref.: week two of camp)
"The biggest difference is our ability to let the defense fit again. During the first week we were getting our individual steps right on every down and play. Now, we see the big picture. Everyone is starting to fit the defense and looking nice on film. Everyone is ready to get the season started. We don't want to start tomorrow because of preparation purposes but at the same time we want the season to start tomorrow to get into games. "
Junior LB Josh Jones
(Ref.: new uniforms)
"I like them a lot. They are sick."
(Ref.: differences is in practice)
"We're getting into a better rhythm. The transition from period to period is quicker so we are getting to drills quick and in turn getting more repetitions at each station."
Upcoming Practice Schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 10 - 2:30-5 p.m. (MM)
Wednesday, Aug. 11 - 2:30-5 p.m. (W)
Thursday, Aug. 12 - 2:30-5 p.m. (MM)
Friday, Aug. 13 - 2:30-5 p.m. (W)
Saturday, Aug. 14 - 2:30-5 p.m. (scrimmage) (W, MM)
Note -- Tentative coverage plan via www.goARMYsports.com is listed in parentheses
W - Written Story
MM - Video Feature
