Army Black Knights | |||
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Current season: | |||
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First season | 1890 | ||
Athletic director | Mike Buddie | ||
Head coach | Jeff Monken | ||
9th year, 64–49 (.566) | |||
Home stadium | Michie Stadium | ||
Stadium capacity | 38,000 | ||
Stadium surface | FieldTurf | ||
Location | West Point, NY | ||
Conference | Independent | ||
All-time history | |||
All-time record | 721–539–51 (.569) | ||
Postseason bowl record | 7–3 (.700) | ||
Claimed national titles | 3 (1944, 1945, 1946)[1] | ||
Conference titles | 1 (2024) | ||
Heisman winners | 3 | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 37 | ||
Current uniform | |||
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Colors | Black and Gold
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Fight song | On Brave Old Army Team | ||
Mascot | Army Mule; Black Knight | ||
Marching band | United States Military Academy Band | ||
Rivals | Air Force Falcons Navy Midshipmen Notre Dame Fighting Irish East Carolina Pirates Rutgers Scarlet Knights | ||
Outfitter | Nike | ||
Website | GoArmySports.com |
The Army Black Knights football team, historically known as the Army Cadets, represents the United States Military Academy in college football. The Black Knights team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Black Knights play home games in Michie Stadium with a capacity of 36,000 at West Point, New York. The Black Knights are coached by Jeff Monken, who has held the position since 2014.
Army claims five national championships, including two AP Trophies in 1944 and 1945. Army has produced 24 players and four coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, 37 consensus All-Americans, and three Heisman Trophy winners: Doc Blanchard (1945), Glenn Davis (1946), and Pete Dawkins (1958).
With the exception of seven seasons (1998–2004) when the team was a member of Conference USA, Army competed as an independent, meaning that they had no affiliation with any conference. They started to compete in the American Athletic Conference as a football-only member in 2024. For all other sports Army is primarily a member of the Patriot League.
Army competes with their historic rivals Navy in the Army–Navy Game, traditionally the final game of the college football regular season. The three major service academies—Army, Navy, and Air Force—compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy; Army has won the award ten times, most recently in 2023.
Championships[]
National championships[]
Army has won five national championships from NCAA-designated major selectors, including twice (1944, 1945) from the AP Poll.
Year | Coach | Selectors | Record | Final AP | Final Coaches |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1914 | Charles Daly | Helms, Parke Davis, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation | 9–0 | – | – |
1916 | Parke Davis | 9–0 | – | – | |
1944 | Earl Blaik | AP, Berryman, Billingsley, Boand, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, Helms, Houlgate, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Sagarin, Williamson | 9–0 | No. 1 | – |
1945 | AP, Berryman, Billingsley MOV, Boand, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, Helms, Houlgate, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELOChess), Williamson | 9–0 | – | ||
1946 | Billingsley, Boand, Football Research, Helms, Houlgate, Poling | 9–0–1 | No. 2 | – |
Conference championships[]
Season | Conference | Coach | Conference record | Overall record |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | American Athletic Conference | Jeff Monken | 8–0 | 11–1 |
Bowl games[]
Army has played in ten bowl games. They have a record of 7–3.
Season | Coach | Bowl | Date | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Jim Young | Cherry Bowl | December 22, 1984 | Michigan State | W 10–6 |
1985 | Peach Bowl † | December 31, 1985 | Illinois | W 31–29 | |
1988 | Sun Bowl | December 24, 1988 | Alabama | L 28–29 | |
1996 | Bob Sutton | Independence Bowl | December 31, 1996 | Auburn | L 29–32 |
2010 | Rich Ellerson | Armed Forces Bowl | December 30, 2010 | SMU | W 16–14 |
2016 | Jeff Monken | Heart of Dallas Bowl | December 27, 2016 | North Texas | W 38–31 OT |
2017 | Armed Forces Bowl | December 23, 2017 | San Diego State | W 42–35 | |
2018 | Armed Forces Bowl | December 22, 2018 | Houston | W 70–14 | |
2020 | Liberty Bowl | December 31, 2020 | West Virginia | L 21–24 | |
2021 | Armed Forces Bowl | December 22, 2021 | Missouri | W 24–22 | |
2024 | Independence bowl | December 28, 2024 | Louisiana Tech | W 27-6 |
† New Year 6 Bowl
Seasons[]
2020s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2025 | Jeff Monken | |
2024 | Jeff Monken | 12-2 |
2023 | Jeff Monken | 6-6 |
2022 | Jeff Monken | 6-6 |
2021 | Jeff Monken | 9-4 |
2020 | Jeff Monken | 9-3 |
2010s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2019 | Jeff Monken | 5-8 |
2018 | Jeff Monken | 11-2 |
2017 | Jeff Monken | 10-3 |
2016 | Jeff Monken | 8-5 |
2015 | Jeff Monken | 2-10 |
2014 | Jeff Monken | 4-8 |
2013 | Rich Ellerson | 3-9 |
2012 | Rich Ellerson | 2-10 |
2011 | Rich Ellerson | 3-9 |
2010 | Rich Ellerson | 7-6 |
2000s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2009 | Rich Ellerson | 5-7 |
2008 | Stan Brock | 3-9 |
2007 | Stan Brock | 3-9 |
2006 | Bobby Ross | 3-9 |
2005 | Bobby Ross | 4-7 |
2004 | Bobby Ross | 2-9 |
2003 | Todd Berry/John Mumford | 0-13 |
2002 | Todd Berry | 1-11 |
2001 | Todd Berry | 3-8 |
2000 | Todd Berry | 1-10 |
1990s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1999 | Bob Sutton | 3-8 |
1998 | Bob Sutton | 3-8 |
1997 | Bob Sutton | 4-7 |
1996 | Bob Sutton | 10-2 |
1995 | Bob Sutton | 5-5-1 |
1994 | Bob Sutton | 4-7 |
1993 | Bob Sutton | 6-5 |
1992 | Bob Sutton | 5-6 |
1991 | Bob Sutton | 4-7 |
1990 | Jim Young | 6-5 |
1980s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1989 | Jim Young | 6-5 |
1988 | Jim Young | 9-3 |
1987 | Jim Young | 5-6 |
1986 | Jim Young | 6-5 |
1985 | Jim Young | 9-3 |
1984 | Jim Young | 8-3-1 |
1983 | Jim Young | 2-9 |
1982 | Ed Cavanaugh | 4-7 |
1981 | Ed Cavanaugh | 3-7-1 |
1980 | Ed Cavanaugh | 3-7-1 |
1970s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1979 | Lou Saban | 2-8-1 |
1978 | Homer Smith | 4-6-1 |
1977 | Homer Smith | 7-4 |
1976 | Homer Smith | 5-6 |
1975 | Homer Smith | 2-9 |
1974 | Homer Smith | 3-8 |
1973 | Tom Cahill | 0-10 |
1972 | Tom Cahill | 6-4 |
1971 | Tom Cahill | 6-4 |
1970 | Tom Cahill | 1-9-1 |
1960s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1969 | Tom Cahill | 4-5-1 |
1968 | Tom Cahill | 7-3 |
1967 | Tom Cahill | 8-2 |
1966 | Tom Cahill | 8-2 |
1965 | Paul Dietzel | 4-5-1 |
1964 | Paul Dietzel | 4-6 |
1963 | Paul Dietzel | 7-3 |
1962 | Paul Dietzel | 6-4 |
1961 | Dale Hall | 6-4 |
1960 | Dale Hall | 6-3-1 |
1950s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1959 | Dale Hall | 4-4-1 |
1958 | Earl Blaik | 8-0-1 |
1957 | Earl Blaik | 7-2 |
1956 | Earl Blaik | 5-3-1 |
1955 | Earl Blaik | 7-2 |
1954 | Earl Blaik | 7-2 |
1953 | Earl Blaik | 7-1-1 |
1952 | Earl Blaik | 4-4-1 |
1951 | Earl Blaik | 2-7 |
1950 | Earl Blaik | 8-1 |
History[]
Army football began in 1890, when Navy challenged the cadets to a game of the relatively new sport. Navy defeated Army at West Point that year, but Army avenged the loss in Annapolis the following year.[2] The academies still clash every December in what is traditionally the last regular-season Division I college-football game. The 2011 football season marked Army's tenth consecutive loss to Navy. From 1944 to 1950, the Cadets had 57 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties. During this time span, Army won three national championships.[3]
Army's football team reached its pinnacle of success under coach Earl Blaik when Army won three consecutive national championships in 1944, 1945 and 1946, and produced three Heisman trophy winners: Doc Blanchard (1945), Glenn Davis (1946) and Pete Dawkins (1958).[4] Past NFL coaches Vince Lombardi[5] and Bill Parcells[6] were Army assistant coaches early in their careers.
The team was known as the "Cadets" until 1999, when the nickname was changed to "Black Knights".
The football team plays its home games at Michie Stadium, where the playing field is named after Earl Blaik. Cadets' attendance is mandatory at football games and the Corps stands for the duration of the game. At all home games, one of the four regiments marches onto the field in formation before the team takes the field and leads the crowd in traditional Army cheers.[7]
Between the 1998 and 2004 seasons, Army's football program was a member of Conference USA, but has since reverted to its former independent status.[8] West Point competes with Navy and Air Force for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
College Football Hall of Famers[]
- Main article: College Football Hall of Fame
- Bob Anderson
- Doc Blanchard
- Paul Bunker
- Chris Cagle
- Bill Carpenter
- Charlie Daly
- Glenn Davis
- Pete Dawkins
- Arnold Galiffa
- Ed Garbisch
- John Green
- Don Holleder
- Harvey Jablonsky
- Doug Kenna
- John McEwan
- Frank Merritt
- Robin Olds
- Elmer Oliphant
- Barney Poole
- Bud Sprague
- Joe Steffy
- Alex Weyand
- Kitwana Akil
- Harry Wilson
Award winners[]
- Doc Blanchard – 1945
- Glenn Davis – 1946
- Pete Dawkins – 1958
- AFCA Coach of the Year
- Earl Blaik – 1946
- Tom Cahill – 1966
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
- Tom Cahill – 1966
- Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
- Bob Sutton – 1996
- Glenn Davis – 1944
- Doc Blanchard – 1945
- Pete Dawkins – 1958
- Outland Trophy
- Joe Steffy – 1947
- William V. Campbell Trophy
- Andrew Rodriguez – 2011
- James E. Sullivan Award
- Andrew Rodriguez – 2011
See also[]
- Magazine covers
- Emerald Isle Classic
References[]
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Ambrose (1966), pp. 305–306.
- ↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.135, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
- ↑ Trophy Winners. The Heisman Trophy. Retrieved on 31 December 2008.
- ↑ Biography. Official Website of Vince Lombardi. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved on 31 December 2008.
- ↑ Biggane, Brian. "Bill Parcells is Dolphins' Godfather", Palm Beach Post, 15 November 2008. Retrieved on 25 January 2009.
- ↑ Palka (2008), p. 197.
- ↑ Army Football to Leave Conference USA After 2004 Season. The Official Website of Conference USA. Retrieved on 23 January 2009.
Bibliography[]
- Carlisle vs. Army: Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, Pop Warner, and the Forgotten Story of Football's Greatest Battle, written by Lars Anderson (2007). . Random House Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4000-6600-1.
Notable Alumni[]
- Doc Blanchard - 1945 Heisman Trophy winner
- Glenn Davis - 1946 Heisman Trophy winner