Army veteran | West Point grad | Writer | Military, leadership & sports insights | Context beyond the headlines
Joined February 2010
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Army veteran and West Point graduate offering clear perspective on military & policy, leadership under pressure, performance & competition, and what the headlines miss. Experience over theory. Follow for disciplined, unvarnished insight.
Thoughts on the first half of @ArmyWP_Football vs. @MemphisFB :
1. Army is getting destroyed in the secondary. Memphis receivers are open every play. If it weren't for a couple of Memphis dropped passes and a fumble, this would be a blowout.
2. Army has run the ball well, but Memphis started to close the middle in the 2nd quarter. Look for Howard and Mundell on the outside in the second half. It would also be a good time for some short passes to the TEs, but we haven't seen that in a few games.
3. That was poor clock management by Army on their last drive. They needed a score with Memphis receiving the second half kickoff, and instead, they left a time-out on the board going into halftime and came nowhere close to FG range.
4. The Army defense needs to figure out how to stop Memphis on the first possession of second half, or this game might get out of hand for Army.
@SickosCommittee
@asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #GoBlackKnights #OldGrad
Why @ArmyWP_Football lost to @MemphisFB ...
This will be short and to the point. The Army Team lost to Memphis because the Memphis offense dominated the Army defense the entire game.
Memphis accumulated 554 total yards for an average of 7.4 yards per play and converted 11 of 15 first downs. Memphis receivers were open seemingly on every play. The Army defense could not get off the field.
In a game like this, the Army offense needed to be nearly perfect, and it was not. Army did have 320 yards rushing -- an average of 6.3 per carry -- but could not sustain drives consistently, converting only 3 of 10 on third down.
There’s a lot to work on in practice this week.
Beat Air Force!
@SickosCommittee @asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #GoBlackKnights #OldGrad
Paul Sherman retweeted
Little man syndrome; Abdul has no idea what he's talking about. Proud to say, as Pete's dad, he was an absolute star on the court in HS. Captain, all-conference, all-state player...earned! We parents cheered him on, yes. That's what families do-support each other. #Envy makes him bitter.
Paul Sherman retweeted
Prediction time: Army has won three games in a row? Can Black Knights extend winning streak with signature American Conference win at Memphis?
#ArmyFootball
Reply with your predictions
armyblackknightnation.com/pr…
Here’s what this Old Grad is looking for tonight from
@ArmyWP_Football vs @MemphisFB …
1. Consistent dominance from Army’s o-line. This is the strength of the team that sets the tone for all phases. Behind the o-line, the offense must control the ball and convert on third and fourth downs. Four straight three-and-outs like we saw in the second half against Tulsa won’t cut it.
2. The Army defense cannot allow big plays. If Memphis averages 7-8 yards per play, Army will be in trouble. Tackling is critical. A consistent pass rush and turnovers in key spots could make the difference.
3. Special teams could win the game. Last week, a blocked punt and two 50+ yard FGs fueled a big road conference win. We should expect another one-score game this week, and the feet of kicker Dawson Jones and punter James Wagenseller will play important roles.
Beat Memphis!
@SickosCommittee @asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #OldGrad #GoBlackKnights
On this day in @ArmyWP_Football history…
On October 30, 1920, The Army Team led Notre Dame, 17–14, entering the fourth quarter at West Point. George Gipp then led the Irish to two late touchdowns and a 27–17 victory in what many Notre Dame fans consider the legendary “Gipper’s” greatest game.
Gipp, a consensus All-American for the 9-0 Fighting Irish, would pass away on December 14, 1920, due to a throat infection and pneumonia.
Army would finish the season at 7-2 under Coach Charles Daly. Their other loss was to Navy.
@SickosCommittee @asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #OldGrad
The @Brewers World Series win was refreshing. They won it with an old-school brand of baseball under the leadership of an old-school manager in Pat Murphy.
The Brewers showed that using speed to put pressure on defense can create problems for the opposition. A manager's gut instincts can be more effective than an analyst's spreadsheet. A starting pitcher consistently throwing 100mph fastballs can be the ultimate weapon.
Here's hoping that MLB and the MLBPA van work out their labor issues, so the game can build on the old-school momentum teams like the Brewers built this season.
#WorldSeries2026 #Brewers #MLB #MLBPA #Baseball #PatMurphy
Perspective:
Coach Earl "Red" Blaik, who won three national championships and coached three Heisman Trophy winners, is the all-time Army leader in wins with 121.
@ArmyWP_Football
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #OldGrad
Paul Sherman retweeted
It seems like people are sleeping on this Memphis (6-2) vs Army (5-2) game this weekend.
Memphis has stumbled in recent weeks, even in their wins.
Army is just grinding teams out week after week. Their conference schedule is favorable, so they could end up in the American title game as well but they must win at the weekend.
Both Huff and Monken are aware of what’s on the line on Saturday. This is just as big as the FAU & UNT game.
Another banger in the American Conference.
On this day in @ArmyWP_Football history…
On October 27,1945, top-ranked Army defeated No. 19 @DukeFOOTBALL , 48–13, at the Polo Grounds. Shorty McWilliams opened the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown run, while Doc Blanchard added a 54-yard touchdown reception.
Army completed that season 9–0 and won its second consecutive national championship.
@SickosCommittee @asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #OldGrad
Paul Sherman retweeted
The most underrated offensive players in college football right now, imo:
- Cale Hellums, QB - Army
- Jekail Middlebrook, RB - Virginia
- James Jones, RB - NMSU
- Easton Messer, WR - FAU
- Asaad Waseem, WR - Purdue
- Umari Hatcher, WR - Syracuse
- Eli Finley, TE - LA Tech
(1/2)
My weekly stab at the NCAAF Top 10 (Week 8):
1. Miami (FL)
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Indiana
5. Utah
6. UCLA
7. BYU
8. Notre Dame
9. Kentucky
10. Texas Tech
Knocking on the door: SMU, Arizona, Northwestern, Boise State, Wake Forest
@SickosCommittee
#NCAAF #CollegeFootball #FBS #NCAAFTop10
Why @ArmyWP_Football beat @TulsaFootball ...
The Army Team beat Tulsa on October 23 by a score of 38-35. This time, Army did not win by using its offensive line and powerful rushing attack to impose its will on the Golden Hurricane. Instead, key plays on special teams at opportune times made the difference.
Army was in control of the game 28-14 following a 66-yard Godspower Nwawuihe TD run early in the third quarter. Then, the offense stalled with four consecutive three-and-outs. Tulsa capitalized on Army's sudden offensive struggles by scoring 21 consecutive points to take a 35-28 lead.
Then, the Army Team dug in and scrapped to a victory. Late in the fourth quarter, Army blocked a punt and recovered on the Tulsa 13. Cale Hellums followed with a one-yard TD run -- his third TD of the game -- to tie the game at 35 with 1:50 remaining.
Army got the ball back and the offense drove close enough for a Dawson Jones 50-yard FG attempt, which sailed through the uprights for a walk-off Army win.
Jones' three FGs -- from 51, 34, and 50 yards -- were critical in overcoming Army's travails on both offense and defense. The offense rushed for only 275 yards, well below their season average of 346 yards. The defense allowed Tulsa an average of 6.2 yards per play, including a 59-yard TD run.
With the offense and defense both not performing to standard, the special teams stepped up at crucial moments to complete the victory. Good teams demonstrated the resiliency to find ways to win when things aren't going as planned. Against Tulsa, Army showed the resilience of a team that could win a conference championship.
Next up is another tough conference challenge -- a trip to @MemphisFB for a game on Halloween night.
Beat Memphis!
@SickosCommittee @asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #OldGrad #GoBlackKnights
Here’s what this Old Grad is looking for tonight from
@ArmyWP_Football vs @TulsaFootball...
1. Continued dominance from Army’s o-line. The offensive line has been the backbone of the 2026 Army Team. I'll be looking for them to control the line of scrimmage and allow Cale Hellums and Company to grind out yards and keep the ball away from the Tulsa offense.
2. Fundamental tackling and pressure on the QB. Tulsa has averaged 38 points per game on the season. To slow that production, the Army defense needs strong games against the run from the nose tackles, linebackers, and safeties up the middle and a good pass rush to make the Tulsa QB uncomfortable in the pocket.
3. Timely forced turnovers. Last week against FAU, an Army interception on the first play from scrimmage led to an Army score and an early lead. More of that this week would be a great help in what portends to be another close game on the road.
Beat Tulsa!
@SickosCommittee @asforfootball
#ArmyFootball #ArmyWestPoint #USMA #ArmyBlackKnights #GoArmy #CollegeFootball #NCAAFootball #OldGrad #GoBlackKnights
