1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:05,480 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 --> 00:00:16,800 hosts, Price Atkinson, Steve Carney and Mike love All. Welcome into another 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,160 edition of Yards and Stripes, your home for Service Academy Football. As the 5 00:00:20,199 --> 00:00:24,800 Commander in Chief Trophy winners the Air Force Falcons, they are on deck, 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,760 not the flight deck, but on deck with the lockeed Martin Armed Forces Bowl 7 00:00:30,039 --> 00:00:34,719 coming up this Thursday, and we'll get you ready for the Armed Forces Bowl 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,719 on this episode of Yards and Stripes, including an interview with our guest and 9 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,679 Air Force All American offensive lineman Isaac Cochrane. The first All American of any 10 00:00:44,759 --> 00:00:49,520 kinds is nineteen ninety two from Colorado Springs in the Academy. So we'll have 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:54,399 that interview as we caught up with Isaac Cochrane in Fort Worth as the Falcons 12 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:59,280 are preparing to take from Baylor in the lockeed Martin Armed Forces Bowl later this 13 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,159 week. We have a lot to do as we're going to talk about coaching 14 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,879 changes that hires made at the Naval Academy coordinator out at Army, what does 15 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,760 Andre Carter the third's NFL draft future look like that is now in question and 16 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:19,959 potential peril along with Isaac cochrane in any other a CAT Service Academy athlete that 17 00:01:19,159 --> 00:01:25,120 is looking to go the pro route here next year. But we're gonna get 18 00:01:25,159 --> 00:01:27,159 into all of it as I'm joined by my guys Mike love All and Steve 19 00:01:27,239 --> 00:01:33,359 Carney tonight before we do have liftoff real quick, I think it's in order 20 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:38,040 to wish and say congratulations to our guy, mister love All on his official 21 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:45,359 retirement from the US Army last Thursday in Tampa. Mike. Steve was lucky 22 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,000 enough to be able to head over there and be there in person. I 23 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,640 was grateful for the photos and the video that Steve was sending over to me, 24 00:01:51,719 --> 00:01:53,760 so at least I felt like I had, you know, was there 25 00:01:53,799 --> 00:01:57,519 a little bit in spirit, But man, just congratulations. Were super proud 26 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,480 of you. I know that was a heck of a day, but a 27 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,280 heck of an accomplishment. You've given your career, your life so far to 28 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,960 this point to the US Army. Mike, Thanks price, I appreciate it. 29 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,599 First day of retirement today he moved the yard, so I feel like 30 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,439 an official retiree, Steve, thanks for joining my family and I over there. 31 00:02:15,439 --> 00:02:17,919 It was great to have a teammate there. Yeah, it was awesome 32 00:02:19,039 --> 00:02:23,319 to to meet Ellie and Alex and Evie, your your two children. That 33 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,599 was. That was great, and all all your co workers, uh, 34 00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:30,439 past and present that that made it over to UH, to McDill Air Force 35 00:02:30,479 --> 00:02:34,800 Base for the retirement ceremony. It was. It was a lot of fun, 36 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,800 it really was. I enjoyed it immensely. I was honored that you 37 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:44,759 asked me uh to come. I was. I was grateful for the opportunity 38 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,879 to be back on a military installation. It's been a long time since I've 39 00:02:47,879 --> 00:02:51,960 been on a on a military installation. I thought I was going to be 40 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,680 in trouble there for a little bit, but uh, but thankfully that did 41 00:02:54,719 --> 00:02:58,639 not happen. So but yeah, it was great. It was a great 42 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,400 time. Some great food. Uh. Good timing by Mike Price. You 43 00:03:02,479 --> 00:03:08,759 missed out mission barbecue. Uh was was catering the uh the Christmas uh the 44 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:14,479 holiday party that was going on for the base and just happened to coincide with 45 00:03:14,479 --> 00:03:17,800 with Mike's retirement and the jumpers that took place. There was great, a 46 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:23,439 great time had by all. That's awesome. Man. We were just so 47 00:03:23,479 --> 00:03:25,680 proud of Mike and you know, his service, you know, to America 48 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,879 and serving in the US Army that is not lost on any of us here 49 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:35,360 a yarch and stripes, much less Steven myself. But Mike, I mean, 50 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,120 do you feel like a new man? I mean, I dare I 51 00:03:37,199 --> 00:03:40,240 say it? Is it like a very early Christmas present to to have this 52 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:44,080 retirement feeling, you know, just you know, a few days before the 53 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,960 holidays or is it this is gonna take a little while to sink in. 54 00:03:46,479 --> 00:03:49,439 Yeah, I think it's gonna take a little while sink and a lot of 55 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:52,360 you know, a lot of a lot of transitions. I'm comfortable to transition. 56 00:03:52,439 --> 00:03:54,479 But you know what, we'll see what looks like. I think kind 57 00:03:54,479 --> 00:04:00,000 of the weird part is, you know, everything slowed down over the holidays, 58 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:01,759 so I think it will really take until you get middle of January when 59 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,560 everything speeds up to kind of figure out that you're not running at the same 60 00:04:05,919 --> 00:04:13,919 rate that you were in mid December. But less I talk about a guy 61 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:15,000 that's stepping away, and then talk about a bunch of kids that are about 62 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,120 to step into it as they get ready for the ballgame. But I don't 63 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:18,519 know what we'll see, we'll see, I don't know, you know, 64 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:23,040 it just kind of finding my way into this next next journey, looking for 65 00:04:23,399 --> 00:04:27,240 looking free coaching staffs that have availabilities, you know, with any I think 66 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,959 I do know of a few. 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You can use that code as many 86 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:02,360 times as you want this bowl season and no bowl is excluded, so that 87 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,720 means that you can even use the code if you're looking for tickets to the 88 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:12,439 college football Playoff National Championship game. Check out this election in pricing now with 89 00:06:12,519 --> 00:06:16,439 ticket Smarter and remember to use our code Bowl twenty two, Think Smarter, 90 00:06:16,759 --> 00:06:23,120 Ticket Smarter. Let's get into it here is The Falcons are on tap later 91 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:28,120 this week the Lockeed Martin arm Forces Bowl. They are the Loan Service Academy 92 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,399 rep in the postseason and nine and three Air Force taken on six and six 93 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:38,199 Bayler in Fort Worth at Amon G. Carter Stadium, home of the TCU 94 00:06:38,319 --> 00:06:44,399 Horned Frogs. A seven thirty pm Eastern Standard time kickoff on Thursday, December 95 00:06:44,439 --> 00:06:46,839 the second on ESPN. It is the Loan Bowl game of the day. 96 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:50,279 So if you're football starved until that point, I know, with bowl games 97 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:55,000 underway, you've got you know, games being played in exotic places at one 98 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,480 o'clock eleven am. So I'm sure on the twenty second is we're rounding the 99 00:06:59,519 --> 00:07:03,399 turn, getting ready for Christmas. People are going to be thirsting for college 100 00:07:03,399 --> 00:07:08,160 football and you're gonna get it that night on Thursday. This Thursday, Air 101 00:07:08,199 --> 00:07:13,279 Force and Baylor seven thirty Eastern Standard time on ESPN. I think it's interesting 102 00:07:13,279 --> 00:07:15,639 guys at Baylor. I mean, we've talked a little bit about it the 103 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,639 last few weeks since the matchup was announced, but you know, Baylor was 104 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,480 a six and a half point favorite, I believe when it started. Now 105 00:07:21,519 --> 00:07:26,360 that line is they're down down to a four point favorite. The over under 106 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,480 started at forty nine and a half. That's now down to forty four even, 107 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,000 and you know, I just think it's interesting. I mean, Air 108 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:38,399 Force has one, what four street games over Power five opponents, none of 109 00:07:38,439 --> 00:07:42,920 which were ranked, of course, but still their wins over Power five teams. 110 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,360 Baylor lost their last three games of the regular season, air Force has 111 00:07:46,439 --> 00:07:50,279 won four in a row. Could not be going in more opposite directions because 112 00:07:50,319 --> 00:07:54,160 we all know Bowl games are about who wants to be there the most and 113 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,079 who is, you know, the most fired up. But I still think 114 00:07:57,079 --> 00:08:01,199 it's kind of odd that Baylor's the favorite, you know, having lost three 115 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,000 straight while Air Forces won four in a row. As we get ready for 116 00:08:03,079 --> 00:08:07,879 kickoffs, team, Yeah, I think that the big thing about Baylor's losses 117 00:08:07,879 --> 00:08:11,040 you have to look at who they were playing and who they lost too. 118 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:16,040 They lost at home to a very good Kansas State team that is the Big 119 00:08:16,079 --> 00:08:20,800 Twelve champion. They lost by a point at home to TCU, and then 120 00:08:20,879 --> 00:08:26,839 lost on the road to Texas, a team that is looking to take a 121 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:31,000 next step up. They move out of the Big Twelve and moved to the 122 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,600 SEC come next year. So I think that's part of the reason why the 123 00:08:35,639 --> 00:08:41,559 Bears are are listed as the favorite, because they've had the much stronger schedule. 124 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:43,279 Let's face it, the air Force, being in the Mountain West, 125 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:48,759 didn't have the best schedule this year, and unfortunately, when the Chips were 126 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:52,600 down, the Falcons could not come up in a couple of those games that 127 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:58,480 they really needed in order to be, you know, a contender for the 128 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:03,320 Mountain West title, you know, losing against Wyoming and then losing again to 129 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:09,720 Utah State, those two those two games alone probably kept the Falcons from being 130 00:09:09,759 --> 00:09:13,720 in the Mountain West championship game. We'll see what would have. We can 131 00:09:13,799 --> 00:09:16,480 always go okay, would have, could have, should have there. But 132 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,639 I think that you know, you look at Baylor, uh, you know, 133 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,440 as as good as Kansas State and as good as TCU have been this 134 00:09:24,519 --> 00:09:28,679 year, they're not gonna they haven't seen a running game like Air Force is 135 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,200 gonna bring. And that I think is going to be the big uh wake 136 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:37,320 up for the Baylor Bears. Is going to be uh watching Brad Roberts and 137 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,600 company go after their defense. I think that that's gonna be big for air 138 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,200 Force. Agree, Mike, And you know the you know Steve just talked 139 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,240 about, you know, I think running the football is going to be the 140 00:09:48,519 --> 00:09:52,799 story of this game. Um, you know air force. I mean, 141 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,600 we obviously know what air forcesmo is. But Baylor likes to run the football 142 00:09:56,639 --> 00:10:01,480 too, and has done so with a with a freshman running back Richard Reese 143 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,480 nine hundred and sixty two total yards by far the best on their team, 144 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:09,279 and has found the end zone fourteen times to lead that strong running game. 145 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,120 You know, sawmore Blake Shapings. You know, he's taking control of that 146 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:22,759 starting quarterback a spot. It's it's taken a few games, hasn't been great 147 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,879 lately in the last four games, only three touchdowns while he's thrown five intersection 148 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:33,039 interceptions. Not a big threat with his legs. So this is going to 149 00:10:33,159 --> 00:10:37,080 be a game. I think that they're going to lean heavily on that running 150 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:41,840 game led by freshman Richard Reese. Might yeah, Price, you know what. 151 00:10:41,039 --> 00:10:43,840 I got a preview of this game out on Last Word on College Football. 152 00:10:43,879 --> 00:10:46,639 If anybody likes to read, check that out on Last Word on College 153 00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:48,639 Football. I looked at really three things, but when I looked at this 154 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,480 game, I kind of felt like good z Any from the Princess Bride. 155 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:56,759 Great Baylor is six and six. Oh but wait, they're playing in Big 156 00:10:56,799 --> 00:11:00,519 twelve a really good conference. Oh but wait, they've lost their last three 157 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,200 games. Oh but wait, Just like Steve said, it was against TCU 158 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,000 canonsa state in Texas, all show you really good teams. You know, 159 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,279 you kind of go back and forth. Does this glass have the poison in 160 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,960 it? Well, you know, if he gave it to me and then 161 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,559 he would expect me to drink it, but he would know I would expect 162 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,879 that, So he probably kept it frohimself, hoping I'll drink the non poison 163 00:11:16,919 --> 00:11:20,960 first and switch it right for those Princess Bride fans out there, which we 164 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,639 should all be. So I kept going back. Yeah, inconceivable, right, 165 00:11:24,879 --> 00:11:28,879 So I kept going back and forth on this game. But I think 166 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:31,200 so you hit a great point. Air Forces defense has been pretty solid all 167 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,279 year. I really think they're gonna focus, They're gonna make shape and beat 168 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,720 them from the quarterback position. They're I think they're gonna sell out to stop 169 00:11:39,759 --> 00:11:43,679 Reeese and the Baylor running game. As you mentioned that the Baylor quarterback shape 170 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:48,960 and has not performed well in the last three games, with more interceptions and 171 00:11:48,039 --> 00:11:54,200 touchdowns. And let's not forget going back to the offense. Air Force's offense 172 00:11:54,279 --> 00:11:58,240 Let's not forget that Baylor head coach Dave rand to fire his defensive coordinator yes 173 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,080 after the end of the season, so they'll have a new defensive staff, 174 00:12:01,879 --> 00:12:05,360 and they'll be without Devin Neil, a safety who is opting out of the 175 00:12:05,399 --> 00:12:09,759 game. He had some injuries late in the season. Not sure if you 176 00:12:09,799 --> 00:12:11,840 were have played any way for health, but he's opted out. So the 177 00:12:11,879 --> 00:12:18,200 good news is Baylor gets fifteen practices to get ready for the Air Force triple 178 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,759 option. The bad news is they don't have a defensive poll neator and they 179 00:12:20,759 --> 00:12:24,240 don't have their starting safety, and of course everybody knows safety is the guy 180 00:12:24,279 --> 00:12:26,919 that's supposed to know. He's the guy that cleans up on the option. 181 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:31,120 So I really think, and we'll get to we'll get to our predictions later, 182 00:12:31,159 --> 00:12:35,200 but I think I think and really the key here with a lot of 183 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,080 bowl and just like it is with a lot of ball games, it's the 184 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:41,240 motivation. What is Baylor playing for. Baylor's not playing really for anything, 185 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,559 right, They're they're putting film together for next year, probably gonna play a 186 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,120 couple of guys. They're looking at Air Forces playing for everything. You know, 187 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,279 these guys are you know, it's a bowl game for them, They're 188 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,679 they're going to be excited to tell academy teams are in the bowl games. 189 00:12:54,799 --> 00:12:58,720 Army has had success in last year is beating Missouri, beating Houston, San 190 00:12:58,759 --> 00:13:03,320 Diego State, Air Force one. Both the Air Forces won two bowl games 191 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,480 against Power five opponents, and they're the last four bowl games. So everything, 192 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,480 like you said, everything is trending towards Air Force, and we'll get 193 00:13:11,519 --> 00:13:15,000 into our predictions later, but I like, I like Air Force at the 194 00:13:15,159 --> 00:13:18,240 very least to cover, if not outright in this game. I'll get into 195 00:13:18,279 --> 00:13:22,039 more detail on the dinner prediction section. Steve, what do you got, 196 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:26,600 Yeah, I definitely want to get inside the numbers on this mic and looking 197 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:31,960 at the defenses for each side. You can just tell when you look at 198 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:37,519 total defense for both the Air Force and Baylor which way things could be slanted 199 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:41,960 on the field. Because the Air Force falcons defense allowing just two hundred and 200 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:46,399 fifty six yards of offense per game, and under one hundred of that is 201 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,559 on the ground. So I know that Baylor's gonna want to try and run, 202 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,519 but Air Forces run defense has been shown to be one of the best 203 00:13:54,159 --> 00:13:58,840 in the country. This year. Meanwhile, Baylor has allowed over three hundred 204 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,200 seventy yards of offense per games. So I really do think that that that's 205 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,360 going to be a very telling statement, especially if you could start seeing the 206 00:14:09,399 --> 00:14:15,639 falcons. If they get one of those, say twelve thirteen fifteen play drives 207 00:14:15,639 --> 00:14:20,000 in the first quarter, I mean that Bayer's defense might be all pooped out 208 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:24,600 by the by the third quarter. Well, if you're if you're the Baylor 209 00:14:24,679 --> 00:14:28,159 offensive coordinator, what really scares you is the limited number of drives you're going 210 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,919 to get in this game. So where you're normally used to nine, ten 211 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,840 eleven drives in the game, if you go a guess a t care Force 212 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:39,720 where they ground the clock down, you're thinking, you know, I could 213 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,360 get somewhere between like seven or eight drives tops. So in that case, 214 00:14:43,399 --> 00:14:46,639 what the offensive coordinator has to think through is do I want to waste the 215 00:14:46,679 --> 00:14:50,240 first two or three drives trying to establish the run or do I want to 216 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,000 come out throwing and try to maximize the potential on every single drive I have. 217 00:14:54,919 --> 00:14:58,960 That's that's obviously high risk, high reward because if you don't, if 218 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,440 you go three and out on to one or two of those first three drives, 219 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,519 you've played right into Air Force's hands. So that's that's the that's the 220 00:15:05,559 --> 00:15:11,000 game scheme, the game planning. The Baylor offensive coordinator and the offensive staff 221 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,120 is going through right now trying to figure out how they want to attack not 222 00:15:13,159 --> 00:15:18,200 only the air Force defense, but the but the situational football UH schematics as 223 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,080 well. Going into the game. Yeah, I think this is going to 224 00:15:22,159 --> 00:15:24,799 be one of the quickest Bowl games of the entire Bowls season. I think 225 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:30,279 i'd say conservatively top three, provided it doesn't go to overtime. I think 226 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:33,480 this is a game that's gonna fly by. Um. You know. But 227 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,120 going back to something that you mentioned, Stephen in looking at the numbers, 228 00:15:37,399 --> 00:15:39,759 you know again we're talking this is going to running the football is going to 229 00:15:39,799 --> 00:15:43,840 be the story of this game. Baylor's four no. When they run for 230 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,600 over two hundred and thirty yards and they're five to one this season when they 231 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:52,360 run for over one seventy that loan loss was that last second loss to TCU. 232 00:15:52,919 --> 00:15:56,200 The Falcons eight no. When they allow a fewer than one hundred and 233 00:15:56,279 --> 00:16:00,399 fifteen yards rushing. You look at third down and I know that you know, 234 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:06,159 you can look at this statistic you know in almost any game you play, 235 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,159 but the sample size we've got of an entire season, to me tells 236 00:16:10,159 --> 00:16:14,759 a big story. And the air Force defense, they have allowed their opponents 237 00:16:14,759 --> 00:16:19,320 to convert just thirty percent on third down this season, while Baylor's opponents are 238 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:26,679 they're converting on forty five percent of their third down opportunities. That's a big 239 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,159 difference right there. I think third down might ultimately, you know, could 240 00:16:30,159 --> 00:16:33,360 it be the key to this game getting off the field because we know the 241 00:16:33,399 --> 00:16:37,679 Air Force is going to have a ton of of you know, third and 242 00:16:37,679 --> 00:16:41,559 shorts just by running the triple option. I think the interesting thing here is 243 00:16:41,639 --> 00:16:47,159 Dave Randa sliding back Mike into that defensive coordinator role that you know, he 244 00:16:47,279 --> 00:16:52,039 was one of the easily, I think probably three best defensive coordinators along with 245 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,519 Brent Venables. You know, when he was at LSU and they went fifteen 246 00:16:55,519 --> 00:16:59,080 to no won that national championship, and then obviously he's hired over it at 247 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,440 Baylor. UM, maybe I have that number wrong, but you know, 248 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,079 they fired Ron Roberts a defensive coordinator at the end of the regular season. 249 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,279 Now Randa taking over his DC, I think he's gonna have some fun and 250 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,119 relish being back in that DC spot, you know, because that's a guy 251 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,200 that just David Randa knowing you know, people that have worked with him. 252 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,240 He loves being in the trenches. I mean, he loves that knows to 253 00:17:19,279 --> 00:17:25,440 the grind. But I think that third down story could be massive in this 254 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,000 football game. Guys. Yeah, that could very well be one of The 255 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,920 defensive coordinator got fired at forty five percent success right opponent success right on third 256 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,240 down. That's that's just gut punching. You can't you can't allow teams to 257 00:17:37,279 --> 00:17:41,200 make nearly fifty percent of their third downs. You're not gonna win a lot 258 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,519 of games that way. All right. The Falcons are in Fort Worth. 259 00:17:44,559 --> 00:17:48,160 They've been there for a couple days, uh, practicing at Kennondale High School 260 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:52,720 there in Fort Worth. Eight Falcons going home to play in their home state 261 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,359 of Texas. Tickets are still on sale at go air Force Falcons dot com. 262 00:17:56,599 --> 00:18:00,839 We're gonna give you our predictions here in just a few minutes, as 263 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:06,240 well as here from Isaac Concheran, the offensive lineman senior from conquered North Carolina, 264 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,799 first All American for the Falcon since nineteen ninety two as he checked in 265 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:14,839 on the Walter Camp second Team just a week ago, First Team All mountain 266 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,359 Less. But real quickly at Taylor of the tape. You know, we 267 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,000 told you about the direction these teams that are going in. This will be 268 00:18:19,039 --> 00:18:26,400 the fourth all time meeting between Baylor and Air Force. In Baylor his won 269 00:18:26,519 --> 00:18:30,920 all three going back several years, but both these teams have had success in 270 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,960 bowl games. Air Force has won three straight bowl games lately. Baylor has 271 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,440 won four of its last five in the postseason, going back to the end 272 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:45,480 of the Art Briles era in twenty fifteen. So obviously motivation. You know, 273 00:18:45,559 --> 00:18:48,680 Baylor's been pretty good about that, getting the getting their team and their 274 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,839 players, you know, fired up and ready to go. Here's the guy 275 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,000 that's pretty fired up in Isaac Cochrane. Caught up with him just yesterday as 276 00:18:56,039 --> 00:19:00,240 he's on the ground in Fort Worth. Talked to me about the NFL half 277 00:19:00,279 --> 00:19:03,759 coming up, preparing for Baylor. A barbecue is Texas barbecue better than what 278 00:19:03,839 --> 00:19:07,359 he has in his home state in North Carolina. We covered a lot of 279 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:11,319 ground, but here's Air Force senior All American offensive lineman Isaac Cochrane, and 280 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:15,279 we'll be back with our Armed Forces Bowl predictions right after our interview. All 281 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,519 right, welcome back in Yards and Stripes, your home for Service Academy Football 282 00:19:18,599 --> 00:19:23,759 now honored to be joined by Air Force six five senior offensive lineman Isaac cochrane, 283 00:19:23,759 --> 00:19:29,480 recently named a Walter Camp All American, just the fifth Falcon ever to 284 00:19:29,559 --> 00:19:33,799 earn that award, in the first since nineteen ninety two. As Air Force 285 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:38,279 in Fort Worth preparing for the Lockeed Martin Armed Force's Bowl against Baylor on Thursday 286 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,400 December of the twenty second. Isaac, Welcome in, man. How's it 287 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:48,240 going. What a fantastic season you guys have put together with the Baylor Bears 288 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:52,160 on deck there in the Armed Forces Bowl. Yeah, thank you. It's 289 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:57,119 been Yeah, preparation has been going really good. Just came down here and 290 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:03,319 we're practicing together. Everyone's moving good, everyone's playing focused and you know, 291 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,359 ready to bow themselves to the game now before we talk about you know, 292 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,720 the game and a little bit about what you guys expect and playing Baylor on 293 00:20:11,759 --> 00:20:15,160 the twenty second. You know this senior campaign for you. You came to 294 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,200 Air Forces a I guess a quote unquote walk on. You're nominated for the 295 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:23,000 burs Worth burls Worth Trophy, given to the most outstanding football player who began 296 00:20:23,079 --> 00:20:27,079 their career as a walk on and shown outstanding performance on the fields. That 297 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,160 you've come such a long way. Just kind of take us through how you 298 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,559 got to the academy, kind of betting on yourself. It is a quote 299 00:20:33,599 --> 00:20:38,240 unquote walk on to now an All American as a senior. Yeah, I 300 00:20:38,279 --> 00:20:42,640 mean it's it's all been a huge honor and really crazy. Yeah, just 301 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:48,160 how I ended up at the academy. You know, I had known about 302 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,039 the academies for a long time. I knew they were an option, and 303 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,720 you know, I started looking into the football program, thought, you know, 304 00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:00,240 maybe I could get them to offer me or maybe I could get on 305 00:21:00,279 --> 00:21:04,119 the team. And so, you know, I talk to the coaches. 306 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:11,839 They told me to um fill out an application, got in talk to the 307 00:21:11,839 --> 00:21:14,000 coaches again. I was like, hey, I'm in. Can I just 308 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,160 pretty much have a spot? Yeah, They're like yeah, sure. And 309 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:22,400 just getting to the academy, seeing the quality of all the players around me, 310 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,400 having some great upperclassmen to look up to and really helped me get to 311 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:33,119 this point. Great coaching and all, and a lot of effort. Yeah, 312 00:21:33,279 --> 00:21:37,119 absolutely. Of course, God's blessings really helped me get here. And 313 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,920 it's been quite a I mean really a quite a ride for you and for 314 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,039 all the seniors. You know, obviously with you know, going through the 315 00:21:44,039 --> 00:21:47,759 COVID season and you know, just the ups and downs that you know, 316 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:49,960 you guys at the academy, everybody around the country, you know experience, 317 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,359 but especially as a student athlete, you know, in a cadet at the 318 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:59,559 Air Force Academy, this is quite a journey. M yeah, husband, 319 00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:03,559 what about your service selection? What did you what have you service selected for 320 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:10,279 you know, post graduation? So you know, right now it still depends 321 00:22:10,279 --> 00:22:14,799 on that bill that was signed. But right now I'm planning on delaying my 322 00:22:14,839 --> 00:22:19,880 commission to UH to attempt an NFL career. What are the scouts, because 323 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,359 I was going to ask you about that. What is you know in terms 324 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,319 of the National Football League? What are you hearing from the scouts? You 325 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:30,319 know, as far as you know, a possible draft pick maybe what round? 326 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,160 You know, what are they saying you know about your you know, 327 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:38,039 your professional you know, prospects to play in the NFL. UH I've heard 328 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:44,680 like possible late round draft pick or priority free agent so what so what it 329 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:48,440 with the bill that's you know, pending in Congress it likely could be signed, 330 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,839 the Defense Authorization, you know, I mean, I guess what are 331 00:22:51,839 --> 00:22:53,480 your thoughts on that? Because you know, when you come to the academy, 332 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,480 you you you basically have an understanding that you know it would be an 333 00:22:56,519 --> 00:23:00,079 option provided you know, not that that was why you went to the Air 334 00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:03,200 Force Academy. I think it's probably every athlete's dream to play pro, you 335 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,839 know, especially in college football, to play in the NFL. But you 336 00:23:06,839 --> 00:23:10,200 know, you come there and you know the rule change basically almost at the 337 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,759 eleventh hour. I know Andre Carter have read some stories about him at Army, 338 00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:15,960 you know, having to deal with this and you know, what is 339 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,359 he going to do? What are your thoughts on this? You know, 340 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:22,000 this this rule that can law that could be passed. Well, you know, 341 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:29,440 I find it kind of frustrating, you know, I feel I feel 342 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:34,599 like whenever a player goes to the NFL, like look at Ben Garland or 343 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:40,599 Jordan Jackson coming out of Air Force and even the other academies, like you 344 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,400 have Villanueva coming out of Army and playing go line for so many years, 345 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,880 that is huge publicity and public support for the academies and the military as a 346 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:56,599 whole. Yeah, And I feel like beyond the personal aspect of like pursuing 347 00:23:56,599 --> 00:24:00,279 that dream and pursuing a career, I feel like also in regard it's the 348 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,680 public support of the military and the academies, it's it's a big deal. 349 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,400 Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And you've got other guys on your team. 350 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,839 I know that you know, have got, you know, certainly a shot 351 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,680 to play in the National Football League and Pro Football themselves won't go through all 352 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,039 their names, but I mean ones that people recognize, Ben Sandford, you 353 00:24:18,079 --> 00:24:22,160 know, Brett Roberts, yourself, and several others. So I gotta imagine 354 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,400 this's a collective frustration by not just you but everybody about potentially what could or 355 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,880 what might or might not happen. Yeah, there there is. But you 356 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,400 know, right now, we can only focus on the things we control, 357 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:40,400 yes, right, and so that's just beating Baylor. Yeah, and beyond 358 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:45,039 that, we'll have to work with the people at the academy and just all 359 00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:48,000 the different organizations that run everything to really see what we can get done. 360 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:52,920 Yeah. As we're talking with Isaac Cochrane six five senior, all American from 361 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,119 the Air Force Academy and native of conquered North Carolina. You can follow him 362 00:24:56,119 --> 00:25:00,680 on Twitter at Isaac Cochrane nineteen ninety nine. And you know, can gratulations 363 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,039 are in order, Isaac, because bringing that Commander in Chief Trophy home two 364 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:08,079 Colorado Springs, I meant, what better way could you want to go out 365 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,799 as a senior than bring I mean, that is the goal I know for 366 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,200 you guys is winning that trophy. Obviously, you know, to cap it 367 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,359 with a win against Baylor and Armed Forces Bowl. But how much does that 368 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:22,240 mean going out as a senior and knowing that that trophy is in the Springs? 369 00:25:22,079 --> 00:25:26,000 Oh, it means everything. You know, Army and Navy, you 370 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,920 could it's one of those rivalries that if you win two games a year and 371 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,559 their Army and Navy, then you walked away with a good season. Yeah. 372 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:38,319 So to be able to bring bring that trophy home in my last year, 373 00:25:38,519 --> 00:25:42,720 first time in six years, it really meant everything. Absolutely. You 374 00:25:42,759 --> 00:25:45,799 know, obviously you guys had won the trophy, so really I don't want 375 00:25:45,799 --> 00:25:48,400 to say the Army Navy game was meaningless, you know for either of those 376 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,039 schools, But in terms of the Commander in Chief trophy winning that it was 377 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,880 meaning listed. I mean, did you watch did you even watch the Army 378 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:57,640 Navy game? I mean I mean in past years there was you know, 379 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,720 the trophy on the line depending on what happened with Army. But did this 380 00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:03,440 year? Did did you even you know, tune in to see what happened? 381 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,559 Yeah? I mean I watched a bit, just went out and got 382 00:26:07,599 --> 00:26:11,119 some dinner with some friends, hanging out. It's the only college football game 383 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:17,519 on that week? Yeah. Yeah. Um, what's it like blocking for 384 00:26:17,599 --> 00:26:21,160 a guy like Brad Roberts because I know you guys have a lot of pride 385 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,480 on the offensive line. What semi finalist for the Joe More Award for the 386 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:27,359 best offensive line in college football? You know, doing the jobs that you 387 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,200 guys do and sing it all come together. I mean it wasn't just this 388 00:26:30,279 --> 00:26:33,200 year. He's had a great career, so have you in in that offensive 389 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:37,240 line? But you know, blocking for a guy like Brad, blocking for 390 00:26:37,319 --> 00:26:40,000 a guy like Hasey Daniels, A couple of guys that are you know, 391 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:44,119 electric when they get the football in their hands. Yeah, it's I mean 392 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:48,319 it's really awesome. They make it easy, you know. I I don't 393 00:26:48,319 --> 00:26:51,519 have to go like of course, and of course I tried to, but 394 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:53,480 I don't have to go in above and beyond to get them through the hole. 395 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,480 Yeah. In fact, I could make a mistake and they'll still break 396 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:00,480 a run for forty yards. Yeah. Just knowing that I have runners of 397 00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:04,640 that caliber and knowing that, um, you know, they'll be able to 398 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:10,759 whenever I do something or make a good hole or something like that, that 399 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,799 they'll be able to really use it and explode through there and get us a 400 00:27:14,839 --> 00:27:17,839 lot of yards. It's a lot of fun and it's really easy to block 401 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:19,519 for them. Yeah, no doubt about that. All Right, does you 402 00:27:19,519 --> 00:27:25,000 guys get ready for Baylor again Thursday December the twenty second, seven thirty Eastern 403 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:30,960 Standard time kickoff against six and six Baylor in the Armed Forces Bowl. You 404 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,480 know, what is it in terms of you guys, what are y'all working 405 00:27:33,519 --> 00:27:36,079 on this week? I know fundamentals are always going to be important, but 406 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:37,640 when you watch Baylor on tape, I mean, what's going to be the 407 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,599 most critical thing offensively for you guys to be able to move the football, 408 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:45,799 be able to run the football like you want to against Dave Randa's defense. 409 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,319 Well, it's it's gonna be the same thing it is every week. It 410 00:27:51,319 --> 00:27:55,720 depends on the old line and the backs that are blocking, and are we 411 00:27:55,799 --> 00:27:57,680 going to be able to move them? Because if we can control the line 412 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:02,279 of scrimmage, you know, our offense can really survive off of four yards 413 00:28:02,279 --> 00:28:07,480 to play yep. So if we can control the line of scrimmage for the 414 00:28:07,559 --> 00:28:11,680 entire game, then we'll come out on top. And to get that tenth 415 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:12,759 win, you know, I know that's you know, not going to be 416 00:28:12,759 --> 00:28:17,960 the driving motivational factor, but also you know, the motivation of playing a 417 00:28:18,279 --> 00:28:21,680 Power five opponent, you know in Baylor, you guys have played them before 418 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,200 in bowl game Washington State, I think one of the most recent ones that 419 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:27,559 comes to mind. And but the chance to go up against one of these 420 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,759 teams from like the Big twelve, the Big ten, you know, the 421 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,799 SEC You know how how I know that there's got to be something driving you 422 00:28:33,839 --> 00:28:37,480 guys, you know, in the motivation to go out and you know, 423 00:28:37,519 --> 00:28:40,000 put that best foot forward and show, hey, look we can play some 424 00:28:40,119 --> 00:28:42,559 darn good football. The mount Less at the Academy as well. Yeah, 425 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:45,079 of course there is. I mean, you look at the guys on the 426 00:28:45,119 --> 00:28:48,359 team. You know, none of us were recruited to that level. None 427 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:53,480 of us were really desired by Baylor, or by Louisville, or by Washington 428 00:28:53,519 --> 00:28:59,079 State or by Colorado. Yep. But we always go out and we play 429 00:28:59,119 --> 00:29:02,480 as hard as we can, and every time we try to prove that we 430 00:29:02,519 --> 00:29:07,920 can compete with them. Yeah, there's there's really no great difference in the 431 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,119 Power five, in the group of five, yep. You know. So 432 00:29:11,799 --> 00:29:15,599 it's it's a good challenge. It's a great challenge. But we know that 433 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,799 we can play with them and compete with them and still come out dominant. 434 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,400 All right, Isaac, before we let you go. I mean, you're 435 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,359 there in Fort Worth getting ready for the for the bowl game. You know 436 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:27,279 there's some durn good barbecue in that neck of the woods. But you're from 437 00:29:27,319 --> 00:29:32,440 conquered North Carolina, just just north of Charlotte. You know, does does 438 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:36,759 the Texas brisket? Does Texas barbecue have anything on what they what they've got 439 00:29:36,759 --> 00:29:41,960 back home and in North Carolina, I gotta go with my Carolina pulled pork. 440 00:29:42,279 --> 00:29:47,319 What have you got? Go ahead? Texas has great brisket, but 441 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:49,720 nothing comes close to Carolina pulled pork. I hear you now, have you 442 00:29:49,799 --> 00:29:53,160 got to have any of that brisket yet in Texas? If not, do 443 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,160 you have some at least on the menu? At some point is a pregame 444 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:59,960 meal, whether it be the day of the game or you know, lead 445 00:30:00,279 --> 00:30:03,319 up to the game. I'm sure we do. I'll just show up and 446 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,720 eat whatever they give me. You're just happy to be fed, right, 447 00:30:07,799 --> 00:30:11,559 Isaac? Exactly? Yeah, Well, look, congratulations on a fantastic season 448 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,400 nine and three. Is you guys get ready for Baylor? All American first, 449 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:19,519 All American as a falcon of any kind since Dave Shrek in nineteen ninety 450 00:30:19,519 --> 00:30:22,240 two. Quite the honor, Isaac, And we're honored to have a few 451 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,400 minutes with you here on Yards and Stripes. Good lucking go get him against 452 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:29,920 Baylor. We'll be pulling hard for you, buddy. Thank you? All 453 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,720 right? That was Isaac Cocher, appreciate the senior All American again from conquer 454 00:30:33,839 --> 00:30:38,119 North Carolina. He's excited, clearly, he and his teammates wanting to get 455 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:44,799 that tenth win to finish the season ten and three with a win over Baylor 456 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,119 in the Armed Forces Bowl this Thursday. Guy's prediction time, who wants to 457 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:52,279 fire first? Michael, You're the man of the hour. Yeah, So 458 00:30:52,319 --> 00:30:56,759 I think air Force shuts down Reese. I think they dedicate seven men's to 459 00:30:56,799 --> 00:30:59,799 shutting down the running game. I think they put it in Blake Shapin's hands. 460 00:30:59,839 --> 00:31:02,000 I don't think Blake shape is able to get it done. I think 461 00:31:02,039 --> 00:31:04,720 air Force controls this game. Not only this air Force cover they win the 462 00:31:04,759 --> 00:31:10,880 game twenty seven twenty. So I guess I'm hitting the over there. I 463 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:12,799 think I was on the under before. Now I think I'm on the over. 464 00:31:14,079 --> 00:31:17,119 So I got air Force twenty seven Baylor twenty. That's where I'm going 465 00:31:17,119 --> 00:31:19,200 with Steve. What did you got? Yeah, I think you're gonna see 466 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:23,759 a lot of the same things that I agree that. You know, seven 467 00:31:23,839 --> 00:31:29,079 eight men in the box, you're gonna you're gonna force Baylor to try and 468 00:31:29,119 --> 00:31:30,599 win the game through the air. And if you do that, I think 469 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:34,880 that air Force has a really good shot. And especially if you're only gonna 470 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:41,960 have seven or eight drives in the entire game to try and uh score points, 471 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,440 I think that Baylor's in trouble. I also like the over rid on 472 00:31:45,599 --> 00:31:48,720 it as well. I have twenty eight twenty four, I have air Force 473 00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:52,720 beating Baylor. All right, We're all air Force, and I'm gonna make 474 00:31:52,759 --> 00:31:56,279 it a clean sweep. I also think the Falcons win the game as well. 475 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:00,880 I think they win it by ten. I think it's twenty three to 476 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,720 thirteen. I think we're gonna see some field goals. I think we're gonna 477 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:07,160 see some stops. I think teams are gonna have to kick it, you 478 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:08,559 know, and get some points, you know, with their special teams. 479 00:32:08,599 --> 00:32:13,920 But I like Air Force with a solid ten point win. I think trying 480 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,759 to get ready for the triple option. Just I know you got fifteen practices 481 00:32:16,759 --> 00:32:20,079 to do it. I know Dave Randa is one of the best in the 482 00:32:20,119 --> 00:32:22,279 business. I just don't know. I just you know, in that short 483 00:32:22,359 --> 00:32:27,359 period of time after you're seeing the kind of offenses that you do week in 484 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,440 a week out in the Big twelve. I just don't know if Baylor is 485 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:34,799 going to be ready for this, especially led by motivated Brad Roberts and so 486 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,680 many, so many key seniors on this Air Force team. They're gonna be 487 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,400 trying to go out a winner. They're in fort work, guys, all 488 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,480 right, we got a whole lot more to do here. We've got coaching 489 00:32:44,599 --> 00:32:52,880 changes. We've got an NFL potential situation involving our academy athletes, especially Isaac 490 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:55,000 Cochran, who you heard from. Who he what he just talked about just 491 00:32:55,079 --> 00:33:00,519 in a few minutes ago in that interview from Fort Worth Andre Carter, who 492 00:33:00,519 --> 00:33:02,880 has looked at as a potential first round draft pick. We're going to talk 493 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:07,279 about that. We got our Travismannon foundation on a roll and if you news 494 00:33:07,279 --> 00:33:09,680 the notes to pass along as we get out of here and get ready for 495 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:14,599 the Christmas holidays along with you all our listeners, So we'll come back. 496 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,119 We got a lot more to do here on this episode of Yards and Stripes. 497 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:22,799 Don't go anywhere. It's everything you need to know about service Academy football. 498 00:33:22,119 --> 00:33:28,799 Yards and Stripes continues here once again our Price, Steve and Mike, 499 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:34,519 welcome back in Now we got you all set for the Lockeed Martin Armed Forces 500 00:33:34,559 --> 00:33:37,839 Bowl. We're gonna pivot a little bit talk about some coaching changes, coaching 501 00:33:38,039 --> 00:33:45,160 hires, and potential NFL future of Andre Carter the second and possibly a few 502 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:50,480 other standout Academy football players. But before we do that, I want to 503 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:53,079 tell you about our friends at BetUS dot com with bowl season. Here, 504 00:33:53,200 --> 00:34:00,000 guys, you know that you need that sports book with longevity and integrity. 505 00:34:00,279 --> 00:34:05,079 Bet Us has been pioneers in that sportsbook industry for over twenty five years. 506 00:34:05,319 --> 00:34:07,559 We want you to go with BetUS dot Com that we've been telling me about 507 00:34:07,559 --> 00:34:12,960 all season long and take advantage of the offer we have for you with our 508 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:16,360 shows from the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast Network. 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It's that simple wherever you get your podcasts. Guys, 527 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:42,760 it didn't take long at the Naval Academy in Annapolis to name a head 528 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,519 coach last week. Ken Niamakalolo is out hours after the Army Navy game. 529 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:52,760 Well, we find out today as we're recording Monday, that Brian Newberry, 530 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:57,360 the defensive coordinator, is going to take over as the fortieth head coach in 531 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:04,119 program history. Seceding is form boss Ken Niamatalolo, Navy Athletic director check Gladchuck 532 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:08,519 making that announcement as they have removed the interim tag from Brian Newberry as he 533 00:36:08,559 --> 00:36:14,400 was named the interim head coach. It took less what about ten days, 534 00:36:15,079 --> 00:36:19,519 if even that, for it to become official, as in twenty twenty two, 535 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,760 Navy finished six in the country against the run, which is, you 536 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:27,079 know, a lot of ways even more impressive we consider it was the only 537 00:36:27,119 --> 00:36:30,079 defense ranked in the top twenty five that faced three of the top ten rushing 538 00:36:30,119 --> 00:36:35,679 offenses in the country. Navy also finished eighth nationally and the few us first 539 00:36:35,679 --> 00:36:39,480 downs allowed, twentieth in sacks and twenty second fumbles recovered, and twentieth in 540 00:36:39,559 --> 00:36:45,039 total defense. Newberry spent the last four seasons at Navy as the defensive coordinator, 541 00:36:45,519 --> 00:36:50,199 coming to Annapolis from Kennesaw State, where he worked under head coach Brian 542 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:54,719 Bohannon, a former Navy assistant, and Newberry was a twenty twenty semifinalists for 543 00:36:54,760 --> 00:37:00,840 the Broils Award, presented annually to the best assistant college football. A native 544 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:04,960 of Oklahoma City, played at Westmore High School, then went on to Baylor 545 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:09,440 and helped the Bears in a nineteen ninety four appearance in the Alamo Ball while 546 00:37:09,519 --> 00:37:15,920 capturing a share of the old Southwest Conference. So Brian Newberry taking over, 547 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:20,199 it's kind of what we thought what we were hearing that was likely Newbery's to 548 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:24,559 lose unless something funky happened. But Glad Chuck has just continually praised his organization 549 00:37:24,639 --> 00:37:28,920 as work ethic, and now he's going to be the headman in charge at 550 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:31,159 the Naval Academy. What do you guys think? Yeah, for me, 551 00:37:31,599 --> 00:37:37,719 I think you are absolutely right when we talked last week that Newberry was the 552 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:43,599 smart money choice and that it was going to be his job to lose. 553 00:37:44,559 --> 00:37:50,760 I'm kind of surprised that. As much as I was surprised that the firing 554 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:54,119 of Kenya Mattalolo came when it did, I was not surprised that it did 555 00:37:54,159 --> 00:37:59,719 not take long for the interim tag to be taken off of Coach Newberry. 556 00:38:00,079 --> 00:38:06,880 You're absolutely right when you're looking at what he accomplished with the Midshipman this year, 557 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:13,119 and especially his success in stopping the run, I think that that makes 558 00:38:13,199 --> 00:38:16,239 him probably the best candidate. You know, then there are plenty of other 559 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:20,599 candidates that we've seen that were out there. I know that there was a 560 00:38:20,599 --> 00:38:25,559 lot of talk about guys at Kennesaw State that may be wanting to come to 561 00:38:25,639 --> 00:38:30,280 the Naval Academy, and maybe some of the assistants may still come because he 562 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:35,039 still has to finish filling out his staff. I know that the head coach 563 00:38:35,079 --> 00:38:39,360 at the Citadel was another guy that was being considered, but I really do 564 00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:44,679 think that coach Newberry was the right choice to make. And now the question 565 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:47,559 is how does he finish filling out his staff? And that's something that we'll 566 00:38:47,559 --> 00:38:52,599 be able to keep track of as the months. As the months passed, 567 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:55,039 as you know, the end, as the end of the school year comes 568 00:38:55,679 --> 00:39:00,480 and you start looking towards spring football, that's when you're gonna start seeing, 569 00:39:00,519 --> 00:39:04,880 Okay, this is what the Navy staff is going to look like, and 570 00:39:05,039 --> 00:39:07,320 this is what the offense is going to look like. I think we all 571 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:09,679 know what we're gonna get from Navy's defense. The question is what are we 572 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:14,719 going to see offensively? Mike any surprise to Newberry and where do you think 573 00:39:14,719 --> 00:39:16,719 they go? The big question is what are they gonna do as with an 574 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:22,480 offensive coordinator? I mean surprise, No, I understand how palace politics works. 575 00:39:22,599 --> 00:39:28,159 Here. Here's my thing. If you've got a top ranked defense and 576 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:31,320 you fire the offensive minded head coach, wouldn't you want to go out and 577 00:39:31,599 --> 00:39:35,760 you already have a top defensive coach on staff. Wouldn't you want to go 578 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:39,199 out and get a top offensive guy to come in and manage your team that 579 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:45,599 whose central identity is around the offensive system then they run. I mean, 580 00:39:45,679 --> 00:39:47,599 was Newberry gonna leave if he didn't get the head coaching job. I don't, 581 00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:51,679 I don't, I don't know. I don't think. So it just 582 00:39:51,679 --> 00:39:53,800 seems to me like, if you have that position available, I mean, 583 00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:57,199 is Brian Bohannon going to come in and work for the guy that he used 584 00:39:57,199 --> 00:40:00,320 to be the boss for he gonna Is he gonna leave as head coaching position 585 00:40:00,519 --> 00:40:04,800 at an up and coming FCS school that in a few years will make the 586 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,599 transition to FBS to be an offensive coordinator at Navy? I don't know. 587 00:40:08,639 --> 00:40:13,559 It just seems like, unless all this stuff is already in place, it 588 00:40:13,599 --> 00:40:17,599 doesn't seem to be a real good strategic move for Gladchuck at Navy, particularly 589 00:40:17,599 --> 00:40:22,280 for a guy in Gladchuck who fires Jasper fires near Montealolo minutes after the Army 590 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:25,519 Navy laws, and when he does his interviews he makes it sound like he 591 00:40:25,599 --> 00:40:31,559 really understands flex bone option offense. So I to me, it just and 592 00:40:31,679 --> 00:40:35,960 Newberry is a great coach, very good defensive coach. No issue with the 593 00:40:36,039 --> 00:40:38,239 hire, and I understand you know how the palace politics work, so no 594 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:43,039 surprise. I just from a strategic perspective, I just I don't know that 595 00:40:43,079 --> 00:40:46,159 it makes I just don't know that makes a ton of sense for Gladchuck to 596 00:40:46,159 --> 00:40:51,599 do what he's doing. I think the one name if Navy could have gotten 597 00:40:51,679 --> 00:40:58,639 him and you were to go outside the quote unquote family and especially to go 598 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:00,880 offense, I don't know he would have done it. But Mike Thieeson, 599 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:06,000 the long time offensive coordinator at the Air Force Academy, he might have been 600 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:08,800 a guy I think that you look at he's never been a head coach, 601 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:15,480 has worked under Troy Calhoun for a long long time. That might have been 602 00:41:15,519 --> 00:41:19,719 the direction if you're going to go that route, because as we talked about, 603 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,360 you know, outside of Brian Bohan and there was nobody that really jumped 604 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:25,519 off from the Navy side of the family. And then you look around the 605 00:41:25,559 --> 00:41:30,000 academies, you know, as you know, looking today, you know, 606 00:41:30,039 --> 00:41:31,760 as we're going to get to it here in a second, as you know, 607 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:36,960 Army had a very brief opening and offensive coordinator that's now been filled. 608 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,599 Some of the names I saw mentioned there, you know, I could see 609 00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:43,400 and I don't want to say stomach, it's not the right word for it, 610 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,519 but like a you know, was that Brett Thompson, former Citadel head 611 00:41:46,519 --> 00:41:51,280 coach that was fired this year? You know, somebody like that. But 612 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:52,960 at the end of the day, you know it was Newberries to lose. 613 00:41:52,960 --> 00:41:57,679 But I completely agree with you and understand where you're coming from. Um, 614 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:00,920 you know, on the Glad Shuck move to just to elevate Newberry, because 615 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:04,239 it seems like that was kind of the plan that was in place. And 616 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:08,840 when you hear Gladshuck talk, I mean he's gushed about Newberry. Really since 617 00:42:09,039 --> 00:42:15,639 the Nia Matalolo firing, it kind of would have made you look around to 618 00:42:15,679 --> 00:42:17,840 see if it wasn't him, who is it going to be and why was 619 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:22,239 it not Brian Newberry? But that took literally a matter of days. I 620 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:24,559 think you're comment this is probably not for tonight's show, but I think your 621 00:42:24,559 --> 00:42:29,360 comments are pretty interesting. Is more and more of the FC top tier FCS 622 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:32,519 schools and kind of lower G five schools go away from the triple option and 623 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:37,719 or the flex bone, and you've had Monkin and Niam Matalolo in their positions 624 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:40,719 for so long. Paul Johnson out of the game for so long. Yeah, 625 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:45,880 I think were I think we've noticed here there's just a dearth of triple 626 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:51,559 option slash flex bone coaches. You know that the bench there has gotten really 627 00:42:51,679 --> 00:42:53,440 short. Yeah, I mean, I mean when you think about it, 628 00:42:53,639 --> 00:42:57,679 you really there's only one guy on the bench that's kind of an up and 629 00:42:57,719 --> 00:43:02,239 coming triple option flex bone guy, and that's that's Bohanna at Kanessas State. 630 00:43:02,519 --> 00:43:06,480 Yeah. You used to have Georgia Southern. I think they went away from 631 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:08,239 it. A couple of the FCS schools I've kind of went away from it. 632 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:13,239 So that's for another show. But it's pretty interesting to highlights as we 633 00:43:13,239 --> 00:43:16,079 look at who's going to be the offensive coordinator from Navy under Newberry. All 634 00:43:16,159 --> 00:43:21,519 right, speaking of Army, Brent Davis, we find out over the weekend 635 00:43:21,639 --> 00:43:24,760 that Brent Davis, longtime offensive coordinator at Army then with Jeff Munk in the 636 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:31,440 last nine seasons there, he is out along with fullbacks coach Jason Nichols. 637 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:36,679 Jason Nichols was on the job for one season. He will not be back 638 00:43:36,719 --> 00:43:39,840 for a year or two with the Black Night. So with Davis and Nichols 639 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:45,559 out reports surfacing tonight, I think our friend south Er Denano with Black Knight 640 00:43:45,679 --> 00:43:49,320 Nation had at first, I correct me if I'm wrong, Mike. But 641 00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:53,199 tonight we find out that tight ends coach current Army tight end coach Mike Matt 642 00:43:53,280 --> 00:44:00,960 Drinkle in Nebraska Carney offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Drew Thatcher. They will serve 643 00:44:01,039 --> 00:44:07,119 his co offensive coordinators. Thatcher will call the plays in his design system for 644 00:44:07,320 --> 00:44:14,039 the Black Nights this coming season under Brent Davis, Nate Army never finished lower 645 00:44:14,079 --> 00:44:19,800 than twelfth in rushing offense, finished first only once going back to twenty seventeen, 646 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:23,239 but they were second in rushing offense in sixteen, eighteen, twenty one, 647 00:44:23,320 --> 00:44:29,199 and again this season in twenty two, but struggled against the academies Black 648 00:44:29,239 --> 00:44:32,679 Knight's managing just one hundred and fifty three total yards and the double overtime went 649 00:44:32,719 --> 00:44:36,840 over Navy in just seventy eight yards on the ground and the loss to air 650 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:42,400 force. So you know, needing to shake something up and they're obviously doing 651 00:44:42,440 --> 00:44:47,800 that. Going with drewth Thatcher from Nebraska Carney, Mike, Yeah, I'll 652 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:52,400 du Cretz a sou he's the one breaking the news. It's gonna be really 653 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:57,639 interesting to see how much of Thatcher's system he brings with him and how much, 654 00:44:57,679 --> 00:45:01,840 if any, he melts it With the Jeff munkin Paul Johnson flexbone offense, 655 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:07,960 Thatcher runs kind of a what kind of commonly known as a power spread, 656 00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:09,960 So he's working out of the shotgun a lot with running back to the 657 00:45:10,039 --> 00:45:15,559 left, working really out of a ten or eleven set for those not superfu 658 00:45:16,039 --> 00:45:19,360 for those that don't nerd out on football like me, that means one running 659 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:22,400 back, one tight end. At Nebraska Kearney, they really ran a lot 660 00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:27,719 of three wide I don't know that you'll see that at Army. I think 661 00:45:27,719 --> 00:45:30,960 I think you'll probably see more a lot of a twelve personnel, one running 662 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:34,000 back, two tight ends, maybe one or two receivers. He does do 663 00:45:34,079 --> 00:45:37,920 some stuff out of a shotgun max, so you have two running backs on 664 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,079 either side of the quarterback. But it is a running based system a lot 665 00:45:40,079 --> 00:45:43,519 of their path They do do a little bit more passing in that system than 666 00:45:43,519 --> 00:45:45,519 than the flex bone, but you see a lot of kind of West Coast 667 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:52,480 short intermediary passes they're all conference running back a couple of years ago. Dayton's 668 00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:58,679 I'll get his name in a second, but he his name, he was, 669 00:45:59,079 --> 00:46:01,519 I can't remember his name, Dayton Seeley was his name. His highlight 670 00:46:01,559 --> 00:46:07,239 reel is just cluttered with middle screens. Right, So middle screens. You'll 671 00:46:07,239 --> 00:46:09,800 see some seam routes from the slot backs, similar to what you see kind 672 00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:13,320 of in the in the monk and offense now, and then a lot of 673 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:15,119 out ruts to the flat. You don't see a lot of deep passing attack. 674 00:46:15,480 --> 00:46:19,800 So so it'll be interest and see how much they take the system that 675 00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:23,519 Thatcher runs now. And I know Sal's article said that that that Thatcher will 676 00:46:23,840 --> 00:46:27,559 call the plays out of his system, but it's interest and see how much 677 00:46:27,559 --> 00:46:30,280 he'll change this system as he gets to West Point and adapts to the athletes 678 00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:35,400 he has there rather than the athletes he had at Nebraska. Kearney, Yeah, 679 00:46:35,480 --> 00:46:37,360 that's exactly what I was thinking, was that, you know, you 680 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:42,400 can say that he's going to call the plays out of his system, but 681 00:46:42,599 --> 00:46:45,199 how much of his system can he use when the athletes are different. I 682 00:46:45,199 --> 00:46:50,800 mean, yes, it's D two where where U n K is as opposed 683 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:55,599 to being in Division one FBS. That's quite the jump for a coach going 684 00:46:55,760 --> 00:47:01,679 from a OC and quarterbacks coach because UH in Division two to being a co 685 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:07,880 offensive coordinator at an FBS school. And so I am going to be curious 686 00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:15,519 to see just how much of the of his system can be used when you 687 00:47:15,679 --> 00:47:19,679 are going to go max protect, to use an NFL term, going with 688 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:24,400 the two tight ends and a running back or a single tight end and two 689 00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:29,840 running backs as a max protect, that could be could be a very interesting 690 00:47:30,440 --> 00:47:35,079 UH set up to say the least, especially seeing Army in shotgun. I 691 00:47:35,159 --> 00:47:37,320 don't know how much shotgun you're going to see out of this. Well if 692 00:47:37,400 --> 00:47:40,119 if you notice that the Army Navy game, they started the game and ran 693 00:47:40,599 --> 00:47:45,159 almost all the first half and potentially most of the game with Kay Ballard out 694 00:47:45,199 --> 00:47:49,639 of the shotgun with Tyre Tyler right next to him. The other issue is 695 00:47:49,639 --> 00:47:52,119 that this is a growing issue. But the other thing to point out is 696 00:47:52,119 --> 00:47:54,800 this is a growing trend in football. This is kind of kind of the 697 00:47:55,280 --> 00:47:58,559 you know, hate to go to the Tennessee thing, but this is not 698 00:47:58,639 --> 00:48:01,639 Tennessee related kind of was to the Josh Hypel philosophy of offense, where you 699 00:48:01,719 --> 00:48:07,800 spread out. You could see Army throw three wide receivers out there and and 700 00:48:07,480 --> 00:48:12,840 spread the field out from sidelines to sideline. What that does, obviously, 701 00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:15,760 is it reduces the numbers in the box for the running game. A lot 702 00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:21,320 of people don't realize that Hypel's offense, even at Tennessee and at UCF ran 703 00:48:21,440 --> 00:48:24,400 the ball as much as they throw the ball, it's a it's it's closer 704 00:48:24,440 --> 00:48:30,440 to the flex bone than it is to leech and mummies air raid from a 705 00:48:30,480 --> 00:48:34,599 philosophical perspective, so you could see Army spread it out. Just because they 706 00:48:34,599 --> 00:48:37,400 have three wide receivers doesn't mean they're gonna throw it to them. They're just 707 00:48:37,400 --> 00:48:40,320 getting the numbers out of the box from a from a philosophy aspect. I'm 708 00:48:40,360 --> 00:48:45,320 curious for both of your guys thoughts on this. And I know that you 709 00:48:45,400 --> 00:48:52,840 know that Check Glatchock had said this upon the firing of Kennia Mantalolo, that 710 00:48:52,960 --> 00:48:54,360 you know, this was going to be all about the triple option, and 711 00:48:54,400 --> 00:48:59,519 it was going to be and they were looking for coaches. But as Mike 712 00:48:59,599 --> 00:49:02,920 mentioned, you know, there is kind of a u there's a dry there's 713 00:49:02,920 --> 00:49:06,800 a dry spell. I mean, we've hit. We've hit the riverbed here, 714 00:49:06,840 --> 00:49:13,440 the dry riverbed for triple option coaches. I wonder how much longer the 715 00:49:13,519 --> 00:49:16,800 Service academies are going to be able to go with the triple option without having 716 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:22,000 to recycle coaches. I mean having you know, going going from having Numattaloo 717 00:49:22,159 --> 00:49:25,719 be the head coach at Navy to being the offensive coordinator air Force to being 718 00:49:25,719 --> 00:49:29,800 the offensive Coordinatored Army, I mean the coach at Army. I mean it 719 00:49:29,840 --> 00:49:36,039 would be it would be very interesting to see how much the addition of Drew 720 00:49:36,199 --> 00:49:40,880 Thatcher at Army may hasten A. I don't want to call it a move 721 00:49:40,920 --> 00:49:46,000 away from the triple option, but an evolution of the offense again to try 722 00:49:46,039 --> 00:49:51,880 and mold uh, you know, these plays for these athletes at these academies. 723 00:49:52,519 --> 00:49:55,760 I'm excited to see it because of exactly what you're talking about, you 724 00:49:55,760 --> 00:50:01,320 know a little bit of a. I don't think you have completely abandon you 725 00:50:01,320 --> 00:50:07,360 know, triple option. You know you can run Look, you can run 726 00:50:07,400 --> 00:50:12,079 the same offense and look different doing it out of one hundred different ways. 727 00:50:12,079 --> 00:50:15,079 Whether you're running triple option, how the shotgun, you're running it out of 728 00:50:15,079 --> 00:50:19,280 a flex bone, running out of the wishbone, I mean, the multitude 729 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:23,360 of ways to do it. I think that's likely what we're going to see, 730 00:50:23,639 --> 00:50:27,840 you know, as Mike articulated with Thatcher's offense he had at Nebraska, 731 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,599 Carney, you know, in mixing it up, show it, you know, 732 00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:34,000 not just being what you know the other academies in a lot of ways 733 00:50:34,079 --> 00:50:37,119 look like. But I think at the end of the day, I don't 734 00:50:37,199 --> 00:50:39,519 think you can get away like Paul Johnson always, you know, used to 735 00:50:39,599 --> 00:50:44,000 joke about it and call you know what, all these other teams, almost 736 00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:49,960 everybody around the country unless you're you know, basically Leech and Mummy or the 737 00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:52,440 academies. But what he called the NCAA offense. Everybody wants balanced, they 738 00:50:52,440 --> 00:50:54,719 want to throw it and they want to pass it. And Johnson always called 739 00:50:54,719 --> 00:50:59,159 it the NSA offense. I don't think the academies can run the NSA offense 740 00:50:59,159 --> 00:51:00,840 because I don't think they have the athletes to do it. I remember watching 741 00:51:00,920 --> 00:51:06,440 Todd Berry try and do it for several years. Can't do it with the 742 00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:09,199 academies. You've got to be different, and I think the triple option is 743 00:51:09,199 --> 00:51:15,239 what gives him that advantage by being different, like and Steve to your point, 744 00:51:15,960 --> 00:51:21,480 Let's not forget that Paul Johnson's flexbone was an adaptation of the original triple 745 00:51:21,480 --> 00:51:25,280 option. So you start with the you start with the smokestack eye option made 746 00:51:25,320 --> 00:51:30,039 famous by Bud Wilkinson in Oklahoma in the fifties. Then you move to the 747 00:51:30,079 --> 00:51:34,360 wishbone offense. The reason why the flexbone works so well for Paul Johnson is 748 00:51:34,360 --> 00:51:37,280 because in the wishbone and the Smokestack Ee option, you have to have big, 749 00:51:37,360 --> 00:51:40,639 beefy offensive lineman because you want to power, you want to move the 750 00:51:40,679 --> 00:51:45,000 line of scrimmage forward. So the quarterback makes the decision, he's already one 751 00:51:45,079 --> 00:51:50,440 yard, you know, one yard more one yard forward to the line of 752 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:52,800 scrimmage when he hits the end. With the flexbone, you don't have to 753 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:57,639 have those huge linemen. And that's really when you talk about getting athletes to 754 00:51:57,679 --> 00:52:01,360 the academy, you're really the cruck. The crux of that is the offensive 755 00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:05,920 lineman. You can't have normally, you can't have six five, three hundred 756 00:52:05,960 --> 00:52:08,039 and thirty pound offensive lineman like you have. That's what unless your air force 757 00:52:08,119 --> 00:52:12,679 and right because because you got to go to the army or the navy, 758 00:52:12,719 --> 00:52:14,639 of the Air Force say, I don't know if you guys have been on 759 00:52:14,679 --> 00:52:16,239 sub lately, but six five, three hundred and thirty pound dudes don't do 760 00:52:16,320 --> 00:52:21,719 very well on games, right. So that's why Paul Johnson's flexment was perfect 761 00:52:21,719 --> 00:52:27,519 for the academies because you use the speed and the skill of smaller offensive linemans 762 00:52:27,559 --> 00:52:31,519 to get the same effect as you did under the traditional uh smokestack, eye 763 00:52:31,559 --> 00:52:36,039 and wishbone options where they had the much larger offensive linemen. So to your 764 00:52:36,079 --> 00:52:39,400 point, this might be the next evolution. And when we talk for Army 765 00:52:39,480 --> 00:52:44,719 Navy Week, we talked about the evolutionary divergence of the flexbone offense between Monk 766 00:52:44,719 --> 00:52:46,960 and and Nea Montalolo. Now that they've been nine years separated. This might 767 00:52:47,039 --> 00:52:52,800 be Monkin's way of the next evolutionary step of the flexbone or the triple option 768 00:52:52,880 --> 00:52:58,920 offense as they move into the next era of service academy football, the era 769 00:52:58,960 --> 00:53:04,480 where transfer portal is a consideration nil pulling kids away. Maybe this is Monk 770 00:53:04,519 --> 00:53:07,239 and looking forward and saying, hey, how do we need to posture ourselves 771 00:53:07,239 --> 00:53:10,480 going forward to make sure we don't fall behind in this new era of college 772 00:53:10,519 --> 00:53:14,840 football. It's gonna be interesting to see for sure. Yeah, and it's 773 00:53:14,960 --> 00:53:19,360 not uncommon as interesting as it looks on a depth chart to see a six 774 00:53:19,519 --> 00:53:22,719 three, two hundred and seventy five pound left or right tackle. You saw 775 00:53:22,760 --> 00:53:27,800 those often at the academies, especially because you know, you know, you're 776 00:53:27,880 --> 00:53:31,079 undersize. Usually in general, you're not six four two ninety or six five 777 00:53:31,119 --> 00:53:35,840 two ninety coming in as like a left guard. I mean, these guys 778 00:53:35,880 --> 00:53:39,400 are usually a little bit undersized, and so the speed as well, like 779 00:53:39,480 --> 00:53:43,760 you mentioned, to be able to get up block and go quickly. You 780 00:53:43,800 --> 00:53:46,920 know, that's I mean, that's the name of the game. I can't 781 00:53:46,920 --> 00:53:50,880 wait to see it and see how it runs and see how it looks, 782 00:53:51,039 --> 00:53:53,800 especially once he gets to Army and see. Honestly, what's what we hear 783 00:53:53,840 --> 00:53:58,639 and we find out coming out of spring practice, might is that new offense 784 00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:01,079 is instituted. All right, let's let's pivot a little bit more. We're 785 00:54:01,079 --> 00:54:07,960 going to stay with the Academy as an Army specifically as Andre Carter the Second's 786 00:54:07,039 --> 00:54:13,679 future in terms of his potential NFL draft spot is that in peril now, 787 00:54:13,719 --> 00:54:17,679 as we find out from the Military Times, their first they were the first 788 00:54:17,679 --> 00:54:23,960 ones to report it on December at the eighth because in the section in section 789 00:54:24,079 --> 00:54:29,599 five hundred and fifty three of the National Defense Authorization Act, which has been 790 00:54:29,639 --> 00:54:32,480 passed by both bodies, the House and the Senate, it now sits at 791 00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:37,480 President Biden's desk, to which he has not as of this recording, has 792 00:54:37,519 --> 00:54:43,679 not signed it. But in section five fifty three of the National Defense Authorization 793 00:54:43,760 --> 00:54:51,679 Bill, which annually appropriates the defense budget for the military, which includes academies, 794 00:54:51,719 --> 00:54:57,280 here the language states quote an agreement by a cadet or midshipman to play 795 00:54:57,320 --> 00:55:06,119 professional sport constitutes a breach of service obligation end quote. And that bill again 796 00:55:06,320 --> 00:55:10,679 is sitting on President Biden's desk, where he is now basically being forced to 797 00:55:10,719 --> 00:55:19,039 decide between signing that annual defense budget or deciding on the military vaccine mandate, 798 00:55:19,119 --> 00:55:23,079 because there is a mandate that was added a rider that was added to this 799 00:55:23,159 --> 00:55:30,360 bill removing the vaccine mandate in the US military. Mike's probably somewhat familiar with 800 00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:36,519 this, but it's something that's now thrown the bill. I'm not going to 801 00:55:36,599 --> 00:55:38,800 speak for the White House of the President, but it's now kind of thrown 802 00:55:38,880 --> 00:55:43,119 the bill's future in jeopardy is we don't know which way Biden is going to 803 00:55:43,159 --> 00:55:47,239 go with it. But one thing I can tell you is that Mike Gallagher, 804 00:55:47,400 --> 00:55:53,440 Republican Congressman from Wisconsin's eighth district, who was the one that offered the 805 00:55:53,480 --> 00:56:00,280 amendment to the original bill. He said in a statement to ESPN quote, 806 00:56:00,320 --> 00:56:04,880 I'll be working with my colleagues to identify a legislative fix that addresses this issue 807 00:56:04,880 --> 00:56:09,320 by grandfathering in existing athletes into the current system. End quote. He goes 808 00:56:09,360 --> 00:56:15,960 on to say, the US Military service academies exist to produce war fighters, 809 00:56:15,480 --> 00:56:22,760 not professional athletes. End quote. So as we sit here right now, 810 00:56:22,239 --> 00:56:28,800 the future of Andre Carter the second you heard Isaac Cochrane all American offensive lineman 811 00:56:28,920 --> 00:56:32,000 from air Forts. He weighed in on it earlier. This is a thing, 812 00:56:32,079 --> 00:56:35,960 even going back to when I worked at the academies from two thousand to 813 00:56:36,039 --> 00:56:38,360 oh four, I had a couple of baseball players. One that was draft 814 00:56:38,400 --> 00:56:43,239 in the thirteenth round by Matt Foster, scared off, probably would have gone 815 00:56:43,239 --> 00:56:47,880 maybe top ten rounds. But because especially at the time, drafting profession or 816 00:56:49,159 --> 00:56:52,880 drafting service academy athletes into professional sports, we've gone back and forth with this, 817 00:56:53,000 --> 00:56:57,119 you know, And honestly, a lot of ways is depending on the 818 00:56:57,159 --> 00:57:01,159 administration. It's depending on who's in charge of dald what has been allowed, 819 00:57:01,280 --> 00:57:05,679 because a lot of times you have to apply. If there's not language like 820 00:57:05,800 --> 00:57:10,320 we are now reading that is in the National Defense Authorization Bill, it might 821 00:57:10,360 --> 00:57:15,760 be up to like the second half the Secretary of the Navy or the Secretary 822 00:57:15,760 --> 00:57:19,159 of the Army, a waiver would be filed and would basically go sit on 823 00:57:19,199 --> 00:57:22,480 their desk to the side. And I know during wartime service academy athletes, 824 00:57:22,840 --> 00:57:27,880 you know, they weren't. This was a big contention point during that time 825 00:57:28,559 --> 00:57:30,960 during the Iraq War in Afghanistan, in the War on Terror, that a 826 00:57:30,960 --> 00:57:34,440 lot of the service Academy athletes weren't allowed to do it. But now we 827 00:57:34,519 --> 00:57:40,679 have specific language basically stating it's quote a breach of service obligation. Mike, 828 00:57:42,039 --> 00:57:45,519 what's your thoughts on this? Yeah, I just don't get it. I 829 00:57:45,559 --> 00:57:50,519 don't get it. One, the mission academist is to train the corps and 830 00:57:50,559 --> 00:57:52,960 brigades to be leaders of characters, to provide for the common defense and be 831 00:57:52,960 --> 00:57:58,960 prepared to service officers in the services. So that that's one you can do 832 00:57:59,000 --> 00:58:02,320 that. You don't have to do that immediately pun graduation. Two, here's 833 00:58:02,320 --> 00:58:07,400 where I don't get We make exceptions for other gifted people. We send you 834 00:58:07,440 --> 00:58:12,559 know, the military Army sends two or three, four or five cadets a 835 00:58:12,639 --> 00:58:16,519 year to Oxford for two years to get their Rhodes Scholarship on Navy every now 836 00:58:16,559 --> 00:58:20,719 and then sends one or two. You know, they're not quite as academically 837 00:58:20,719 --> 00:58:27,679 proficient as West Point. Yeah, okay, so, but but seriously back 838 00:58:27,719 --> 00:58:30,000 to the legislation. And then three, here's where I really don't get about 839 00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:36,559 it. This is so simple. The solution here is so simple. Put 840 00:58:36,760 --> 00:58:39,599 the kid gets drafted in the in the NFL, or get signed to a 841 00:58:39,760 --> 00:58:45,360 UFA contract within five days after the draft. Put them in reserve status, 842 00:58:45,440 --> 00:58:50,960 right and then whenever it once they have six months where they are not under 843 00:58:51,000 --> 00:58:57,599 contract, then their active duty commitment commences, they can be in reserve status. 844 00:58:57,679 --> 00:59:00,000 It's in the NFL, they can do two weeks. They can do 845 00:59:00,039 --> 00:59:04,679 two weeks twice a year. Easy. This is so simple. It blows 846 00:59:04,760 --> 00:59:09,920 my mind that we have conversations about this in legislation that get snuck in at 847 00:59:09,920 --> 00:59:15,320 the last minute. It's it's simple. It's it's it's it's common sense making 848 00:59:15,360 --> 00:59:19,119 them a reserve status. When they're playing days are over, then they can 849 00:59:19,159 --> 00:59:21,800 serve their five year commitment. This is what we do. Look, if 850 00:59:21,840 --> 00:59:24,079 you graduate the academy and you serve your five years active duty, you're going 851 00:59:24,119 --> 00:59:28,559 into the reserves until eight years. Anyway, it's a reserve commission that becomes 852 00:59:28,599 --> 00:59:32,360 active once you go into the military. I don't understand this. This is 853 00:59:32,400 --> 00:59:37,280 simple, this is easy. It's simple. I don't understand how we continue 854 00:59:37,320 --> 00:59:42,639 to get this wrong. It's one or two guys every three or four years 855 00:59:42,679 --> 00:59:45,440 per academy. Why can we not get this right? This is simple. 856 00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:50,599 Yeah, I don't get this at all, because, as Mike pointed out, 857 00:59:50,800 --> 00:59:55,480 we're talking about a very very very few. I mean, you're you're 858 00:59:55,519 --> 01:00:00,679 talking about how how big is a is a normal graduating class of a service 859 01:00:00,679 --> 01:00:02,920 academy? And Mike, you know this because you've graduated from the Service Academy. 860 01:00:04,559 --> 01:00:08,400 I was ranked nine hundred and seventeen out of nine sixty six soft. 861 01:00:08,599 --> 01:00:15,679 So yeah, so there's between nine hundred and a thousand. No, but 862 01:00:15,679 --> 01:00:20,760 but there's there's between nine hundred and a thousand graduates per year, per academy, 863 01:00:20,920 --> 01:00:25,840 and we're talking about one or two every four years or so, so 864 01:00:25,880 --> 01:00:31,079 we're talking about something that is, you know, one tenth of one percent 865 01:00:31,280 --> 01:00:37,480 of the entire graduating class combined of all the service academies. You should be 866 01:00:37,559 --> 01:00:43,559 able to case there it's exceptional, and it should be determined by a case 867 01:00:43,599 --> 01:00:46,239 by in a case by case basis. You could put that in the in 868 01:00:46,280 --> 01:00:51,199 the in the law, you can say that there will be that there are 869 01:00:51,280 --> 01:00:54,239 exceptions, that there are exceptional cases, and they will be determined in a 870 01:00:54,280 --> 01:01:00,440 case by case basis. And I think if you ask Congressman Gallagher, well, 871 01:01:00,679 --> 01:01:04,440 if he asked him this, he wouldn't agree. But when he says, 872 01:01:04,559 --> 01:01:08,119 you know, the US military academies exist to produce war fighters, not 873 01:01:08,199 --> 01:01:14,639 professional athletes. While most players at Navy, Army, Air Force, you 874 01:01:14,679 --> 01:01:17,079 know, probably all have that pipe dream in the back of their head to 875 01:01:17,159 --> 01:01:21,119 want to go play in the NFL. I'm just here to tell the Congressman 876 01:01:21,199 --> 01:01:24,239 that they're not going to any of the three of the academies because that's where 877 01:01:24,280 --> 01:01:28,679 their NFL dream is going to be best. You know, they're going to 878 01:01:28,760 --> 01:01:32,559 be best achieving that dream through the academies and that's no slight on the academies. 879 01:01:32,960 --> 01:01:37,800 If if you're Andre Carter, the second six seven All World athlete, 880 01:01:38,199 --> 01:01:42,840 you know, it's one of these things where he's overlooked by the big boys, 881 01:01:43,119 --> 01:01:46,360 you know, unless unless there was some situation where he just had his 882 01:01:46,480 --> 01:01:51,920 absolute marry heart set on serving his country, which I don't think that he 883 01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:55,400 did. He was understanding of the policy when they got there. But now 884 01:01:55,440 --> 01:01:58,880 for that, you know, his parents said for that runt rug to be 885 01:01:58,920 --> 01:02:02,679 pulled from out from under at the last minute. Worst case situation, absolutely 886 01:02:02,679 --> 01:02:07,880 worst case in my book. If this is going to stand and this bill 887 01:02:07,000 --> 01:02:10,519 is signed by the president, you got to look at it on a case 888 01:02:10,559 --> 01:02:15,199 by case basis and go back and you know, apply for a waiver or 889 01:02:15,280 --> 01:02:19,760 something. But it's got to be grandfathered in. There's no way you can 890 01:02:19,800 --> 01:02:24,199 penalize Andre Carter, the second Isaac Cochrane and others without the scene being grandfathered 891 01:02:24,239 --> 01:02:29,320 in. Because they came to academy with the rule stating it was one way, 892 01:02:29,480 --> 01:02:31,480 and then for it to be changed that's not the academy or military way 893 01:02:31,480 --> 01:02:36,639 as it is either to spring something. It's all about planning and preparation in 894 01:02:36,679 --> 01:02:40,119 the modern era of the service academies. I am comfortable betting an entire paycheck 895 01:02:40,639 --> 01:02:45,599 that not a single football player thought to themselves that going to the Air Force 896 01:02:45,639 --> 01:02:51,519 Academy, Army or Navy was the best route for them to get to the 897 01:02:51,599 --> 01:02:55,800 NFL. Not a single football player in the last forty years has thought that 898 01:02:55,880 --> 01:03:00,280 going to a service academy was I had a dream of playing, ann felt 899 01:03:00,320 --> 01:03:01,880 when I went to West Point. I didn't even play for the football team. 900 01:03:02,320 --> 01:03:06,840 Right. So a lot of kids have a dream of playing in the 901 01:03:06,920 --> 01:03:10,199 NFL, but they go to the service academy for something else. It's it's 902 01:03:10,239 --> 01:03:13,880 to be part of the brigade midshipment, to be part of the core cadets 903 01:03:14,000 --> 01:03:17,920 and to get that invaluable life experience. And for a small few of them, 904 01:03:19,400 --> 01:03:22,079 magic happens. They develop, they grow, something happens, and they 905 01:03:22,119 --> 01:03:25,280 get that shot. We send guys to We send guys in Gallis to medical 906 01:03:25,320 --> 01:03:29,880 schools straight out. We send people to Rhodes scholars straight out. There are 907 01:03:29,920 --> 01:03:34,719 other people who do other exceptional things when they get out. I do not 908 01:03:34,880 --> 01:03:38,039 know how we mess this. This is super simple. Put them on reserve 909 01:03:38,119 --> 01:03:42,480 status when they're done. If they can't be on a contract within six months 910 01:03:42,559 --> 01:03:45,199 they're playing, they officially consider playing career over by the Army, and then 911 01:03:45,199 --> 01:03:50,800 they come in serve their commitment whatever it is, five four or five years. 912 01:03:50,840 --> 01:03:53,199 It's that simple. You can be an Army officer at thirty two. 913 01:03:53,400 --> 01:03:55,880 You can be an Army officer at forty two years old. I know, 914 01:03:58,559 --> 01:04:01,440 right, But you can't be you can't be an NFL football player coming out 915 01:04:01,440 --> 01:04:04,239 of Army, Navy, or Air Force unless you do it as soon as 916 01:04:04,239 --> 01:04:08,159 you come out of the academy. Well that's not true, a villain a 917 01:04:08,159 --> 01:04:12,840 way of it. But there will that's that's an exception to the exception. 918 01:04:13,119 --> 01:04:16,239 Yeah, there will be a few people that would say, and that would 919 01:04:16,280 --> 01:04:18,639 be out there to say that, oh, no, we're you know, 920 01:04:18,679 --> 01:04:24,960 we're we're at war or we're you know currently you know, are we gonna 921 01:04:25,000 --> 01:04:30,599 miss one player? No one offer. Are those same people signing up to 922 01:04:30,920 --> 01:04:32,480 go to this war? No they're not. But in what I was gonna 923 01:04:32,519 --> 01:04:38,599 say is they're in the very very strict minority. The majority of people would 924 01:04:38,599 --> 01:04:44,719 say, this is fantastic pr for the for West Point, for Annapolis, 925 01:04:45,199 --> 01:04:49,239 for the Air Force Academy, this is fantastic pr for the United States Army, 926 01:04:49,360 --> 01:04:54,000 the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the us in 927 01:04:54,039 --> 01:04:58,360 the United States Marine Corps, the majority of people it would have that that's 928 01:04:58,440 --> 01:05:03,199 it. This is such a benefit not just for you know that clearly the 929 01:05:03,239 --> 01:05:09,760 student athlete or you know, obviously cadet or midshipman um the academies and the 930 01:05:09,800 --> 01:05:14,719 institution that they would be serving ultimately, which in Andre Carter the seconds situation 931 01:05:14,840 --> 01:05:16,760 would be the United States Army. I just don't I'm with you, Mike, 932 01:05:16,840 --> 01:05:19,239 this this is a very simple thing. I don't know why we have 933 01:05:19,320 --> 01:05:24,519 the flip flop and continue to change this which has changed so many times over 934 01:05:24,559 --> 01:05:27,880 the last twenty years. But when we graduated high school, before I went 935 01:05:27,920 --> 01:05:33,039 to West Point, I could name four graduates of the Naval Academy, Roger 936 01:05:33,079 --> 01:05:42,480 Stallback, Joe Blini, David David Robinson, and Jimmy Carter. Yeah, 937 01:05:44,280 --> 01:05:46,239 there we go. So, I mean, we'll see. I just hope 938 01:05:46,280 --> 01:05:50,960 that it's just gonna be interesting to watch, especially as the President going to 939 01:05:51,039 --> 01:05:56,000 sign or not sign the bill, and if he does sign it, what 940 01:05:56,239 --> 01:05:59,360 might happen thereafter? All Right, we gotta get out of here, as 941 01:05:59,360 --> 01:06:01,840 we've got our try Vismanian Foundation Honor Roll segment coming up where we honor a 942 01:06:01,880 --> 01:06:05,880 following hero one that has given the ultimate sacrifice. And then we'll come back 943 01:06:05,920 --> 01:06:10,039 and close up shop with a few news and notes before we get out here 944 01:06:10,039 --> 01:06:15,239 for Christmas and let all our listeners enjoy the festive holiday season as we will 945 01:06:15,280 --> 01:06:19,199 continue here on Yard and Stripes, your home for Service Academy Football as we 946 01:06:19,280 --> 01:06:24,719 are part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network. In two thousand 947 01:06:24,719 --> 01:06:28,360 and seven, Marine First Lieutenant Travis Mannion was killed in Iraq after saving his 948 01:06:28,400 --> 01:06:31,800 wooded teammates. Travis's legacy lives on through the words he spoke before his final 949 01:06:31,880 --> 01:06:35,920 deployment. If not me, then who? Words that today fuel the spirit 950 01:06:35,920 --> 01:06:41,079 of Travis Mannion Foundation and through TMF these words can live in you too. 951 01:06:41,480 --> 01:06:45,400 Show the world what you're made of, because character is invisible until it's not. 952 01:06:45,920 --> 01:06:49,320 Find out how you can strengthen the character of your community alongside empowered veterans, 953 01:06:49,480 --> 01:06:58,519 families of the fallen, and inspired civilians at Travismanion dot Org. Now 954 01:06:58,559 --> 01:07:01,840 time for a Travismannion found Nation Honor Roll segment where if you've listened to the 955 01:07:01,840 --> 01:07:05,559 podcast before you know that we take the time and a step back to honor 956 01:07:05,639 --> 01:07:11,800 remember a fallen hero, one that's given the ultimate sacrifice protecting our freedoms here 957 01:07:12,400 --> 01:07:16,159 at home, and as we partnered with the Travismanion Foundation once again that you 958 01:07:16,199 --> 01:07:20,880 can find out more information online Travismanion dot org. This holiday season, you 959 01:07:20,920 --> 01:07:25,960 can give the gift of hope and countless families of the fall and continue to 960 01:07:26,039 --> 01:07:30,559 navigate these uncertain tourist times of terrain, grief and loss, and your support 961 01:07:30,639 --> 01:07:36,159 can lift their hearts and spirits now and throughout this holiday season with the gifts 962 01:07:36,199 --> 01:07:41,159 of new beginnings, renew purpose, meaningful connection, and hope. You can 963 01:07:41,199 --> 01:07:46,039 donate today online again at travisman dot org. And this week we will honor 964 01:07:46,079 --> 01:07:53,400 remember United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Michael L. Lacalzi, a native of 965 01:07:53,480 --> 01:07:58,760 Garden City, New York. United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Michael Lacalzi gave 966 01:07:58,760 --> 01:08:01,280 the ultimate sacrifice on the eleven, two thousand and six when his tank rolled 967 01:08:01,280 --> 01:08:05,599 off a bridge and into a canal. Serving in the Al al and Bar 968 01:08:05,679 --> 01:08:11,360 province of Iraq, Assigned to the second Tank Battalions, Second Marine Division, 969 01:08:11,480 --> 01:08:15,320 lecalls He had been in Iraq just six weeks when the accident occurred that also 970 01:08:15,400 --> 01:08:18,880 killed three of his fellow soldiers Thecalls. He graduated from Shamanad High School in 971 01:08:18,880 --> 01:08:21,880 two thousand, where he ran track, cross country and was part of the 972 01:08:21,920 --> 01:08:26,560 crew team. Was also a member of the German Club and enjoyed surfing, 973 01:08:27,039 --> 01:08:31,359 while later in life he even took Italian cooking lessons. As a child young 974 01:08:31,359 --> 01:08:34,000 man, he always expressed to his family the goal of one day becoming a 975 01:08:34,039 --> 01:08:38,720 marine. Well, he made that happen, attending the United States Naval Academy, 976 01:08:38,960 --> 01:08:42,199 where he was a model student, courageous boxer, and active leader of 977 01:08:42,239 --> 01:08:45,760 the thirtieth Company. He went on to graduate from the Naval Academy in two 978 01:08:45,800 --> 01:08:49,039 thousand and four with a Bachelor of Science in economics and was commissioned as a 979 01:08:49,079 --> 01:08:56,239 second lieutenant in the Marine Corps at graduation. He's described as exceptionally loyal and 980 01:08:56,319 --> 01:09:00,119 fiercely dedicated to his family friends in the Corps. In everything he did, 981 01:09:00,439 --> 01:09:06,560 Michael gave one percent. First Lieutenant Glenn Jensen, who served with his friend 982 01:09:08,000 --> 01:09:12,560 Michael Lacolsi quote, Michael was my roommate in TBS and I can only tell 983 01:09:12,600 --> 01:09:15,079 you that those of us that knew him are greater people because of him, 984 01:09:15,119 --> 01:09:18,760 and the world it's a little darker without his smile. He has missed every 985 01:09:18,840 --> 01:09:25,319 day by his extended family of brothers and sisters. Simplify quote. He survived 986 01:09:25,359 --> 01:09:28,920 by his mother and father, Carol and Gregory Lacoalsei of Celebration, Florida and 987 01:09:28,920 --> 01:09:32,039 West Hampton Beach, New York, along with his sister Elizabeth and brothers Gregory 988 01:09:32,119 --> 01:09:39,399 and Luke. Lacalzi earned the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War and Terrorism Medal, 989 01:09:39,520 --> 01:09:43,520 and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honored through the Travismanion Foundations 990 01:09:43,600 --> 01:09:48,880 Character Doesn't Matter Program presented during the Academy Summer Seminar and USNA STEM programs for 991 01:09:49,000 --> 01:09:55,319 rising eleventh graders during the summer. And we certainly send out our prayers and 992 01:09:55,439 --> 01:09:59,359 thoughts to the Lacalzi family because as we know, during the holiday season, 993 01:09:59,359 --> 01:10:02,159 it's always a time when loved ones are missing at the table around the Christmas 994 01:10:02,239 --> 01:10:09,399 tree in the living room to spend that precious time together. And so we 995 01:10:09,479 --> 01:10:13,520 do take this time every week with the help of the Travis Mannion Foundation, 996 01:10:14,239 --> 01:10:17,760 to remember those heroes like Michael Lacolzi who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Travis 997 01:10:17,760 --> 01:10:23,399 Mallion Foundations nine to eleven Heroes Run five k Ray series unites communities across the 998 01:10:23,399 --> 01:10:27,279 country and around the world to honor the sacrifices of September eleventh and the war 999 01:10:27,359 --> 01:10:30,399 since. Join your community this September and register to run, walk or rock 1000 01:10:30,520 --> 01:10:38,760 by visiting nine eleven Heroes Run dot org. The latest with Navy, Army 1001 01:10:38,880 --> 01:10:45,920 and Air Force on Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. All right, welcome 1002 01:10:45,960 --> 01:10:48,479 back in our final segment here on Yards and Stripes. As we're making the 1003 01:10:48,520 --> 01:10:53,479 turn. The Christmas Holiday is this weekend, and though my guy Steve and 1004 01:10:53,560 --> 01:11:00,600 Mike ready to settle in and do a little Christmas and Holiday celebration this weekend. 1005 01:11:00,680 --> 01:11:03,039 Before we do that, a couple of news notes just to pass along 1006 01:11:03,079 --> 01:11:09,840 to you really quickly. Don't think I mentioned it last week, but Tyler 1007 01:11:09,880 --> 01:11:15,439 Tidwell, former standout Navy linebacker from two thousand and three to two thousand and 1008 01:11:15,479 --> 01:11:20,319 six, lost a four year battle with ALSS obviously known as Luke Garrig's disease. 1009 01:11:20,399 --> 01:11:27,520 Oklahoma native passed away Saturday at his home in Oklahoma City at the age 1010 01:11:27,560 --> 01:11:32,079 of thirty seven the Naval Academy announced just recently, and from my understanding, 1011 01:11:32,119 --> 01:11:36,600 I heard that the coaching staff found out the night before the Army Navy game 1012 01:11:36,680 --> 01:11:42,640 that he was really in a in a tough situation and it could be a 1013 01:11:42,640 --> 01:11:45,600 matter of hours, And it was a few hours after the Army Navy game 1014 01:11:45,680 --> 01:11:53,720 concluded that Tyler Tidwell sadly lost his battle with ALS. He was diagnosed in 1015 01:11:53,760 --> 01:12:01,079 August at two thousand and nineteen with ALS and unfortunately all just a terrible disease. 1016 01:12:01,159 --> 01:12:05,680 To that so many Americans and people around the world are afflicted with so 1017 01:12:06,159 --> 01:12:12,439 our thoughts with Tyler Tidwell, his former Navy teammates, but certainly his family, 1018 01:12:13,159 --> 01:12:16,199 as we know that this is a very tough time to lose a loved 1019 01:12:16,199 --> 01:12:21,079 one. I lost my father last year on day after New Year's and so 1020 01:12:21,119 --> 01:12:25,680 this is it's always hard, no matter when it is, but especially at 1021 01:12:25,720 --> 01:12:30,079 the time of the holidays. So a couple of other things to pass along 1022 01:12:30,199 --> 01:12:34,119 real quickly to you, Phil Steel. Everybody's favorite preseason magazine that they like 1023 01:12:34,199 --> 01:12:38,640 to pick up a copy. It makes for some great summer beach reading or 1024 01:12:38,760 --> 01:12:41,720 vacation reading. If you're on the deck of a cruise ship or whatever you're 1025 01:12:41,720 --> 01:12:46,520 doing. He's out with his postseason All Conference All Independent Teams. Five midshipman 1026 01:12:46,600 --> 01:12:53,600 honored by Phil Steel in his All American Athletic Conference Teams. Senior striker John 1027 01:12:53,640 --> 01:13:00,720 Marshall, junior nose guard Donald Bernard, junior defensive end Jacob Bus, Sophomore 1028 01:13:00,720 --> 01:13:06,720 linebacker Colin Ramos. We're all honored, along with sophomore fullback Daba Folfauna. 1029 01:13:08,720 --> 01:13:15,399 Seven Black Nights. Checking in to Phil Steele's postseason All Independent Team late last 1030 01:13:15,439 --> 01:13:20,079 week, Center Connor Bishop, linebacker Andre Carter, the third safe, Marquel 1031 01:13:20,199 --> 01:13:26,880 Broughton, Tyrell Robinson selected as a punt returner, and then quarterback ty Here 1032 01:13:26,920 --> 01:13:30,840 Tyler offensive lineman I can't remember how to pronounce this last name. Might help 1033 01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:36,319 me, Connor Finniicaine, and then linebacker Leo Loewen named to the second team. 1034 01:13:36,359 --> 01:13:40,680 All right, Well that'll do it for us on this edition of Yards 1035 01:13:40,720 --> 01:13:44,840 and Stripes. When I wish all our listeners, everybody invest time every single 1036 01:13:44,840 --> 01:13:47,199 week, all our college football fans, Army, Navy, Air Force, 1037 01:13:47,239 --> 01:13:50,600 and beyond a Mary Christmas, a happy holiday and a happy new year. 1038 01:13:50,680 --> 01:13:55,039 Until we talk to you again, We will be back one more time this 1039 01:13:55,079 --> 01:13:58,800 season to wrap it up here on Yards and Stripes, your home for Service 1040 01:13:58,880 --> 01:14:05,279 Academy Football. Join us again next time for Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. 1041 01:14:05,520 --> 01:14:10,319 To get more on all things Service Academy Football, like Yards and Stripes 1042 01:14:10,399 --> 01:14:15,000 on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at yards and Stripes and make sure that 1043 01:14:15,079 --> 01:14:20,119 you're subscribing to the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast feed on Apple Podcasts, 1044 01:14:20,119 --> 01:14:25,079 Spotify, Google, and wherever you get your podcasts