vmisport
August 10th, 2006, 07:48 AM
Three years ago, the Army Black Knights were competing with more than
just their opponents on the football field. They were fighting with
perception, they were fighting with respect, and they were fighting
with their own confidence. They suffered through 13 losses in a
single season. They suffered through waning support and media
scrutiny. They suffered through internal turmoil. They, too, heard
the rumors of dropping in levels of competition. Was it time for the
mighty Army football team to be relegated to D-1AA status? Could
they ever compete at the premier 1-A level? The answer to the
latter, as we know now, is a resounding yes. Fueled by their field
mentor and leader, Head Coach Bobby Ross, Army took their first
spring and changed the one thing that they could control – their
attitude and confidence. And they did it together. Within four
football Saturday's, Army had erased the negativity of the past and
began to capture America's hearts with their celebrations in doing
so. The garbage got out of their heads and they began to join the
more successful programs in American sport, competing with each other
to earn the chance to stand together and defeat their opponents.
Life is funny how it parallels sometimes, then comes to meet at a
bend in the river. Two years ago, VMI went 0-11. Last year, they
were 3-8. Though they could have thrown up their hands, dropped a
level, and allow themselves to be beaten, they have chosen to stand
tall. There is new leadership at the helm, a coach that challenges
and inspires his players to be as tough and gritty as they can
possibly be. A mentor who wants to ensure that this team develops an
identity together, works hard together, and wins together. Their
challenge now is to never walk off a football field having been
outworked or out-executed. VMI may play more talented, bigger,
faster, opponents, but they will never surrender to them and will
always fight.
This one is not about the key match-ups at each position – by most
accounts this one should not be that close and Army should have the
upper hand. It's not about the overall talent, though VMI brings in
a talented QB in Jonathan Wilson, a dual threat in RB Nat Jackson,
and a hawking DB in Jamal Walton who will all give Army a tough
time. It is more about the parallel paths these teams have run, the
histories they have together, and the way they have picked themselves
up.
This one will be about respect for what the team across from the
other has chosen for their way of life. It will be about a program
that is just turning itself around, and by looking over the tip of
the pigskin at the guy about to snap, seeing what can be accomplished
with hard work.
It will also be about history. In 1956, VMI came to Michie Stadium
to play Army, and with them they brought a small QB spent his game
play being introduced to a ferocious Army D. That Quarterback was
current Army Head Coach Bobby Ross and prior to taking the job at
Army, that was the last day he stepped foot on the turf at West
Point. In addition, there will be a pretty full stadium there on
that day. The West Point alumni will cram the stands as they cheer
on the Black Knights at their Homecoming.
And with all of the military pomp and circumstance, there will be two
teams standing on opposite sides of the field looking over at one
another with respect and anticipation. They will be ready to leave it
all on the field, working shoulder to shoulder with the guy next to
them, wanting nothing more than to win, and accepting nothing less
than 100%.
just their opponents on the football field. They were fighting with
perception, they were fighting with respect, and they were fighting
with their own confidence. They suffered through 13 losses in a
single season. They suffered through waning support and media
scrutiny. They suffered through internal turmoil. They, too, heard
the rumors of dropping in levels of competition. Was it time for the
mighty Army football team to be relegated to D-1AA status? Could
they ever compete at the premier 1-A level? The answer to the
latter, as we know now, is a resounding yes. Fueled by their field
mentor and leader, Head Coach Bobby Ross, Army took their first
spring and changed the one thing that they could control – their
attitude and confidence. And they did it together. Within four
football Saturday's, Army had erased the negativity of the past and
began to capture America's hearts with their celebrations in doing
so. The garbage got out of their heads and they began to join the
more successful programs in American sport, competing with each other
to earn the chance to stand together and defeat their opponents.
Life is funny how it parallels sometimes, then comes to meet at a
bend in the river. Two years ago, VMI went 0-11. Last year, they
were 3-8. Though they could have thrown up their hands, dropped a
level, and allow themselves to be beaten, they have chosen to stand
tall. There is new leadership at the helm, a coach that challenges
and inspires his players to be as tough and gritty as they can
possibly be. A mentor who wants to ensure that this team develops an
identity together, works hard together, and wins together. Their
challenge now is to never walk off a football field having been
outworked or out-executed. VMI may play more talented, bigger,
faster, opponents, but they will never surrender to them and will
always fight.
This one is not about the key match-ups at each position – by most
accounts this one should not be that close and Army should have the
upper hand. It's not about the overall talent, though VMI brings in
a talented QB in Jonathan Wilson, a dual threat in RB Nat Jackson,
and a hawking DB in Jamal Walton who will all give Army a tough
time. It is more about the parallel paths these teams have run, the
histories they have together, and the way they have picked themselves
up.
This one will be about respect for what the team across from the
other has chosen for their way of life. It will be about a program
that is just turning itself around, and by looking over the tip of
the pigskin at the guy about to snap, seeing what can be accomplished
with hard work.
It will also be about history. In 1956, VMI came to Michie Stadium
to play Army, and with them they brought a small QB spent his game
play being introduced to a ferocious Army D. That Quarterback was
current Army Head Coach Bobby Ross and prior to taking the job at
Army, that was the last day he stepped foot on the turf at West
Point. In addition, there will be a pretty full stadium there on
that day. The West Point alumni will cram the stands as they cheer
on the Black Knights at their Homecoming.
And with all of the military pomp and circumstance, there will be two
teams standing on opposite sides of the field looking over at one
another with respect and anticipation. They will be ready to leave it
all on the field, working shoulder to shoulder with the guy next to
them, wanting nothing more than to win, and accepting nothing less
than 100%.