Let’s huddle up for a quick appreciation of Army coaching legend Earl “Red” Blaik: Blaik, a member of West Point’s Class of 1920, was known as “colonel” because he retired at that rank in the reserves. As a civilian, he coached the Cadets to a 121-33-10 record over 18 seasons, from 1941 to 1958, included three national titles. He coached three Heisman winners. He mentored an NFL legend. He led a struggling, undermanned program through World War II and into national prominence. And he survived an honor-code scandal in 1951 — involving dozens of players, including his son — that…
Browsing: picture-a-day countdown
Sunday’s post from the sidelines of a close Army-Navy game may have had history on its side, but it lacked a bit in drama. And color. And focus. And … well, it was 1911 — sports photography has improved a bit over the past 100 years. Case in point, two shots from Military Times staff photographer Mike Morones from the sidelines of the 2011 Army-Navy game: The 27-21 Navy win marked the 10th straight for Annapolis. Senior fullback Alexander Teich (the jumper in the top pic) had 93 yards on 18 carries in his last collegiate game. The contest was…
There are spirit pictures, and then there’s this: About the picture: The submarine/banner holder in question is the ballistic-missile boat Henry Clay, just before it was launched from Newport News, Va., in November 1962. The sub, named for a three-time presidential candidate whose pre-Civil War government service spanned more than half a century, was commissioned in February 1964 and served for nearly 35 years. About the game: President Kennedy watched the Midshipmen make the sub builders proud, cruising to a 34-14 victory at Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium on Dec. 1, 1962. Two years later, Navy would fall to Army 11-8 in…
Granted, it’s not the best action shot, but we’ve given you plenty of those (and more to come). Still, it’s a piece of history — a sideline view of the 1911 Army-Navy game at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field. Army and Navy both entered the season finale undefeated. The Mids had five wins against three ties and had allowed 11 points all year, with 0-0 draws against Princeton, Western Reserve and Penn State. The Cadets entered the game at 6-0-1 and pitched five shutouts. Navy had won the season-ending clash the year before in a typical-for-the-time defensive struggle, as Jack Dalton kicked…
Three-time All-American. Heisman Trophy winner. College Football Hall of Famer. Three national titles in three unbeaten seasons. And despite a legendary career running the football for Army, a photographer still asked Glenn Davis to pose like this: Pictures can be deceiving — Davis’ damage came on the ground, with an eye-popping 8.3 yards per carry over his career — an NCAA record. He was “Mr. Outside” to Felix “Doc” Blanchard’s “Mr. Inside,” giving Army a 1-2 Heisman-winning punch in the backfield that dominated college football. Davis ranks third all-time in rushing yards at West Point behind Mike Mayweather and Carlton…
Sometimes, school pride just bursts free: That’s Lt. Col. Scott Thomas, All-American defensive back for Air Force in 1985, playing to the Colorado Springs crowd as a special guest of the ESPN “College GameDay” crew in 2009. ESPN brought their pregame festivities to the academy that year before the Army-Air Force game, which the Falcons won 35-7. Thomas served as a guest analyst. His impartiality might be a tad suspect. Thomas was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this year. His coach for that 1985 season, Fisher DeBerry, was part of the 2011 class.
We’ve shown you some great players, with plenty more to come before the 2012 college football season kicks off, but here’s a quick break for a rare spotlight on an assistant coach made good. Vince Lombardi coached under Red Blaik at Army from 1949 to 1953, helping West Point to one unbeaten season and two one-loss campaigns. After Army, he spent a few years as offensive coordinator with the New York Giants, patrolling the sidelines with defensive coordinator Tom Landry — not a bad coaching staff, if you can get it. In 1959, he left New York for Green Bay,…
We’ve done Army. We’ve done Navy. We won’t promise service academy equality from here on out, but for the third day of our countdown to kickoff, here’s a shot of Air Force defensive standout Chad Hennings, a four-year letterman, consensus All-American and Outland Trophy winner for college football’s best lineman. It’s a familiar site for Air Force fans in the ’80s — Hennings standing tall with an opposing player on the ground. Post your Air Force memories below, along with suggestions for future picture subjects.
Can you post an Army Heisman photo and not follow it up with a Navy Heisman photo? We’d rather not find out. After Action’s second pic in our monthlong countdown features Roger Staubach running for daylight, and offensive lineman Thomas Holden looking to clear space, during Navy’s 35-14 win over Notre Dame on Nov. 2, 1963. Have a memory of the game or of Staubach, either your own or passed down through the years? Post it below.
In between the previews, reviews, interviews and predictions as the 2012 football season approaches, After Action wants to give service academy football fans a look back. Starting today and continuing through Sept. 1, we’ll put up one historical photo every morning to get you in the mood. Have a memory about the featured player, coach, or game? Have suggestions for future pics? Have an extra ticket to Dublin? Leave a comment and let us know. But forget Dublin for a second — let’s start with this beauty from Army’s Heisman Trophy Pinterest page, featuring the awards won by Glenn Davis,…
