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Last shot at redemption for Army
By The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — The number
is in Army's face like the level stare of a drill sergeant.
Everywhere the players go,
there are questions, criticism and — worst of all — sympathy from Navy
over a season that's a loss away from the first 0-13 record in major
college football history.
Army currently owns the
nation's longest losing streak at 14 games, has dropped 23 of its last
24, including last year's 58-12 loss to Navy, and has been outscored by
242 points this season.
Coach Todd Berry was fired
at midseason and replaced by John Mumford on an interim basis. Berry was
responsible for the season's first six losses; Mumford the last six.
Mumford knows a win
Saturday against Navy (7-4) won't salvage the season. Then again, maybe
it will.
"We have never addressed
0-12. We have never addressed anything about the record," Mumford said.
"We continued to press on. The kids are getting hit in the corps,
they're getting hit with it in the media. We just try and keep our eye
on the ball of our daily work habits."
The Black Knights have
been outscored 124-45 the last three games, and have been shut out twice
this season. They are the worst rushing team at 61.9 yards per game and
lead the nation with 42 turnovers.
"It's frustrating. I
thought we had the talent," wide receiver Clint Woody said. "Not doing
what we set out to accomplish is real frustrating. There's a sense of
failure. It's definitely not what we wanted."
Forget the glory days of
the 1940s and 1950s when Army was winning national titles and producing
Heisman Trophy winners. Right now, Army would settle for a return to the
mediocre 1990s when it finished at .500 or better four times,
highlighted by a 10-2 record in 1996.
"There are so many things
we can learn from this and take with us when football is over,"
linebacker Ryan Kent said. "I'd still rather be winning, though."
The reasons for the
decline are as numerous as the losses.
Berry, who turned Illinois
State into a winner, tried to turn Army's wishbone into a passing
attack, a plan that flopped because there isn't enough talent at skill
positions such as quarterback, running back and receiver.
With barely enough talent
to field a competitive team as an independent, Army joined Conference
USA in 1998.
Instead of leveraging league membership into progress on the field,
Berry was fired with a 5-35 record in 3½ seasons. Earlier this year, the
school pulled out of C-USA and will return to independent status in
2004.
"Some things may not have
worked like we hoped, but we're getting back to what Army is all about,"
Mumford said.
If Army needs any added
inspiration, it can look across the field at Navy. Two years ago, Navy
went 0-10; after the Army game, the Mids will play in the Houston Bowl.
"They brought in the right
coach and a fresh approach," Woody said. "They've shown you can have
success at the academies. We have before and hopefully we will again,
even if I'm not around to be a part of it."
Second-year Navy coach
Paul Johnson felt compassion for Army and said he roots for the Black
Knights in every game except one.
"There are positives and
you have to accentuate the positives. There are some things you cannot
change," Johnson said. "We know why the academies are there. The things
you can change and that you can work on, you need to. I think that's
important in anybody having success at the academies. It's a challenge,
but it can be accomplished if you approach it the right way."
Beating Navy is more
important than usual this time.
"It would be sweeter than
going out 0-13," Woody said.
02/23/2007 11:02 AM
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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