Army Black Knights

Army Black Knights
	Current season:; 2021 Army Black Knights
First season	1890
Athletic director	Boo Coorigan
Head coach	Jeff Monken
	8th year, 40–36 (.526)
Home stadium	Michie Stadium
Stadium capacity	40,000
Stadium surface	FieldTurf
Location	West Point, NY
Conference	Independent
	All-time history
Army Black Knights Historical Teams
All-time record	697–526–51 (.567)
Postseason bowl record	8–2 (.750)
Claimed national titles	3 (1944, 1945, 1946)
Heisman winners	3
Consensus All-Americans	37
	Current uniform
Colors	Black and Gold ;
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; Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Outfitter	Nike
Website	GoArmySports.com

The Army Black Knights are part of the NCAA Division I-FBS independent schools. The Black Knights football team plays their home games at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York and are currently coached by Jeff Monken. The Black Knights football program represents the United States Army Military Academy at West Point, NY. They are one of the few NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent schools (not in a conference). Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946.

History

Template:Rellink 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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).^[6] Past NFL coaches Vince Lombardi^[7] and Bill Parcells^[8] 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.^[9]

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.^[10] West Point competes with Navy and Air Force for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

Seasons

2020s

Season	Coach	Record
2020

2010s

Season	Coach	Record
2019	Jeff Monken
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

Rivalries

Army-Navy Game

Main article: Army-Navy Game

The annual contest between the Black Knights of Army and the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy at Annapolis (Navy) is among the most storied rivalries in all of college sports.

Others

In much of the early 20th century, Army and Notre Dame were considered football powerhouses, and met 21 times between 1925 and 1946.^[11] Many media members considered the 1946 contest to be the "Game of the Century".^[12] Army and Notre Dame met for the 50th time on November 20, 2010.^[11]

Army and Air Force also maintain a rivalry, and the two in addition to Navy, compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

Rutgers

This rivalry stems from Army and Rutgers being two of the only three programs (a third is Navy) to come out of the original, informal "Ivy League" that are still members of the top tier of NCAA college football (currently Division I-FBS). ("See" Before There Was An Ivy League "and" Ivy League#History of the athletic league.) Army is Rutgers' second oldest active rivalry. Rutgers has won the last six in a row and 10 of the last 12. The all-time series is tied at 18 wins each. In 2011, Rutgers won this game 27–12.

National Championships

Year	Coach	Selector	Record
1944	Earl Blaik	Associated Press	9–0
1945	Earl Blaik	Associated Press	9–0
1946	Earl Blaik	Helms Athletic Foundation	9–0–1

Bowl Games

Season	Bowl	Date	Opponent	Result
1984	Cherry Bowl	December 22	Michigan State	W 10–6
1985	Peach Bowl	December 31	Illinois	W 31–29
1988	Sun Bowl	December 24	Alabama	L 28–29
1996	Independence Bowl	December 31	Auburn	L 29–32
2010	Armed Forces Bowl	December 30	SMU	W 16–14

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

Heisman Trophy

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

Maxwell Award

Glenn Davis – 1944