Need to get your football fix on all things Army, Navy and Air Force.
This is Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. Now here are your hosts,
Pryce Atkinson, Steve Carney and Mike Loveall. Welcome into another edition of
Yards and Stripes, your home for Army, Navy and Air Force Service Academy
Football. That is what we do here in This is our Army Navy Preview
Special. As we are part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network,
and we are going to get you ready for Saturday's Army Navy game.
I'm Price Ackintson, joined by the man Steve Carney is always all the way
from Nashville where he's at the MLB Winter Meetings just kicked off this week.
But you know our Army Navy Preview Special, Steve, that's going to be
loaded with interviews, information, and a whole lot more as we get you
ready for Saturday. Is one hundred and twenty fourth installment of America's Game Army
Navy, presented by USAA that will kick off Saturday at three pm on c
We got guests from both sides. We got Steve Anderson, former Army linebacker
team captain two thousand and nine, twenty ten from Black Night Nation Now and
then Bill Wagner, the Navy beat writer from the Annapolis Capital. So we're
going to break down Army Navy talking with folks from both sides Steven three o'clock
kickoff on Saturday, real quick before we get to that, and we're going
to talk a little bit more about the Bowl game. But want to give
a plug right now to the Air Force Falcons as they are going bowling.
Steve. They're going to take on number four twenty four James Madison and the
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday, December the twenty third, So congratulations
to the Falcons that are going bowling. We will break that one down just
a little bit more here later in the podcast before we give you our picks.
But as I mentioned, you know, we've got guests coming up.
We've got Steve Anderson, we've got Bill Wagner, we've got Travis Manion Foundation
on a roll segment, and we got to course our picks. But Steve,
let's get to the game at hand. Buddy. This is what we
do at all ye long for. There is nothing like and I will say
it, there is no rivalry in all of sport like Army Navy. I'm
not talking college football. There is no rivalry of any kind. Red Sox,
Yankees, Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Michigan, Manchester United,
and Chelsea like they can all eat their hearts out. There is nothing like
this game. And it will go down on Saturday again three o'clock in Foxborough,
Massachusetts, at Gillette Stadium where Army is right now a two and a
half point favorite. Steve over Under is twenty seven and a half first time
this game will ever be played in the state of Massachusetts, and as you
know, the goal is to sing second. How fired up are you for
it? Well, I was saying before we started recording Pricing. We do
this show all year long just to get to just to get to this episode.
This is the episode that we love doing and you love hearing about.
And we're I'm going to speak for you when I say this Price. I
am so excited. I know you're excited about this. We're both super geeked
about being able to watch what is the quint I call it the quintessential college
football game. You know that when you talk about college football, Yes,
there are teams that are better. There are teams that are more talented and
more skilled, but nobody has the heart, the desire, and the worth
ethic that Army and Navy have when it comes to college football. And so
that's why I say that this is quintessential college football. You love watching it.
It doesn't matter if you haven't watched Army or Navy all year long.
There's going to be so many people that are just going to stop and watch
the pageantry. And it's going to start from college game Day. Who is
going to be in Foxborough this week? You're going to get to watch the
brigade of midshipman come in, You're gonna get to see the core of cadets
come in, and it's just going to be It's one of the most wonderful
things that you could ever experience in person. I know you've been there,
you've experienced it live. I have never experienced it live, which is unreal
because when I was in the Navy, I was always deployed when the game
was on. I can't tell you how many times I watched Army versus Navy
from the mess tex a of a Knibbitts class aircraft carrier because it had to
have been at least a handful of times, and so I just wish that
hopefully someday I'll get a chance to witness it in person. But just the
feeling I get watching it on television can only imagine what it's like in person.
Yeah, there's nothing more pure. I mean, it's the most pure
sporting event that our country has. And you know, getting to serve personally
professionally, getting to serve as official score for two Army Navy games will ranks
up there for me in terms of things I've done in my professional careers.
You know, two of the coolest days of my life getting to serve and
sit in that role. And there is just nothing like it. You know,
you've heard that said. It's not hyperbole because there is no other game.
There is no other game in this country that is played where you have
an entire student body from one corner in one corner, an entire student body,
not half, not three quarters, the entire core in one corner,
the entire brigade student body of the other school in the other corner, and
they go at it four hours you know, from when the march on's happened
and you mentioned it, you know, college game Day obviously is gonna it's
gonna air from twelve am to noon outside of Jillette Stadium a lot five B.
You've got the College or CBS Sports Network that will air Inside College Football
the march On presented by USA starting at twelve noon to one, and then
the Inside College Football Army Navy Tailgate on CBS Sports Network that'll go from one
thirty to three thirty before CBS takes over the full coverage with kickoff at three
and Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jenny del they'll have the call there from
Foxborough. But Steve, you know, let's just kind of get into the
game just a little bit here because we got some guests that we're gonna talk
about it with. But you know, the eighth most played college football game
in history. Navy leads the overall series here sixty two to fifty four and
seven, but Army has won two of the last three and five of the
last seven. Seven of the the last nine of these games have been decided
by seven points or less. We obviously remember last year because it's still kind
of fresh in our memory, probably more so Navy with the way it went
down. But the first time ever, this historic rivalry has ever gone to
overtime. That Army one in doublet twenty to seventeen when Navy's Anton Hall Junior,
going in for a touchdown to start the second overtime, put the ball
on the ground right there the goal line, recovered by Army, and then
quin Moretzky goes down and kicks a thirty nine yard field goal for the win.
Army rushes the field. This year, Navy's gonna be the home team.
They're gonna be wearing the dark uniforms, and our Army will be taking
the field first as the road team. But you know we're going to talk
about it with Steve Anderson here in just a little bit. Steve, the
big thing that this game now has, the element of which we did not
know or maybe even think as we got to the month of November, Army
is going to be playing for this Commander in Chief Trophy outright with a victory,
a win over Navy on Saturday night that will bring the Commander in Chief
Trophy home to West Point a courtesy of that twenty three to three win over
number twenty five Air Force back on November and the fourth if Navy wins that
would create the three way tie there, allowing air Force to retain control of
the trophy. Steve, this is not something we thought would really be in
play as we went through much of the season. No, absolutely not.
We certainly thought that that the Commander in Chief Trophy was going to be you
know, that was going to be decided four or five weeks ago when when
Army faced air Force, because we both predicted that air Force would win pretty
handily over the Black Knights, and that turned out to not be the case,
as Army stood up, punched the Falcons in the mouth, caused them
to force to turn the ball over six times and now and then all of
a sudden, it's twenty to nothing before like you even could take a breath,
and with a twenty three to three victory, you know, Army finds
itself with even more motivation to beat Navy this week. It's not like the
Black Knights don't have enough motivation to try and take it to the midshipman here
in this final game. It's it. They're not going to a bawl game.
Neither side is going to a bull game. This is your bowl game,
and that that I think has to be a pretty you know, it's
it's I don't want to call it a consolation prize because it's not a consolation
prize, but the fact, the fact of the matter is that I don't
think that a minor bowl game compares to the the amount of feeling that these
two teams are going to have, uh playing each other here on Saturday.
And I and I feel bad for saying that, for for the the for
the bull sponsors and the people that run these bowl games. But you know,
Army going to the the Gasparilla Bowl. You know that nobody, you
know, nobody from West Point is gonna care about that because all they care
about is winning this week in Foxborough and now they've got extra motivation in order
to do so. It's really uh, you know, I hate to say
that maybe is stuck behind the proverbial eight ball, but they kind are.
Yeah, yeah, I mean there you know, the seniors. I mean,
this is, like you said, this is going to be their final
game. There is no bowl game. I mean, this is it.
You know, Army at five and six, Navies five and six. You
know, Army beat two FCS teams, so therefore, you know, they
couldn't get Bowl eligible no matter if they won this game, obviously maybe could
become Bowl eligible. But this is after all, the bulls are handed out,
so neither of these teams is going to play another college football game this
season. So this is it for the seniors. And you know, something
you alluded to and just kind of mentioned there. You know the intensity.
You know, there's no bowl game that it's even going to come close to
what this The intensity of this game is, like, I mean, having
been there's nothing like being on the field before a kickoff of this game,
or honestly, you go down to the field with like five minutes left in
this game, and especially if it's a close game. I've been on the
field for a couple National Championship college football playoff when Clemson beat Alabama at the
very end, and I was there. I was one too, Yeah,
Raymond James, Yeah that was Tampa. I was there when Alabama threw that
touchdown pass on down to beat Georgia and Atlanta. You know, fortunate enough
to go to one Super Bowl. Those are the only things that come close
to this game. But there is nothing like the intensity, though, there
is an intensity that you feel on the field of this game before kickoff and
as this game winds down is uncomp it's incomparable. There is nothing like it.
And you know is this game is gonna be played, you know,
in Foxborough for the first time. Steve, Philly. Obviously we know that
Philadelphia. They've hosted this game more times than any ninety times. Army has
won forty one of those, Navy forty five with four ties. Can you
name the city, Steve, that has hosted this game the second most times,
and I will give you a hint. It is the only city where
Army has a winning record over Navy. Well, the cities that I know
that they've played this game in are obviously Baltimore, New York, and Washington,
d C. I'm going to guess it's Baltimore. But but that that
just it just would it would it would be the irony of the fact that
they're that they're winning it. They would have a winning record in the state
of Maryland against Navy, who of course is based in Maryland. Would would
just would just be uh would be apropos Yeah, New York has hosted this
game eleven times. Army is one seven, Navy is won three and there's
been one ties. Like I said, it's the only city where Army's got
a winning record in the series. Baltimore has hosted it the third most times.
They've hosted it six times. The series is even there East Rutherford.
Yeah, it's over in New Jersey. I'm not calling it New York City
for you know, you know, for the purposes of you know, getting
it right here. But East Rutherford has hosted it five times. Navy is
one four, Army is one one. For those scoring at home, Just
so you know, if you want to plan and go in the next couple
of years, here's where the next four years will be. Next year,
December fourteenth, twenty twenty four, landover Maryland. It will be in the
DC area as FedEx Field will have the game. December thirteenth, twenty twenty
five, it will return to Baltimore. The Ravens, I will say,
do a fantastic job hosting the game. December the twelfth, twenty twenty six,
it goes back to the New York City area. It will be in
East Rutherford. And then finally in twenty twenty seven, that's when it goes
back to the city of brotherly love. Steve Philadelphia, where I think we
all agree is the rightful home. It just feels right. I think when
we talk to Steve Anderson, you're gonna look, folks, you're going to
hear intensity like you have not heard intensity coming from a former Army team captain
linebacker. But we talk about Philadelphia and he talks about, you know,
with us, how much just how it's right to have the game in Philadelphia.
And something I was thinking about when he was talking, there's just a
synergy with Philadelphia. And I think to me, Steve, it has to
do with so much of you know, Philly is at you know, that
blue collar, that hard nosed edge town, and that's what these guys on
the field. You know, these are just getting the dirt, hard working
college football players. There's no glitz and glamour, you know, power five
stuff. It there's just that that blue collar work ethic that just these teams
symbolized and played in Philly. That it's just it's perfect. Yeah, I
agree with you completely. This is this is the game, This game I've
I've always said belongs in Philadelphia. It's it's wonderful that they get to take
it to these other these other cities, whether it's New York or Baltimore or
Washington, d C in the DC area and now in New England, whether
they go to Soldier Field in Chicago, or they go to you know,
or they go to all Tell Stadium in Jacksonville because of the big Navy presidence
there, or San Diego or wherever wherever they we're to host this game in
the future, the home of Army Navy will always always be Philadelphia. It's
you mentioned the the blue collar work ethic, of course, the trash talking.
Philly is of course known for being the ultimate trash talking town. And
I don't know of two other teams that trash talk the way that Army and
Navy do and then hug it out at the end. That I think is
the best part about it. It's not like other games in Philadelphia where where
the the acrimony stays with you for as long as it does with Army and
Navy. Uh that that acrimony and and that trash talking ends the moment the
final whistle goes off. All right, let's get into the team just real
quick, because we're gonna talk more about you know, the Army, Army
Black Knights and the Navy Midshipman with our guests Steve Anderson and Bill Wagner here
just a little bit. But the Black Knights. First of all, they're
five and six coming into the game, chance to win the Commander in Chief
Trophy outright, Steve. But the big thing is they come into this game
playing their best football. They've won three straight since stunning air Force first Saturday
in November. They've gone from two to six now to obviously five and six,
trying to get to even steven five hundred four the season. You know,
their last outing three weeks ago, Army rushed for a season high three
hundred and sixty five yards versus Coastal when they went back to operating under the
center, Rice and Daly's toughest nails that starting quarterback. I guess really the
big question for Army coming into this game, which offense are they going to
employ? Are they going to go with that shot gun that they basically said
we're gonna you know, they institute with Drew Thatcher coming in from Nebraska Carney
in the offseason, but they surprised Coastal they went back under center. Which
offense Will we see the triple option out of the gun or will we see
it under center? I think that's obviously the big question of the day.
And you know it's going to keep that Navy coaching staff guessing. Oh absolutely,
if I if I was Armies offensive coaches, I'd be going, why
choose? Why? Why? Why go either all under center or all shotgun.
Let's mix it up. Let's throw let's throw everything out there, and
let's have a stew let Let's let's play some of these plays under center.
Let's play some of these plays in the shotgun. Let's come out looking like
we're gonna be under center, and then all of a sudden something happens and
the quarterback steps back into shotgun. You know, you could really have a
field day if your Army's offensive coaches just you know, driving naves defensive coaches
absolutely crazy, like oh my, you know you come if you if you
come out in a formation that they know, okay, this is going to
be an under center, and all of a sudden, the if it's Bryce
and Daily or whoever steps back into shotgun, you're gonna have them pulling their
hair out or whatever hair they have left out, uh, and going and
throwing their throwing their visors and and going I have no idea what's going on
here? Uh? That could be it could be very interesting to see,
uh, the the way that Army comes out and how Navy has to react
to, uh, to how they're playing their offense, just because of what
we see now with the Coastal game and then going back under center. It's
the ultimate mind screw uh if you will uh that I think that I think
Army is doing. Yeah. To me, I would guess it's gonna be
a combination. I would just going on a limb to say, we're gonna,
you know, kind of you know tinker, We're gonna, you know,
go back and forth. We're just gonna continue to throw them off balance.
And then I think if you see one really starting to take an edge
and work better, I think you might see Army stick with it. But
we'll see, you know, they're going to have something dialed up. Navy,
on the other hand, five and six same They come into this game
mirroring Army with the same record, but not with that kind of momentum.
They had a two game winning streak going late, but coming off of fifty
nine to fourteen loss at SMU on November the twenty fifth. You know,
the biggest question I think for Navy in this game, you know, defensively
is probably where their bread is buttered this year. Which quarterback is Navy going
to start because they've started for this season. Seniors tend to get the nod
in this kind of game, though, Steve, it's rare when you see
a freshman thrown to the fire. That's why I think thy Labatis, you
know, the battle banged up all year. But zavr Line, the very
athletic or dual sport athlete, the plays lacrosse as well. He started the
last two. My gut says that Xavier r Line is going to be the
guy. I think they figured out that, hey, this is the best
shot we've got. The guy who's not very known to throw the ball very
well, had a good outing last time when he had to throw it.
I think the Xavier Line is going to be the guy. But I think
that's gonna be something that Army will obviously be trying to guess, is where
will Navy go? Might they play a couple of quarterbacks in this game,
but not necessarily all play quarterback? Might they you know, start Xavier er
Line, but put Ty Lavati to slot back. Those kind of things.
I think you're going to see some maybe of those kind of wrinkles, yeah,
or could you see our line at slot back like he was at the
start of the year, so you could see Xavier r Line at slot back.
You could see Lavatie in the backfield with and if you've got multiple quarterbacks
in there, that that could lead to maybe a little bit of triggeration from
Brian Newberry's offensive crew. I mean, could you could you imagine seeing Lavatie
in the backfield with our line? Our line gives the ball a Lavati Labatie
throws and then and then has an option pass and use that sort of to
to kind of throw another wrinkle in. I really that's what makes this game
so much fun. Yeah, is we can go could you imagine? Because
let's face it, these guys are all smart enough that they that they could
do this if they wanted to, if they want if they want to do
this, they know how to implement it. That the coaches know, they've
got some of the most brilliant minds in all of collegiate sports sitting on the
standing on the sideline with them. So it's what makes this so enjoyable and
so much fun. You know, could could we see what sort of wrinkles
could we see in both of these offenses. I'm really excited for it.
I know you're really excited for it. I wouldn't play let's go home our
offenses. Which way? Who would you give the edge to? I would
tend to go Army. You know, rushing offenses, they're only about eight
yards difference in terms of what they rush for per game, and in total
offense, you know, about fifteen yards more per game, so it's kind
of a wash. But I just feel like Army has just got more weapons.
I feel like Bryson Daly is just more steady at quarterback. Ye throw
in the football is never going to be a strength of either team. I
just feel like, you know, especially moving Tyson Riley back to to that
fullback position for Army Tyrol Robinson, you know, he obviously didn't get back
until October. I just feel like there's more weapons running the football for the
Black Knights. Where I would go with an edge offensively between the two teams
with Army, Oh, absolutely, I agree with you. I would certainly
have Army, uh have the have the advantage offensively. You know, if
you look at what what Bryson Daly was able to do at quarterback versus the
multitude the cornicopia, if you will. I love I love that that Brian
Newbury's had to use here this year. I just I just feel like you
you've got to give your the edge at quarterback, uh, to Army,
the edge at whatever whatever they're calling uh, you know, slot back or
the full back position. You know, I give that. I give that
edge to Navy with with alec tesa and and Fafana. I really think that
those two they could be a true wrecking ball when it comes to, uh,
the running game for Navy. And I think that's if that's where their
bread is gonna be buttered. You know, Army, Uh, if they
if they still had Isaiah Austen and we know, you know Allston has not
had the year that any of us thought he was going to have. Uh.
But if if they if they're able to throw the football a little more,
I think I would give Army, Army the the edge there. So
that's why I think Army has overall the edge offensively over Navy defensively, you
know, both these teams. You know, obviously, Navy's had three shutouts
this year, the only team I believe still with three shutouts in the FBS
this season. Total defense, they're pretty They're right about even seven yards difference.
They rank in the fifties in terms of you know, total defense,
but big difference. Navy's thirtieth in the country in rush defense, giving up
just one hundred and twenty one yards per game on the ground than only twelve
rushing touchdowns, while Army not quite as good on the run, giving up
sixty yards more per game and close to a yard and a half more per
carry. Armies given up five yards of carrying Navy three point six. And
Armies pass defense, you know, is much better than Navies. They ranked
twenty second in the country, given up just one hundred and eighty eight yards
per game. I think when it comes to defenses in this game, though,
I think Navy's the team that's got the edge over Army. Oh absolutely,
I would give maybe the edge both on the on the defensive line and
in the line back corps. Their front seven is as good as just about
any front seven in college football. I mean, we've seen, you know,
Navy's got a bunch of honorable mentions for the American Athletic Conference All Conference
Team. They've got a first team All Conference linebacker who I think could end
up when all this said and done, being the Conference defensive player of the
Year. So yeah, I would say, because the front seven is so
much better, I would I would give Navy the edge, even though,
yes, Army's defensive back corps is much better than Navy's, but I would
still I would still go Navy with the with the edge over Army defensively.
And that's what that's gonna make this so much fun. Army's good offense against
Navs good defense, and vice versa that Armies Navy's lesser offense against Armies lesser
defense. It could make for a very interesting kind of kind of game.
And the question is gonna become who can stop who? So could it be
decided with special teams. Navy seems to have a pretty sizable advantage when it
comes to the punting game. Riley Riythman's been outstanding, ranks thirty second in
the country in net punting. You know, Army checks in at one twelve
in that category, but the Black Knights probably, I don't think there's any
question they got a leg up when it comes to the field goal kicking unit.
Quinn Moretzki, Yeah, he's hit eleven to thirteen this season, and
I think sal Enordonado told us, you know, this week, mentioned that
he's seven to seven in academy games in c I see matchups, So I
think that's something to look at. And then when you look at, you
know, some of the other intangibles. Punt returns, Army's actually first in
the country, and punt returns, I don't think they've returned a whole lot
of them, but kickoff returns, they're seventy first in the country. Their
kickoff return defense is eight the best in the country. They I think that
they have a little bit more of an edge does Army. Outside of the
punting game, where you can obviously flip the field, I think the Army's
probably got maybe a slight edge in special teams. Could that be where the
game is won? Or is it going to come down to something, you
know, like the intangibles, you know, like turnovers because you know,
maybe we know that defense is forced a lot. They rank seventh overall and
the country and total turnovers gained at twenty four, Army has gained seventeen when
she is fifty seventh. Best. To me, it seems like this one
always kind of comes down to who is going to make the big play and
you know, create a turnover at the opportune time. Well, and my
thought on that price is that when it comes to your your kicking game,
and especially for Army, you know, Armies punting, their prowess is not
as good as Navies. And that's because you know, when you're putting the
ball on the tee at when you're done instead of dropping it from your hand,
that's that's always a much better UH situation to be in. And that's
where Quinn Moretsky is so important for them, and I think that that's going
to be end up being the big key for Army, even more than turnovers.
And you know how I harp on turnovers. I I always I always
make sure UH to mention how important turnovers are. But for me, really
the man who is going to UH and I don't want to I don't want
to show my hand too early. But I have a feeling that that Maretzky
is going to be the reason if if Army does make it three out of
the last four and five out of I think five on the last six or
five out of the last seven. Uh. Yeah, this run that they're
on, where this is we're not at twelve years in a row where Navy
won Uh these games. Uh, you know this is this is definitely Uh.
The pendulum has swung back in Army's favor, and the question is can
quick Moreski keep the pendulum going in that direction or will Army or will maybe
get an opportunity to kind of slow things down and maybe start spending the momentum
back the other way. The last style I'll just give you really quickly here.
I think one that is not going to be a good number, and
it usually never is in this game. I think punters are going to get
a workout because again, these teams know each other so well, the coaches
do. But third down conversions maybe is one hundred and twenty seventh in the
country twenty eight percent converting on third down offensively, while Army seventy third in
the country converting thirty eight percent of the time. So not a very good
not as bad, but still bad exactly, So which team is going to
be able to you know, keep drives alive is always a big deal when
it comes to running the triple option. And again, you know each other,
you know what they're going to do. You've recruited most of the same
kids, so that's going to be obviously a statistic to watch along with turnover
margin. But Steve a whole lot more to do here on Yards and Stripes.
We got Bill Wagner, We've got Steve Anderson, We've got a Travis
Manning Foundation on a roll. We're going to talk about Air Force and their
bowl game coming up in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. As we are
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college football season. Army, Navy and Air Force is what we do,
and what we do next is we're going to talk Navy midshipman with Bill Wagner,
the beat writer for The Midshipman, covers Navy four the Annapolis Capital known
Bill for a long time, excited to get his insights into this edition of
The Midshipman in Brian Newberry's first year as the head coach of the Midshipman.
What he thinks about that, What are keys to the game for him?
What this game might come down to in his pick, We're going to talk
with Bill Wagner. Will we come back here on Yards and Stripes? This
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Navy, Army and Air Force on Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. All
right, as we continue on in this episode of Yards and Stripes, you're
home for Service Academy Football or Army Navy Preview special. Now going to talk
some Navy Midshipman football with my man Bill Wagner. He is the beat writer
for the Capitol newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. You can follow him on Twitter
at b Wagner Underscore cap g A. Z has covered the Midshipman for many,
many years. Nobody better to talk Navy football than with Wags. Also
the co host of the Anchors Away podcasts. It's part of the Capitol Network.
But Bill, we've seen some up and down Navy football seasons before.
I mean, this one seems a little bit different in its own right.
You know, you started the season in Ireland, brand new head coach.
You know, inconsistent results here and there, four quarterbacks taking snaps as the
starting quarterbacks, a few blowouts along the way, several shutouts along the way.
What's it been like to cover this edition of Navy football? Bill,
Well, as you said, it's been a lot of ups and downs,
stops and starts, and they just haven't been able to build any momentum,
have a couple of wins and then a loss, win, a loss.
It's been that type of season. And it starts with the offense. Offense
has been very inconsistent, you reference for starting quarterbacks, where that's where it
begins. They finally have settled on Xavier r. Line, who wasn't even
a quarterback at the beginning of the season. He was playing slot bag and
he has brought a little bit of consistency. But the offense is still struggling.
But you know, first year under head coach Brian Newberry, Navy has
more wins than it has had in the previous three seasons. So it's since
twenty nineteen. The five wins are the most. That's improvement. If you
beat Army finished strong, you go into the off season with a little momentum.
You know, you mentioned Brian Newberry first year. That was one thing
I wanted to you know, ask you about is because you know it's gonna
be his first Army Navy game. It's gonna be a little bit different being
in the big seat, big boys seat, versus the coordinator seat. You
know, one more games in a year ago. Obviously, clearly it was
a much controversial decision by athletic director check Glad Chuck to get rid ofk in
Nea matlolo At you know, you know on the scene in Philadelphia last year
in pivot to Brian Newberry. I mean, to this point, how would
you rate season one of the Newberry era. I think it's been that's a
good question, Pryce. There's been some good and some bad, and I
think it's been a learning process for everyone. Coach Newberry has learned a lot
of things on the job about being a head coach. He'd only been a
coordinator previously, so he's learning things as he goes. You know, They've
got to get better on offense, period, end of story. That's the
main reason why a change was made. The offense was stagnant. They haven't
had good offensive production. For you take out the twenty nineteen season when Malcolm
Perry ran Wild and it's been six seasons of subpar offense and there are a
lot of reasons for that. But the main point about making a coaching change
was to bring in a fresh mind at offensive coordinator. And they hired Grant
Chestnut away from Kennesall State and he and Brian Newberry worked together of Kennsall State
under Brian Bohannon. And you know, Chef Grant has not been able to
you know, solve the problem just yet. There's there's been some positive signs.
He's introduced some schemes and elements that will look promising, but again it's
been a lot of three and outs. A lot of you know, inability
to sustain drives, and they're not scoring points. They're averaging eighteen points a
game. It's not going to get it done in this level of college football,
especially in a league like the American Athletic Conference that has so many explosive
teams. So they they still got to figure out the offense. I'm curious,
why do you think that it's more scheme than players or is this more
players than schemer or is it too early to tell, you know, that's
a good question. I think it's a combination thereof they've got some good skill
position players. Alex Tesca the fullback, and they're not calling it fullback anymore.
They've got a different name for it. But because the fullback is not
the same as it was in the triple option system, they're using them in
a wide variety of ways. They use them on pitches or sometimes have two
fullbacks in the backfield at the same time. But he has shown game breaking
ability. Eli Heyden Wright, the talented sophomore slop back, has also had
a lot of explosive plays. So there's some talent, but the offensive line
has been not up to up to par, and they've committed way too many
false start penalties, and in the type of offensive maybe runs, you can't
have those negative plays. They set you behind the sticks. So I would
say the offensive line has not had a Navy caliber season and that that's one
of the first things that has to be addressed. You have to figure that
they're not talented enough upfront. They got to get better. As we continue
with Bill Wagner talk some Navy football again covers the Midshipman for the Capitol Newspaper,
also the co host of the anchors Away podcasts, and you know,
four starting quarterbacks this year. We think Xavier R. Line is going to
be the guy under center unless they throw out a new wrinkle. But you
know something we've talked about several years now, Wags, it feels like it's
it's just becomes a bigger factor. You know, we know that the quarterback
obviously pulls all the strings in this type of offense, but you know,
Navy has been searching for that and I'm not call it be back full back,
but they've been searching for that feature ball carrier behind the quarterback. You
know, I thought dab Bofana might be emerging on the scene to be that
guy. It's been more Alex Tesca this year, but you got to go
back several years to find one of those heavy hitter Kyle Eckele. I mean,
god, there have been so many of those kind of dudes. They
haven't had one of those kind of guys at full back in several years.
And you know, an a back or a slot back, whatever you want
to you know the terminology. Now, they don't seem to have those kind
of big game, you know, speed game breakers like the Reggie Greens of
the world. It seems like they're still searching, you know, and have
been for several years. You know, they were fortunate enough Malcolmpary you could
put him anywhere. He could carry the football and be dynamic and electric.
But you know, those kind of playmakers just don't seem to be there or
we were Am I wrong on that? Well? I met I mentioned Alex
Tesca and Eli heyden Reich have shown the ability to be that when given opportunities.
When given I mean, you've got to create holes, you got to
create openings. So I think they've had some guys. Daba Fafana in the
past has had numerous breakaway runs, So I think they got the skill guys.
I just it's it's a lot of the combination of better need better blocking
across the board. And it's not just the offensive line, it's you know,
the perimeter is a very difficult to block. The perimeter now on the
option without the ability to cut block on outside. So that's one big change.
It's hard to run the slop backs when you can't cut the secondary players
like the safety in the corner. But I do agree with the quarterback.
Whenever Navy's had a big time quarterback Keenan Reynolds, you mentioned Malcolm whenever they've
had a top tier athlete at quarterback, it makes the world a difference because
you quarterback has to be a dangerous perimeter, a dangerous running threat in this
offense, both inside and on the perimeter, and when you don't have a
quarterback that's a real threat, it enables defenses to focus on those other positions.
So I think just Navy is having to evolve. I don't want to
say that triple options dead, but it's become more and more difficult with the
blocking rule changes to run the option, and Navy is trying to evolve.
And I liked Grant Chestnut talked about incorporating quick passing game schemes, which is
a good idea. That's a way to get your playmakers out in space with
a short, safe throw, a high percentage throw. But frankly, we
have not seen as much of that as we thought we would going into the
season. Weg on the defensive side of things, looking at the up bombing
game. How do you see Navy's front seven comparing to Army's offense. Well,
Navy is that they're outstanding in the front seven. That's been the strength
of the team. You talk about. The defensive line has been the unsung
heroes of this team all season. Donald Berniard the nose guard, Clay Cromwell
the tackle, and they've had this guy Justin Reed. Jacob Musick was the
starting end to begin the year. He got injured and Justin Reid stepped in
and had a great season. And then behind them you've got Colin Ramos,
the first team All American Athletic Conference Inside linebacker Will Harmer also received All AAC
mentioned, So those those two inside linebackers are outstanding. So the front seven,
frankly, the entire defense has been a real strength of this team all
season, and Army's very good up front. They've got a good offensive line.
They've they've they've shown a time's ability to to really you know, hammer
people. But I would put Navy's defensive front up against I mean, they've
shown it all season. They've you know that that stopping the run has never
been an issue this season for Navs. All right, continue with Bill Wagner
talking navymanshipman football and something we asked south ender Donado a little bit earlier about
Army Wags. Is there a guy you know outside, say the quarterbacks sit,
you know position. Is there a guy or position you think that is
going to be you look at it and say that is the key. This
is where this game is going to come down down to. We need him
or this group of players that is going to be where Navy is going to
win or lose this football game. Is there any gun or position that you
would say would be the key for the Mids offensive line. They've got to
prove that they can blow put, you know, knock Army off the ball,
control the line of scrimmage, and create holes. It's all going to
start up front. And like I just mentioned, I feel like Navy's defensive
front can hold its own and give Army everything they've got. It's the offensive
line for Navy that is the big question mark. Can they move Army and
create openings for their skill position guys to run. That's going to be the
key and a big picture question for you, Ags, because I'm kind of
curious to get your thoughts. This is something else that we ask South earlier
about the game itself. It's in Foxborough this year, it's going to be
away from Philadelphia for the next couple of years. How much does this game
change in your mind not being in Philadelphia. Oh, I don't think it's
that big of a deal. It's been other places. It's been at,
you know, the Meadowlands, at various stadiums at the Meadowlands, it's been
to M and T. Banks Stadium in Baltimore. It's a great game wherever
it's played. This will be a unique experience. It'll, you know,
add to the folklore of Army Navy to be playing it in the New England
region. And the excitement is apparently off the charts up there, both from
a media and fans standpoint. So I think it's positive. All right,
Wag, Before we let you go, you know a couple quick hitters for
you. I saw a report that Navy co captain I think it may have
been your report defensive end Jacob busick he might return for the Army game.
Is that is that what we're hearing? Yeah? So remarkably. I mean
he I don't think even Jacob thought he was going to be able to make
it back this season, but he is going to be in uniform. I
don't know how much he can contribute. He hasn't played since the third game
of the season, so I'm not sure you know how how much they can
expect from him. So but great for him as a senior captain to be
able to be in uniform and be available. So pretty remarkable comeback for music
from what everyone thought was a season ending injury. And then also in your
most recent piece, you know, you talk about headline a mid pressure.
There are goals to go, each team seeking six win in addition to momentum
entering the off season. Everybody can read that at the Capital Newspaper online.
But in the piece you mentioned, you know, we certainly know the long
history that navyes got with the New England Patriots. You know, several different
layers Joe Cardona, long snapper played it. You know, was a former
midshipman player for the Navy football team. But you know Bill Belichick his dad,
long time staff member, you know, advanced scout special teams for the
mids. You mentioned in the piece Bill Belichick going to address and talk to
the team on Friday night before Saturday's game. Yeah, and I'm not surprised
by that. Bill Belichick was at the Army Navy press conference. He did
not appear publicly because he didn't want to get mobbed and have to answer a
bunch of questions from reporters. But he met privately with coach Brian Newberry at
Gulette Stadium that day, and that's when Brian asked if would he be willing
to druss the team. I'm not at all surprised. And you know,
Bill Belichick is a full fledged supporter of Navy football. Always has been,
always will be. All Right, wagons, we got to know, what's
your prediction for this upcoming Saturday at Gillette Stadium, one hundred and twenty fourth
Army Navy game. Who comes out with their six winner? Boy, put
me on the spot. I mean Army beat air Force. Actually pretty convincingly,
and Navy got beaten pretty soundly by Air Force, so that gives me
pause and makes me feel like Army might have a slight upper hand. You
know. I think I want Navy to win, obviously because it's good for
the program that I cover, But I just I think Army is They're they're
trying to clinch the Commander in Chief trophy. We got a lot of motivation,
so I kind of think Army might win seventeen fourteen, twenty seventeen,
something like that. It's gonna be a close game. It's gonna be you
know, a field goal or a couple point difference. But I hate to
say that. I think Army is uh is the better team. Wow,
hitting the Oprah too, all right. That's Bill Wagner, the beat writer
for The Navy Midshipman, reports for the Capitol Newspaper and Annapolis Again. Follow
him on Twitter at bat Wagner, unders Underscore cap Gaz also co host of
the anchors Away podcast, where you get all things Navy Midshipman. Wags Man,
It is always great to see you and catch up friend, have a
safe trip to Boston and can't wait to see the coverage you'll be continuing to
churn out leading up to the game and afterwards. Thanks guys, Thanks all
right. That was Bill Wagner, the beat writer for the Annapolis Capital,
broke down the midshipman what he's seen being on the road with Navy all season
long and a season that started way back, way back. Stephen in Dublin,
Ireland. That they will play the longest regular season of any team in
the country this year. But it was great to catch up with Bill,
is, you know, talking a whole lot about what he's seen out of
this team this year. And it's gonna be fun on Saturday. But speaking
a fun boy, we're gonna have some fun next. Steve Anderson former Army
team captain, the linebacker captain the Black Knights in two thousand and twenty and
ten. It was a twenty eleven West Point graduate. He's stationed out in
Fort leven, Where, Kansas. He's also the co host of the Black
Knight Nation podcast with our friend south Enerdnado that you can check out at Black
Knightnation dot com. Steve is bringing juice, folks. Go ahead, buckle
up because Steve is already buckled up. It's early in the week. He
is ready to strap on the pads. You're gonna hear the intensity from Steve
Anderson when we come back here on our Army Navy Preview special. This is
Yards and Stripes your home for Service Academy Football, the latest with Navy,
Army and Air Force on Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. All right,
continuing on our Army Navy Previews special here on Yards and Stripes, and boy,
we're bringing beef juice energy in the form of Steve Anderson, co host
of a Black Knight Nation podcast, former Army linebacker team captain now stationed in
Fort Leavenworth out in Kansas. You heard Steve on with us earlier this season,
and certainly we hope you're listening to the Black Knight Nation podcasts. Soule
Enter, Donado and Steve and the array of folks they have on there do
a fantastic job. But Steven, it's game week Army Navy. You have
been at the center of this field for a coin toss. I can see
the juice is flowing now. I think the excitement probably started weeks ago.
It's not built to that crescendo yet, but it's getting close. What does
it feel like game week as a former team captain of the Black Knights.
Yeah, Sam, I mean the bloods on fire, right. Yeah.
So you know last week was a bye and I had buddies hit me up
like about it. Last week. I was like, guys, I can't
do two weeks at this intensity. Okay, I need to. I need
to. I need to focus on a few things I need to get done
this week before I just start, you know, punting things and going all
in and and really just really you know, turn on the dislike of of
Navy Navy UH Navy football program. So uh yeah, man, what a
special week, all the things leading up to it. It's it's you know,
we talked about the conference championships and all those had bowl like experiences,
and they're not always like this. This game, regardless of UH wins,
losses, stats, players, coaches, doesn't matter. This rivalry is back
where and it's anybody's game on Saturday. And you know the best thing about
this game is if you do the fundamentals, if you win in the fundamentals
of football, that is going to be who wins the game nine out of
ten times? And I like our I like our chances. Love talking to
Blake Powers and just the guys around the team super excited about the game on
Saturday. I'm curious, Steve, because this game is going to be a
Gellett Stadium in Foxborough. It's it's totally it's I I'm you're giving me the
thumbs down sign. And I was going to ask you, you know this
game, you know, the the tradition is always going to be Philadelphia.
Obviously you feel kind of like I do, that something is missing with this
game being in Foxborough and not in Philadelphia. Yeah, I mean, I
just look, we understand that, uh, college football is a billion dollar
business, and we understand all that. It's not about that. It's just
you hope when you're talking about something, I mean, we're talking about so
something so historic, and we're talking about something so unique within college football umbrella,
that you would hope that it's not grandfather but almost protected doing Sure.
You know, the military is so rich in tradition, in the atmosphere at
Philly. I mean, I played at Ravens Stadium, I played at Philly,
I've been on the sidelines at at d C. There is just something
about Philadelphia Army Navy that you can't touch and you know, you know,
I'm a Ravens fan as well, so I don't like the Patriots, so
that adds to it. But but yeah, no, I hope it.
It's gonna be a great Atlas here because when you bring the type of people
that want to watch this game, they're all, for the most part,
great people watching great people play a sport that people enjoy watching. And you
know the quote that I love is, you know, you know, it's
the only game that the players on the field are willing to, you know,
put their lives on the live for the people that are watching, right,
And not to get too sentiment of like they're doing it for all the
reasons, right, but uh, the it's just such a cool aspect,
uh and uniqueness to the game. And I'll tell you what, man,
there's gonna be no no punch is held back. It's going to be a
fight. I truly believe Navy believes they're the better team, and I know
Army knows they're the better team. So I not be surprised if things come
out popping right off the bat. I'm trying to seize that momentum because momentum
can sway these games in a lot of ways. I can hear the street
fight in Steve's voice right now, I can hear I hear that, I
hear. Let's just take this on a back alley right now. Forget the
cameras, forget the tanks on the side, forget the freaking people popping the
freaking whatever popping things they do in the stands. Let's just go turn the
lights off, getting a back alley, and let's just go sit each at
each other the hardest. See who's less standing. I like where this game
goes, well, I bet you do. Let's talk about it, Steve,
because I mean, look, the script has really flipped here in this
situation, and it flipped in Denver, uh for me this season, in
this game, but this season, certainly for Army flipped in Denver when nobody
was giving the Black Knights a chance against undefeated Air Force. They went in
there. You talk about punching the mind in the mouth air Force, I
mean they were still a staggered eight count in my opinion, when the final
horn sounded. They had no idea what hit them, and it hit them
so hard. I don't think they ever got up on their feet to figure
out where they were playing that game and that game that season is I mean
clearly turned around for the Black Knights, winning three straight, best win of
the season, beating Coastal. You know in that last game, you know,
before this one, you've got a team coming in with all the confidence
in the world. Especially the big thing about this one is you're playing for
a Commander in Chief trophy. Now you're not just playing for any kind of
a split C. I C is on the line for the Black Knights.
Yeah, and not just the motivation of it belongs to us, but it
goes back to Air Force if there's a loss, and nobody wants that,
right No, And but to that point, right, that's what I'm talking
about, is how when you start with the momentum in these games, it's
almost you you almost get that mental edge over your peer. That's that he
knows you've got that mental edge on them. And that is what is so
unique about this game is we're all in the military. We all live that
military lifestyle. We don't have as much nice golf courses as or beaches as
the Navy and Air Force do in the army, but what what what is
you what is similar is that military mindset and you know you know, it's
it's like that that quick Simon town, you know, when things are going
bad and you have to flip the script somehow, and that is where we
can capitalize by gaining momentum and punching in their mouth. They're going to feel
like they need to do something right, and that's where errors can be made,
and that's when we need to capitalize off the play action pass or an
interception for a pick six or whatever it needs to be. The other thing
we've got going on in this game is are we shotgun or we other center?
Right? We we we totally. You know, we talked about flipping
the script against Air Force. We flipped the script on scouting because now you've
got to delineate between the two. And it's a mid different mindset where if
you've got younger players, you don't understand the game within the game and what
the mentality is under center, but what the mentality is at a shotgun.
Shotgun, you're gonna get that low lying drive right at your chest and you're
not going to be prepared for it. And I really like, how uh
you know, Coach Monkin was very honest about why we did it. He
didn't say we were sticking with it. But he was just honest about what
needed to change. The guys responded to give him the ability to have those
two different formations now and it was a full team win where we didn't have
the offensive court. You know. Hackett wasn't like, oh great now I
don't even call the plays. No, he was like, hey, whatever
what the team needs to do to for success, which then shows the integrity
and the sprint corp within the team for success. So yeah, you can
hear man, I can. I can do Army. You know, I
can do it all day every day. That's why I got to do these
things as parts are. You know, I'm gonna be meaning the additional nets
throughout the day. I definitely feel you on that one, Steve. I'm
curious this is something that we ask b Att Brighaman, who covers air Force
last week, and I'm curious to get your your take on this because in
that game between Army and Air Force, because of what happened, it certainly
feels like Army beat air Force four times in a row because all of a
sudden, air Force goes from eight no to eight and four. And let's
face it, they're probably lucky that there is an Armed Forces Bowl because because
it's probably they're probably not. They're probably playing in like the the Boca Ratone
instead of the Armed Forces Bawl being an eight and four Air Force team.
On on on your side, though, do you think that a win like
that helps the Black Knights? Say, through the through the Holy Cross and
through the through the Coastal Games? Did you beat Air Force three times to
get to where you are now? Do you think? I don't know if
it's I don't know if there's you know, we just had such a difficult
stretch. Well, we played some really good teams back to back to back,
and that's where people don't understand why it's different playing in the SEC West
than any other conference, because every week you're playing against some really good talent
and there's no off weeks unless like you have somebody who's not in the SEC
West that you're playing. You're playing Vanderbilt, Yeah, which is SEC team
though, right, that's true, that's true, very true. So that
was a really tough stretch for a team that is doing a completely new offense,
who's got a lot of new faces out there. So I think it
just was like we couldn't get the momentum, and I think quite possibly we
win a couple of those games if we have success more success early. You
know, we had utsa but we couldn't string them along. And I think
the win over this top rank you know, or the top twenty five team
was that was that hump we needed to get over where it's like, guys,
we can do this, like Air Force was look and don't get don't
get twisted. That was a metal win too, Like Air Force is not
the same Since Army beat them and there's a little credit to be had,
there's gotta be some truth to it because they're just not playing as you know,
motivator. They weren't playing as motivated or as disappointed or whatever you want
to call it. But I think to your point about the wins over Holy
Cross and Coastal, like, uh, it was complete football across the board,
and it showed that regardless of what has happened through this season, no
bowl game opportunity, right we knew we weren't going to a bowl didn't matter,
Okay, And that's the type of personality these guys are, and that's
the kind of mentality they have, is they could easily beat the Air force,
you know, you know, you know, played well, but dedicated
kind of just went to see I see because that's all that was on the
line at that point. Yeah, and the fact that it just meant more
for these guys and they were able to string along what right looks like and
what right feels like. They're gonna be able to bring that on Saturday,
regardless of where it's are. You know. I'm but man, I'm we'll
have an England game before this is all said and done, if the money's
right, right, I just just super excited about this game. I think
we match up well. I think our defense matches up really well against Navy's
offense and their scheme with how we have the ability to We have athletic d
lineman that can that can shuck, you know, lighter guys. So I
think I think it's going to be uh you know. I I believe whoever
gets up first and creates that momentum shift early, it's gonna be able to
hold their their hand on their throat the remainder of the game and just kind
of be able to move them where they want them. All right. As
we get ready to wrap up with Steve Anderson co hosts the Black Knight Nation
podcast. Former Army linebacker team cap in twenty ten Team captain right, Steve
twenty eleven grad and got that right, right, captain? Get it right?
Man. I'm just glad there's no brick wall. I hope there's no
brick wall anywhere in Steve's vicinity right now, because I think you could go
through it and you know, bricks, you know they'll be shattered. But
something you alluded to just a second ago, Steven, no bowl game.
If there's anything else you need to toss, you know, the kerosene on
this spire that's gonna burn pretty damn bright in Philadelphia on Saturday, starting at
three o'clock. It's the fact that both team seniors, this is going to
be their final college football game that they ever play. There is no bowl
game for either team. This is the last time they're going to pop somebody
in the mouth with Pad's helmet and everything on. You've been there in that
final game. I know you're playing bowl games, but in this very last
installment where you want to kill your brother on that field but then walk off
almost arm in arm with him, What is this like to play that final
Army Navy game. Yeah, so we did know we had a ball.
So my last Army Navy game wasn't that field, but the year before as
a team captain and going in that locker room after the loss being injured,
I tore my a cl and I wasn't able to play, and I remember
the fuel that was burned in me from that day about I did not want
to feel what those seniors felt. And that's in your college career, you
know, for lack of a better term, a loser. Okay, you
end your college career with a loss. Yeah, and that's it's that's all
you can do. You're gonna have all the great goals that you can talk
about, all a great game start your career, but you ended with a
loss. And I still talk to guys that just you know, it's you
know, they don't keep them up at night, but when you bring up
the conversation, right, you're like, God, dang, you know,
luckily you're able to, you know, go out as winners, as a
bowl game win So I kind of had a little bit of closure in that
aspect where I never beat Navy, never beat Air Force on eight all right,
but I did get a bowl game. So I was. You know,
I can rationalize that, not that it fills a void, and you
don't really And this is why it hits those guys so hard because you don't
think about it. You don't want to think about it. All your junie
is focusing and preparing because you're gonna win and you don't believe for a second
you're gonna go out as a loser. And that is why it hits all
these swoers so old in the last, the last game, because all of
the sudden it's over and you lost or you won, and that's what you
get to feel. And that's why it's so intense for these military academies,
especially this Army Navy game specifically this year. Well, I think I think
now is the best time then to ask you this question. We've been we've
been piped up this. You know, we're all we're all excited for this.
I know which way you're going. But I'd love to get a score
prediction from him. Yeah, twenty four seventeen, Oh, very very high
scoring game for that twenty four seventeen. You know, i'dn't even go to
twenty four to fourteen. I think all he's gonna get up get up early
and then just jab the rest of the game, and then towards the end
capitalize off a mistake or an you know, an overreach on the's defense.
Uh to put that one last cross across the face. It's a little fi
to see. I see and take on the trophy, Steve. So becty
over is what Steve Anderson says. Yeah, so, and look, you're
almost guaranteed to win with the under and I think, you know, I
gotta feeling that the Vegas guys are gonna go with me on this one.
Steve. I've never wanted to strap on the pads more than I have right
now. Dude, you have Nobody has fired me up for a free game
like this, I think in history. Dude, I'm ready for Saturday right
now. Man, we cannot of course, we can't thank you enough man
for spending a few minutes with us. We know you got a ton going
on with work. Just appreciate you cramming a few minutes in to talk about
I know one of your favorite topics. We did have an arm twist too
hard, But man, just thank you so much and have fun on half
fun on Saturday. Yeah, Man, go on and beat lady, all
right, that was Steve Anderson again. You could he here. I mean
it's bubbling over Steve Carney. I mean, Steve was foaming at the mouth,
ready to run through the wall, ready for kickoff. I'm just glad
he didn't have a human around him because I think he would have gotten a
three point stance. As he was on his AirPods talking to us. He
was he was as he was as ready as a tomato, like he like
you really like like the intensity. This is one of those times where I
wish we did video for this, for this podcast that we were able to
put out because he was he was just so like see then, like I
was expecting him to start like g non at his shoulder like a dog like
he was awesome. I love having Oh my goodness, that was I mean,
that was intensity. That was intense. Steve is ready. He's gotten
me ready. I hope he got everybody listening ready because it's getting closer here
Saturday kickoff at three o'clock at one hundred and twenty fourth Army Navy game.
We are ready. Appreciate Steve for joining us this week. When we come
back, We've got our Travis Manion Foundation Honor Roll Honoring a fallen Hero of
This is your first time listening to the Arg and Stripes we honor a fallen
Hero and our Travis Manning Foundation Honor Roll segment every single week because we all
know freedom is never and is not free, So we want to thank all
our Armed Forces members, but those especially their families of ones have given the
ultimate sacrifices. The Travis Manning Foundation is helping keep their legacy a commitment alive
in communities around the country. You can check out more online at Travismannon dot
org. We will come back with our TMF Honor Roll and then after that
we will talk a little bit about the Armed Forces. Bowl Air Force is
going to be taking the field again later this month, and we'll give you
our picks here on our Army Navy Preview special. This is yarg and Stripes
with my man Steve Carney. I'm Bryce Akinson. We'll be right back.
In two thousand and seven, Mareen First Lieutenant Travis Manion was killed in Iraq
after save his wooted teammates. Travis's legacy lives on through the words he spoke
before his final deployment. If not me, then who words that today fuel
the spirit of Travis Manion Foundation, and through TMF, these words can live
in you too. Show the world what you're made of. Because character is
invisible until it's not. Find out how you can strengthen the character of your
community alongside empowered veterans, families of the fallen, and inspired civilians at Travismanion
dot org. Welcome back in the Yards and Stripes, your home for service
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on this segment, if you haven't listened to tra Yards and Stripes before,
you know that this is time where we honor a fallen hero, and this
week we're gonna honor remember Jared Day. He was a petty officer in the
United States Navy. Jared Day gave the ultimate sacrifice on August the sixth,
twenty eleven, when he was one of thirty one service members who died in
a Chudnook helicopter crash in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan. The Taylorsville, Utah
native was just twenty four years old at the time of his death. He
listened in the Navy in two thousand and two, and over his decade of
service he earned several awards, including a Joye Service Commendation Medal with valor.
He was a Petty Officer first Class Expeditionary Warfare Specialists, and his family said
quote in the service of his country, Jared deployed numerous times to Africa,
Asia, and the Middle East, earning many personal awards and decorations for valor,
combat and meritorious service. Jared was an Information technician first class. Jared's
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to our family, but to this country that was the Day family. To
Salt TV Network, Travis Mannon Foundation honored Jared W. Day and the thirty
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honor Jared in the many others that have given the ultimate sacrifice by going to
Travismanion dot org and continue on the legacy of commitment and service that our fig
and heroes have left in places in communities around our nation. Again Travismanion dot
org. Travis Mallon Foundation's nine to eleven Heroes run five Kray series units communities
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the war since. Join your community this September and register to run, walk
or rock by visiting nine to eleven Heroes run dot org. The latest with
Navy, Army and Air Force on Yards and Stripes Service Academy Football. We're
coming down the stretch on Army Navy Preview Special Yards and Stripes your home for
Service Academy Football. He is Steve Carney, I am Price Atkinson, and
we are thrilled that you are with us this week. Appreciate if you're stopping
by for the first time. I hope you'll hit that subscribe button as we're
part of the College grid Iron, Coast to Coast podcast network on Apple Podcasts,
Spreaker, Spotify, wherever it is you get your podcasts, that is
where you can get Yards and Stripes. And this, once again is our
Army Navy Preview Special. As we're closing up shop here, we've talked all
about both these teams, broken it down. You've heard from Bill Wagner,
you've heard from Steve Anderson. But real quick, before we give you our
picks, how about the Air Force Falcon Steve, because they are going bowling
the number excuse me, the eight and four air Force Falcons. They're going
to take on number twenty four, James Madison, eleven and one out of
the fun belt. They will do battle in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, December the twenty third, a
three thirty Eastern Standard time kickoff there on ABC. James Madison obviously is a
talk a lot of the college football world steve until last month and because there
weren't enough slots filled by bowl eligible teams, Well, James Madison is going
to get a chance to play in a bowl game after all. Yeah,
they won the New Year's Day six, as did Air Force and many other
teams, but nonetheless they will get into the bowl game. But air Force
recording its record seventh appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl their thirtieth all time Bowl
appearance for the Falcons regardless, it's just great. I know that season did
not finish any way you put it. You've got to about three weeks a
little over a month to kind of pivot, get the taste out of your
mouth of what's going on the last you know, you know, last four
games of the season that you lost, especially taking on a very talented James
Madison team out of the Sun Belt. But Troy Calhoun's gonna have time to
get his team ready because they've had success in bowl games over the last few
years. Steve, Yeah, You're absolutely right. And the fact of the
matter is that you know, JMU was able to finish their seed is in
the way that they wanted to uh with with another victory. Uh. So
they end up finishing eleven and one after the loss uh to app State.
So I I just look at what the Dukes uh have been able to do
and some of the things that that they're that they're I don't I think they're
gonna have a hard time uh in this game. Uh, you know,
because there's not a team in the Sun Belt that plays the way that air
Force does. And you know, you look at you look at that sun
that Sun Belt group and the teams that are that are going through in it.
I mean, app Stay Coastal. You know, maybe maybe they took
a look at some of the some of the film between Coastal and Army to
kind of go, okay, this is kind of what the triple option looks
like. But you know, air Force doesn't run that offense, uh,
the same offense that Army. Does you know you look at some of these
other teams, Uh, you know, none of them, I don't think.
I don't think any of them played Army this year. I know they
certainly didn't play play Davy and none of and none of them played air Force
either, so uh, you know, there's there's no film for them to
go back and look at, uh, you know, taking on a conference
opponent, so or you know, want another team in the sunboat. So
uh, I unless you go all the way back to no, it's it's
well lame O is not in that conference though, so so I was thinking,
I was like, I was like, guess the that you gotta they
gotta you gotta go all the way back to that game, and and that
game is you know, so completely different. Uh you know Army, Army
is gonna look our air Force looks completely different than than that. So you
know you're gonna watch them play Coastal, You're gonna watch them play Lameo.
But it's still Army, you know, it's not air Force. Air Force
didn't play any of these teams, so we'll see James Madison has outscored its
opponents four hundred and twenty two to two hundred and twenty two this season,
and they lead the country in rushing defense, giving up to sixty one and
a half yards per game and also yards per rush allowed at two point one.
The Dukes are one of the nation's top twenty five and both scoring offense
and defense, averaging thirty five points per game and giving up just eighteen and
a half. So this is gonna be a tough one for for Troy Calhoun's
Air Force falconses. They have had success. Obviously it's a different year,
we know that, but especially when they've been matched up against some of these
Power five opponents over the last few years. Steve Louisville, Baylor, I
mean in recent memory, you know, air Force comes to play in these
bowl games. Yeah, and they want to win this game. There's there's
there's a big difference between a team that feels like they should have had an
opportunity at a New Year six uh, you know, and and obviously jam
you feels that way. There's there's a couple of teams that that certainly feel
that way. Uh, whether it's JAMU, whether it's s m U.
Because that New Year sixth game ended up going to Liberty, who played who
played nobody this year. But that's that we will allowed to get into really
bad college football podcast. If we're gonna have to, we're gonna go that
route. But uh, but I I really do think that that James Madison
is probably while they're excited to be in a bowl game, I I bet
the Dukes probably think that they are more deserving of of a more recognizable ball
game. And I think that's where air Force can can kind of catch them
unawares, if if if if that makes sense, Yeah, yeah, absolutely,
But I think at the end of the day, you know, both
these teams do want to be there, you know, especially air Force.
This is you know, their seniors. This is gonna be their last chance,
you know, to step on the field, and you know they have
been, you know, very good in the postseason over the last several years.
So I think this will be one of the better and certainly more entertaining
Bowl games without a doubt of that. Entire day again, December the twenty
third, Saturday at three thirty is ABC National Kickoff there from AM and G.
Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. James Madison a field goal favorite
over under a forty one and a half we will break it down more as
we get ready for that bowl game, and our you know bowl game preview
that we break down the game and talk a lot more about it. But
this is our Army Navy preview special, Steve. We've had our guest,
We've had Bill Wagner give us picks, We've had Steve Anderson give his pick.
We got to give our picks right now, and once again, Army,
at least as of this recording, is a two and a half point
favorite over under twenty seven and a half. Steve, correct me if I'm
wrong, if you've seen anything different as of right now. I'm sure it
could fluctu eight, maybe at two points some places, maybe over under at
twenty seven or twenty eight. But last I've seen two and a half points,
twenty seven and a half is the over under? Is it gonna be
a clean sweep? Bill and Steve both went with Army. Which way?
What kind of score are you gonna go with in this one? Buddy?
Well, As a maybe veteran, you know, I find that I tend
to give a little bit more of the benefit of the doubt toward the midshipment.
Do I think that Army should be a two and a half point favorite
in this game. If you had told me four weeks ago or five weeks
ago that that Army was gonna be a two and a half point favorite in
this game, I would have laughed you off of this podcast. I'd been
like, no way, this is going to be Navy plus or maybe minus
four or minus five. You know, there was no way that Army was
going to be favored in this game. Yeah, Army deserves to be favored
in this game. And the reason Army deserves to be favored in this game
is because Army is going to win this game and it's going to be I
mentioned earlier, Quinn Moretzky is going to be a big reason why Army wins
this game. Army wins fifteen fourteen on five count them five Quinn Maretzky field
goals Army fifteen to fourteen. Oh Man talk about going off the beaten path.
I love it, I love it mixing it up. I knew you
had something special for this Army Navy previous special. I'm with you, though,
you know I like Army. If you had said, you know,
three weeks ago that Army would be favored in this game after getting you know,
and you get boat raced during that five game losing streak. You know,
I think if you look back on it, the UMAs game is probably
the one they wish they had back. You know, maybe even say that
both about the Syracuse and Boston College games, because they thoroughly outplayed Syracuse in
that first half. But then you know, Deno Babers team brought it in
the second half, and you know, it was a nip and tuck game
against Boston College the whole way. So you know, there are a lot
of moments you can always look back on, and that's not what we're here
to do. We're here to look forward to Saturday, and you know,
I'm looking ahead and I think that Army is just a little bit better.
I think defensively, obviously Navy's got the edge, but I just think Army
offensively, they've got more playmakers. Bryce and day Is battle test had gone
the entire way this year. He's tough as nails, one of the toughest
Army quarterbacks I've seen in several years. And so he's gonna take some licks
and keep on ticking. But as you said, Quinn Meretzky could be the
X factor in this game. I think special teams could be a little bit
there in Armies favor in Moretzky, who hasn't missed in a Service Academy see
IC matchup. I think this is going to be again a time to shine.
Kicked the game winner last year in double overtime. I think it's gonna
be his time on Saturday. I'm going Army seventeen to thirteen. Army to
cover and hit the over with twenty points, so we are going clean sweep.
All four of us are going with Army. And because we did that,
Steve, watch Navy's gonna pull off a chakra because you remember the last
time this game wonderful, absolutely, I mean the last time we watched an
Academy matchup, you know, in out in Denver, November. What the
fourth we were all left with our jaws on the floor. Could it be
again? That's why the rivalry games, and that's why there's so much fun,
Steve. But it's been a ton of fun here getting to do this
with you to you know today, all season long. Like you said,
I think you nailed it at the outset. This is what we do the
entire season. Four is this Saturday. Yeah, and it's gonna it's gonna
be a blast. It's gonna be a blast. It's been a blast,
and all season has been just a wonderful time being able to spend time with
you every week to talk service academy football and and really bring the love of
true collegiate football to college football fans. It's so much fun. Absolutely couldn't
have said it better. It's just as pure as it gets on Saturday.
But the one fourth twenty fourth Army Navy Game presented by USAA three o'clock kickoff
on CBS Army five and six, Navy five and six. Who will it
be? We will be back next week to talk all about it. But
we appreciate Steve Anderson, appreciate Bill Wagner, appreciate Sal Ordonado because we did
talk with him, but that interview it went to put So that's all I'll
say on that one Steven. But things happen. Those things do happen.
But just once again, we thank all our listeners, thank the College grid
Are on Coast to Coast Podcast Network for the opportune opportunity to be a part
of some great college podcast on talking college football. Whether it's acc get off
my Pylon Florida football Insiders. Steve, you do a great job putting everything
together, which you can find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, But
Steve until next week, enjoy the game, have a great week, have
a great weekend. Thanks to everybody for downloading, listening, subscribing, and
we will do it again next week here on Yards and Stripes your own for
Service Academy Football. Join us again next time for yards and strikes Service Academy
Football. To get more on all things Service Academy Football, like Yards and
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