1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Need to get your football fixed on all things Army, 2 00:00:03,799 --> 00:00:08,439 Navy and Air Force. This is Yarns and Stripes Service 3 00:00:08,519 --> 00:00:12,960 Academy Football. Now Here are your hosts, Brice Atkinson and 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:14,000 Steve Carney. 5 00:00:15,279 --> 00:00:19,399 Speaker 2: We are back the college football season twenty twenty four. 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,600 It is underway. I am Pryce Atkinson and he is 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,800 more importantly Stephen Carney, my co host on Yards and Stripes. 8 00:00:27,879 --> 00:00:30,359 Your home for Service Academy Football is. We are part 9 00:00:30,359 --> 00:00:33,320 of the Last Word on Sports podcast Network. Check it 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,679 out online, last Word on sports dot Com Forwards Last Podcast, 11 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:43,880 or download us wherever you get your college football sports podcast, Apple, Spotify, 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,560 wherever it is. Just search Yards and Stripes and you 13 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,479 will get us because we are all about three things, Army, Navy, 14 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:56,079 and Air Force, service academies. That is what we do here. Steven, 15 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,640 it has been a long off season, but here we 16 00:00:59,679 --> 00:01:03,119 are on the precipice of another kickoff with Army set 17 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,319 to take set to take the field on Friday night. 18 00:01:06,799 --> 00:01:09,680 We will get to all that previewing all three teams, 19 00:01:09,799 --> 00:01:13,359 looking ahead to all three games this weekend our Travis 20 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,799 Manian Foundation Honor Roll segment. But let's get started. Most importantly, 21 00:01:18,599 --> 00:01:20,719 how are you friend, it has been a minute. 22 00:01:20,879 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 3: It certainly has. 23 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 4: I was saying before we started recording the show that 24 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:31,599 it you know, being able to talk service academy football 25 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,760 with you every week is always a highlight for me. 26 00:01:34,359 --> 00:01:37,239 And to not be able to do it for the 27 00:01:37,359 --> 00:01:40,359 last you know, eight and a half months has been 28 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,120 it's been torture because you and I have talked a 29 00:01:43,159 --> 00:01:46,200 little bit off, you know, back and forth during the 30 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,120 off season. But being able to hang out with you 31 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,480 every week talking about you know, whether it's the Black Knights, 32 00:01:53,519 --> 00:01:56,200 whether it's the midship and the Falcons, it's always so 33 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,719 much fun. And I absolutely love the fact that we're here. 34 00:02:00,879 --> 00:02:04,159 College football is here. There's been so many changes, but 35 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,840 yet still some things never change. And it's the fact that, 36 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,240 you know, the service academies are always going to be 37 00:02:12,719 --> 00:02:17,080 the groups that are overlooked. But you know what, they 38 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,039 may be overlooked now, but come the end of the season, 39 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,280 there's usually one of them that is the talk of 40 00:02:22,319 --> 00:02:22,719 the town. 41 00:02:23,159 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 2: Well, and especially now when a twelve team college football playoff, 42 00:02:27,039 --> 00:02:30,159 the door has opened ever so slightly a little bit 43 00:02:30,199 --> 00:02:33,719 more for possibly one of these three teams to get 44 00:02:33,879 --> 00:02:37,199 into that playoff. It's a new era. Like you said, 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,039 a lot of changes. One of those big changes is 46 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,479 happening with one of our Service Academy teams, and that 47 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,520 would be the Army Black Knights. They have joined the 48 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,080 American Athletic Conference the first time, or it would be 49 00:02:48,159 --> 00:02:50,039 the first time since what two thousand and four are 50 00:02:50,039 --> 00:02:52,240 believes that they were in a conference what six years 51 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,400 in CUSA. That's the only time in that short little 52 00:02:55,479 --> 00:02:58,520 window that Army has been a member of a conference. 53 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:00,879 But they are back there in the in the American 54 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,680 Athletic Conference this year taking the feel for the first time. 55 00:03:05,159 --> 00:03:07,599 We got a lot to cover. Steven, I agree with you. 56 00:03:07,719 --> 00:03:09,759 It has been a it has been a minute. It's 57 00:03:09,759 --> 00:03:12,759 been a long time. Better late, better late than ever. 58 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,120 They say, Were we sure we were gonna get off 59 00:03:15,159 --> 00:03:17,159 the ground, Well, it was in doubt for a little bit. 60 00:03:17,199 --> 00:03:18,800 But here we are. And I think the biggest thing 61 00:03:18,879 --> 00:03:20,759 is I miss you, You miss me, And we just 62 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,120 had to do this every week, so. 63 00:03:22,479 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 4: And we missed, and we missed the listeners. I I 64 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,000 certainly I missed. You know. We got a lot of 65 00:03:28,199 --> 00:03:31,919 a lot of feedback, a lot of great messages on 66 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,240 social media, especially from the families of the Service Academy 67 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,719 members who take the time to listen to this, to 68 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,360 this podcast, to this show every single week. 69 00:03:42,439 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 3: We love you. 70 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 4: We appreciate your your children's uh you know, their their 71 00:03:47,719 --> 00:03:52,039 commitment to service and the fact that they have uh 72 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:56,520 you know, uh given the pledge of their lives UH 73 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,919 to go and and support and defend UH this country 74 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,680 is absolutely incredible and get an opportunity to get some 75 00:04:04,759 --> 00:04:08,520 of the best educations in the in the country from 76 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:10,800 some of the best teachers in some of the best 77 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,599 uh in some of the best job corps, you know, 78 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,639 job fields in the world. So congratulations to everybody, and 79 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,120 and thank you to of course the family members of 80 00:04:22,199 --> 00:04:23,759 these Service Academy members. 81 00:04:23,519 --> 00:04:25,879 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. If you're a former player, if you're 82 00:04:25,879 --> 00:04:28,399 a current player, if you're a parent of a player, 83 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,480 if you're an alumni one of the three academies, if 84 00:04:31,519 --> 00:04:33,519 you're just simply a fan of one of the academies, 85 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,800 hell if you're just a fan of college football, welcome 86 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,399 into Yards and Stripes, because this is as pure as 87 00:04:39,399 --> 00:04:44,560 it gets. Steven. These three prestige institutions when it comes 88 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:49,279 to academics, athletics, and everything, especially on the military side, 89 00:04:49,439 --> 00:04:51,600 and that's what makes Archs and stripes so special as 90 00:04:51,639 --> 00:04:55,000 we give the attention to the three teams that they 91 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,120 deserve that they may not be getting in a lot 92 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,480 of places because college football is blown up. But the 93 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:04,360 purity that you get on a Saturday afternoon with these 94 00:05:04,959 --> 00:05:09,600 three schools, teams, institutions, it's just unlike anything else you'll find. 95 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,199 So let's get into let's just kind of take a look, Stephen, 96 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,120 because you know, like you said, it's been a little 97 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,120 bit of time. I just mentioned Army. Let's start with them, Steve, 98 00:05:19,199 --> 00:05:21,639 because you know it's it's been a little bit of 99 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,600 time since we've seen Army in a conference. What it 100 00:05:24,639 --> 00:05:28,639 was the Conference USA, the last time that we've seen 101 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,079 them in a league nineteen ninety eight to twenty twenty four. 102 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,120 They will be making their American Athletic Conference debut. But 103 00:05:36,199 --> 00:05:39,360 the Black Knights last year six and six won the 104 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:43,199 Commander in Chief Trophy again a thrilling seventeen to eleven 105 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,519 win over the Naval Academy. And you know that the 106 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,920 head scratcher probably of the whole season last year for 107 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,160 US was when they went to Denver and just absolutely 108 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,120 drubbed an undefeated Air Force team for the first time 109 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,040 they went in there and just absolutely own them. And 110 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,399 then of course, obviously the win over Navy gives him 111 00:06:03,399 --> 00:06:06,879 the Commander Chief Trophy. Stopping ty Lavati the Navy quarterback 112 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,959 inches from the end zone was seconds remaining to win 113 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,199 the CIC But six and six the last two seasons. 114 00:06:13,759 --> 00:06:15,959 You know, after a nine to four campaign in twenty 115 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,879 twenty one, the Black Knights eleven starters returning, including the 116 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,319 top four rushers from last year, which averaged two hundred 117 00:06:23,319 --> 00:06:25,959 and eight rushing yards per game. And certainly it always 118 00:06:25,959 --> 00:06:29,079 helps when you've got starting quarterback and Bryson Daily pulling 119 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,439 the strings that he is back under center Steve for 120 00:06:31,519 --> 00:06:33,120 another season for the Black Knights. 121 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. 122 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,519 Speaker 4: Absolutely, I think you could say that Bryson Daily is 123 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,959 probably when it comes to the Service academies this year, 124 00:06:40,759 --> 00:06:44,319 I would say he is probably the number one player 125 00:06:44,959 --> 00:06:48,279 in all three of these teams because you look at it, 126 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,959 and we'll get to Air Force in just a little bit, 127 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:55,439 but just so you know, air Force is completely different 128 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,839 this year than what you saw in twenty and twenty three. 129 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,079 Maybe of course struggled last year, and we'll get to 130 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,240 the Midshipman and what we think Brian Newberry is going 131 00:07:05,319 --> 00:07:09,680 to have moving forward. But really, Bryson Daily is the 132 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,879 man when it comes to Service Academy football this year, 133 00:07:13,959 --> 00:07:16,959 he is going to be the one guy that everybody 134 00:07:17,079 --> 00:07:20,959 is going to have their focus on. Every time Army 135 00:07:21,079 --> 00:07:25,759 takes the field on offense, all eleven players will know 136 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,920 exactly where he is on the field because more than 137 00:07:30,079 --> 00:07:33,000 likely he's going to have the football with him. 138 00:07:33,279 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 3: The way that. 139 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,519 Speaker 4: Army is going to be playing this year, and it 140 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:41,519 really is, it's put up her, shut up time for Bryson. 141 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,959 I mean you look at it six and six last year, 142 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,560 six and six in two thousand and twenty two, and 143 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:50,360 now going into the American Athletic Conference, so there's not 144 00:07:50,439 --> 00:07:53,920 going to be a whole lot of umasses on their 145 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,480 schedule here this season. They're going to get a full 146 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:03,160 American Athletic Conference. Uh, you know football season. You're gonna 147 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:07,000 get Memphis, You're gonna get Tulane, You're gonna get UTSA. 148 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,560 Those are those are the top three teams the listed 149 00:08:10,759 --> 00:08:14,480 by just about everybody, uh for predictions in the conference. 150 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,720 I can tell you that Army is right now uh 151 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,639 slated to finish. Uh. Let's see Bill Connolly of ESPN 152 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:25,199 has them slated sixth to finish sixth in the conference. 153 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,800 Phil Steel of his college his college Football pre you 154 00:08:28,839 --> 00:08:31,319 actually has Army finishing tenth out of fourteen. 155 00:08:31,439 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 3: That's not good. Uh. But College Football News has Army 156 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:35,879 tied for seventh. Uh. 157 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:38,639 Speaker 4: So, you know, it's a team that a lot of 158 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,759 people think is going to be in the middle of 159 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:43,919 the pack. And I think that's not a bad thing 160 00:08:44,279 --> 00:08:48,279 for Army coming into its first year inside of a conference. 161 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see how Army handles 162 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,440 the schedule because you know, Navy enter in the American 163 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,879 Athletic there were a lot of questions about whether the 164 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,320 vid shipman can handle it. Then they go to what 165 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,360 won two conference championship games right out of the gate 166 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,879 ball eligible. But you know, Army has played there's no 167 00:09:08,159 --> 00:09:10,879 other way to put it. They played a pretty you know, 168 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,399 cupcake schedule the last few years and and typically have, 169 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,080 especially as independent, where you can schedule the way you 170 00:09:18,159 --> 00:09:20,799 need to and want to to get yourself postseason eligible. 171 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,799 You know, they've just had some ups and downs, and 172 00:09:23,919 --> 00:09:25,960 you know, but Jeff Bunkins team is you know, with 173 00:09:26,279 --> 00:09:30,000 you know, Kanye Udo, they found that really a kind 174 00:09:30,039 --> 00:09:32,759 of a bruising fullback, and then Tyroll Robinson should be 175 00:09:32,799 --> 00:09:35,159 back fully healthy on the outside at slot back, so 176 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,200 it'll be interesting. Obviously, Isaiah Austin maybe the most talented 177 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,000 player on the entire team wide receiver, you know, big 178 00:09:43,039 --> 00:09:45,440 six to four wide receiver. You know, it's hurting been 179 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,799 last year, but he's out. He's transferred. Hit the portal, 180 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,840 went to Iowa State. Kind of left me scratching my 181 00:09:51,879 --> 00:09:52,720 head on that one, but. 182 00:09:53,039 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 4: Well, that's because he wants to play with my buddy, 183 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,639 Anthony Beck's son who is the quarterback at Iowa State, 184 00:09:57,759 --> 00:10:02,240 rock O Beck, who is a sophomore quarterback there. If 185 00:10:02,279 --> 00:10:04,120 I'm if I'm Isaiah, also I want to play with 186 00:10:04,159 --> 00:10:06,480 him too. Uh, because you're gonna get a whole lot 187 00:10:06,519 --> 00:10:09,600 more targets in Aimes than you are at West Point. 188 00:10:09,639 --> 00:10:12,360 And taking a look at at Army's schedule, Uh, you 189 00:10:12,399 --> 00:10:18,039 know they actually don't have either Memphis or Tulane this year, 190 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,399 which is actually a huge boost uh for them. 191 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 3: Uh. 192 00:10:22,279 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 4: They the only the really the tough games that they 193 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:31,039 have in conference UTSA is at Mikey Stadium and then 194 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,559 UAB with uh uh is probably going to be a 195 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:38,200 tough one as well. That's also at West Point, so 196 00:10:38,759 --> 00:10:42,279 they got very fortunate that. Really the only tough game 197 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,559 that they have on the road this year is they've 198 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,320 got to go to Notre Dame, so uh and Notre 199 00:10:47,399 --> 00:10:49,840 Dame is a top ten team this year. They obviously 200 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,639 kept that one on their schedule from the Independent, but uh, 201 00:10:53,759 --> 00:10:57,559 they they actually do not have, uh a a horrific 202 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,840 schedule this year, and that's probably why some of these 203 00:11:01,279 --> 00:11:03,480 guys like Bill Connelly and the folks at College Football 204 00:11:03,519 --> 00:11:06,080 Needs have them picked as high as they are because 205 00:11:06,279 --> 00:11:08,320 they aren't going to face Memphis. 206 00:11:08,399 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 3: They aren't going to face two Lane, at least not 207 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:11,039 this year. 208 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think the hardest part of Army or of 209 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,799 Army schedule is basically when they start the month of November, 210 00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:18,360 you know, when they play their first service Academy team 211 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:20,399 in Air Force and then go to North Texas and 212 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,639 they play Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium, UTSA at home, 213 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,360 and the Navy. To me, that's when that's the hardest 214 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,799 stretch of anything, is their last five games and that 215 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,519 starts in the month of November. That's just my opinion, 216 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,159 but it'll be interesting to see what's going to happen 217 00:11:34,279 --> 00:11:37,399 with Jeff Bunkins team this year joining the American Athletic 218 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:40,279 Commerce again they have the Commander in Chief trophy? Will 219 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,039 they have it again? At the end of the season, 220 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,720 we will find out. Let's move to the Naval Academy 221 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:49,000 Steve Brian Newberry in his first season last year being 222 00:11:49,039 --> 00:11:52,720 elevated from defensive coordinator to the head coaching's position after 223 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,960 the abrupt dismissal in the locker room of the Army 224 00:11:56,039 --> 00:12:01,440 Navy game, sending Kenna Montalolo packing. Brian Newberry goes five 225 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,200 and seven last year. They obviously end up, you know, 226 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,039 with the gut wrenching lost Army in the finale stopped 227 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,720 second short or yards and second short you know of 228 00:12:12,279 --> 00:12:16,080 a knocking Army off and getting Basically they would have 229 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,840 been Bowl eligible, but all the Bulls had been decided 230 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,879 by that point, so they would not have gone bowling. 231 00:12:20,919 --> 00:12:24,799 But can the Naval Academy get this thing turned around? Obviously, 232 00:12:24,919 --> 00:12:29,399 fourteen winning season in fifteen years from three to seventeen. 233 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,960 Now it's a run of four losing seasons in a row. 234 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,200 Check Glad Chuck, the athletic director, obviously made the move 235 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:40,159 and removing Kenny installing Brian Newberry, the defensive coordinator, into 236 00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:44,480 that head coaching spot. Can they get Bowl eligible this 237 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,000 year for the first time since twenty nineteen steep after 238 00:12:48,039 --> 00:12:51,240 they knocked off Kansas State in that exciting Liberty Bowl 239 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,399 Game twenty to seventeen. Will it finally happen getting back 240 00:12:54,399 --> 00:12:55,639 to the postseason for the Meds? 241 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think that for for Navy, obviously you've 242 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,080 gotta you've got to look at Alex Tesca, uh you know, 243 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,080 he is back uh again, so I think it. And 244 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:13,840 then with Blake Horbath and Braxton Woodson under center, I 245 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,639 think that's gonna be the big question for Navy is 246 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,080 you know, with ty Lavitie now gone, uh, you know, 247 00:13:20,159 --> 00:13:24,440 having having having finally graduated from from the Naval Academy, 248 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,240 who's gonna run this thing under center? I think that is. 249 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:32,559 You know, Blake Horvath was okay, uh you know, I 250 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,879 I don't I he didn't, you know, really show me 251 00:13:37,799 --> 00:13:40,960 enough to say for if I'm Brian Newberry to go, yes, 252 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:43,960 you are going to be the guy number one. I 253 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,879 mean they've they've figured it out now, but you know, 254 00:13:47,919 --> 00:13:50,399 at the at the start of the of the spring 255 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,399 you know, the question was who's going to be under center? 256 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:57,159 And that's really gonna be question because I think that 257 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,000 you know, as soon as as soon as a quarterback struggles, 258 00:14:00,279 --> 00:14:02,360 you got to make that move because right now you 259 00:14:02,399 --> 00:14:05,039 don't have enough confidence to say he's our guy and 260 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:06,000 he's our hang with him. 261 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. Definitely the question at quarterback, it's 262 00:14:09,919 --> 00:14:12,639 not three now, it's down to two. Is a horror bath? 263 00:14:12,799 --> 00:14:15,639 Is at Woodson will find out. You know you mentioned 264 00:14:15,639 --> 00:14:19,000 Braxton Daily, you know at Army, the quarterback maybe the 265 00:14:19,039 --> 00:14:22,360 most important player, talented, whatever you want to call him 266 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,519 in Service Academy football. I might make the case at 267 00:14:24,559 --> 00:14:27,360 Colin Ramos, the senior linebacker out of Wayne, New Jersey 268 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,440 for the Naval Academy, who led Navy and tackles again 269 00:14:30,559 --> 00:14:33,320 last year with one hundred and ten first team preseason 270 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:38,080 All American Athletic Conference. Again this season, that guy might 271 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,720 be the most important or talented player in the entire 272 00:14:41,919 --> 00:14:44,879 Service Academy. Realm, we will find out. But that guy, boy, 273 00:14:44,919 --> 00:14:46,320 when he hits you, you know it. 274 00:14:46,679 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, he might be the best linebacker in the conference 275 00:14:49,679 --> 00:14:52,960 this Yeah. Again, I thought that Colin Ramos was the 276 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:57,440 best linebacker in the entire American Athletic Conference last year. 277 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,279 I certainly think that said to you back. You know, 278 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,399 you would have to say, in the words of the 279 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,159 great philosopher Rick Flair, to be the man, you got 280 00:15:07,159 --> 00:15:10,120 to beat the man. So until the linebacker proves that 281 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,720 he's better than Colin Ramos, Ramos is demand. 282 00:15:13,399 --> 00:15:16,679 Speaker 2: Absolutely let's pivot to air Force our third and final team, 283 00:15:16,759 --> 00:15:19,240 and Steven, this is gonna be interesting, to say the least, 284 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,279 in the Springs this year because if you knew their 285 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,159 name with Air Force football last year, they are basically 286 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:29,799 replacing anybody who was anybody from that nine to four 287 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,519 team last year. You know, we know that they started 288 00:15:32,519 --> 00:15:35,240 the season, you remember eight, no, they were the talk 289 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:38,440 of the town. But the Wheels just came off losing 290 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,320 those last four regular season games before they finally righted 291 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,919 the ship against James Madison, the darling of the group 292 00:15:46,919 --> 00:15:49,360 of five last year, a thirty one to twenty one 293 00:15:49,399 --> 00:15:52,240 win over the Dukes and the Lockey Martin Arm Forces Bowl. 294 00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:54,320 You know, last year was the first time they did 295 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,440 not win ten games going back to twenty eighteen. That's 296 00:15:57,519 --> 00:16:01,720 not counting twenty twenty. But you know, Troy Calhoun five 297 00:16:01,759 --> 00:16:04,320 and zero in bowl games over the last eight seasons. 298 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:08,600 But as I said, pretty much anybody that's everybody is gone. 299 00:16:08,879 --> 00:16:12,159 One starter back on offense, they have three starters back 300 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:16,600 on defense. You better get a depth chart, you better 301 00:16:16,639 --> 00:16:18,720 get a roster because this is the year to get 302 00:16:18,759 --> 00:16:22,240 to know some new Air Force Falcons names. But one 303 00:16:22,279 --> 00:16:24,279 thing that we do know, while we may not know 304 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,600 all the names that are household yet, Steven, we know 305 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,519 that Troy Calhoun in that system, it's plug and play. 306 00:16:31,039 --> 00:16:33,799 He will find the bodies, he will find the players 307 00:16:33,799 --> 00:16:36,080 to get it done, because there is no question when 308 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,000 you can do what Air Force has done the last 309 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:42,200 several years, and honestly over Troy Calhoun's tenure, going five 310 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,480 to ohero in bowl games the last eight season, you 311 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,600 know what you're doing. And that's one thing that Troy 312 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,120 Calhoun does know. He knows football and what he's doing 313 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,279 in the Springs. 314 00:16:49,919 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 4: Oh absolutely, it is reload and restart the season for 315 00:16:56,519 --> 00:17:00,159 the Falcons. And while most of the starters are gone, 316 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,519 you can still say that there are plenty of guys 317 00:17:02,559 --> 00:17:06,519 that have gotten experience in seasons past that are back 318 00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:10,119 again for Troy Calhoun. And you know that the quarterback 319 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,680 is going to be a big It's going to be 320 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,279 a big issue, and it's going to be the big 321 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,519 key on offense, you know, whether it's handing off to 322 00:17:18,559 --> 00:17:21,880 one of those fullbacks or keeping the ball himself. And 323 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,720 John Busha, the junior quarterback, is going to be the 324 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,920 man under center here to start things. You know, he 325 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,319 got in some work last year. He played in the 326 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:34,559 unl V game, the he played against Boise State when 327 00:17:34,599 --> 00:17:37,359 we had the injuries going on there, and I really 328 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,359 do think that, you know, he is going to be 329 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,920 the big the big piece for Troy Calhoun at least 330 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,640 being able to keep the continuity going, because that's the 331 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:48,200 big thing. 332 00:17:48,519 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 3: Yes, you've got the the head coach is the key. 333 00:17:51,279 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 4: To continuity at air Force, but your quarterback's got to 334 00:17:54,759 --> 00:17:57,279 have some If they were going in with a true freshman, 335 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:01,039 I would be completely concerned, you know that they would 336 00:18:01,079 --> 00:18:03,839 probably only win four or five games this year. But 337 00:18:04,079 --> 00:18:06,720 now the fact is they've got a junior quarterback, a 338 00:18:06,759 --> 00:18:10,119 guy that got some that did get some uh uh 339 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,200 some work, albeit and losses at the in the last 340 00:18:14,279 --> 00:18:17,359 half or the last quarter of last season. But I 341 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,480 think that's that's great for for Troy Calhoun. It's great 342 00:18:20,519 --> 00:18:22,680 for the Falcons. They know their man is going to 343 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:23,319 be under center. 344 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:25,519 Speaker 2: Who is it going to be? Is it gonna be 345 00:18:25,599 --> 00:18:29,480 one of the two super super quick sophomores, Quinton Hayes 346 00:18:29,599 --> 00:18:32,799 or Josh Johnson? Is it going to be? Look, we 347 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,920 all know that Troy Calhoun plays things very very close 348 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:37,759 to the best. Is it going to be somebody that 349 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,519 nobody is even talking about right now? It would not 350 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,720 surprise me when they tried out on the field Saturday 351 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,880 against Merrimack. But one thing I do know, regardless of 352 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,400 what happens, He's going to find his guy. But he's 353 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,920 also going to play a lot of guys until he 354 00:18:53,039 --> 00:18:55,359 finds who that guy that he trust is to take 355 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:56,200 care of the football. 356 00:18:56,599 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 357 00:18:57,519 --> 00:19:00,599 Speaker 2: On defense, Steven, Look, you know we all talk about 358 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,519 offense when it comes to the three Service Academies, triple option, 359 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,880 run the ball, control the clock, don't make mistakes, and 360 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,559 get off the field on third down defensively when you can. 361 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,680 I'm not sure if I've seen a Service Academy defense. 362 00:19:12,759 --> 00:19:15,839 Maybe that was as good as Air Force was last year. 363 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,279 And you know, playing in that Mount West Conference, the 364 00:19:18,319 --> 00:19:20,880 way some of these teams play and the prolific numbers 365 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,559 they can put up offensively. You know last year, I 366 00:19:23,599 --> 00:19:25,920 know there were only three starters back from that defense 367 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,039 last year that was number six in the country and 368 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,559 yards allowed per game at what just over two hundred 369 00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:33,079 and seventy five, and they were top ten in the nation, 370 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,519 I think, first in the mount West and third down defense, 371 00:19:37,319 --> 00:19:40,359 you know, you've got some continuity, at least a little bit. 372 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,440 Guys that got a taste of it last year. They 373 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:44,400 were as about as good as you'll find when it 374 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,880 comes to a group of five defense last year. They're 375 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,359 gonna have to replicate it this year too, to some 376 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,279 kind of degree, especially when you've got so many newbies 377 00:19:53,319 --> 00:19:55,400 on offense and you may not be able to control 378 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,920 the clock like they did with so many playmakers on 379 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,599 the outside at widers or slot back at a quarterback. 380 00:20:02,039 --> 00:20:05,039 Speaker 4: Yeah, and not only that, but so many teams the 381 00:20:05,079 --> 00:20:07,559 Mountain West got better this year. 382 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 2: You know. 383 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 4: Boise State, obviously is is the cream of the crop. 384 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,880 I was reading the poll that was put out by 385 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,200 the conference. Thirty eight of the forty six people polled 386 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,799 picked Boise State to win the conference. So obviously they 387 00:20:23,839 --> 00:20:27,799 feel like they are the cream of the crop UNLV 388 00:20:28,799 --> 00:20:33,279 is supposed to be extremely improved this year as well 389 00:20:33,319 --> 00:20:37,240 as is Fresno State. But you know, I really think 390 00:20:37,279 --> 00:20:40,119 that from top to bottom, plus the fact that the 391 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,440 Mountain West now has that that agreement to work with 392 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:49,200 Oregon State, Washington State is also is also going to 393 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:53,079 be big for the conference to make sure that you 394 00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:57,400 that you have you know, they might be the two 395 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:01,839 teams that the East Coast conferences didn't want, you know, 396 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:03,480 they didn't go to the Big Ten, they didn't go 397 00:21:03,519 --> 00:21:05,240 to the Big twelve, they didn't go to the ACC. 398 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:10,400 But they are still what you would consider to be 399 00:21:10,559 --> 00:21:14,680 Power five conferences, and they are there going to be 400 00:21:14,759 --> 00:21:18,279 some really formidable competition for the Falcons this year. 401 00:21:18,599 --> 00:21:22,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent agree with that. Several stretches in 402 00:21:22,039 --> 00:21:24,319 that Air Force schedule. I'm not even sure really which 403 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,519 one to point at, because I think there's a couple 404 00:21:27,559 --> 00:21:30,920 of gauntlets in there, if you will, especially kind of 405 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,880 in the middle, start with Baylor at Baylor on September fourteenth, 406 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,559 and then going all the way through at New Mexico 407 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,000 on October the twelfth, and then the way they finish 408 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,519 against Fresno State and then Oregon State and then on 409 00:21:43,599 --> 00:21:47,599 the road at Nevada and San Diego State. You know, 410 00:21:47,839 --> 00:21:50,680 look pick your poison there. You know, Air Force is 411 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,559 going to have to step up, you know, especially when 412 00:21:52,559 --> 00:21:54,839 you throw in a Baylor in an Oregon state on 413 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,759 that schedule. But we'll find out. We will find out 414 00:21:57,799 --> 00:22:01,039 in short order because kickoff is coming this weekend and 415 00:22:01,079 --> 00:22:04,400 we've got three games involving all three of our teams, 416 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:09,440 all at home this weekend against what against FCS opponents, 417 00:22:09,839 --> 00:22:12,680 if you will, at the same time. So I think 418 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,920 we're looking at some big wins for all three teams. 419 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,640 We're going to get into all three of those games 420 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:18,400 here when we come back on Yards and Stripes, you're 421 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,440 home for Service Academy Football. Is He is Stephen Carney 422 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,480 and I'm Price Akinson, part of the Last Word on 423 00:22:23,519 --> 00:22:26,960 Sports podcast Network. Don't worry, We're coming right back in 424 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,039 to preview this week's three games. And also we have 425 00:22:29,079 --> 00:22:31,880 our Travis Manian Foundation Honorall segment and we'll make some 426 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:33,279 picks here at the end day tune. 427 00:22:33,319 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 3: We're coming right back. 428 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: The latest with Navy, Army and Air Force on Yards 429 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,839 and Stripes Service Academy Football. 430 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 2: All right, Welcome back in the Yards and stripes your 431 00:22:47,279 --> 00:22:51,960 home for Service Academy Football Episode one of the twenty 432 00:22:52,039 --> 00:22:56,519 twenty four college football season. He is my man, Stephen 433 00:22:56,599 --> 00:22:59,279 Carney I and Price Atkinson, and we are honored to 434 00:22:59,319 --> 00:23:03,799 have you back with us for another campaign. Army, Navy 435 00:23:03,799 --> 00:23:05,400 and air Force. That's what we do, and that's what 436 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,359 we're going to do right here, because boy, we got 437 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,400 three games this weekend. All of our three teams are 438 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,119 at home against FCS opponents, and we're going to start 439 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,160 with Lehigh and Army on Friday night. The season opener 440 00:23:17,599 --> 00:23:19,839 is going to be on CBS Sports Network. You got 441 00:23:19,839 --> 00:23:23,319 a triple header basically all weekend starting Friday night, and 442 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,799 it's all on the CBS Sports Network. Lehigh and Army, 443 00:23:27,279 --> 00:23:29,759 the Black Knight's a thirty three point favorite at home 444 00:23:29,839 --> 00:23:32,680 over under forty seven and a half. It's a Black Knights, 445 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:36,720 as we told you earlier, making their AAC debut. Army 446 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:40,440 playing an eight game American Athletic Conference schedule with CIC 447 00:23:40,599 --> 00:23:44,839 matchups against air Force and Navy, which ironically that Navy 448 00:23:44,839 --> 00:23:48,200 game will be a non conference game when they play. 449 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,519 It is kind of strange. Yes, we know it, but 450 00:23:50,599 --> 00:23:54,480 that's the deal. Army leads this series against Lehigh eight 451 00:23:54,559 --> 00:23:57,400 two and one, with every single game in this series 452 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,119 played at West Point. But ironically, the last time this 453 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,759 game was played between the two teams, it was back 454 00:24:02,799 --> 00:24:05,359 in nineteen ninety five Steve forty two to nine win 455 00:24:05,559 --> 00:24:08,680 for the Black Knights. Is Jeff Monkin the head coach 456 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,440 now in his eleventh season at the helm of the 457 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:16,640 Black Knights, seventy and fifty five, his fifteenth season overall 458 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,359 as a college head coach. And you know they're four 459 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,839 and two and Friday night games under Jeff Monkin. I 460 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:23,680 don't think there's any question that they're going to go 461 00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:25,880 to five and two and Friday night games under Monkin 462 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,880 against lee High that was two to nine last year 463 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:33,279 Steve and Kevin Cahill's first season against Lehigh out of 464 00:24:33,319 --> 00:24:34,359 the Patriot League. 465 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, and you look at it is this is obviously, 466 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:42,359 you know, a return to form for a lot of people, 467 00:24:43,079 --> 00:24:47,240 and I certainly think that for Jeff Monkin, this is 468 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,039 the way to get your to get your team off 469 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,920 to a great start. I mean, you're playing a team 470 00:24:53,519 --> 00:24:57,160 one FCS in the in the Patriot League. You know 471 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:00,920 it's not a it's not going to be a team 472 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:04,720 that should give you a whole lot of trouble, missus. 473 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,480 You know, you look at it. They are you know, 474 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,920 they've they've played plenty of service academies over the years. 475 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,519 Speaker 3: They played I believe they played Navy. 476 00:25:15,279 --> 00:25:19,599 Speaker 4: Back in like twenty eighteen ye and and the Midshipman 477 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,960 dispatched them by thirty points. So they're they're they're a 478 00:25:24,039 --> 00:25:27,440 group that you know is going to be feisty. They're 479 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,039 they're definitely going to be up for this game. You know, 480 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:35,079 when you're playing Lafayette and holy Cross and the likes 481 00:25:35,519 --> 00:25:39,079 for for your football championship, you get an opportunity to 482 00:25:39,079 --> 00:25:43,000 get a team like Army to come down or to 483 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:46,599 play or I should say, go up to West Point 484 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,720 to play a team like Army. You get that opportunity, 485 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:52,559 you certainly want to take advantage of it. I don't 486 00:25:52,559 --> 00:25:56,440 think that they're going to have much of when when 487 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,640 I say they, I mean Army, of course. I don't 488 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:00,680 think they're going to have a whole lot of trouble 489 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,680 dispatching this group. And this is probably going to be 490 00:26:04,279 --> 00:26:07,720 a really nice start for the Black Knights and one 491 00:26:07,759 --> 00:26:09,160 that they certainly are going to need. 492 00:26:10,039 --> 00:26:12,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Mountain Hawks have not won steven. They have 493 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:18,559 not won a non conference game. Get this, going back 494 00:26:18,599 --> 00:26:21,720 to twenty eighteen when they beat Saint Francis in their 495 00:26:21,759 --> 00:26:25,240 season opener. Twenty one to nineteen, they have dropped twenty 496 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,880 four straight games outside of the Patriot League. And if 497 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:29,559 that helped, if that doesn't give you a little idea 498 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,799 what we're dealing with two to nine last year. Yeah, 499 00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:34,960 but they were picked to finish six in the Patriot 500 00:26:35,039 --> 00:26:37,799 League this year the preseason and vote by the media. 501 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,559 Speaker 4: By the way, that Saint Francis team is in the 502 00:26:41,599 --> 00:26:45,559 Northeast Conference. So you're not talking about this is not 503 00:26:45,759 --> 00:26:49,920 going to be you know, a team. This is not Rutgers, 504 00:26:50,319 --> 00:26:54,319 this is not pitt or Penn State. You know, Saint 505 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:59,160 francis Is is a one FCS team as well. So 506 00:26:59,279 --> 00:27:03,079 you can tell it's going to be a long long time. Uh, 507 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,079 it's been a while since they've since they've had that 508 00:27:06,079 --> 00:27:09,200 that non conference road wind, and it certainly is not 509 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,079 coming this week by any stretch of the imagination. 510 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,559 Speaker 2: At Mike Stadium to where those renovation the preservation project 511 00:27:15,599 --> 00:27:18,440 Steve it's underway, those views are going to be a 512 00:27:18,519 --> 00:27:20,000 little bit different this year. 513 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was telling you I was I was telling 514 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:23,079 you about this. 515 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 4: I really was kind of uh shocked when when I 516 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,759 saw that it was actually going to happen. 517 00:27:30,319 --> 00:27:30,559 Speaker 2: Uh. 518 00:27:30,599 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 4: You know, there's been talk for years that that they 519 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,559 were going to make reserve renovations, they were going to 520 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:41,440 do uh work to preserve uh historic Mikey Stadium. Uh 521 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,279 one of those places that I have been dying to 522 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,319 go to to watch a football game. I will always 523 00:27:47,319 --> 00:27:50,279 wanted to sit in the West stands and be able 524 00:27:50,319 --> 00:27:54,119 to look out above the East stands and be able 525 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:57,680 to see the Hudson River as I'm watching a football game. 526 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,680 And that's not going to happen anymore, because they're basically 527 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,559 tearing down the East stands and they're going to build 528 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,400 another version of the West stands, the west side stands 529 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,480 on the East side with a whole bunch of club seating. 530 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:12,480 And but the one thing that I don't like about 531 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,359 it is the fact that it's going to take away 532 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,880 what what is always been the best part about Mikey 533 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,200 Stadium by all accounts. 534 00:28:19,839 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 3: It's the view. 535 00:28:21,039 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 2: Well you know what they say that, you know, people 536 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,640 always thinking bigger is better. You know, I'm going to 537 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,599 fundamentally disagree with that. Especially in this case when you're 538 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,480 taking away that view, because it is one of the 539 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:35,839 most majestic views in all of college Football's Yes, Tennessee. 540 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,960 I'm telling you it's more majestic than looking at that 541 00:28:38,079 --> 00:28:40,839 Dagum River going past Niland Stadium. 542 00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 4: In I will say I will say this that that 543 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,559 Mikey Stadium is on the bucket list for me. You know, 544 00:28:48,319 --> 00:28:50,400 if I say that there are going to be places 545 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,359 that I want to go to watch to watch a 546 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,839 football game and I want that view, there's only two 547 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,160 places that I know where you're going to get that 548 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,079 that sort of view, and that's at Mikey Stadium without 549 00:29:02,119 --> 00:29:05,400 the renovated stands. Yeah, and in Boone, North Carolina. I 550 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,519 think when you go when you go to app State 551 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,680 and go play a game and go watch a game 552 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:14,079 at kid Brewers Stadium with the leaves changing and you're. 553 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,359 Speaker 3: Up on the mountain in Boone, I'm dying to do 554 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:18,000 that as well. 555 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 2: I am too. It's only three and a half hours 556 00:29:20,279 --> 00:29:22,960 roughly from here at Boon from where I sit in Greenville, 557 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,960 South Carolina. So yeah, that one's actually on my bucket list. 558 00:29:26,039 --> 00:29:28,400 Is I actually never went up there over the years 559 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,279 when Furman would play up there. But I am going 560 00:29:31,319 --> 00:29:32,920 to make it there, and you and I need to 561 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:34,440 do it together. That's all I'm gonna say. 562 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 4: Well, I've got the hook up. My buddy Mark is 563 00:29:38,279 --> 00:29:40,920 the radio engineer for app State, so. 564 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 3: Just say the word. I think I can get his tickets. 565 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,039 Speaker 2: We should be radio guests. Steven, all right. 566 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:49,519 Speaker 3: We should do on the pregame show. 567 00:29:49,799 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 2: Let us do it, Man, we won't let you down. 568 00:29:52,319 --> 00:29:55,559 Let's pivot to Saturday, Stephen, our first to two games 569 00:29:55,559 --> 00:29:59,240 on Saturday, doubleheader, back to back CBS Sports Network. Let's 570 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,599 go up to a Napole said Navy Marine Corps Memorial 571 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,519 Stadium where the Navy Midshipmen are going to welcome the 572 00:30:04,519 --> 00:30:07,440 buck Nell Bison for a noon kickoff. Maybe a thirty 573 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:10,480 two and a half point favorite, the twenty first all 574 00:30:10,519 --> 00:30:13,319 time meeting between these two teams in a series that 575 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,400 started back in eighteen ninety eight, maybe with a nine 576 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,400 to four to one advantage in the series, but they 577 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:24,680 haven't played since back in nineteen twenty five. Every single 578 00:30:24,799 --> 00:30:27,480 game in this series has been played at the Naval Academy, 579 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,799 and that last meeting was in nineteen twenty five, a 580 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,279 thirteen to seven win for the midshipman again Brian Newberry 581 00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:35,440 in his second season at the Helm, after the mids 582 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,079 were five and seven last year four and four in 583 00:30:38,119 --> 00:30:41,480 the American Athletic Conference, Navy won a fourteen one of 584 00:30:41,519 --> 00:30:45,000 two teams nationally that started four different quarterbacks last season. 585 00:30:45,799 --> 00:30:47,880 I think it's gonna be one of the two you mentioned. 586 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,680 Alex tesca earlier honorable mentioned All Conference last year, rushing 587 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,200 for seven hundred and fifty eight yards five touchdowns, and 588 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,079 a defense led by Colin Ramos. I don't think there's 589 00:30:57,079 --> 00:31:00,039 gonna be any question that the Midshipmen are going to 590 00:30:59,960 --> 00:31:03,440 be not only heavily favored, as we mentioned as they 591 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:07,079 welcome Bucknell, but a Bucknell team that has struggled the 592 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:10,759 last several seasons, including a four and seven campaign last year. 593 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely. 594 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,319 Speaker 4: It's amazing to think that Bucknell has played football for 595 00:31:15,359 --> 00:31:17,839 almost one hundred and forty years. This is the one 596 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:22,000 hundred and thirty ninth season for Bucknell Bison football, which 597 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,720 I think is an incredible, uh uh you know. 598 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 3: Statistic to throw out there. 599 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:30,079 Speaker 4: For for Navy, I have a feeling that what they 600 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:34,680 do outside the tackles is going to be the most 601 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:38,759 important part in this game because Bucknell has doesn't have 602 00:31:38,799 --> 00:31:41,359 a whole lot returning, but what they do have is 603 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,359 probably one of the best inside linebackers in the Patriot League. 604 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,759 And Brad Jamison who is back. He was an All 605 00:31:46,839 --> 00:31:49,160 Patriot League linebacker last year. 606 00:31:49,279 --> 00:31:52,319 Speaker 3: He is back. And I think that you know, if 607 00:31:52,359 --> 00:31:54,400 you're if your Navy, you're. 608 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:57,359 Speaker 4: Gonna you can try running inside early and if you 609 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,839 don't have success, you're gonna have to work your way 610 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:01,799 on the outside. But I have a feeling that he's 611 00:32:01,839 --> 00:32:04,319 going to be trying to trying to plug one too 612 00:32:04,359 --> 00:32:06,519 many holes. There might be too many holes in front 613 00:32:06,519 --> 00:32:08,400 of him. You only plug one of them. He's only 614 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:12,039 one person. So I think that's where that's where Navy 615 00:32:12,119 --> 00:32:15,480 is going to have its advantages with the offensive line 616 00:32:15,519 --> 00:32:20,319 being able to make multiple lanes for the fullbacks, whether 617 00:32:20,359 --> 00:32:23,519 it's Alec Teska or or the other guys that are 618 00:32:23,559 --> 00:32:26,559 going to be back there with uh with the with 619 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,839 the Navy quarterback, if you've got multiple holes, you're going 620 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:31,559 to find yourself with a lot of success. 621 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, another guy for the midshipman that not a lot 622 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:36,200 of people are going to talk about because you don't 623 00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:38,279 usually think of punters right out of you. You know, 624 00:32:38,519 --> 00:32:40,359 one of the first key players out of your mouth 625 00:32:40,359 --> 00:32:43,160 when you talk about a college football team. But Riley Richman, 626 00:32:43,519 --> 00:32:46,039 the punter for the Midshipman, a first team All Conference 627 00:32:46,039 --> 00:32:48,720 pick in the AEC last year average just shy of 628 00:32:48,839 --> 00:32:51,960 forty five yards of punt, tying a program record. You know, 629 00:32:52,039 --> 00:32:54,279 he's a guy that can flip the field. But you know, 630 00:32:54,279 --> 00:32:56,160 the buck Now Bison, they're gonna need to flip the 631 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,759 script pretty quickly because they have not had a winning since. 632 00:33:00,839 --> 00:33:04,920 I believe it's going back go twenty and fourteen when 633 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,720 they went eight and three. You know, the Bison one 634 00:33:07,759 --> 00:33:10,559 in five and the Patriot League last year their preseason 635 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,440 picks to finish seventh in the league, one spot behind Lehigh. 636 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:18,839 That Army is facing, so not exactly a juggernaut coming 637 00:33:18,839 --> 00:33:23,240 into Annapolis on Saturday. Quarterback Ralph Rucker is back passed 638 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,319 for a program record twenty five hundred yards last year 639 00:33:26,319 --> 00:33:30,599 and twenty one touchdowns after transferring in from Oklahoma. But boy, 640 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:33,880 it's going to take a mighty big effort by buck Nell. 641 00:33:34,079 --> 00:33:37,039 I think the bigger story for Navy Stephn is mistakes 642 00:33:37,079 --> 00:33:40,079 because time and time again last year, and even going 643 00:33:40,119 --> 00:33:41,839 back to the last three or four seasons, just the 644 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:45,759 mistakes that Navy would make, they just kept compounding themselves. 645 00:33:45,759 --> 00:33:48,559 They happened at the worst time, they added up. Can 646 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,640 Navy get those mistakes corrected, because that's gonna be the 647 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:55,039 difference between you know, a team that's Bowl eligible, let's 648 00:33:55,079 --> 00:33:57,039 just say at five and seven last year, and a 649 00:33:57,039 --> 00:33:59,200 team that might go like seven and five this year. 650 00:34:00,039 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 651 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:03,640 Speaker 4: And the other thing is is can they force their 652 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:07,000 opponents to make more of those mistakes they made? They 653 00:34:07,039 --> 00:34:09,400 made plenty of those mistakes, but they also didn't force 654 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:14,119 nearly enough of them as well. And this is gonna 655 00:34:14,119 --> 00:34:16,760 be that's gonna be an interesting setup for buck Nell. 656 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,400 They're not going to see a crowd this large the 657 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:22,679 rest of the year, you know, playing in the Patriot League. Uh, 658 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:24,880 you know, you're not going to see the size of 659 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:26,599 the crowd that they're going to get it needed Marine 660 00:34:26,599 --> 00:34:30,840 Course Memorial Stadium, uh, coming up on Saturday, And so 661 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:35,280 I think that might give them a little bit of pause. 662 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:38,760 And you know, just a little bit of pause is 663 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,360 all you need for mistakes to happen. And I and 664 00:34:41,519 --> 00:34:44,760 especially if Navy is able to flip the field with 665 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:47,960 the punting game you get you get buck Nell uh 666 00:34:48,119 --> 00:34:51,800 you know, cramped in inside the five uh and and 667 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:55,760 with that crowd behind them making it very difficult. You 668 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:58,239 could see, you could see a turnover leading to a 669 00:34:58,280 --> 00:34:59,440 score in this game. 670 00:34:59,599 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 3: Very easy. 671 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 2: Absolutely Navy and Bucknell on Saturday at twelve noon Eastern 672 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:08,199 Standard Time, and then second game on Saturday of the 673 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:12,920 CBS Sports at doubleheader, the Merrimack Warriors heading into Colorado 674 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,280 Springs to take on the Air Force Falcons a three 675 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:21,199 thirty pm Eastern Standard Time kickoff one thirty pm locally 676 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:23,559 there in the Springs. The Falcons a thirty and a 677 00:35:23,599 --> 00:35:26,960 half point favor in the first ever meeting between these 678 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:30,639 two schools. Air Force forty seven, nineteen and two all 679 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:34,360 time and season openers including forty one and eight and 680 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:38,079 season openers at home, the Falcons have won seventeen straight 681 00:35:38,159 --> 00:35:41,320 and eighteen to the last twenty season openers, their only 682 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:44,679 losses coming to a couple of top thirteen teams Tennessee 683 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,920 number eleven in two thousand and six and then California 684 00:35:48,039 --> 00:35:50,800 to thirteenth in the country in two thousand and four, 685 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,199 but Air Force twenty seven to zero all time. Steve 686 00:35:54,639 --> 00:35:59,360 against teams from the FCS, with all twenty seven meetings 687 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:03,119 coming there in Falcons Stadium, I don't think again, we're 688 00:36:03,119 --> 00:36:05,119 going to have any kind of a problem as Troy 689 00:36:05,159 --> 00:36:08,400 Calhoun beginning his nineteenth season at the helm of the 690 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:11,440 Falcons one and thirty and seventy eight all time. 691 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:16,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, and not only that, you know Merrimac, you know, 692 00:36:16,639 --> 00:36:19,440 not only just a one FCS, but now what one 693 00:36:19,599 --> 00:36:23,480 FCS independent as they have decided to leave the Northeast 694 00:36:23,559 --> 00:36:30,000 Conference and move into independent land in one FCS, I 695 00:36:30,079 --> 00:36:34,320 certainly think that, you know, the big question for air 696 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:36,360 Force is who are they going to be, Who are 697 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,039 they going to be attacking at quarterback? Who are they 698 00:36:39,039 --> 00:36:42,239 going to be trying to put pressure on Gavin McCusker 699 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,360 and Malachi Anthony where there were their two main quarterbacks. 700 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,800 They had not made a decision as of the start 701 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:51,840 of the week as to who was going to start 702 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:55,480 this week, and so I really do think that you 703 00:36:55,519 --> 00:36:58,920 know that it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference, 704 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,679 but I I think that once you know who is 705 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:04,440 going to be under center, you can kind of figure 706 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,119 out ways to combat there the way that they're going. 707 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:12,239 So I think for for Troy Calhoun and especially the 708 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:15,760 defensive staff. Getting figuring out, you know, who is going 709 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,400 to be under center and being able to exploit their 710 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:20,920 weaknesses I think is going to be a big key 711 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,280 for this and I really do think that they're going 712 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:28,119 to be able to pretty easily. You know, Merrimack not 713 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,960 you know, obviously not in the same level of competition 714 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,400 as what the what the Falcons will see in the 715 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:35,000 Mountain West. 716 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 3: So this this should be an easy one for that 717 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:38,000 not at all. 718 00:37:38,159 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 2: Air Merrimack five and six last year a four and 719 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:44,519 three mark in conference play. You mentioned going independent. This year, 720 00:37:44,559 --> 00:37:48,079 they averaged twenty six point eight points per game while 721 00:37:48,079 --> 00:37:51,880 allowing twenty one point four. I don't think the Falcons 722 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:54,320 are going to have any kind of problems basically playing 723 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,599 every single player that's dressed, if not pulling you know, 724 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:00,519 cademts from the you know, from the students. 725 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:02,360 Speaker 4: I think you and I might get it, might get 726 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:04,400 an opportunity to play in this game. The one the 727 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,639 one name to watch out with Merrimack is is Donovan Wadley, 728 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,280 who is on the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, 729 00:38:11,559 --> 00:38:14,920 which is the Heisman Trophy equivalent at the FCS level. 730 00:38:15,119 --> 00:38:17,800 He's a running back slash wide receiver. He's a hybrid 731 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:20,079 type of guy. He can line up everywhere. You've got 732 00:38:20,079 --> 00:38:22,639 to be able to make sure that he's accounted for 733 00:38:23,159 --> 00:38:24,239 when you're on defense. 734 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:28,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely. The Falcons and the Warriors Merrimack at Air Force 735 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:32,159 Saturday at three thirty Eastern Standard Time on CBS sports Net, 736 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:36,800 Finishing a big opening weekend of college football. We're gonna 737 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:38,559 pick some games. I don't think there's gonna be a 738 00:38:38,599 --> 00:38:40,920 whole lot of intrigue on which way Steven and I 739 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,840 go this week. We'll do that coming up Travis Manian 740 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:46,239 Foundation on a roll segment that's coming up next, and 741 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,280 then we will be back to wrap it up here 742 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:51,280 on Yards and Stripes, the first episode of the twenty 743 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:54,519 twenty four edition. As we are part of the Last 744 00:38:54,559 --> 00:38:59,119 Word on Sports podcast Network, check us out online, ww dot, 745 00:38:59,639 --> 00:39:02,719 last Word on sports dot Com, Forward Slash Podcast, or 746 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:05,039 wherever it is you get your podcast. 747 00:39:06,559 --> 00:39:09,360 Speaker 5: In two thousand and seven, Marine First Lieutenant Travis Mannion 748 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:12,480 was killed in Iraq after saving his wooted teammates. Travis's 749 00:39:12,559 --> 00:39:14,960 legacy lives on through the words he spoke before his 750 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,719 final deployment. If not me then who. Words that today 751 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:21,880 fuel the spirit of Travis Manion Foundation and through TMF, 752 00:39:22,039 --> 00:39:24,559 these words can live in you too. Show the world 753 00:39:24,639 --> 00:39:27,920 what you're made of. Because character is invisible until it's not. 754 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:31,039 Find out how you can strengthen the character of your community. 755 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:35,199 Alongside empowered veterans, families of the fallen, and inspired civilians 756 00:39:35,199 --> 00:39:36,480 at Travismanion dot Org. 757 00:39:38,599 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 2: Welcome back into Yards and Stripes. You're home for service 758 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:41,880 Academy football. 759 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:42,599 Speaker 5: And if this is. 760 00:39:42,559 --> 00:39:45,920 Speaker 2: Your first time listening to Yards and Stripes, welcome into 761 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:49,320 the segment that we call the Travismanian Foundation Honor Roll Segment. 762 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:51,480 And this is where we honor a fallen hero one 763 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:54,679 that he has given the ultimate sacrifice because as we 764 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:57,960 all know, freedom isn't free. And in the words that 765 00:39:58,039 --> 00:40:02,280 Travis himself spoke, if not me than who, first Lieutenant 766 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:06,039 Travis Mannion gave the ultimate sacrifice in two thousand and seven, 767 00:40:06,679 --> 00:40:08,760 and the Travis Manning Foundation is now carrying on the 768 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:12,400 legacy of selfless service and leadership and body by Travis 769 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,639 and all those who have served or continue to serve 770 00:40:14,679 --> 00:40:18,760 our nation here at home and abroad. And the Travis 771 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:23,079 Manning Foundation is doing work incredible work in communities all 772 00:40:23,119 --> 00:40:25,760 across the country as they gear up for their nine 773 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:30,360 to eleven Heroes runs that you can sign up to walk, run, ruck, 774 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:34,519 whatever it is however you want to finish to honor 775 00:40:34,599 --> 00:40:36,599 a loved one, and you can find out a lot 776 00:40:36,599 --> 00:40:39,840 more information sign up at Travismanion dot org or you 777 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,840 can make a donation to TMF as they continue to 778 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:46,840 empower veterans and families of the fallen, and once again 779 00:40:47,559 --> 00:40:52,159 the Travis Manning Foundation empowering individuals to unite communities as 780 00:40:52,199 --> 00:40:56,480 unfortunately some families have lost incredible loved ones to serving 781 00:40:56,480 --> 00:41:00,480 our nation and our freedoms in our democracy here at 782 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,440 home and all across the globe, So we take the 783 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:06,000 time to remember our fallen heroes on the Travis Manion 784 00:41:06,039 --> 00:41:08,280 Foundation Honor Roll segment, which you will hear in this 785 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:11,719 spot every single week here on Yards and Stripes. Moving forward, 786 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:14,760 a new episode coming to you that you can check 787 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:18,880 out online Travismannion dot org. Find out more information for 788 00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:23,119 ways you can help TMF in communities all across our country. 789 00:41:23,679 --> 00:41:26,519 Speaker 6: Travis Mallon Foundations nine to eleven Heroes Run five k 790 00:41:26,719 --> 00:41:29,639 Ray series unites communities across the country and around the 791 00:41:29,639 --> 00:41:32,400 world to honor the sacrifices of September eleventh and the 792 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,760 war since. Join your community this September and register to run, 793 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:38,960 Walk or Rock by visiting nine to eleven heroesrun dot org. 794 00:41:40,679 --> 00:41:44,800 Speaker 1: The latest with Navy, Army and Air Force on Yards 795 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:47,119 and Stripes Service Academy Football. 796 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:51,159 Speaker 2: All right, welcome back in the Yards and Stripes your 797 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:55,920 home or Service Academy Football, Episode one of the twenty 798 00:41:56,039 --> 00:42:00,880 twenty four college football season. He is my man's Stephen Carney, 799 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:03,400 I and Pryce Atkinson, and we are honored to have 800 00:42:03,599 --> 00:42:07,800 you back with us for another campaign. Army, Navy, and 801 00:42:07,880 --> 00:42:09,559 Air Force. That's what we do, and that's what we're 802 00:42:09,559 --> 00:42:12,119 gonna do right here, because boy, we got three games 803 00:42:12,159 --> 00:42:14,920 this weekend. All of our three teams are at home 804 00:42:15,559 --> 00:42:18,840 against FCS opponents, and we're gonna start with Lehigh and 805 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:21,960 Army on Friday night. The season opener is gonna be 806 00:42:22,039 --> 00:42:24,960 on CBS Sports Network. You got a triple header basically 807 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:28,239 all weekend starting Friday night, and it's all on the 808 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:32,119 CBS Sports Network. Lehigh and Army, the Black Knights a 809 00:42:32,159 --> 00:42:35,239 thirty three point favorite at home over under forty seven 810 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:37,239 and a half it's a Black Knights, which we told 811 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:41,360 you earlier, making their AAC debut. Army playing an eight 812 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:45,719 game American Athletic Conference schedule with CIC matchups against air 813 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,440 Force and Navy, which ironically that Navy game will be 814 00:42:49,519 --> 00:42:52,960 a non conference game when they play it is kind 815 00:42:52,960 --> 00:42:55,239 of strange. Yes, we know it, but that's the deal. 816 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,159 Army leads this series against Lehigh eight two and one, 817 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:02,960 with every single game in this series played at West Point. Ironically, 818 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:06,119 the last time this game was played between the two teams, 819 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:08,639 it was back in nineteen ninety five Steve forty two 820 00:43:08,639 --> 00:43:12,000 to nine win for the Black Knights. Is Jeff Monkin 821 00:43:12,079 --> 00:43:14,760 the head coach now in his eleventh season at the 822 00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:19,119 helm of the Black Knights, seventy and fifty five, his 823 00:43:19,239 --> 00:43:22,639 fifteenth season overall as a college head coach. And you 824 00:43:22,679 --> 00:43:25,119 know they're four and two and Friday night games under 825 00:43:25,199 --> 00:43:27,239 Jeff Monkin. I don't think there's any question that they're 826 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:29,000 going to go to five and two and Friday night 827 00:43:29,039 --> 00:43:32,039 games under Monkin against lee High that was two to 828 00:43:32,159 --> 00:43:35,760 nine last year Steve and Kevin Cahill's first season against 829 00:43:36,159 --> 00:43:38,360 Lehigh out of the Patriot League. 830 00:43:38,840 --> 00:43:40,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you look at it is. 831 00:43:41,079 --> 00:43:45,199 Speaker 4: This is obviously, you know, a return to form for 832 00:43:45,480 --> 00:43:48,719 a lot of people, and I certainly think that for 833 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:53,039 Jeff Monkin, this is the way to get your to 834 00:43:53,079 --> 00:43:55,559 get your team off to a great start. I mean, 835 00:43:55,599 --> 00:44:00,880 you're playing a team of one fcs in the Patriot League. 836 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:03,119 You know it's not a it's not going to be 837 00:44:04,440 --> 00:44:08,239 a team that should give you a whole lot of trouble. 838 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:11,039 Speaker 3: Missus. You know, you look at it. It they are. 839 00:44:12,199 --> 00:44:16,360 Speaker 4: You know, they've They've played plenty of Service academies over 840 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:19,480 the years. They played I believe they've played Navy back 841 00:44:19,519 --> 00:44:24,239 in like twenty eighteen ye and and the Midshipman dispatched 842 00:44:24,280 --> 00:44:28,320 them by thirty points. So they're they're they're a group 843 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:31,679 that you know is going to be feisty. They're they're 844 00:44:31,719 --> 00:44:34,039 definitely going to be up for this game. You know, 845 00:44:34,199 --> 00:44:39,039 when you're playing Lafayette and holy Cross and the likes 846 00:44:39,519 --> 00:44:43,039 for for your football championship, you get an opportunity to 847 00:44:43,039 --> 00:44:47,239 get a team like Army to come down or to 848 00:44:47,239 --> 00:44:50,320 to play or I should say go up to West 849 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:52,960 Point to play a team like Army. You get that 850 00:44:53,039 --> 00:44:56,280 opportunity you certainly want to take advantage of it. I 851 00:44:56,320 --> 00:45:00,199 don't think that they're going to have much of when 852 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:02,440 when I say they, I mean army, of course, I 853 00:45:02,440 --> 00:45:04,639 don't think they're gonna have a whole lot of trouble 854 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,639 dispatching this group. And this is probably going to be 855 00:45:08,280 --> 00:45:11,679 a really nice start for the Black Knights and one 856 00:45:11,719 --> 00:45:13,119 that they certainly are going to need. 857 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:16,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Mountain Hawks have not won steven They have 858 00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:22,519 not won a non conference game. Get this, going back 859 00:45:22,559 --> 00:45:25,719 to twenty eighteen when they beat Saint Francis and their 860 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:29,199 season opener twenty one to nineteen. They have dropped twenty 861 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:31,880 four straight games outside of the Patriot League. And if 862 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:33,519 that helped, if that doesn't give you a little idea 863 00:45:33,599 --> 00:45:36,760 what we're dealing with two to nine last year. Yeah, 864 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:38,960 but they were picked to finish six in the Patriot 865 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,800 League this year or the preseason and vote by the media. 866 00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:45,559 Speaker 4: By the way, that Saint Francis team is in the 867 00:45:45,559 --> 00:45:49,519 Northeast Conference. So you're not talking about this is not 868 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:53,880 going to be you know, a team, This is not Rutgers, 869 00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:58,320 this is not pitt or Penn State. You know, Saint 870 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:02,840 Francis is a is a one FCS team, uh as well, 871 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:07,039 so you can tell it's gonna be a long long time. Uh, 872 00:46:07,079 --> 00:46:10,079 it's been a while since they've since they've had that 873 00:46:10,079 --> 00:46:13,159 that non conference road wind, and it certainly is not 874 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:16,039 coming this week by any stretch of the imagination. 875 00:46:15,679 --> 00:46:19,480 Speaker 2: At Mikey Stadium to where those renovation the preservation project 876 00:46:19,559 --> 00:46:22,400 Steve it's underway, those views are going to be a 877 00:46:22,480 --> 00:46:23,960 little bit different this year. 878 00:46:24,400 --> 00:46:26,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, I was telling you, I was, I was telling 879 00:46:26,639 --> 00:46:30,239 you about this. I really was kind of uh shocked 880 00:46:30,519 --> 00:46:33,719 when when I saw that it was actually going to happen. 881 00:46:34,280 --> 00:46:34,519 Speaker 3: Uh. 882 00:46:34,559 --> 00:46:37,440 Speaker 4: You know, there's been talk for years that that they 883 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:40,519 were going to make reserve renovations, they were going to 884 00:46:40,599 --> 00:46:45,440 do uh work to preserve uh historic Mikey Stadium. Uh, 885 00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:48,239 one of those places that I have been dying to 886 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:51,239 go to to watch a football game. I will always 887 00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:54,239 wanted to sit in the West stands and be able 888 00:46:54,280 --> 00:46:58,079 to look out above the East stands and be able 889 00:46:58,119 --> 00:47:01,639 to see the Hudson River as a watching a football game. 890 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:04,639 And that's not going to happen anymore because they're basically 891 00:47:05,079 --> 00:47:07,519 tearing down the East stands and they're going to build 892 00:47:07,599 --> 00:47:10,360 another version of the West stands, the west side stands 893 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:13,440 on the east side with a whole bunch of club seating. 894 00:47:14,079 --> 00:47:15,639 Speaker 3: And but the one thing. 895 00:47:15,519 --> 00:47:17,400 Speaker 4: That I don't like about it is the fact that 896 00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:20,360 it's going to take away what what has always been 897 00:47:20,639 --> 00:47:24,000 the best part about Mikey Stadium by all accounts, it's 898 00:47:24,039 --> 00:47:24,440 the view. 899 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:26,960 Speaker 2: Well, you know what they say that, you know, people 900 00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:30,599 always think bigger is better. You know, I'm going to 901 00:47:30,679 --> 00:47:33,559 fundamentally disagree with that, especially in this case when you're 902 00:47:33,599 --> 00:47:35,440 taking away that view, because it is one of the 903 00:47:35,440 --> 00:47:39,760 most majestic views in all of college Football's Yes, Tennessee, 904 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:41,960 I'm telling you, it's more majestic than looking at that 905 00:47:42,039 --> 00:47:44,880 Dagum River going past Neeland Stadium. 906 00:47:44,519 --> 00:47:47,360 Speaker 4: In I will say, I will say this that that 907 00:47:47,840 --> 00:47:51,480 Mikey Stadium is on the bucket list for me. You know, 908 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:54,400 if I say that there are going to be places 909 00:47:54,639 --> 00:47:57,320 that I want to go to watch to watch a 910 00:47:58,199 --> 00:48:01,320 football game and I want that, there's only two places 911 00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:03,559 that I know where you're going to get that sort 912 00:48:03,559 --> 00:48:07,599 of view, and that's at Mikey Stadium without the renovated stands. Yeah, 913 00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:10,239 and in Boone, North Carolina. I think when you go 914 00:48:10,360 --> 00:48:12,880 when you go to app State and and go play 915 00:48:12,920 --> 00:48:15,280 a game and go watch a game at kid Brewers 916 00:48:15,320 --> 00:48:18,320 Stadium with the leaves changing, and you're up on the 917 00:48:18,360 --> 00:48:22,000 mountain in Boone. I'm dying to do that as well. 918 00:48:22,199 --> 00:48:24,159 Speaker 2: I am too. It's only three and a half hours 919 00:48:24,239 --> 00:48:26,960 roughly from here at Boon from where I sit in Greenville, 920 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:29,920 South Carolina. So yeah, that one's actually on my bucket list. 921 00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:32,360 Is I actually never went up there over the years 922 00:48:32,360 --> 00:48:35,239 when Furman would play up there, But I am going 923 00:48:35,320 --> 00:48:36,880 to make it there, and you and I need to 924 00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:38,440 do it together, That's all I'm going to say. 925 00:48:38,440 --> 00:48:42,199 Speaker 4: Well, I've got the hookup my my buddy Mark is 926 00:48:42,239 --> 00:48:45,000 the radio engineer for app State, So. 927 00:48:47,239 --> 00:48:49,039 Speaker 3: Just say the word. I think I can get a stickets. 928 00:48:49,199 --> 00:48:52,360 Speaker 2: We should be radio guests. Steven, all right, we should 929 00:48:52,400 --> 00:48:54,760 do on the pregame show. Let us do it, Man, 930 00:48:54,880 --> 00:48:57,960 we won't let you down. Let's pivot to Saturday, Stephen 931 00:48:58,159 --> 00:49:01,440 our first to two games on Saturday, doubleheader, back to 932 00:49:01,480 --> 00:49:04,280 back CBS Sports Network. Let's go up to Annapolis, said 933 00:49:04,360 --> 00:49:07,800 Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where the Navy Midshipmen are 934 00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:10,599 going to welcome the Bucknell Bison for a noon kickoff. 935 00:49:10,679 --> 00:49:13,360 Maybe a thirty two and a half point favorite. The 936 00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:16,599 twenty first all time meeting between these two teams in 937 00:49:16,639 --> 00:49:20,800 a series that started back in eighteen ninety eight, maybe 938 00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:24,039 with a nine to four to one advantage in the series, 939 00:49:24,079 --> 00:49:27,280 but they haven't played since back in nineteen twenty five. 940 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:30,559 Every single game in this series has been played at 941 00:49:30,599 --> 00:49:33,079 the Naval Academy, and that last meeting was in nineteen 942 00:49:33,159 --> 00:49:35,800 twenty five, a thirteen to seven win for the Midshipman 943 00:49:36,119 --> 00:49:38,760 again Brian Newberry in his second season at the Helm, 944 00:49:38,800 --> 00:49:41,119 after the mids were five and seven last year four 945 00:49:41,119 --> 00:49:44,559 and four in the American Athletic Conference, Navy won a 946 00:49:44,639 --> 00:49:47,679 fourteen one of two teams nationally that started four different 947 00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:50,920 quarterbacks last season. I think it's gonna be one of 948 00:49:50,960 --> 00:49:54,360 the two you mentioned Alex tesca earlier honorable mentioned All 949 00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:56,840 Conference last year, rushing for seven hundred and fifty eight 950 00:49:56,920 --> 00:49:59,960 yards five touchdowns, and a defense led by Colin Ramos. 951 00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:03,039 I don't think there's gonna be any question that the 952 00:50:03,079 --> 00:50:06,000 Midshipmen are going to be not only heavily favored, as 953 00:50:06,039 --> 00:50:09,239 we mentioned as they welcome Bucknell, but a Bucknell team 954 00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:13,159 that has struggled the last several seasons, including a four 955 00:50:13,199 --> 00:50:14,719 and seven campaign last year. 956 00:50:15,159 --> 00:50:15,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. 957 00:50:15,400 --> 00:50:19,239 Speaker 4: Absolutely, It's amazing to think that Bucknell has played football 958 00:50:19,239 --> 00:50:21,480 for almost one hundred and forty years. This is the 959 00:50:21,599 --> 00:50:25,519 one hundred and thirty ninth season for Bucknell Bison football, 960 00:50:25,719 --> 00:50:29,320 which I think is an incredible, uh you know, statistic 961 00:50:29,719 --> 00:50:32,679 to throw out there. For for Navy, I have a 962 00:50:32,719 --> 00:50:37,400 feeling that what they do outside the tackles is going 963 00:50:37,480 --> 00:50:40,480 to be the most important part in this game because 964 00:50:41,039 --> 00:50:44,159 Bucknell has doesn't have a whole lot returning, but what 965 00:50:44,199 --> 00:50:46,840 they do have is probably one of the best inside 966 00:50:46,880 --> 00:50:50,079 linebackers in the Patriot League. And Brad Jamison who is back. 967 00:50:50,119 --> 00:50:53,320 He was an All Patriot League linebacker last year. He 968 00:50:53,480 --> 00:50:56,519 is back, and I think that, you know, if you're 969 00:50:56,679 --> 00:51:00,159 if your Navy, you're gonna you can try running in 970 00:51:00,199 --> 00:51:03,039 side early and if you don't have success, you're gonna 971 00:51:03,079 --> 00:51:04,840 have to work your way on the outside. But I 972 00:51:04,880 --> 00:51:06,519 have a feeling that he's going to be trying to 973 00:51:07,039 --> 00:51:09,480 trying to plug one too many holes. There may be 974 00:51:09,519 --> 00:51:11,559 too many holes in front of him. You only plug 975 00:51:11,599 --> 00:51:14,079 one of them. He's only one person. So I think 976 00:51:14,119 --> 00:51:17,239 that's where that's where Navy is going to have its 977 00:51:17,280 --> 00:51:21,719 advantages with the offensive line being able to make multiple 978 00:51:21,840 --> 00:51:26,480 lanes for the fullbacks, whether it's alec Teska or or 979 00:51:26,639 --> 00:51:28,360 the other guys that are going to be back there 980 00:51:28,480 --> 00:51:32,159 with uh with the with the Navy quarterback. If you've 981 00:51:32,159 --> 00:51:34,920 got multiple holes, you're gonna find yourself with a lot 982 00:51:34,920 --> 00:51:35,559 of success. 983 00:51:35,920 --> 00:51:36,079 Speaker 3: Yeah. 984 00:51:36,119 --> 00:51:38,599 Speaker 2: Another guy for the Midshipman that not let a lot 985 00:51:38,599 --> 00:51:40,559 of people are gonna talk about because you don't usually 986 00:51:40,599 --> 00:51:42,599 think of punters right out of you you know, one 987 00:51:42,639 --> 00:51:44,480 of the first key players out of your mouth when 988 00:51:44,519 --> 00:51:47,159 you talk about a college football team. But Riley Rithman, 989 00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:50,000 the punter for the Midshipman, a first team All Conference 990 00:51:50,039 --> 00:51:52,679 pick in the AEC last year average just shy of 991 00:51:52,800 --> 00:51:55,960 forty five yards of punt, tying a program record. You know, 992 00:51:56,000 --> 00:51:58,159 he's a guy that can flip the field. But you 993 00:51:58,159 --> 00:52:00,000 know the buck Now Bison, they're gonna need a flip 994 00:52:00,079 --> 00:52:03,480 the script pretty quickly because they have not had a 995 00:52:03,519 --> 00:52:07,760 winning season since I believe it's going back go twenty 996 00:52:07,920 --> 00:52:10,800 and fourteen when they went eight and three. You know, 997 00:52:10,800 --> 00:52:13,360 the Bison one in five and the Patriot League last 998 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:16,800 year their preseason picks to finish seventh in the league, 999 00:52:16,920 --> 00:52:20,559 one spot behind Lehigh. That Army is facing, so not 1000 00:52:20,719 --> 00:52:25,079 exactly a juggernaut coming into Annapolis on Saturday. Quarterback Ralph 1001 00:52:25,119 --> 00:52:28,960 Rucker is back passed for a program record twenty five 1002 00:52:29,079 --> 00:52:32,760 hundred yards last year and twenty one touchdowns after transferring 1003 00:52:32,800 --> 00:52:35,679 in from Oklahoma. But boy, it's going to take a 1004 00:52:35,920 --> 00:52:38,679 mighty big effort by buck Noll. I think the bigger 1005 00:52:38,719 --> 00:52:42,199 story for Navy steven is mistakes because time and time 1006 00:52:42,239 --> 00:52:44,800 again last year and even going back the last three 1007 00:52:44,840 --> 00:52:47,320 or four seasons, just the mistakes that Navy would make, 1008 00:52:47,639 --> 00:52:51,000 they just kept compounding themselves. They happened at the worst time. 1009 00:52:51,039 --> 00:52:54,880 They added up. Can Navy get those mistakes corrected, because 1010 00:52:54,920 --> 00:52:57,480 that's going to be the difference between you know, a 1011 00:52:57,519 --> 00:52:59,719 team that's Bowl eligible, let's just say, at five and 1012 00:52:59,760 --> 00:53:01,920 seven last year, in a team that might go like 1013 00:53:02,039 --> 00:53:03,159 seven and five this year. 1014 00:53:03,719 --> 00:53:04,639 Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely. 1015 00:53:04,679 --> 00:53:07,599 Speaker 4: And the other thing is is can they force their 1016 00:53:07,639 --> 00:53:11,000 opponents to make more of those mistakes they made? They 1017 00:53:11,000 --> 00:53:13,400 made plenty of those mistakes, but they also didn't force 1018 00:53:13,920 --> 00:53:18,079 nearly enough of them as well. And this is gonna 1019 00:53:18,079 --> 00:53:21,159 be that's gonna be an interesting setup for Bucknell. They're 1020 00:53:21,199 --> 00:53:23,719 not going to see a crowd this large the rest 1021 00:53:23,760 --> 00:53:26,079 of the year, you know, playing in the Patriot League. 1022 00:53:26,480 --> 00:53:26,639 Speaker 2: Uh. 1023 00:53:26,719 --> 00:53:28,840 Speaker 4: You know, you're not going to see the size of 1024 00:53:28,840 --> 00:53:30,519 the crowd that they're going to get it needed Marine 1025 00:53:30,559 --> 00:53:34,800 Course Memorial Stadium, uh, coming up on Saturday, and so 1026 00:53:35,199 --> 00:53:38,199 I think that might give them a. 1027 00:53:38,159 --> 00:53:39,280 Speaker 3: Little bit of pause. 1028 00:53:39,440 --> 00:53:42,719 Speaker 4: And you know, just a little bit of pause is 1029 00:53:42,760 --> 00:53:45,320 all you need for mistakes to happen. And I and 1030 00:53:45,480 --> 00:53:48,719 especially if Navy is able to flip the field with 1031 00:53:48,800 --> 00:53:51,960 the punting game, you get you get buck Nell, Uh, 1032 00:53:52,079 --> 00:53:55,920 you know, cramped in inside the five and and with 1033 00:53:56,000 --> 00:54:00,239 that crowd behind them making it very difficult. You could see, 1034 00:54:00,280 --> 00:54:02,960 you could see a turnover leading to a score in 1035 00:54:03,000 --> 00:54:04,199 this game very easily. 1036 00:54:04,960 --> 00:54:09,679 Speaker 2: Absolutely Navy and Bucknell on Saturday at twelve noon Eastern 1037 00:54:09,760 --> 00:54:12,199 Standard Time, and then second game on Saturday of the 1038 00:54:12,199 --> 00:54:16,840 CBS Sports a doubleheader, the Merrimack Warriors heading into Colorado 1039 00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:20,199 Springs to take on the Air Force Falcons a three 1040 00:54:20,400 --> 00:54:25,199 thirty pm Eastern Standard time kickoff one thirty pm locally 1041 00:54:25,199 --> 00:54:27,519 there in the Springs. The Falcons a thirty and a 1042 00:54:27,559 --> 00:54:30,920 half point favor in the first ever meeting between these 1043 00:54:31,000 --> 00:54:34,599 two schools. Air Force forty seven nineteen and two all 1044 00:54:34,679 --> 00:54:38,320 time and season openers, including forty one and eight and 1045 00:54:38,400 --> 00:54:42,079 season openers at home. The Falcons have won seventeen straight 1046 00:54:42,119 --> 00:54:45,280 and eighteen to the last twenty season openers. Their only 1047 00:54:45,360 --> 00:54:48,159 loss is coming to a couple of top thirteen teams 1048 00:54:48,199 --> 00:54:50,840 Tennessee number eleven in two thousand and six and then 1049 00:54:51,239 --> 00:54:54,760 California to thirteenth in the country in two thousand and four. 1050 00:54:55,239 --> 00:54:58,159 But Air Force twenty seven to zero all time steve 1051 00:54:58,599 --> 00:55:03,320 against teams from the f with all twenty seven meetings 1052 00:55:03,360 --> 00:55:07,079 coming there in Falcons Stadium. I don't think again we're 1053 00:55:07,119 --> 00:55:09,079 going to have any kind of a problem. As Troy 1054 00:55:09,119 --> 00:55:12,400 Calhoun beginning his nineteenth season at the helm of the 1055 00:55:12,400 --> 00:55:15,400 Falcons one and thirty and seventy eight all time. 1056 00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:20,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, and not only that, you know Merrimac, you know 1057 00:55:20,599 --> 00:55:23,440 not only just a one FCS, but now what one 1058 00:55:23,559 --> 00:55:27,480 FCS independent as they have decided to leave the Northeast 1059 00:55:27,519 --> 00:55:33,960 Conference and move into independent land in one FCS. I 1060 00:55:34,039 --> 00:55:38,320 certainly think that, you know, the big question for Air 1061 00:55:38,360 --> 00:55:40,360 Force is who are they going to be, Who are 1062 00:55:40,360 --> 00:55:42,960 they going to be attacking at quarterback? Who are they 1063 00:55:43,039 --> 00:55:46,239 going to be trying to put pressure on Gavin McCusker 1064 00:55:47,000 --> 00:55:50,360 and Malachi Anthony where there were their two main quarterbacks. 1065 00:55:50,400 --> 00:55:53,760 They had not made a decision as of the start 1066 00:55:53,800 --> 00:55:55,800 of the week as to who was going to start 1067 00:55:55,840 --> 00:55:59,440 this week, and so I really do think that, you 1068 00:55:59,480 --> 00:56:02,880 know that it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference, 1069 00:56:02,960 --> 00:56:05,880 but I think that once you know who is going 1070 00:56:05,920 --> 00:56:08,599 to be under center, you can kind of figure out 1071 00:56:08,679 --> 00:56:12,280 ways to combat there the way that they're going. So 1072 00:56:12,840 --> 00:56:17,079 I think for for Troy Calhoun and especially the defensive staff, 1073 00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:19,840 getting figuring out, you know who is going to be 1074 00:56:19,960 --> 00:56:23,480 under center and being able to exploit their weaknesses I 1075 00:56:23,480 --> 00:56:26,519 think is going to be a big key for this. 1076 00:56:26,679 --> 00:56:28,480 And I really do think that they're going to be 1077 00:56:28,480 --> 00:56:32,559 able to pretty easily. You know, Merrimack not you know, 1078 00:56:32,719 --> 00:56:36,880 obviously not in the same level of competition as the 1079 00:56:37,239 --> 00:56:39,360 what the Falcons will see in the Mountain West, So 1080 00:56:39,400 --> 00:56:41,039 this should be an easy one for that. 1081 00:56:41,480 --> 00:56:44,480 Speaker 2: Not at all. A Merrimack five and six last year, 1082 00:56:44,880 --> 00:56:48,079 a four and three marking conference play you mentioned going independent. 1083 00:56:48,159 --> 00:56:51,519 This year, they averaged twenty six point eight points per 1084 00:56:51,559 --> 00:56:54,800 game while allowing twenty one point four. I don't think 1085 00:56:55,119 --> 00:56:57,519 the Falcons are going to have any kind of problems 1086 00:56:57,519 --> 00:57:01,559 basically playing every single player. That's if not pulling you know, 1087 00:57:01,880 --> 00:57:04,199 cadets from the you know from the student section. 1088 00:57:04,880 --> 00:57:06,360 Speaker 4: I think you and I might get it, might get 1089 00:57:06,360 --> 00:57:07,440 an opportunity. 1090 00:57:07,000 --> 00:57:07,679 Speaker 3: To play in this game. 1091 00:57:07,960 --> 00:57:10,159 Speaker 4: The one the one name to watch out with Merrimack 1092 00:57:10,360 --> 00:57:14,039 is is Donovan Wadley, who is on the watch list 1093 00:57:14,079 --> 00:57:16,960 for the Walter Payton Award, which is the Heisman Trophy 1094 00:57:16,960 --> 00:57:20,480 equivalent at the FCS level. He's a running back slash 1095 00:57:20,480 --> 00:57:22,840 wide receiver. He's a hybrid type of guy. He can 1096 00:57:22,880 --> 00:57:25,079 line up everywhere. You've got to be able to make 1097 00:57:25,119 --> 00:57:28,199 sure that he's accounted for when you're on defense. 1098 00:57:28,480 --> 00:57:32,320 Speaker 2: Absolutely, the Falcons and the Warriors. Merrimack att Air Force 1099 00:57:32,360 --> 00:57:36,119 Saturday at three thirty Eastern Standard Time on CBS sports Net, 1100 00:57:36,679 --> 00:57:40,760 finishing a big opening weekend at college football. We're gonna 1101 00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:42,559 pick some games. I don't think there's gonna be a 1102 00:57:42,559 --> 00:57:44,880 whole lot of intrigue on which way Steven and I 1103 00:57:44,960 --> 00:57:47,840 go this week. We'll do that coming up Travis Mandian 1104 00:57:47,880 --> 00:57:50,199 Foundation on a roll segment that's coming up next, and 1105 00:57:50,440 --> 00:57:52,239 then we will be back to wrap it up here 1106 00:57:52,280 --> 00:57:55,239 on Yards and Stripes, the first episode of the twenty 1107 00:57:55,480 --> 00:57:58,480 twenty four edition. As we are part of the Last 1108 00:57:58,519 --> 00:58:03,159 Word on Sports podcast Network, check us out online, ww dot, 1109 00:58:03,679 --> 00:58:06,559 last Word on sports dot Com, Forward Slash Podcast, or 1110 00:58:06,719 --> 00:58:09,000 wherever it is you get your podcast. 1111 00:58:10,440 --> 00:58:14,320 Speaker 1: Join us again next time for Yards and Strikes Service 1112 00:58:14,400 --> 00:58:18,079 Academy Football. To get more on all things Service Academy Football, 1113 00:58:18,360 --> 00:58:21,199 like Yards and Stripes on Facebook and follow them on 1114 00:58:21,239 --> 00:58:24,360 Twitter at yards and Stripes and make sure that you're 1115 00:58:24,440 --> 00:58:28,480 subscribing to the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast feed 1116 00:58:28,800 --> 00:58:33,480 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, and wherever you get your 1117 00:58:33,519 --> 00:58:34,199 podcasts