1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:05,519 Need to get your football fix on all things Army, Navy, and Air 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:11,560 Force. This is Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. Now here are your 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:18,079 hosts, Pryce Atkinson, Steve Carney and Mike Loveall. Welcome back to another 4 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,879 edition of Yards and Strikes, your home for Service Academy Football. As we 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,160 are part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network. I'm Fryce Atkinson 6 00:00:27,199 --> 00:00:31,480 and he is Steve Karney, and we got a lot to get into this 7 00:00:31,559 --> 00:00:35,479 week. Oh boy, do we have a ton on the docket. And 8 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,200 without further ado, let's get to it. Steve, I hope you had 9 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,920 a happy Halloween. It is the spooky season has come and gone, but 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,000 it is still spooky a little bit around these parts. As we've got another 11 00:00:46,039 --> 00:00:51,799 Service Academy matchup this weekend, we got some college football playoff ranking news, 12 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,960 and then we also have a conference change that we're going to get into here 13 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,520 in just one second. How are you, brother, I hope you had 14 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,840 a good Halloween. Yeah, it's a great It's a great week for college 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:08,000 football in the Service academies. Obviously, with Halloween just passing, I still 16 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,359 have my mask on. At least that's what people tell me all around. 17 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:15,920 You can take your mask off, Steve. It's it's November first, but 18 00:01:15,359 --> 00:01:19,879 yeah, it's it's an exciting week for college football here when it comes to 19 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:26,799 the Service academies, we've got a great matchup between the second leg of the 20 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,959 Commander in Chief Trophy that we're going to get to here in just a couple 21 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,599 of minutes. But for me, I think the most exciting story that has 22 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:41,359 come out since the last time we talked was right before, I should say, 23 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:47,000 right after we taped our last episode, because we've got some really important 24 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,879 news when it comes to the Black Nights and how they're going to play coming 25 00:01:51,519 --> 00:01:55,840 the next couple of or i should say, starting next year, for how 26 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:00,159 their schedule is going to be made. Yeah, the big news obviously last 27 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:04,760 week, that you know, came just shortly after we got to the episode 28 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,439 recorded up was the news that, yes, what we've talked about for a 29 00:02:07,479 --> 00:02:12,280 while and has been expected probably in a lot of parts for a while, 30 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,439 is that the Army Black Knights, they will be the newest member starting next 31 00:02:15,479 --> 00:02:21,639 season of the American Athletic Conference, taking the place of what SMU who is 32 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:27,560 off to the ACC. So the Army Black Knights. That announcement coming last 33 00:02:27,599 --> 00:02:32,319 week as they will be part of the new look American is it looks new 34 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:37,439 this year, but they will be. It will be strange to see Army 35 00:02:37,479 --> 00:02:40,080 back in a conference. All three academies now will be back in a conference 36 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,680 for the first time in years, I guess going back to what since Army 37 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,400 was in CUSA, which honestly, that's what the American looks a lot like 38 00:02:47,479 --> 00:02:52,879 now. Is Conference USA in a lot of ways with it being so large 39 00:02:52,879 --> 00:02:55,159 and a lot of those former institutions part of it. But the news does 40 00:02:55,199 --> 00:03:00,000 come that Army will be joining, and as we've talked about before the Army 41 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:05,719 Navy game, that game will still be played as a non conference game stand 42 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,360 alone, that loan, you know, game of the of the weekend in 43 00:03:09,439 --> 00:03:15,240 December after the American Athletic Conference Championship game. So yes, that does mean 44 00:03:15,319 --> 00:03:22,319 that Army and Navy could meet for the AAC Conference Championship and then the following 45 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:28,879 week play a non conference matchup in the annual Army Navy Game presented by USAA. 46 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,680 It is strange, It is weird. Is it likely to happen? 47 00:03:32,039 --> 00:03:37,759 Probably not. Could it happened without a doubt, but just the big news 48 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,360 is that Army is off to the AAC and is I talked to a few 49 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,240 people and they kind of said the same thing to me, nod in the 50 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:49,039 head that this is largely kind of predicated on a couple of years ago when 51 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,879 Army was left out of the Bowl picture without a conference tie in, there 52 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,639 was just no home for them. So now that kind of alleviates that kind 53 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,560 of pressure. Is if you're a Bowl eligible team, been like an eight 54 00:04:00,599 --> 00:04:03,080 win Army team, let's just, you know, hypothetically say, and there's 55 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,039 not a spot for you just because of old Tians. That no longer will 56 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,719 happen. So I think Army and Athletic director Mike Buddy, who I know, 57 00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:15,479 I think that was a big part of it, not the entire part, 58 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,079 but I think that was part of the puzzle in Army joining the AC. 59 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:23,000 Steve Yeah, And for me, the big question is going to end 60 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:28,519 up becoming because Army has been independent for so long and they've been able to 61 00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:32,120 build their own schedule, and let's face it, they've done of the Black 62 00:04:32,199 --> 00:04:40,040 Nides a good job of building their schedule and giving themselves some pretty top quality 63 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,680 matchups. I mean, you look at what they had this year with Syracuse 64 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:51,399 and Boston College and and LSU. You know, they've got these games scheduled 65 00:04:51,439 --> 00:05:00,800 for years down the road, and now that they've become part of a of 66 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:05,399 a conference, I think it's going to be difficult for them to try and 67 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:10,839 honor these commitments. And I think it's gonna be up to the American Athletic 68 00:05:10,879 --> 00:05:15,680 Conference to be able to help Army in any way, shape or form, 69 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:23,959 be able to honor their commitments to these games that they already have contracts on 70 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,480 and have scheduled for years down the road, being able to honor those commitments 71 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:34,000 while still being able to have an American Athletic Conference schedule of their own. 72 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:40,759 So really, it's gonna be it's gonna be a tap dance at least in 73 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,240 the near future for Army to make sure that they can get as many of 74 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,319 their commitments fulfilled because they got money come in their way because of it. 75 00:05:50,439 --> 00:05:55,319 Yeah, absolutely, And you know that also brings up the Air Force matchup. 76 00:05:55,399 --> 00:05:58,519 Of course, that's not going away either. Army will continue to play 77 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,079 Air Force just like NAVE does every year. The Commander in Chief trophy that 78 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:05,959 is not going away. That is still going to be there. Nothing has 79 00:06:06,079 --> 00:06:13,000 changed as far as the three service academy see se legs if you will. 80 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,759 So congratulations to the Army black Knights. I know there are a lot of 81 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:20,360 alumps that I've heard a couple specifically that good friends that I've heard that just 82 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,040 this is the end of Army football. But I also said, well, 83 00:06:26,079 --> 00:06:29,160 that's kind of what some people said about Navy when they joined, and then 84 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,639 they were there. They were in the AEC championship game, you know, 85 00:06:32,079 --> 00:06:35,319 out of the box. But I also know that it's a little bit different 86 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:41,000 now with NIL and transfer portal. There are a lot of things that are 87 00:06:41,079 --> 00:06:45,879 working against service academies in a lot of ways now that we're not there before. 88 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,480 But we will move on and we will continue on here on Yards and 89 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:53,560 Stripes. As we're part of the College Grader and Coast to Coast podcast network, 90 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:57,199 new episode comes to you every single week and you can catch a lot 91 00:06:57,439 --> 00:07:01,720 more different kinds of episodes in terms of podcasts on the College Gridiron, Coast 92 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:06,160 to Coast podcast Network, Get Off My Pylon, Florida Football Insiders, the 93 00:07:06,199 --> 00:07:11,680 ACC Update every week. There's just so much there, including Yards and Stripes. 94 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,560 Just search Yards and Stripes or college gridiron, wherever it is. You 95 00:07:15,759 --> 00:07:19,040 listen to your podcast, subscribe and you will be taking care of all season 96 00:07:19,079 --> 00:07:24,079 long with your college football needs. But we got a pair of games last 97 00:07:24,079 --> 00:07:27,000 weekend. We got a couple coming up, including the second leg of the 98 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,959 Commander in Chief Trophy. We got the Travis Manian Foundation Honor Roll Segment Honoring 99 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,199 and follow Hero. We got picks to make. But Steve, let's get 100 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,120 into our two games from last weekend. Let's start up at Mikey Stadium and 101 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:43,319 Holy cow, the skid continues for the Black Knights, as they've now lost 102 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:48,040 five straight U Mass. They walk into Mikey in the six ever meeting between 103 00:07:48,079 --> 00:07:51,199 the two programs. The minute Men finally get on the board. They get 104 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:57,720 their first win, knocking off the Black Knights twenty one to fourteen, as 105 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:03,680 U Mass in a skid of their own. Uh they had lost what seven 106 00:08:03,759 --> 00:08:09,399 straight? Jeff Munkin didn't have a lot of answers. Kron lynch Adams running 107 00:08:09,399 --> 00:08:13,120 back for the Minutemen. He runs for a career high two thirty four on 108 00:08:13,199 --> 00:08:16,519 thirty four carries and three touchdowns as they do snap that seven game losing streak. 109 00:08:18,079 --> 00:08:20,600 He had thirty four. Of the team's thirty seven carries. He went 110 00:08:20,639 --> 00:08:24,800 for two thirty four. The other three guys that got to carry each minus 111 00:08:24,879 --> 00:08:30,560 six yards. So uh, kron Lynch Adams the big man on campus, 112 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,639 at least for this week up in Amherst, as he goes for two thirty 113 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,759 four while UMass quarterback and Clemson transfer Tyson Pumachell he threw for one twenty one 114 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:43,159 on an efficient seventeen for twenty three, and there you go. The Minutemen 115 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,879 get their first win since defeating the Mexico State in the season opener, as 116 00:08:48,039 --> 00:08:50,840 UMass improves the two and seven while Army is now just two and six. 117 00:08:50,879 --> 00:08:58,840 Steve, Yeah, we we talked about how I thought that this game would 118 00:08:58,879 --> 00:09:03,039 be the opportunity for the Black Knights to kind of hit the reset button on 119 00:09:03,159 --> 00:09:09,200 their season after what was a really difficult stretch going to Sarah, going to 120 00:09:09,279 --> 00:09:13,000 Syracuse, hosting Boston College and Troy, and then having to go to LSU. 121 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,240 I thought, you know, that's a really tough stretch. This is 122 00:09:16,279 --> 00:09:20,840 gonna be perfect for them to be able to hit the reset button and just 123 00:09:22,039 --> 00:09:28,639 go from that point. And unfortunately that isn't what happened because of what Lynch 124 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,639 Adams was able to do. He looked like an Army running back in this 125 00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:37,960 game against the Black Knights and the other and the other big important piece of 126 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,919 this game, of course, was the fact that Army was minus three in 127 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:48,440 the turnover ratio. Again, if they're if they're gonna find themselves behind, 128 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,120 they're gonna find themselves losing games all year long. They had two interceptions, 129 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:58,120 they lost a fumble, and that's that's not how you can play. That's 130 00:09:58,159 --> 00:10:01,879 how you win games in West Point. You know this. I know this, 131 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:07,559 our listeners know this, and unfortunately Armies opponents know this too. So 132 00:10:07,799 --> 00:10:11,120 if they're gonna, if they're gonna keep doing this, Jeff Munkin's gonna have 133 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,759 him something really really hard time to try and win another game this season. 134 00:10:15,799 --> 00:10:18,120 Yeah, you know, as mentioned, Jeffmunkin didn't have a lot of answers 135 00:10:18,159 --> 00:10:22,679 afterwards, except you know, the squandered chances or opportunities. I mean they 136 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,360 were intercepted. You alluded to it right there, you know, turnovers intercepted 137 00:10:26,399 --> 00:10:30,840 in the end zone twice. A couple of other miscues that were big, 138 00:10:30,919 --> 00:10:37,559 Quinn Moretzky missing a forty nine yard field goal in the first quarter Cooper Allen, 139 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,320 you know, the punter, his lone pun attempt of the game, 140 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,159 just two yards. He shanks that punt, you know, obviously, and 141 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,960 you know, there was a play call by the coaching staff. You know, 142 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,440 Jeff Unkin talked about afterwards, you know, they were gonna have to 143 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,720 go back and look at this, you know, and he alluded to this 144 00:10:54,759 --> 00:11:00,240 play call that it was a kind of a questionable fourth and two at the 145 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,960 UMass seven yard line, and the third and Army coaches decided, you know, 146 00:11:03,039 --> 00:11:05,200 to go for it, obviously, but instead of trying to run the 147 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,720 football there, they decided to go with the pass play lo and behold, 148 00:11:09,799 --> 00:11:13,320 it's picked off and that ends that kind of threat. So it was that 149 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,480 kind of day and it's been honestly that kind of season right for the Black 150 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:22,240 Knight. Steve just you know, continually talking about misques and turnovers. You 151 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,240 just obviously can't do it. Yeah, it goes without saying, especially when 152 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,799 you're you know, somewhat limited, and you know we talk about limited. 153 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,279 I mean that's what U Mass was coming into this game. I Mean they 154 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,159 were giving up i think thirty seven points a game. They'd only won one 155 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,279 game all season long, and they hadn't had really any similars of success at 156 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,519 FBS level the last several seasons. But lo and behold, they go into 157 00:11:45,639 --> 00:11:48,480 Army and they come out a winner twenty one to fourteen. And when you 158 00:11:48,519 --> 00:11:50,879 don't take care of the football and do all the little things, it doesn't 159 00:11:50,879 --> 00:11:52,879 matter if it's U Mass, it doesn't matter if it's Boston College, you 160 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,399 will get beat at the FBS level. Steve, Yeah, absolutely not taking 161 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,440 care of the foot ball. You mentioned the miss the miss field goal, 162 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:05,639 that's practice. That's another turnover, uh, even though that doesn't go on 163 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,120 the sheet as a turnover. The shanked punt, uh, you know, 164 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:16,080 the the the head scratching play calling uh on that fourth down play. Those 165 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:22,399 are all things that that lead that that lead to defeats when your football team 166 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,840 can't convert. Uh. I I really do think that, you know, 167 00:12:24,879 --> 00:12:30,559 there's there's gonna have to be account and you know with Army there's always accountability. 168 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,440 That's the one thing about the Service academies is that, uh, you 169 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,720 don't have to worry about anybody else's pointing the finger somewhere else, whether it's 170 00:12:37,759 --> 00:12:41,919 the head coach, whether it's the assistant coaches, whether it's the players. 171 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:48,000 Nobody fails to take accountability at the service academies, which is why I love 172 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,720 their football. Uh. And I I think that Jeff munkin And it's funny. 173 00:12:52,759 --> 00:12:58,519 I had someone ask me, uh earlier this week, I was at 174 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:03,039 a I was at a Tampa Bay Lightning game, and we were talking about 175 00:13:03,919 --> 00:13:09,000 about Army football. And you know, because they because we're talking, you 176 00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:11,039 know, they know that I do the show. And we so we got 177 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:16,720 into Air Force being ranked and and and Army, uh, you know, 178 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,879 and the success that the Black Knights have had over the last few years under 179 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,799 Jeff Monkin. And I said, I said, the big problem with Army 180 00:13:24,279 --> 00:13:31,799 this year has been the problem that the they've been stopping themselves as much as 181 00:13:33,159 --> 00:13:37,279 their opponents have been stopping them. So uh, when you when you're playing 182 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:41,320 not only your opponent, but you're also having to defeat yourself, that that's 183 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:48,080 just such a really tough uh environment to be in as a player. And 184 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,159 I can only imagine the sense of frustration that's in that locker room right now 185 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:56,559 because they know that they're better than this. And and yet you know, 186 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:03,279 you saw them be competitive against Boston College. You saw them be competitive against 187 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,840 Syracuse and to go out and lay an egg like this against the team that 188 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:13,279 you know that you're better than. You've got to know that they're frustrated. 189 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,639 Yeah, without a doubt, and that frustration, you know you're going to 190 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:22,200 try and find a way to stemy it. And you know certainly that losing 191 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:26,159 streak as you get ready and prep to face air Force. We'll talk about 192 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,639 that second leg of the Commander Chief Trophy here in a little bit, but 193 00:14:28,639 --> 00:14:33,639 you mass a twenty one to fourteen winner over Army up on the Hudson Army 194 00:14:33,679 --> 00:14:37,960 now just two and six overall all. Right, other game last weekend, 195 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:43,960 Steve number nineteen Air Force going to Fort Collins, the matchup for the ram 196 00:14:43,039 --> 00:14:48,399 Falcon Trophy against Colorado State Air Force undefeated overall and in the Mountain West, 197 00:14:48,399 --> 00:14:54,320 and the driving snow air Force plowed ahead finally in that third quarter and didn't 198 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:58,120 look back and loop and route to their thirteenth straight win dating back the last 199 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:03,360 season, and they do capture the ram Falcon Trophy for the twenty eighth time 200 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:09,600 in the series between themselves. In Colorado State air Force now eight and oher, 201 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:13,440 its best start since the nineteen eighty five team opened ten and ozer and 202 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:18,159 tied with the nineteen seventy team as the third best start in program history. 203 00:15:18,639 --> 00:15:22,720 Air Force as I mentioned that thirteen eight winning streak going back to last season 204 00:15:22,039 --> 00:15:28,360 fourth longest active streak in the FBS, and it ties the school record of 205 00:15:28,399 --> 00:15:33,960 thirteen shared with the nineteen eighty four and eighty five teams that span two seasons. 206 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:39,320 But the Air Force Falcons steep that top ranked rushing attack. That's simply 207 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,559 what they used to wear down the Rams in the second half. After it 208 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:46,200 was tied thirteen to all at the half, the Falcons defense, they buckle 209 00:15:46,279 --> 00:15:50,840 up and just hold the Rams Colorado State to just one hundred and thirteen yards 210 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:56,080 in the second half. And you know, it's always fun to watch a 211 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:02,120 snowgame, you know, But Air Force excuse me, Colorado State was warned 212 00:16:02,559 --> 00:16:07,480 twice two times in the first half to stop throwing snowballs at the Air Force 213 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:12,519 sideline. Well it continued, and right after that first play of the third 214 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:18,080 quarter, the officials let Colorado State and head coach Jay Norvel know that that's 215 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:22,919 going to be the end of that is Colorado State was flagged for an unsportsmanlike 216 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:29,279 penalty for throwing snowballs. Continuing to throw snowballs after being worn twice at the 217 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,639 Air Force bench, they were penalized and then air Force uses that penalty. 218 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:38,720 It was second one at the time, fifteen yard unsportsmanlike. Air Force goes 219 00:16:38,759 --> 00:16:42,799 on to score the go ahead touchdown when Zach Larrier keeps it for one yard. 220 00:16:42,879 --> 00:16:47,159 Ten plays seventy five yards six oh two off the clock to start the 221 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,320 third quarter, and that was the end of it. Is. Air Force 222 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,320 didn't look back to scored seventeen straight. But you know, Steve, the 223 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,000 snowball penalty, I don't necessarily think it made the difference in the game, 224 00:16:56,039 --> 00:17:02,200 but it was funny seeing the security officials move all the students back sixteen rows 225 00:17:02,279 --> 00:17:07,359 or higher as the ushers and security guards were kind of forming a protective barrier, 226 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:11,000 if you will, between that Air Force sideline and the student body. 227 00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:12,279 And you know, Troy Calhoun, I thought it was funny. He's, 228 00:17:12,519 --> 00:17:15,200 you know, ever the one to have a dead pan quote every now and 229 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:21,200 then. He just said that was quite a spirited student body there in Colorado 230 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,920 at Colorado State. Yeah, I mean, you would expect Colorado State to 231 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:33,519 throw snowballs because of their their offense is all about throwing. So you know, 232 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,200 we you know, we could talk up, we could talk a lot 233 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:44,359 about what Faller Nicolosi did through the air for the for the Rams two hundred 234 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:48,559 and ninety seven yards and touchdown. You know, I thought that, you 235 00:17:48,559 --> 00:17:52,599 know, air Force did a really good job of making the Rams as one 236 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,880 dimensional as possible. Because if you can do that, you've got a really 237 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,400 easy job, or you have an easier job, I should say, of 238 00:18:00,559 --> 00:18:04,359 being able to to defeat a team like Colorado State. The whole snowball thing, 239 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:07,839 all I keep, all I could keep, all I could think of 240 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:14,039 was back in the I guess it was in the late eighties. It was 241 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:19,039 a game involving the Cincinnati Bengals where they were throwing snowballs, uh and things 242 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:25,160 at at the opposing bench. Uh, the fans were and Sam Weisch, 243 00:18:26,039 --> 00:18:29,799 who was the head coach of the Bengals at that time, got a micro 244 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,640 got a got a public address microphone, and this is at old Riverfront Stadium 245 00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:37,759 and was like the next person who sees anybody throwing anything on the field, 246 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,680 point him out. You don't live in Cleveland. You live in you know, 247 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,880 like you know, it's like it's like it's like you don't live in 248 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:51,160 Grand Junction, you live in Got Springs or you live in Fort Collins. 249 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:55,759 You know, you know, stop this. I could only that's that's the 250 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,519 it's just so funny to see that happen. And it was a very spirited 251 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:06,920 Rams uh uh fan base that was there. It was a small RAMS fan 252 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,599 base, so it shouldn't have been hard to kind of point out who was 253 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:15,839 who was throwing things uh at the at the Air Force bench. But uh, 254 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,400 I just I you know, I look at the way that Air Force 255 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,920 took care of business. You know again, uh we we talked about this 256 00:19:23,279 --> 00:19:30,039 with with Army. You know, they if you are ahead in the turnover 257 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:34,559 ratio, you're gonna find yourself in better in better shape. And Army was 258 00:19:34,599 --> 00:19:38,400 not Air Force was. They were plus one when it comes to turnovers. 259 00:19:38,559 --> 00:19:44,279 And they did a really good job of making sure that they didn't put the 260 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,559 ball on the turf at all. You know, they they this is a 261 00:19:48,599 --> 00:19:52,559 game that you would have expected that you would have expected to see footballs on 262 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:57,640 the on the turf just because of the weather situation. It was cold, 263 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:03,160 it was snowing the ball when it's snapped, you know it's going to be 264 00:20:03,279 --> 00:20:07,000 wet, which is going to make it slippery. And you know, Emmanuel 265 00:20:07,039 --> 00:20:11,200 Michelle did a good job of it. Eldridge did a good job of it, 266 00:20:11,319 --> 00:20:15,240 Larryer did a good job of it. They had forty five of the 267 00:20:15,319 --> 00:20:22,240 fifty seven rushing attempts for the Falcons and not a single football left their hands, 268 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:27,759 And I think that is so so it needs to be pointed out that 269 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:30,279 you know, it's not going to get one of our game balls. But 270 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:37,599 the fact that the Falcons offense did not commit a turnover, did not give 271 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:42,839 the football away, I think is a big important piece to this. Yeah, 272 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,359 and on the defensive side of things, you mentioned the offense. You 273 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:51,599 know what air Force is doing right now defensively too, it's just fantastic. 274 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,119 You know, they scored seventeen straight and pitched the second half shutout against Colorado 275 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,440 State. But you know they've now gone five games this season where they've allowed 276 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,480 a touchdown or less in the second half. They are winning the second half. 277 00:21:03,559 --> 00:21:07,720 You know, in terms of you know, when you stop the run, 278 00:21:07,759 --> 00:21:10,799 you typically are going to have a better you know, a good chance 279 00:21:10,839 --> 00:21:14,599 to win most any day. Any any football fan, especially college football fans 280 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,839 know that. And holding Colorado State to just forty two yards on the ground 281 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:22,839 the fifth time this season that they've held a team below fifty five yards rushing 282 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,119 or more, that's getting it done. And we know that, you know, 283 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,319 the secondary has been pretty stout and that they have been making plays, 284 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:34,319 you know, the line of scrimmage. But this defense just continues to play 285 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,640 outstanding football. As much as we talk about service academies and triple option and 286 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:44,079 running the football, yes, air Force leads the country and rush yards per 287 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,519 game, but defensively, you just can't overlook. And you know, speaking 288 00:21:47,559 --> 00:21:48,759 overlook, I was, you know, thinking, you know, as I 289 00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:52,119 was watching this game, you know, wind down in the snow the other 290 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,519 night, Steve, I was like, God, how much would I love 291 00:21:55,559 --> 00:22:00,039 to see air Force match up against Coach Prime and take this triple option and 292 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,200 win the state outright, you know by playing and beating the Buffaloes. Because 293 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,440 there's no question that air Force is the best team in my opinion in the 294 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:12,160 state of Colorado. I would just like to see it on the field and 295 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:17,759 see a Troy Calhoun Coach Prime matchup. How much fun that would be. 296 00:22:18,599 --> 00:22:22,279 Yeah, I think it would be. It would be a blast, uh, 297 00:22:22,319 --> 00:22:25,519 and you know it would make it even better. Let it be in 298 00:22:25,559 --> 00:22:29,640 a ball game. Let's let's get let's get Air Force in Colorado together in 299 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,920 a bowl game. You know, I would love to see uh, you 300 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,640 know, I I wish, I wish Colorado was was a little better and 301 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,160 maybe could have could be qualifying for a New Year six ball game, because 302 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:47,279 how much fun would that be to see those two teams, uh, battling 303 00:22:47,319 --> 00:22:51,319 it out in like the Chick fil A Peach Bowl like that would be That 304 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,759 would be incredible. And I know that, Yeah, you know, unfortunately 305 00:22:56,200 --> 00:23:03,039 that that's not a sexy it's not a sexy television matchup, so you're gonna 306 00:23:03,079 --> 00:23:07,119 find yourself probably not seeing something like that. But I would love to see 307 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:11,640 Air Force in Colorado in a bowl game. Yeah. Absolutely. And speaking 308 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,720 of bowl games, a little bit of a foreshadowing looking ahead to next week, 309 00:23:15,839 --> 00:23:18,519 we're going to talk with Gary Stoken, the head of the Chick fil 310 00:23:18,519 --> 00:23:23,079 A Bowl in Atlanta is now the Air Force Falcons. No bowl bit has 311 00:23:23,079 --> 00:23:26,400 certainly been secured yet, but if you look at at this point in the 312 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:30,960 season, usually come November first is when I start paying attention to kind of 313 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,200 the you know, the Bowl hypotheticals and the Bowl outlook of who might play 314 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,400 who. This is about the time I start paying attention to that. It's 315 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,319 kind of bracketology. I don't even look at that stuff until about February, 316 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:42,960 just because it's basically guessing. But if you look at most any kind of 317 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:48,240 hypothetical Bowl matchups, at this point, you are seeing air Force now in 318 00:23:48,279 --> 00:23:52,119 that group of five slot in the New Year six because Liberty is gonna have 319 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:56,000 something to say about There's gonna be some other teams and air Force has still 320 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,400 got more to go. But right now the Falcons still in Aurion. I 321 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,160 think, Steve, you would agree they've got that inside track for that group 322 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:07,559 of five New Year six slots. So we'll talk with Gary Stoken about that 323 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,400 next week is he'll be our special guest after Army and Air Force do battle 324 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,279 this coming Saturday, which we'll review here in a few minutes. But before 325 00:24:15,319 --> 00:24:18,720 we review this weekend's game, Steve, weve got some game balls to give 326 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,240 out. Man, which way you want to go with with yours? This 327 00:24:21,319 --> 00:24:25,839 week? Oh? Pryce, you know me, I love to go defense 328 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:30,559 with my game balls, and you know, yes, you do what they 329 00:24:30,559 --> 00:24:34,359 what the Air Force Falcons did on offense. I'm gonna go defensively and give 330 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:42,000 my game ball to Jalen Murgerson, the Air Force Falcons linebacker who had thirteen 331 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:48,759 tackles in the game and nine of them being solo, coming up from and 332 00:24:48,839 --> 00:24:55,200 basically playing linebacker from his safety position. He basically works as a as a 333 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,079 fourth or a fifth linebacker there in the in the middle of the field. 334 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:03,160 So thirteen tackles, nine solo tackles, yep, you get a game ball 335 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:07,680 for that, sod. So congratulations to Jaalen Murgerson. All right, Steve, 336 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,680 I'm gonna go my game ball. I'm gonna go offense, because what 337 00:25:11,759 --> 00:25:15,319 else can you do when you put up thirty points and you do so with 338 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,680 twenty carries in one hundred and thirty yards in the snow. That's right. 339 00:25:18,759 --> 00:25:25,079 The senior from Lawrenceville, Georgia running back Emmanuel Michelle with a team high twenty 340 00:25:25,079 --> 00:25:29,640 carries and one hundred and thirty yards in the game against Colorado State. Now 341 00:25:30,599 --> 00:25:33,519 the leading rusher with six hundred ninety six on the ground the season and a 342 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:40,559 team high nine touchdowns as Michelle. He's gone over the one hundred yard mark 343 00:25:40,799 --> 00:25:45,440 three times this season, five times now in his career, as he again 344 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:51,640 leads air Force with nine touchdowns on the ground. So Emmanuel Michelle getting my 345 00:25:51,759 --> 00:25:56,920 game ball as he continues to put together another outstanding campaign for air Force that 346 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,799 really has that three headed monster when you look at it. In backfield led 347 00:26:00,839 --> 00:26:03,920 by Zach Larrier, but also John Lee Eldridge the third who also had a 348 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,440 touchdown carry in the win over Colorado State. All right, Steve, we 349 00:26:07,519 --> 00:26:11,400 got more to do. We got the games to look ahead to, we 350 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,599 got our Travis Manian Foundation on a roll segment again. We are part of 351 00:26:14,599 --> 00:26:18,359 the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network. Wherever it is you listen to 352 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:23,000 your podcasts. Just search College Gridiron Coast to Coach search Yards and Stripes. 353 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:27,599 You will find us. Hit that subscribe button. You'll also find another array 354 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:33,920 of podcasts. We've got something for everybody at the College Gridiron Coast to Coast 355 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,920 podcast Network. 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When it comes to the College Gridiron Coast to Coast Podcast 386 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:02,000 Network, Yes, as we continue on this network, and we are going 387 00:29:02,039 --> 00:29:04,559 to continue on looking ahead to the two games, Steve, because we've got 388 00:29:04,599 --> 00:29:08,759 a pair of games, including the second installment of the Commander in Chief Trophy, 389 00:29:08,799 --> 00:29:11,319 that second leg. We'll talk about that one here in a second, 390 00:29:11,359 --> 00:29:15,279 but let's talk about Navy's matchup at Temple. First, Navy three and four 391 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,920 overall the season, two and two in the American They're going to be traveling 392 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,480 up to the city of Brotherly Love, only about two two and a half 393 00:29:22,559 --> 00:29:26,319 hours up the road from Annapolis take on Temple. The Owls two and six 394 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,319 overall two and two in the American Owls now have lost five straight. This 395 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:36,400 one going to be a matchup at Saturday at two pm Eastern Standard time on 396 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,519 ESPN plus. Navy right now is a six and a half point favorite over 397 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,160 Under forty four and a half. Those numbers have changed a little bit, 398 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:48,680 Steve, as this will be the eighteenth meeting all time between these two teams, 399 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:52,519 with Navy leading the all time series by just a game, nine to 400 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,720 eight, including a three and three mark. Since both these teams have been 401 00:29:56,759 --> 00:30:00,519 a member of the American Athletic Conference. Navy has won the last three, 402 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:06,839 including one game decide in overtime twenty seven to twenty that win in two thousand 403 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,359 and two in a game decided by two points that was thirty one to twenty 404 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:15,039 nine back in twenty twenty. Maybe also three and three against Temple one games 405 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,640 played in Philadelphia, so pretty even, Steven. But as I mentioned, 406 00:30:19,079 --> 00:30:22,839 this line has moved a little bit. Steven, I think that probably stems 407 00:30:22,839 --> 00:30:26,400 from EJ. Warner, the sophomore quarterback. Yes, the son of Kirk 408 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,480 Warner. He's missed the last several games with a concussion and concussion protocol, 409 00:30:30,759 --> 00:30:36,119 but he is back at practice this week and likely to play against Navy on 410 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:40,720 Saturday. Yeah, and I think that's a big plus if you're if you're 411 00:30:40,759 --> 00:30:45,759 an Owl, I certainly think that getting EJ. Warnerback means that you're gonna 412 00:30:45,839 --> 00:30:49,799 have a lot more success throwing the football than they've had the last couple of 413 00:30:49,799 --> 00:30:55,279 weeks. It's been it's been rough sledding for Temple without EJ. Warner under 414 00:30:55,279 --> 00:30:59,039 center. And I really do think you know this is this is a game 415 00:30:59,079 --> 00:31:03,319 that you know, I'm most years probably isn't played at the link because of 416 00:31:03,359 --> 00:31:10,000 the fact that Navy normally plays Army on this very same field at the end 417 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,079 of the season, and this could this could have given the midshipman a little 418 00:31:12,079 --> 00:31:15,160 bit of an advantage. Now, of course, the Army Navy game is 419 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,000 taking place at Chillette Stadium in Foxborough this year, they don't have to worry 420 00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:23,160 about that so much. But I really do think that this is going to 421 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:30,039 be a true test for the Army defensive backfield because if EJ. Warner does 422 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,839 play, he definitely can sling the football around. I got a chance to 423 00:31:33,839 --> 00:31:38,359 see EJ. Warner in action earlier this year with the University of South Florida, 424 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:44,359 and he he tore up the balls. Let's he had a very very 425 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:48,400 good game against against USF. Now, the Owls did not win that game, 426 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:52,440 but uh they I certainly think that, uh, this is a this 427 00:31:52,519 --> 00:31:59,920 is a group that can certainly play very very good football against against these teams. 428 00:32:00,079 --> 00:32:05,680 And I think that when, like I said, this is a defensive 429 00:32:06,519 --> 00:32:13,839 teams and a defensive coordinators, this is going to be definitely a measuring stick 430 00:32:14,079 --> 00:32:17,559 for a defensive coordinator and especially for a secondary coach and a defensive backfield. 431 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:23,160 Yeah. EJ. Warner has not played since he got hurt in the game 432 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:28,839 against UTSA, and that was the game maybe his best ever game for the 433 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:31,640 Owls as he threw this season just to get tell you you know what he's 434 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:36,640 done. I mean, he had not crossed the three h three hundred yard 435 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,920 passing mark this season, but in the last game he played, he threw 436 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:46,119 for four to seventy two in the loss to UTSA, forty two a sixty 437 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:51,799 five with five touchdowns, no interceptions, forty two to sixty five. Steve. 438 00:32:52,519 --> 00:32:54,480 But certainly that's going to give the Owls a shot in the arm, 439 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:59,559 as I mentioned, having lost five straight. But you know, one shot 440 00:32:59,599 --> 00:33:01,599 in the arm the Navy's gotten all season. You know, as a defense, 441 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:06,559 it's tied for second in the country. They've recovered nine fumbles and they're 442 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,880 five turnovers loss this year is four few us in the country. So what 443 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:14,039 does that translate to. Of course, that's gonna translate to a pretty darn 444 00:33:14,039 --> 00:33:19,440 good turnover margin, Navy sitting at six in the country in over plus one 445 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:22,759 a game. And not to mention a stingy Navy defense, it's come up 446 00:33:22,759 --> 00:33:27,359 big when they need to at times. In the red zone. They're ranked 447 00:33:27,359 --> 00:33:30,160 fourth in the nation allowing opponents to score just sixty five percent of the time. 448 00:33:30,279 --> 00:33:34,599 So that's gonna be big, I think, and play large on Saturday 449 00:33:34,599 --> 00:33:37,480 against the Temple team led by e J. Warner. We don't know if 450 00:33:37,519 --> 00:33:40,319 he'll start, likely to play, but a Temple team that has thirty five 451 00:33:40,359 --> 00:33:45,000 transfers on that roster, yeah, and that I think is going to be 452 00:33:45,079 --> 00:33:52,319 big for As I mentioned for Temple getting getting some of those they've got all 453 00:33:52,359 --> 00:33:58,200 of those transfers and now they get their their quarterback back. It certainly helps 454 00:33:58,279 --> 00:34:02,319 with I would say if this was earlier in the year, it's developing chemistry, 455 00:34:02,519 --> 00:34:07,079 but it's getting that chemistry back, it's redeveloping the timing. And I 456 00:34:07,079 --> 00:34:12,880 think that's going to be a big question for Temple here this week and throughout 457 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:16,840 their practices with Eja Warner under center, is they've got to now they with 458 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:22,760 with going from their their their backup quarterback back to EJ. Warner, You've 459 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:28,760 got to redevelop that timing because every quarterback is different and every quarterback handles these 460 00:34:29,119 --> 00:34:32,159 situations differently. And you know, Warner, I think handles it better than 461 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:37,000 just about anybody, seeing as his father was a Hall of Fame quarterback, 462 00:34:37,079 --> 00:34:42,199 so uh, they he certainly knows how to develop that or how to redevelop 463 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:47,800 that timing and the chemistry, uh so to speak with his with his receiving 464 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:52,480 corps. I think that's going to be a really fun matchup to watch again. 465 00:34:52,559 --> 00:34:58,559 Navy at Temple this Saturday, two o'clock Eastern Standard time kickoff there from 466 00:34:58,719 --> 00:35:02,280 Lincoln Financial Field on ESPN. Plus maybe a six and a half point favorite 467 00:35:02,679 --> 00:35:07,880 against the Owls. All Right, the big game this week Steve number seventeen 468 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:12,679 air Force taking on Army Army two and six. Obviously air Force eight O 469 00:35:13,559 --> 00:35:16,199 one of what eight undefeated FBS teams in the country eight to oh five and 470 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:22,280 OHO in the Mountain West. This one a two thirty pm Eastern Standard time 471 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:27,199 kickoff on CBS Sports Network. An eighteen and a half point favorite is what 472 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:31,320 air Force has been installed as over under in this one. Thirty one and 473 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:36,119 a half is this is the second leg of the Commander in Chief Trophy and 474 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:37,800 it's not at air Force, believe it or not. This one is going 475 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:44,000 to be an empower field at Mile High there in Denver. Is air Force 476 00:35:44,599 --> 00:35:49,079 technically a neutral site game, but air Force, being the host of this 477 00:35:49,199 --> 00:35:53,119 game, you playing on the seventy fifth anniversary of the Air Force and a 478 00:35:53,119 --> 00:35:59,519 building that opened in two thousand and one that's also hosted eighteen Division one college 479 00:35:59,519 --> 00:36:02,800 football, But this will be the first time that Army and Air Force has 480 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:08,239 ever been played there in Denver and in power Field at Mile High as Air 481 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:13,960 Force right now Steve rolling. However, as we all know, when it 482 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,920 comes to matchups against service academy teams, these things tend to be close. 483 00:36:17,039 --> 00:36:22,800 Why well, because they know each other so well. They typically recruited most 484 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:27,119 of the same kids that are on the opposing roster by and larger at least 485 00:36:27,119 --> 00:36:30,159 familiar with them. And the last five games in this series have been decided 486 00:36:30,679 --> 00:36:36,320 by seven points or less. That goes back to twenty seventeen when Armies shut 487 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,559 out Air Force in the Springs twenty one to zero. But things have been 488 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:44,199 very close. Yes, we know air Force is entering this one on a 489 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,199 roll, Steve, But might Air Force you know, or might Army in 490 00:36:47,559 --> 00:36:53,000 quote unquote a second season if you will? Does that give them a shot 491 00:36:53,039 --> 00:36:57,400 in the arm And what Jeff Munkin might he do because we know he's played 492 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,920 some musical chairs at quarterback at times, especially going into this game. What 493 00:37:01,039 --> 00:37:06,960 wrinkles might we see from Monkin and Army trying to pull off a what would 494 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,440 be a very big upset in this second leg of the Commander in Chief Trophy. 495 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:14,960 Yeah, Army's got to play spoiler. Now they're they're no longer able 496 00:37:15,039 --> 00:37:17,920 to be Bowl eligible. They can only finish with a maximum of five wins 497 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:22,960 here this season. Uh, at the at the FBS with the with the 498 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:28,000 single FCS win that's allowed as well, So you you're not going to get 499 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,320 into a Bowl game if you're Army, and that that's got to be disappointing 500 00:37:30,679 --> 00:37:34,840 for for Jeff Mounkin and company. But now you get a chance to play 501 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:40,159 spoiler. Can you play spoiler and try and knock the Falcons out of the 502 00:37:40,199 --> 00:37:46,000 ability to be the highest ranked group of five team at the end of the 503 00:37:46,079 --> 00:37:52,800 season. And I've never seen a line like this price where with a with 504 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:57,159 a line is so big and the total is so small. Uh, And 505 00:37:57,440 --> 00:38:00,079 that means you look at what the line is, eighteen and a half with 506 00:38:00,119 --> 00:38:05,239 the over under at thirty one and a half. That means that the folks 507 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:07,679 in Vegas think that this is gonna be like a twenty four to six game. 508 00:38:08,519 --> 00:38:12,480 And I don't think that at all. When we get into our prediction. 509 00:38:12,559 --> 00:38:15,760 That's a kind of a spoiler for one of my predictions coming up this 510 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:20,440 week for this week's games. But this is gonna be you know, the 511 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:24,159 weather is supposed to be good in Denver, it's gonna be Chris, but 512 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:30,440 it's not gonna There's there's not any chance of any precipitation. There's no rain. 513 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:35,239 There's no snow in the forecast, which is always a big plus. 514 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:42,079 As we get into the final couple of months of the of the college football 515 00:38:42,119 --> 00:38:45,960 season in that part of the country, you know that you're gonna have some 516 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:49,599 of those some of those issues, but there's not expected to be any this 517 00:38:49,679 --> 00:38:53,159 week. For for Army, the big question is going to be can a 518 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:59,920 keep Can they keep the turnover ratio manageable? You would like to see if 519 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:05,360 you're Jeff Monkin, you want to see the A plus or an E there. 520 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:07,280 You want to you want to be even or ahead in the turnover ratio. 521 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:13,440 And you've got to find a way to get UH, to get the 522 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:17,800 the passing game UH involved. You look at what what's happened. They've they've 523 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:24,000 gone away from trying to throw the football almost at all uh in in the 524 00:39:24,039 --> 00:39:29,239 game unless they've absolutely had had to. I thought that Isaiah Austin would have 525 00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:34,280 had a much bigger influence on the Black Knights offense uh this year, but 526 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:40,519 he he really hasn't. Uh. And with Bryson Dally getting hurt and having 527 00:39:40,559 --> 00:39:46,199 to having to go away from a experienced quarterback to a freshman quarterback, I 528 00:39:46,199 --> 00:39:52,360 think has been has been very important uh and and part of the reason why 529 00:39:52,519 --> 00:39:58,440 Army has stumbled uh so far uh throughout the first two thirds of their season. 530 00:40:00,079 --> 00:40:02,719 Yeah, Isaiah Alston's been banged up, and you know, you go 531 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:07,280 back and look at his he hasn't even caught a pass since the Syracuse game 532 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,599 that was at the end of September. You know, again, been banged 533 00:40:09,679 --> 00:40:14,079 up, but only nine catches this year. And that's a guy that really 534 00:40:14,119 --> 00:40:17,440 has looked on to be a massive weapon and playmaker for Bryson Daily in his 535 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:22,159 first season under center. Not there. He doesn't give them that that John 536 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,719 Lee Eldridge the third so to speak. You know, Army's got a deep 537 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,760 stable of backs. You know, You've got Tyson Riley that was even moved 538 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:35,199 to h back slash tight end Kanye Udo has come on. But you're gonna 539 00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:37,719 have to You're gonna have to loosen them up. You're gonna have to throw 540 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:39,320 the throw the football a little bit. I mean, will it be Bryson 541 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:44,920 Daily, will it be Champarris again? Jeff Monkin has been known to mix 542 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:50,719 things up into you know, Troy Calhoun exactly has done the same thing over 543 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:53,639 the years. You know, But it's I think the impetus here is on 544 00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:58,159 Army to figure this thing out because you know, air Force right now is 545 00:40:58,639 --> 00:41:01,679 fourth in the country and scoring defense second, rushing defense third, and total 546 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:06,639 defense. You know they're only giving up thirteen points a game. Well, 547 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:13,400 Army they're only scoring just over what twenty points a game? So they're gonna 548 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:15,800 have Army is gonna have to do something to move the football. And that's 549 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:20,119 always kind of the X factor is you know what new wrinkles might we see, 550 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:22,039 you know, from each of these teams because they know each other so 551 00:41:22,119 --> 00:41:25,159 well, they know what they want to do. That kind of for me 552 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:30,159 is what I'm always you know, the eyebrow raising moment of you know, 553 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:32,960 what is that wrinkle? What is that trip play? Does air Force come 554 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:37,599 out in a different kind of looking offense like they did a Navy one year. 555 00:41:37,639 --> 00:41:40,360 There's always something that is It might be subtle or it might be big, 556 00:41:40,719 --> 00:41:46,559 but it's often there. Yeah. And but like like you mentioned, 557 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:52,880 whether it's Daily or whether it's Harris, the the most important thing for both 558 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:55,639 of those guys is they can't put the football in the other team's hands. 559 00:41:55,679 --> 00:42:00,880 And they both did that last week against UMass. You had the two interceptions 560 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:04,760 from Daily, you had the fumble by Harris that was recovered by the minute 561 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:09,599 man. They both contributed were the reasons why Army was minus three in the 562 00:42:09,599 --> 00:42:15,320 turnover ratio, and they can't be minus three against Air Force and think that 563 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:17,840 they're gonna have any shot of winning this game. Yeah, I mean, 564 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:22,360 turnover margin is ultimately going to be one of the things you look at along 565 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:28,480 with third down conversions because that certainly keeps the ball in your hands and you 566 00:42:28,519 --> 00:42:30,800 know, be able to move the change and eat up a lot of that 567 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:32,920 clock, and you know it's a game. If it weren't for TV timeouts, 568 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:37,599 this thinge could probably be played in just over two hours. But you 569 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:40,679 just mentioned turnovers there. I have to go look Larrier's numbers up. We 570 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:45,000 know where Army has struggled, and that's turning the football over this year. 571 00:42:45,039 --> 00:42:47,599 I have to go look and see where Larry is Larrier is on the number 572 00:42:47,639 --> 00:42:51,199 of footballs he's put on the ground. But he hasn't thrown an interception, 573 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:53,800 you know, not one. He's been under center all season long. Yeah, 574 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:57,119 he got banged up, but he has not thrown the ball to the 575 00:42:57,119 --> 00:42:59,480 other team. And you know, Army did that twice, you know, 576 00:42:59,519 --> 00:43:01,880 in one game just last weekend. So I think those are kind of the 577 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:06,000 two of the biggest things. I'm with you as you know, the turnover 578 00:43:06,079 --> 00:43:08,880 margin and third down conversion. Steve to see what might happen here in this 579 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:13,280 second installment the Commander in Chief Trophy? Which Air Force can win this thing? 580 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:17,920 Outright? They could win their second, second, second all time Commander 581 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:23,960 in Chief Trophy outright with a win over Army this weekend. And you know, 582 00:43:24,079 --> 00:43:27,679 just for those scoring at home, Army does lead. The Air Force 583 00:43:27,719 --> 00:43:31,480 does lead the overall series thirty eight to eighteen and one. Army or Air 584 00:43:31,519 --> 00:43:36,360 Force I should say, is two to two and one in neutral site games. 585 00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:39,079 So that's even Stephen right there. But the Falcons are thirty five and 586 00:43:39,159 --> 00:43:44,840 sixteen and CiCe Trophy games against Army going back to nineteen seventy two. So 587 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:47,760 what gives in this one, Steve? We will make our picks here coming 588 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:52,920 up in just a few minutes before we get out of here and give our 589 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:57,360 Travis Mannan Foundation Honorall segment where the honor remember a fallen hero that is given 590 00:43:57,400 --> 00:44:00,280 the ultimate sacrifice. We're going to do that next and then we'll come back 591 00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:02,280 with a few news and notes and to give you our picks this week on 592 00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:07,159 Yards and Stripes, your home for Service Academy Football. In two thousand and 593 00:44:07,159 --> 00:44:10,079 seven, Marine First Lieutenant Travis Mannion was killed in Iraq after saving his wooted 594 00:44:10,079 --> 00:44:15,679 teammates. Travis's legacy lives on through the words he spoke before his final deployment. 595 00:44:15,960 --> 00:44:19,719 If not me, then who words that today fuel the spirit of Travis 596 00:44:19,719 --> 00:44:23,199 Manion Foundation and through TMF these words can live in you too. Show the 597 00:44:23,199 --> 00:44:28,519 world what you're made of, because character is invisible until it's not. Find 598 00:44:28,519 --> 00:44:32,239 out how you can strengthen the character of your community alongside empowered veterans, families 599 00:44:32,239 --> 00:44:39,719 of the fallen, and inspired civilians at Travismanion dot org. How's time for 600 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:45,760 a Travis Manion Foundation Honor Roles Segment Morny Honor remember a fallen hero, one 601 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:49,719 that has given the ultimate sacrifice, And this week we're going to honor remember 602 00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:55,760 Chief Petty Officer Jason Richard Freewald from the United States Navy. Freewald gave his 603 00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:59,840 life on September the twelfth, two thousand and eight, when he passed away 604 00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:05,559 from wound sustained the day before while conducting combat operations and support of Operation Enduring 605 00:45:05,599 --> 00:45:09,000 Freedom in Afghanistan. He was just thirty years old. While a member of 606 00:45:09,079 --> 00:45:15,519 the Special Operations community, he served multiple combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi 607 00:45:15,519 --> 00:45:21,800 Freedom and Enduring Freedom from his assignment in Naval Special Warfare Development Group based out 608 00:45:21,840 --> 00:45:24,840 of dam Neck, Virginia. Born in Utica, Michigan, free Wild moved 609 00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:29,360 to Armada, where he graduated from Armada High School in nineteen ninety six. 610 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:32,480 He went on active duty and began his basic training in November of ninety six, 611 00:45:32,920 --> 00:45:37,440 finishing at NTC Great Lakes, Illinois in January of nineteen ninety seven, 612 00:45:37,519 --> 00:45:43,960 followed by Intelligence Specialist training at the Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center at dam 613 00:45:44,039 --> 00:45:49,639 Neck from January to June of ninety seven. He then attended Basic Underwater Demolition 614 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:54,239 Seal training at Naval Air Based Coronado, California, from July nineteen ninety seven 615 00:45:54,480 --> 00:46:00,639 to February nineteen eighty nineteen ninety eight. His first assign it was with the 616 00:46:00,719 --> 00:46:06,079 Seal Team five out of Naval Air Station Coronado from April ninety eight to September 617 00:46:06,119 --> 00:46:10,159 of two thousand and two, followed by service with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 618 00:46:10,239 --> 00:46:16,239 three in AB Coronado from September of two to March of five. He was 619 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:21,840 a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Joint Service Accommodation Medal, 620 00:46:21,880 --> 00:46:25,800 and Purple Heart. Freewald has survived by his wife Stacy and daughter Jasmine. 621 00:46:27,159 --> 00:46:32,679 The Travismannen Foundation honored Chief Petty Officer freewaldt by partnering with Athena Passage and provided 622 00:46:32,800 --> 00:46:37,840 challenge grants, empowering a team of seven survivors to travel to England to train 623 00:46:38,159 --> 00:46:43,079 and swim the English Channel in July of twenty twelve. As a member of 624 00:46:43,119 --> 00:46:47,480 the team, Stacey Freewald swam in honor of her husband Jason. In August 625 00:46:47,519 --> 00:46:53,320 of twenty to thirteen, his wife Stacy participated in the Travis Mannen Foundation's Survivor 626 00:46:53,360 --> 00:46:59,000 Summit expedition in honor of her husband. She also traveled to Lima, Peru 627 00:46:59,199 --> 00:47:05,440 with eleven other surviving wives, fiances and girlfriends for the twenty fourteen Survivor Summit 628 00:47:05,519 --> 00:47:12,840 expedition. She also participated in the twenty fifteen Survivor Summit expedition. And if 629 00:47:12,840 --> 00:47:16,000 you'd like to be part of, you know, the Travis Manian Foundation and 630 00:47:16,079 --> 00:47:22,639 support the different initiatives they have ongoing throughout the year in local communities across the 631 00:47:22,679 --> 00:47:25,760 country, you can do so at Travismanion dot org. And therefore you can 632 00:47:27,119 --> 00:47:31,719 carry on the legacy of servicing commitment that Chief Petty Officer Jason Freewald from the 633 00:47:31,800 --> 00:47:37,239 United States Navy gave to our country and so many others who have given their 634 00:47:37,280 --> 00:47:40,440 life for our freedoms. Travis Mallon Foundations Nine to eleven Heroes Run five K 635 00:47:40,639 --> 00:47:45,119 race series unites communities across the country and around the world to honor the sacrifices 636 00:47:45,159 --> 00:47:50,079 of September eleventh and the war since. Join your community this September and register 637 00:47:50,199 --> 00:47:52,880 to run, walk or rock by visiting Nine to eleven Heroes Run dot Org 638 00:47:54,079 --> 00:48:00,000 the latest with Navy, Army and Air Force on Yards and Stripes Service Academy 639 00:48:00,039 --> 00:48:05,679 Football. All right, wrapping up here this edition of Yards and Stripes your 640 00:48:05,719 --> 00:48:08,880 home for Service Academy football. Steve Carding Price Actings once again. Final segment 641 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:13,239 here, a couple of news and notes to pass along to you. The 642 00:48:13,239 --> 00:48:16,559 Air Force Academy moving up two spots to number seventeen overall in both polls, 643 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:21,800 but I think Steve more importantly, they check in at number twenty five in 644 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:27,840 the first College Football Playoff rankings of the twenty twenty three season. The Falcons 645 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:31,559 checking in to the rankings for the very first time in program history, the 646 00:48:31,599 --> 00:48:37,000 second Academy team to ever find themselves among those rankings, and just the six 647 00:48:37,079 --> 00:48:40,079 team from the Mountain West to Pier in the College Football Playoff rankings. Big 648 00:48:40,159 --> 00:48:45,199 news in certainly a big moment for the Falcons. Yeah. Absolutely, just 649 00:48:45,599 --> 00:48:52,559 a great moment for the Falcons. I saw them announce it on social media. 650 00:48:52,719 --> 00:49:00,159 And you know, when you're waiting for that first CFP rankings show to 651 00:49:00,199 --> 00:49:05,519 come out, and you're and you're watching the folks at ESPN talk about the 652 00:49:05,559 --> 00:49:10,159 Michigan's and the Georgia's and the Florida States and the Ohio States and those teams 653 00:49:10,199 --> 00:49:15,559 that are likely going to be the four teams in the in the college football 654 00:49:15,639 --> 00:49:20,280 playoff. Uh, you know that's that's that's great. But I loved being 655 00:49:20,280 --> 00:49:24,079 able to see at the bottom of the rankings and see air Force's name there 656 00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:30,519 because it really does show that the folks in that room feel that they're going 657 00:49:30,599 --> 00:49:36,960 to be able to keep that that team in those rankings. And I'd love 658 00:49:37,039 --> 00:49:42,639 to see them get moved up into into the top twenty here and and if 659 00:49:42,639 --> 00:49:45,599 they have a big win over Army this week, I think they do end 660 00:49:45,679 --> 00:49:51,119 up in the top twenty just because of the volatility at the bottom of the 661 00:49:51,199 --> 00:49:54,920 rankings. I think that they that the the the folks in the room understand 662 00:49:55,920 --> 00:49:59,800 as much as you know, you like to give them a hard time for 663 00:50:00,119 --> 00:50:02,159 not knowing, you know, their rear end from a hole in the ground, 664 00:50:02,840 --> 00:50:10,079 sometimes they understand the significance of of these Commander in Chief Trophy games, 665 00:50:10,519 --> 00:50:16,400 and they under they understand that even though Army is two and six, that 666 00:50:17,039 --> 00:50:20,960 you know, that's a that's a game that they need to take seriously. 667 00:50:21,440 --> 00:50:23,840 And if air Force can can take care of business in this game. I 668 00:50:23,840 --> 00:50:29,760 think you will see them move up when when the rankings come out next week. 669 00:50:30,639 --> 00:50:32,599 Yeah, and they'll certainly if they keep winning, especially with those last 670 00:50:32,679 --> 00:50:37,239 two regular season games against UNLV and Boise State, two teams having really good 671 00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:43,000 seasons themselves. That's certainly in terms of metrics, that will definitely move air 672 00:50:43,039 --> 00:50:45,119 Force up the up the dial. Speaking to air Force, a couple of 673 00:50:45,119 --> 00:50:47,840 other news notes to pass along real fast before we get to our picks. 674 00:50:47,840 --> 00:50:52,400 Air Force freen senior free safety Travis Taylor named the semi finalists for the Jim 675 00:50:52,480 --> 00:50:58,320 Thorpe Award, one of fifteen total players named as a semi finalists that given 676 00:50:58,320 --> 00:51:01,360 out to the best defensive back in college football. Also, air Force senior 677 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:07,320 quarterback Zach Larrier won of thirty five players named as a finalist if you will 678 00:51:07,400 --> 00:51:13,280 for the twenty twenty three Debut O'Brien National Quarterback Award. They basically put out 679 00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:16,840 a watch list. In that watch list for those scoring at home, that 680 00:51:16,920 --> 00:51:22,159 watch list that comes out at the end of October basically is your list of 681 00:51:22,280 --> 00:51:28,360 finalists. So Zach Larrier being recognized for an outstanding season under center for the 682 00:51:28,360 --> 00:51:34,119 Falcons. And finally, Army West Point offensive lineman. Former offensive lineman for 683 00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:37,039 the Black Knights, Brett Tope He was signed by the Carolina Panthers to their 684 00:51:37,079 --> 00:51:43,199 active roster off the Eagles practice squad this past week. He played in seventeen 685 00:51:43,239 --> 00:51:46,760 regular season games for the Eagles in two thousand and one. So awesome to 686 00:51:46,840 --> 00:51:52,519 see Brett Toath getting an opportunity to play for the Panthers on their active roster, 687 00:51:52,599 --> 00:51:58,440 though he was inactive for their game against the Texans and ironically the Panthers 688 00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:05,320 first win of the season last Sunday, but two games ahead of this weekend 689 00:52:05,800 --> 00:52:08,800 fired up for Navy at Temple, but certainly Air Force and Army there in 690 00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:15,639 Denver. Steve, let's talk Navy and Temple that one on the road once 691 00:52:15,679 --> 00:52:19,599 again, maybe a six and a half point favorite there at Lincoln Financial Field 692 00:52:19,639 --> 00:52:23,639 over the Owls who've lost five straight. I'll let you fire first which way, 693 00:52:23,679 --> 00:52:28,760 because I think we're pretty darn close on this one. Yeah, I 694 00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:32,280 think we are. Price and for me, it all comes down to the 695 00:52:32,320 --> 00:52:38,760 fact that Navy's gonna have to contain EJ. Warner as best they can, 696 00:52:38,880 --> 00:52:45,639 and their defensive backfield is going to certainly be tested by Warner's arm to his 697 00:52:45,039 --> 00:52:51,599 receivers on the outer edges of that OWLS offense. But I think they're up 698 00:52:51,679 --> 00:52:55,000 to the challenge, and I think that we all know that the best way 699 00:52:55,400 --> 00:53:00,719 to keep EJ. Warner from getting the football out to his receivers on the 700 00:53:00,760 --> 00:53:07,159 outer edges of the offense is to keep him with his helmet underneath his arm 701 00:53:07,360 --> 00:53:10,159 on the sideline. So it's really gonna come down to Navy's running game, 702 00:53:10,159 --> 00:53:16,400 which I think is much improved, especially with alec Teza taking over as the 703 00:53:16,440 --> 00:53:22,119 main fullback here this year. I'm gonna go with Navy winning the game twenty 704 00:53:22,199 --> 00:53:28,960 four fourteen, And even though they're not playing Army Navy Lincoln Financial Field, 705 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:35,039 you're gonna have an opportunity to sing second against Temple in this game. Yeah, 706 00:53:35,079 --> 00:53:38,559 well said, I also am gonna go Navy. I agree with everything 707 00:53:38,639 --> 00:53:43,239 you just articulated right there. My score is gonna be pretty darn close to 708 00:53:43,280 --> 00:53:45,639 Myriors, except twenty four to fourteen. I'm gonna go twenty four to seventeen. 709 00:53:46,280 --> 00:53:52,079 I think it's a one score game separated by just a touchdown. Is 710 00:53:52,079 --> 00:53:55,159 that would just eclipse the line? Is? I think Navy started at seven 711 00:53:55,199 --> 00:53:59,360 and a half, But I think the news with AJ Warner that's brought it 712 00:53:59,400 --> 00:54:01,519 down to six and a half. But I'm gonna go twenty four to seventeen. 713 00:54:01,559 --> 00:54:05,679 All Right, the Biggie and the second installment, second leg of the 714 00:54:05,679 --> 00:54:12,679 Commander in Chief Trophies. We got Air Force Army in Denver at empower Field. 715 00:54:15,119 --> 00:54:17,800 Can Army pull this off? Is there any way that they shock the 716 00:54:17,800 --> 00:54:24,159 falcon steve? Which way you gonna go to put it? The quick answer 717 00:54:24,159 --> 00:54:30,639 to that question is no, I don't think that Army has it to shot 718 00:54:30,679 --> 00:54:34,639 the air Force in this game. Now, the fact of the matter is 719 00:54:34,679 --> 00:54:39,440 that the pundits, the people that think that they know college football in Las 720 00:54:39,559 --> 00:54:44,800 Vegas, have this line at eighteen and a half. And I don't know 721 00:54:44,840 --> 00:54:51,199 of a single game in the Commander's Chief Trophy that's ever been decided by seventeen 722 00:54:51,239 --> 00:54:53,360 points or more. It does not exist, I don't think, and I 723 00:54:53,360 --> 00:54:57,920 don't think it's going to exist in this game either. I think that's way 724 00:54:58,000 --> 00:55:02,239 too many points that they're giving air that air Force has to lay. So 725 00:55:02,280 --> 00:55:06,679 you're gonna if you're gonna, if you're gonna bet this game, you definitely 726 00:55:06,760 --> 00:55:09,119 are taking Army and you're taking the eighteen and a half points. You're saying 727 00:55:09,159 --> 00:55:13,800 thank you very much in that. I think this is going to be a 728 00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:19,039 low scoring affair that I think they did get right. I think that this 729 00:55:19,119 --> 00:55:22,159 has an opportunity to even get under the thirty one and a half. I 730 00:55:22,280 --> 00:55:29,000 have this at air Force seventeen Army six. I think that that the Black 731 00:55:29,079 --> 00:55:31,559 Knights do get a couple of field goals out of this to try and make 732 00:55:31,599 --> 00:55:36,400 this a little closer. But I have seventeen. I have seventeen six in 733 00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:38,360 this game, but I still have air Force getting to nine and zero. 734 00:55:38,599 --> 00:55:43,719 Yeah, I'm with you. I think that they're one of the safest bets 735 00:55:43,960 --> 00:55:46,800 at least you can make this season, or at least this weekend. Let 736 00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:51,800 me just say that air Force is an eighteen and a half point favorite. 737 00:55:51,880 --> 00:55:54,320 I would take Army to cover that all day because, as we mentioned earlier, 738 00:55:54,920 --> 00:55:59,840 the last five meetings have all been within a touchdown. There hasn't been 739 00:55:59,840 --> 00:56:02,360 a team win by that kind of margin since you know, twenty seventeen when 740 00:56:02,400 --> 00:56:07,880 it was a twenty one zero Army shutout in the Springs. And that being 741 00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:12,400 said, I do think it is much closer than what Vegas thinks, and 742 00:56:12,440 --> 00:56:15,800 I do think it's it's under the thirty one and a half. You know, 743 00:56:15,639 --> 00:56:20,039 you went with seventeen to six. I think just a tick higher scoring. 744 00:56:20,920 --> 00:56:22,760 I don't think Army is gonna find the end zone. I think something 745 00:56:22,800 --> 00:56:28,800 to the effect of air Force twenty to nine. So you know, close, 746 00:56:28,880 --> 00:56:30,719 fairly close game. I think it'll be fairly close at half. And 747 00:56:30,800 --> 00:56:34,400 I think, you know, just that air Force defense is going to do 748 00:56:34,480 --> 00:56:37,719 what they've done all season long, and that's hunkered down in that second half 749 00:56:37,800 --> 00:56:43,719 and you know, play stingy football and not allow Army to, you know, 750 00:56:43,760 --> 00:56:45,920 get this thing to the point where they believe they can win it. 751 00:56:46,000 --> 00:56:51,440 So I'm with you. I'm going an eleven point difference for the Falcons and 752 00:56:51,519 --> 00:56:54,639 the Falcons to capture their second straight Commander in Chief trophy outright, which they 753 00:56:54,679 --> 00:56:59,760 will do with a win over Army. All right, Steven, have a 754 00:56:59,760 --> 00:57:02,159 great weekend, man, enjoy the games for Shade, all you do making 755 00:57:02,159 --> 00:57:06,719 a sound tiptop every week, and all the work you do on the College 756 00:57:06,760 --> 00:57:12,039 Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network until next weekend. We will do it next 757 00:57:12,079 --> 00:57:16,519 week here on Yards and Stripes, your home for service Academy Football. Join 758 00:57:16,599 --> 00:57:22,039 us again next time for Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. To get more 759 00:57:22,079 --> 00:57:27,679 on all things Service Academy Football, like Yards and Stripes on Facebook and follow 760 00:57:27,719 --> 00:57:31,280 them on Twitter at yards and Stripes and make sure that you're subscribing to the 761 00:57:31,480 --> 00:57:37,559 College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, 762 00:57:37,719 --> 00:57:40,039 and wherever you get your podcasts