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| Army Head Coach Rich Ellerson |
Rich Ellerson is only in his second season at West Point as the Head Coach of the Army football team but a trend is already being set. In his first season at the helm, Ellerson led Army to a 5-7 record, the highest win total for the program since 1996. A graduate of Hawai’i, Ellerson’s team do not boast the outlandish aerial attacks many college fans have come to know from the Island University. Instead the offense is run much like the future players will run their missions in a different kind of uniform: domination on the ground.
In a 24-0 victory over the North Texas Mean Green on Saturday (the first shutout since 2005), the Black Knights ran over 50 plays for more than 300 yards, over 250 of them rushing. Sophomore Quarterback Trent Steelman rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries and a score in the win for Army (2-1).
“We still have to try to move the ball in there. We have to run inside the hashes occasionally,” Coach Ellerson said. “I thought our receivers probably had their best day blocking, especially being physical and coming back inside on safeties”.
Steelman did pass for 45 yards on 5-10 passing with no scores and no interceptions as well.
Also putting in some ground work were senior running back Patrick Mealy (46 yards on 5 rushes and a TD) and sophomore Brian Cobbs (75 yds, 7 car.). This however should not surprise anyone who follows Army football, or Rich Ellerson. In the last two seasons, there have been 10 games in which a Cadet has rushed for over 100 yards, including four last year. While Ellerson was at Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) School Cal Poly, the Mustangs ran much of the same offense utilized at Michie Stadium. In his final year, Ellerson’s squad averaged over 300 yards on the ground per contest.
Another staple of a Rich Ellerson football team is another mirror of the training these future soldiers take on while in school: adjust and protect. In 2009 the Black Knights were outscored by 83 points in the second half, contributing to the twelfth consecutive losing season. Through just three games this year, Army has only allowed 23 points after the break. They scored 21 in the third in a loss to Hawai’i back on September 11th (they trailed 21-0 at one point). Ellerson has been able to make adjustments in the locker room in order to keep Army competitive in each game early on this season.
Finally, when you watch the Cadets out on the field they are relentless with protection and discipline. In the most recent victory over the Mean Green, Army committed just two penalties (the first of which game in the third quarter).
“When you think about our team, the first thing that should come to your mind is discipline,” said QB Steelman of his teams mental composure.” the way we respect each other and the way we play for each other. It's something special that we have going.”
The defense was unrelenting forcing multiple turnovers and wreaking havoc for the North Texas (0-3) offense. Granted, NT is without eight starters who have been lost to season ending injuries and their starting center and quarterback left the game in the first half also with injuries. Still, the Black Knight defense shutout their opponent while allowing only 201 yards of total offense. Sophomore defensive back Jordan Trimble led the way with nine tackles and an interception while senior defensive end Joshua McNary was permanently entrenched in the backfield with five tackles and two sacks.
“It’s hard to win a football game, and it’s especially hard to shut a football team out,” said Ellerson after the win. “That was a great day for our defense.”
All three of these characteristics: dominant groundwork, discipline and the ability to adjust quickly and protect are all qualities of Army soldiers and the men who battle on the gridiron before the actual battlefield. All of which will be crucial if second year head man Rich Ellerson is to do what no coach has done since Bob Sutton in the mid-1990’s; have a winning season in the Black and Gold at West Point.
