Army/Navy Extra Points

Like the rest of the bowl-unqualified world I've gone into a hibernation of sorts.

Google's news search results for Army football have diminished since the season finale:



But the real reason I haven't posted is that I've been visiting family on the east coast without the time (or wireless connections) to post anything.

The 2009 edition of Army/Navy is done, but it seems that the Navy contingent have really taken offense to Rich Ellerson's assertion that Army is closing the gap. Just a couple of thoughts on this since I'm not even going to pretend that I like Navy football or Navy football fans.

This kind of coach speak came out of Ellerson all season long. Sometimes he toned it down a little- and when he did, the team played down to a lower level - like against VMI after he said something to the effect of "I'm not going to tell you that VMI is as good as some of the teams we've played"(sic) - I couldn't believe a coach would make comments to the press like that but it was then that I realized that kind of coachspeak is just what Rich Ellerson does.

Coach speak may have been some of it, because coaches don't like to lose - but realistically since the gap vs Navy was as wide as it has been it doesn't take fancy things like touchdowns and wins to prove Army is getting closer.

Navy's team this year isn't nearly as good as the one that knocked off Pitt in 2007 - I definitely see Navy as having taken a step back from recent years.

That same Bird Dog writeup lists 2006 Army/Navy as an even closer score than this year - but within the conversation of "closing the gap on Navy" that is to discount the more recent regression of the program under Stan Brock- hired in 2007. Coaching and stability at the top spot is a crucial factor in building a D-1 college program - Ellerson can surely make improvements in his second year and factoring in any increase in stability at the head coaching spot, that gap between Army and bowl eligible teams will get smaller.

I'm not going to get too involved with this because it's really a non-issue. If the insecurities of Navy football fans were the topic of this blog you would be reading a site called The Unbalanced Navy Rent-Boys.

No matter what you call it, I'll probably be absent from the site at least another week until I get back to Oregon, but keep up with Sal's Times Herald Record coverage and we'll meet back up in 2010.

Interdonato posted Army's wish list for 2010 and looks at the 2010 schedule - it's a little early for that, but I'll say again that Army football is lucky to have a guy as dedicated as Sal on their sports beat.

Cheers!