Update on the Army Black Knights

Good morning, I know it has been about five days since my last post.

Here is the latest on Army Football as the season inches closer and closer.

The nominees for the Doak Walker Award were announced on 17 July. This is the award given to the top running back in the nation. For Army, Raymond Maples and Terry Baggett made the list of 53 running backs.

According to the Army Black Knights football website, Maples ran for 1,000 yards in his sophomore and junior seasons, but his 2013 season was cut short due to an injury. He is the third Army back to run for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He has ten games with 100 yards or more.

Baggett filled the void left by the Maples' injury by rushing for more than 1,304 yards during the 2013 campaign. This past season included an Army record of 304 yards rushing against Eastern Michigan and six games of at least 100 yards.

Doak Walker Candidtates

The Army football team is featured in an article on the Vavel website as teams to improve for the 2014 season. There are a total of six teams discussed in the article along with the Black Knights, to include Air Force, Central Michigan, Northwestern, Texas Christian and Washington State. The Black Knights finished the 2013 season with a 3-9 record, but according to Vavel the team will improve due to their winnable schedule.

Army to improve according to Vavel

Army Football News and Notes

The watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award came out yesterday. Steve Shumaker, Army senior offensive lineman, made the list. This is an award for the best lineman (offensive or defensive) in the nation, which has been given out since 1970. Shumaker has made a total of 26 starts in his Army football career. Last year the winner of the award was Aaron Donald, a defensive tackle from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently plays for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League.

Steve Shumaker makes Rotary Lombardi Award watch list

From the Hudson Valley Blog, there is an article about 2013 co-captain Momo Kime. Kime is now a student coach and he discusses the departure of Ryan Powis, a three-year starter on the offensive line. He was a senior last year.

Momo Kime discusses the updates to the offensive line

The verbal commits for the 2015 season is up to seven, according to the Inside Army Football Blog on the Hudson Valley Blog. The latest commit was this past weekend by Tanner Sheffield. He is a defensive tackling standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 245 pounds from Dallas, Ga.

Verbal commits for 2015

Army Black Knights Preview from Sports Chat Place Website

Army Black Knights Sports Chat Place preview 

The above article was written by Mark Roberts on June 27. This is the Army football program preview for the upcoming 2014 season.

The article discusses new head coach Jeff Monken has a full plate as he tries to bring the football program back to a level of respectability. A key point brought up is the need for a better passing game as the team threw the least of all the service academies and did not throw in situations when needed, during contests last year.

This is a short article, but covers the pressing needs for the team in this upcoming season.

Miner Football Update July 12, 2014

Utep Football Update

Here are some recent posts around the net for the University of Texas at El Paso football program: 

- The first game of the season is against the Texas Tech Red Raiders and will take place Sept. 6 in El Paso at Sun Bowl Stadium. The article by @anthonysalom for SB Miner Nation page is an opponent preview of the Red Raiders. 

- The blog from @arodMinerRush on July 5 provided information regarding the 2015 recruiting class. The first verbal commit came from cornerback Jarius Hall. He is from Mesquite, Tx. The article also states the Miners have shown interest in more than 30 recruits for the 2015 season. 

These are just a couple of recent articles of important events in Miner Football. 

Army Football Update

Here is another update for the Army football team. The season begins on Sept. 6.

The promotion schedule for the football team was released yesterday. The home games include Buffalo, Ball State, Rice, Air Force and Fordham. This is the first home schedule for head coach Jeff Monken.

- Each home game will include a post game autograph session with the Army football team.

- All home games will feature various class reunions of former football players. These reunion classes will be honored.

- The Oct. 11 game against Rice will be the hall of fame weekend. The weekend will recognize inductees from all Army sports. The same weekend is also parent's weekend.

- The Nov. 22 game against Fordham is Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.

Promotion Schedule 

Army Football News and Recent Links

This is to provide some links and recent news about the Army football program.

Army Class of 2018 arrived to West Point, N.Y. as apart of the Reception Day. The football program brought in 60 freshmen.

Reception Day

The indoor Army-Navy rivalry took place on 1 July. The Army side won 43-38 and marks the first win since 2001 for any type of game.

Army-Navy recap

My Aspirations to Become a Sports Writer begins Now!!!!

Monken is more than ready

The recent hire of Army Black Knights Head Coach Jeff Monken is a step in the right direction for the prestigious service academy.

The Black Knights are coming off a disappointing 3-9 record and ended the season with a dismal 34-7 defeat to heated rival Navy. The Black Knights also lost to Air Force 42-28. The focus for Monken is to turn this traditionally proud program around. The top goal has to be to beat Navy and Air Force, since these are the top two games on the schedule each year. Army can lose every game on the schedule, but call a season a success if they beat Navy and beat Air Force is an added bonus.

Monken is the right candidate after leading a successful Georgia Southern program to a 38-16 record in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for the past four years. For their recent success, the Eagles will move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and join the Sun Belt Conference for this upcoming college football season. He was also a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award in 2012.

As mentioned above, Monken will need to use the games this season to prepare for the Navy and Air Force games. If the team is able to defeat both then he will be seen as the right man for the job at season’s end. His previous record at Georgia Southern puts him in good territory with administration, boosters and fans. If he is able to continue that success then that is an obvious plus for him.

Monken needs to return this struggling program to glory, which has participated in college football since 1890. The Black Knights are on a current 12 game losing streak to Navy. He also had a hand in causing disappointment to the Black Knights. Monken served as an assistant coach for Navy and helped win five straight Commander in Chief trophies. The better record between the three service academies determines the trophy winner.

Monken has to begin with the running game. He has a strong running game background as the Eagles led the NCAA in rushing averaging 399.36 yards per game. Navy also is known for their triple-option attack. It will be of no surprise that he will install a heavy ground attack at Army and he will recruit athletes to fit within his system.

Monken learned the triple-option during his time at Navy and Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson. He learned a system and stuck with it. The Black Knights are accustomed to running the triple-option, but Monken can enhance the system that is already put in place.

The key will be the person taking the snaps. He will need an athletic quarterback to lead the running attack. If he is able to maintain ground control and eat up clock during games then the Black Knights will have a chance in ball games for this upcoming season. His team will also be better prepared to defend the option attack of Navy, since the defense will practice against it on a daily in practice. His past coaching experience with Navy will prove beneficial.

The next step is to beef up the other side of the ball. The defense could not stop anyone and Monken will not be successful without some playmakers on the other side of the ball. Army was outscored 379-293 during the 2013 season.

He already has experience dealing with the types of student-athletes at Army. The student-athletes are cadets and have larger obligations throughout the day as compared to a college football player at any other university. The days for cadets are more strenuous and Monken has experience dealing with these types of student-athletes. He will be successful because he can find that balance between football and school and he will be able to get the best out of his players on Saturdays, especially the most important Saturday in the middle of December.

Monken is the 37^th head coach of Army and he will become one of the most popular in the long history of the program. In his first year of coaching he will pull off the unexpected and defeat both Navy and Air Force. He will snap the losing streak to Navy and bring the Commander in Chief trophy back to West Point. Monken will turn the program around and use Army as a stepping stone for a successful career in the FBS.

This is possibly the most important season in a long time for Black Knights football. There is plenty to look forward to this coming season for the Black Knights.