The Rest Is The Easy Part

"The hardest part of leaving is picking up the keys and finding the nerve to start that car." - The Easy Part by Chuck Wicks


So I know I promised that I would post this yesterday but, as is my life, there's a delay. People have given me crap (even in my own family) as to being a Cowboy. No I never lived on a ranch or owned a horse. Yes, I graduated from a high school south of Baltimore, Maryland. But the Cowboy identity is a mindset. A mindset of never being satisfied and always moving on. Never being tied down but always finding a reason to return. Being honorable and charitable, working with what the Good Lord gave me and never complaining when things don't go my way. Anyway, I've finally figured out why there's been a delay in this. It's because I've been subconsciously putting this off. You see, as a military brat you learn how to say goodbye and leave things behind. Over my first 18 years of my life I became immune to the idea of severing ties. However, in the last 4 years I have found something that I'm actually afraid to leave. Since the fall of freshman year in 2007 I have been a part of 88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University. This past Sunday I hosted my final Locker Room, the symbolic end to my career here. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to thank all the people that I wanted to or to the extent that they deserved so here it is:

To the administrators of WRHU: Bruce Avery, John Mullen, & Ed Ingles. The three of you have been the cornerstone of my ability. Ed, when I came here as a senior in high school I looked at you and said "I want to be a sportscaster," and you replied to me with "If you bust your ass, you'll be on air your freshman year." That was all I needed to hear, I was sold. Since then you have continued to mentor me and helped groom to where I am today. John, you are always there to get some legitimate advice in this industry and if I ever need anything you'll be one of the first ones I call. Bruce, I can't thank you for everything you've done for me. After the unspeakable acts of October 2009, I asked you if that would alter my potential to move into a managers role at this station. You told me it wouldn't and two months later you gave me a vote of confidence to be the first "sports department" member to become Station Manager. Since then, I've learned how to be a manager, and a leader, and for that I thank you tremendously.

To the WRHU Sports Department: Everything I said at my final meeting is true. Everyone of you has the potential to be the best person at this station and make our department the best in the country. I implore all of you to continue competing with each other to continue growing and don't ever get complacent. To the seniors of this department; Mitch Merman, Gabe Diamond, Kyle Geesaman, Alex Santiago, Jeff Mills, Ray Rotella, and Pat O'Brien, there isn't a group I'd rather leave with. We've made such an indelible mark on this department that it will forever be remembered. More specifically to Mitch, you know how much I owe to you and ever award I've ever garnered, any job I ever get and any compliment I ever receive is one to you as well. Without you forcing me to join this station and do what it takes to be better than you, none of this would happen. Just know that I would much rather both of us get the accolades than just me. Also, to Ryan. Dude, you've been one of my best friends in such a short amount of time. I know you're going through some tough times but if I can ever be of help to you, personally, or professionally, I will always be there. I can't imagine ending my broadcasting career in any other way than with you on the broadcast with me.

To the Alums of WRHU Sports: You all, from Todd Ant and Marc Ernay to Mike Leslie and Jon Lauder, have paved a road for all of us not only here but in the real world. Thank you so much for doing everything you have that allows us to be what we want to for the rest of our lives. Specifically to Matt Shortis, thank you for taking the interest in me as a senior in high school and seeing it that I get here to do this. To Jon, you've been like a brother to me and our friendship is something that I will value more than any job or award I ever receive. To Mike Leslie, what you said to me on Sunday night was the first sign of tears. I am truly honored that someone is making their path in the professional world would think that I am going to surpass you and all the others. Thank you for setting a bar for me to reach and I hope I do that. To Siddique Farooqi, you are my mentor, my big brother, and my icon. When I was a senior in high school you took an interest in me and when I arrived at WRHU you convinced me to stick to you like glue. Without your guidance I would not be the well-rounded broadcaster I like to think I am. Thank you for everything, I'm going to miss you the most.

To my other RHU'ers: You all work at the greatest college radio station in America, bar none. I've enjoyed every second of every hour I've put into this place. You all have a special place in my heart and I will never forget you. Mainly to Veronica Kennedy and Lindsay Clark. The two have you have been rocks in my time here. Lindsay, we haven't always had the best light shed on our relationship but I've loved being able to call you a friend and am honored to keep doing that. Veronica, we've known each other for all four years here at Hofstra and I'm so happy you finally joined this station. I'm confident that you are going to have a great life, both personally and professionally.

To the other RHU alums: Joe Kuczynski, thanks for being one of the more fun people I met here. You were the first guy I tracked with and I'm proud I was able to take the reigns of country music on Long Island and run with it. To Sam Manning and Jen Joas, some of my favorite times here were anchoring Newsline with you. You two loved goofing off just as much as I did and we always were able to have a great time on the air and off. To Kathleen Shortis, my wonderful teacher and SM, thanks for being wonderful. I hope I performed the job to same level you did.

To my two Training Classes: I hope that you all learned one thing from me in your class more than anything else: passionate fun. Please, be passionate in what you do and have fun while doing it. Without that you won't be able to stand yourself or the jobs you end up with. You all have an incredible amount of talent and potential, and know I'll be watching when you finally reach it.

To my other College Friends: My roommate of three years Matt Landis. You were the force that kept me grounded for three years and I don't know where I would be if you weren't there for me. I love you so much and I missed you more than you will ever know this past year. You were one of my best friends and I can't wait to see you again. To Kelly Glista, Sarah Ciopyk, Jill Andrews, Caroline Kirkwood and Erin Carr, you five were always a way to brighten up the room and escape from the troubles of WRHU. Kelly, Erin and Sarah, I love you all and I'm so happy our friendship has continued as strongly as it has past your graduation. To the girls of Lib/Rep, mainly Katie Metz, Jaime Hoerbelt, Alana Glaubiger and Jennie Brill. Katie, you are the only person at Hofstra who truly knows me and I can't thank you enough for being there when I needed you and being one of my dearest friends ever. Jaime, you and I were just as close as Katie and I and I thank you for putting up with everything and staying with me. Alana, you are (and always will be) my sister. You could always put a smile on my face and make me realize what was needed even when I didn't want to. Jennie, I know we haven't had the strongest of relationships, but I hope you know that I cherished every moment we had together. I'm sorry that I couldn't be the better person I know you saw in me, but you stuck with me as long as you could and I don't blame you for what happened between us.

To my High School Friends: Old Mill High School was a place I couldn't stand and couldn't wait to leave. That being said, Forrest Corry and Patrick Benjamin, you two will always be my two best friends and I'm so happy I have a place to return to if I ever want to. Lorinda Lukenbach and Nora Ellenes, you two are the happiest people I have ever met and I'm so happy I will always have you there by my side if I need you. To Don and Ashley White, thank you for letting me be a part of your son's life. The thought of being some form of importance to a child is incredibly rewarding. I hope I can be to Joey what you two are. To AshLee Rempfer and Jen Berry, you two were my rocks my senior year and the summer that followed. AshLee, you're still one of my best friends and JJ, just know that I will always love you.

To my Housemates: Guys, this past year was LEGEND.....wait for it...wait for it!.....DARY! Seriously, I couldn't imagine living with a better group of guys. Whether it was just hanging out watching football on Sundays, drinking on any given night, watching "Whose Line?" or the many parties we had, I can't imagine a better ending to my college career. George, we've known each other since freshman year and having you in the house makes life so much better. Gabe, something about you just makes things funnier and helps to put everything in perspective. Butters, when you actually come out of your room the conversation always becomes more lively. Matt, dude, this has been awesome mainly because of the stupid things you have done and the free-living lifestyle you have. Kyle, for the second straight summer (and even longer) I got to live with you. I'll be honest, this year wasn't as awesome as that summer, but the school year ruins that. Thanks for being who you are though and don't change that. Pat, man, all I can say is without you, I never would have had the greatest night of my life and I'm honored to be a part of how your birthday began. Thank you all so much for making this what it was.

To the Hofstra Athletic Department: Athletic Director Jack Hayes, thank you for allowing us at WRHU to do what we love doing. You could easily sign a professional broadcast but you don't and I think I speak for all of us at WRHU Sports, past present and future when I say thank you. In the athletic communication office, Jim Sheehan, Jeremy Kniffin, Len Skoros, Brian Bohl and Stephen Gorchov. I have gotten to know you all very well over the last four years and I am so happy that I got that chance. Stephen, I can't count the memories you and I have had on road trips and I truly thank you for helping me grow more than you realize. Len, it's a been a blast this past season working on baseball and I hope you give every guy after me the same hard time you gave me.

To the Hofstra Coaches: Every single one of you is so generous with your time to us at WRHU and I can't thank you enough for that. To Pat Anderson, Skip, this has been one of the greatest joys of my life and I hope I made it fun for you. My biggest goal when I came here was to call Hofstra Pride baseball and I'm so happy to see you have the program going in the right direction. To Richard Nuttal, it was so much fun working with you in the fall and the previous three years of my career. You've been very gracious with everything and I truly do thank you. To Simon Riddiough, you are one of the best people to talk to off the field and off the mic because you have a personality that is just infectious. Finally, to John Russo. Coach, as a graduating senior I can't thank you enough for relieving the primal fear of being unemployed. My life's dream is call baseball games and this summer you have taken a chance and given me the opportunity to do that. Thank you, so much.

To Hofstra Men's Basketball: Coach Mo Cassara and the rest of the staff, thank you so much for making covering Men's Basketball enjoyable. That isn't to say it wasn't before, but you guys made it that much more fun. Coach, you're a great guy to talk with and always willing to have a good time and that certainly makes me more comfortable. To the players I've had the opportunity to know, namely Charles Jenkins, Greg Washington, Brad Kelleher, Antoine Agudio, Miklos Szabo, Mike Moore and David Imes; you guys have been awesome. You were always willing to talk to us and gave us some great insight. Charles, I'm honored to be able to call a soon to be NBA player a friend. Greg and Brad, I'm beyond honored to walk out the door with you guys as seniors. Mike and David, you guys have this program ready to rock next year and it was fun covering you this year. Thanks.


To Hofstra Women's Basketball: Anyone who knows me knows I can't leave this program out. Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey, you are beyond incredible. The last three years of covering this team made me enjoy this industry more than I ever could have imagined. You enjoy our coverage more than any coach I had the pleasure of working with. You always loved seeing us there and you always gave me information that made my broadcasts better. I will forever remember the trip to Texas last December, our trip to the WNIT and beating Penn State and getting ice cream and of course the incredible win at Drexel. Your staff has always been amazing as well. From Shalon Pillow and Danielle Santos to Faisal Kahn, Jess Manetti, Bill Ferrara and Tanika Price. You all follow the mold that I've come to know and love of the Hofstra Pride coaching staff. I wish I could stay here and cover this team forever. To the players, all the way from Natty Fripp and Nikki Williams to Kate Loper and Annie Payton. Y'all are my favorite group of people I've ever been around. Your personalities are tremendous and your love for the game is even higher. I have made three great friends within this team: Sam Brigham, Nicole Capurso, and Candice Bellochio. The three of you are hilarious, talented and amazing. Sam, last year was awesome. From sitting in the Houston airport watching Boondock Saints to discovering your mom's cookies, I'm glad I got the chance to know you. Nicole and Candice, I can't believe the level to which you two have helped bring this program to. Candice, I remember watching you in Richmond with a broken arm trying to match Chuck in his trick shots and thinking this was the attitude of the team and I love it. Nicole, we got to be closer friends this semester in class and yes, that post-game after Drexel was intense. To anyone reading this, please go support this team and this program. They deserve so much fan support that it's almost criminal they don't. In my opinion they have the last two Rookies of the Year in the CAA in Shante Evans and Kate Loper. Not to mention an incredible group of veterans and coaches. Please go watch them, they deserve more than anyone. I can truly say the only greater joy I had than being a fan of this team, was being a reporter covering them.

To my Second Family: Victoria Rossi. Sweetheart, I remember telling you as you drove me to the ER to get my dislocated finger that I have a conundrum with relationships that sometimes ends them. You looked passed that and 2 1/2 years later, I couldn't be happier you did. I'm so proud of you and what you have accomplished and I love you more than I could ever admit, just because that's who I am. To Bill and Deborah Rossi, thank you for letting her be a part of my life and giving me another spot to call "home". Bill, sir, I truly do mean what I said on Sunday night. I wish I could have met her mother and I know that I can never love Victoria more than you do, but I hope that I can at least make you and her mother proud of the fact that she is with me. Tina, you're a crazy one, but I love you all the same. I'm sorry I couldn't be around more with your sister gone but know that every night I came over and got to be a part of your life, I truly enjoyed it.

To my Extended Family: On my mother's side, thank you all for understanding why I wanted to break the chain of our family going to Norwich University and supporting me in what I've accomplished here. On my father's side, thank you for being a place I can go to whenever I need to get back to family or just away from the stresses of college. I hope I make you all proud one day.

To my Family: My younger brother Brandon. I said this Sunday night, but seriously kid, please get your head together. You have all the potential in the world to be someone great and once you realize that you'll reach that potential quicker than you could ever imagine. To my youngest brother Mikey, you have the best parts of Brandon and I. You have his raw talent and my work ethic. These two qualities will make you the most successful of the three of us. I wish you would have stayed with baseball because those five years as your coach were the best five years of my life. To my mother, who is the strongest woman I know, thank you. Thank you for letting me leave home and be the man you want me to be. I miss you every day and I'm sorry I can't be there more when the boys give you fits or you need a hug from your son. I'm a true Momma's boy (I'm actually tearing up as I write this part), and you always be my first love. To my father, since I can remember, everyday of my life has been a pursuit to make you proud. Whether it was being more involved in Church, wrestling in high school or whatever, I just wanted to live up to the level of respect and admiration others have for you. We've come a long way since that recruiter was sitting in our living room talking about the nice office in Kuwait City I was going to sit in. Hearing you say you're proud of me is one of the greatest accomplishments I've ever had and I hope I continue to do that. I love you all very much.

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One of the things I've always preached is that college is $40,000 a year to learn time management. My best times were managed in the walls of WRHU. While my diploma may say "Hofstra University" my education came in a studio, on a team bus, in the field reporting, or just in the main office goofing around. This place is the hardest place to leave. But, as a man who truly has been all over the place, this is one of the few places I will always call home. Thank you everyone so much. It has been a fabulous ride and I can't imagine changing anything.

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

I wrote this back in February on a piece of paper and just stumbled across it. Found it amusing, hope you do too.


It's weird, ya know, I was watching the movie "3:10 to Yuma" the other day. It's a Western movie with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. Crowe plays this renegade outlaw who gets caught because of Bale's character. But Bale plays this rancher who is crippled from the Civil War and is in dire financial needs due to a drought.

Anyway, it got me thinking. Our society really hasn't changed much since the pioneer days. Aside from inflation and technology bringing different kinds of jobs there are basically three types of people in the world. You have your middle class people who get the mildly glamorous high paying jobs; the blue-collar workers who rely on the good gracious of whats been given to them to earn a living. And then there is Ben Wade.

While the idea of Ben Wade is an outlaw who kills and steals to make his way through life, I find a different meaning to his role. Wade is a guy who does what he has to to survive. He could easily be a banker, or a lawyer, or an artist (Wade is a brilliant artist in the film.) Or, he could rely on what Bale's character does, the land to provide for his family. Instead, Wade is a criminal. He bends, and breaks, the rules of society constantly traveling to country wreaking havoc on those who stand in his way.

While the movie depicts him as a criminal and an outlaw, I like to consider the idea of Ben Wade as something more beneficial: a hero.

Think about it. Here is a guy who is hell bent on staying alive, staying on his own path, simply so that he can continue on the life he has. Isn't that the American Dream?

I get that he steals and kills and makes the lives of others absolute hell, but consider this: haven't we always been told that we can be whatever we want to be as long as we do whatever it takes, and not to let anyone tell you you can't and don't let any sonuvabitch stand in your way? Isn't that what Ben Wade does?

And yes, Bale's character is the "good guy" of the film, but he and Crowe's screenplays are the same person, just on different spectrum's of the law. Bale does whatever it takes, including abandoning his wife and deathly ill son, just to make sure a hardened criminal is locked away.

While that is the righteous thing to do, consider the final fifteen minutes of the picture. Wade constantly is trying to persuade Bale to set him free, double the reward, and Bale refuses simply because the story he told his sons about losing his leg in the war is not as heroic as it seems. In fact, it's embarrassing. He wants to do something that will make his family proud of him.

Upon hearing the actual tale, Wade decides to help Bale's character get him on the train to Yuma prison. He even kills every member of his own gang after they (SPOILER ALERT!!!!) after they kill Bale's character. He then jumps on the train to Yuma, completing Bale's heroic quest, but not before admitting that he has escaped the prison before. Twice.

I guess the conclusion is that there are two types of heroes. The one who does what he can until an extraordinary chance comes along to do something right. And the one who blazes his own path so the ends justify the means. My question to you then, is this: in this "dog-eat-dog" world, which one would you rather be?

Halloween Reflections

Apparently I wrote this after a party we had at our house Halloween weekend, why I didn't post it then I have no clue.

It’s funny how when you’re all alone you feel the most crowded. We had a party tonight at the house to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve (hence why I’m writing this at 4:30 a.m. Anyways, as the party dies down I begin to notice a couple of things: 1) that many people should never be in that tight a space and (probably the more significant to this piece) 2) who is staying in with me? The answer is no one. You see, my better half is currently in Boston. And that’s great. I’m proud of her for where she is and what she is doing. The problem is I’m the kind of guy who is just that. A guy. I began recognizing the strange phenomenon about men early into my senior year of high school. It’s what made me who I am currently.


Guys have this incredible conniption. We all feel need to be wanted but we don’t want to be needed. Let me explain. Every guy wants to be the best athlete, the one who with the game on the line is relied upon the most: a need to be wanted. Not all of us want to be the guy who is depended upon day in and day out to make everything ok: the want to be needed. Ladies, ever wonder why your man seems distant at random points? Or acts as if he doesn’t care? It’s not because he doesn’t care, it’s because he doesn’t want to be depended upon as the knight in shining armor every single day. And that really is a shame because men were put on this earth to provide for and cherish the woman we are placed with.

In a more simple way, I remember this girl I had in high school. She was incredible. We didn’t really start dating until my freshman year in college, when all the stupid high school bullshit went away and we both finally figured out what we thought we wanted. When we started dating I was back visiting my old high school pals for New Years. While I was out with her and our mutual friend at Target, she had her arms wrapped around me. In a moment of sheer “who the hell knows” she looked at me, buried her head into my chest, and sighed. I melted. I thought in that moment, “Wow. This girl is actually happy that she’s mine and I’m hers.” There is no better feeling in the world than recognizing that.

What made it even better was that was the moment that I realized she “wanted” me but I knew that she didn’t “need” me. She had the ability to provide for herself; to make herself happy, and maybe that is what made her so attractive in the first place. I knew that she didn’t need me to make her happy, but the fact that she wanted me to, and that I did, was a sense of fulfillment you can’t find anywhere else. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending how you look at it (yeah, fortunately), that didn’t last long and we ended up no more.

I don’t where she is, or who she’s with, all I know is that she is happy and that is what matters the most. I, myself, am with Mrs. Boston. And I couldn’t be happier with that. I know that she wants me in her life and wants me to make her happy. But I also know that she is strong willed enough to not need me. That sense of fulfillment again. I felt in for the first time on that winter’s day at 18. I know understand it at age 21, it’s awesome.

What makes it even more astounding is what it will subconsciously do to you. Look back at the first question I asked at the top of this: who is staying with me? No one. And that’s awesome. I know that I’m going to post this, shut down my computer, roll over and fall asleep alone. Not by my own doing, but because the sense of fulfillment I enjoy keeps me from being the stereotypical asshole that is untrue to the one he is with. Amazing what being wanted will do to you. Even if the one that wants you isn’t there at the end of the night.

Puerto Rico Proof and Purpose

Hello world. Been a while, hasn't it? First, let me say that I am writing this while I am sitting in my hotel room on my final night in San Juan, Puerto Rico the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Why am I in Puerto Rico? Why am I on a blog when in tropical paradise? First, I was broadcasting my college's Men's Basketball team as they were in a tournament here (perks of radio, I know). Secondly, we have a 9 a.m. flight tomorrow and have to be on the bus by 6 a.m. at the latest so it is an early night for me.

On to the reason why I am actually writing this. Amidst the sun-bathing, game-calling, rum-drinking and overal relaxation of the week, I read a book. For those who know me, take a moment to let that settle in. No this was not a coloring book nor was it a sports book. This book was entitled "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" by Tucker Max. Some of you have heard of this book and know what it is. The few who don't, this guy Tucker Max chronicles his own "escapades" involving massive alcohol consumption and fornicating with random women.

Again, the people who know me are now not surprised I read this book. Many would consider me a small version of Mr. Max (my girlfriend claims I look a bit like him. "You two have the same smirk" she tells me.) What may be surprising is I read the entire 300+ pages in only 5 days. I DON'T READ! After I finished the book, I actually stood aghast at what I had just accomplished. Having said that, I took a moment to reflect on what I just digested.

I have come to four main conclusions after reading what I can only describe as a piece of self-gratifying musings:

1) I am NOT Tucker Max. Let me say that again: I AM NOT TUCKER MAX! Yes, I'm a bit of a jerk, maybe even a dick at some point; but the manner in which he treats women and strangers in general is appalling. Momma raised me better. In public I may come off a little harsh and as an asshole (and I accept that) but ask anyone who truly knows me, and I'm not that type of person. Not to mention, the man glorifies his sexual promiscuity. Every guy does this, but the man treats it like it is his job to degrade and sleep with as many women as possible. It's deplorable, bordering on criminal.

2) Some women truly are sluts. The stories read in IHTSBIH really show that. Some women will sleep with anyone once they get alcohol in them, some will sleep with any guy who is mildly famous and some truly do love assholes. That last one probably has some of you going "DUH!" And guys, if you want a quick one-nighter, check your local excuse for a "college bar" (unless you live in like NC or TN or a school with a legit football program; yes legit football program = legit college bar) and pick up anything that looks like it has a pulse by being a complete and total ass. If you actually want a girlfriend (a 3-star on the Tucker Max Female Rating Scale, by the way) then be respectful and meet a girl in a casual way, at a small party, through a friend, etc. Basically, what you want is what you get in relationships (same for you, ladies.)

3) Tucker Max is AWESOME! The guy is hilarious. His writing is very graphic and detailed which enthralls any reader and no matter if you like him or his methods, you can't put the book down. Obviously the stories are not every day occurrences, and he explicitly says that, but damn does the dude know how to party. Not to mention if I were a single man (which I am happily not. Love you, sweetheart) I would kill to hang out with Tucker and pick off what the vulture leaves as scraps. If you ever come across this post Tucker, email me and let's do it up country style!

4) The guy is not a writer. He is a blogger. His only creativity comes in the various ways he is able to destroy and insult people as mercilissly as Hades would if he were spawned on Earth. The fact that this was a New York Times Bestseller shows what power the internet has (it also could be proven by the amount of women he has been with due to his site.) Honestly, people purposely using a sound recorder to have a copy of the previous night's debauchery in hopes of gaining an audience is kinda ridiculous.

Wait, then what am I doing here? Maybe....oh, God. Maybe I am a bit of Tucker Max. Oh well, dude is pretty effin awesome.

Despite Loss, Army to Stay the Course

Senior LB Stephen Anderson (left) & Sophomore QB Trent Steelman

In just his first 17 games as the head coach of Army football, Rich Ellerson has already implemented a design and seen results. The Black Knights went 5-7 in 2009, the highest number of wins since 1996 for the Academy. Through four games in 2010, Ellerson’s squad was 3-1 and on a two game winning streak hosting MAC opponent Temple.

On paper the Owls were expected to be one of, if not the most, difficult teams on the schedule. They were also expected to be a bit of barometer as to how quickly this program was turning around. Army led Temple 28-13 with about seven minutes left in the third quarter on Saturday at home on Homecoming. Then, Temple’s backup running back Matt Brown rushed for over 100 yards in the second half and two scores to bring the Owls back for a 42-35 victory.

“That’s tough to take,” said Ellerson after the loss. “If you’re going to beat a team like Temple, you have to be hitting on all cylinders.”

In the loss, the Cadets allowed more team rushing yards (256) than in their previous three contests combined. Not only that, but the discipline-by-nature team committed seven penalties for 74 yards.

“It’s tragic because some of those just really don’t need to happen,” said Ellerson. “We need to have better presence.”

Despite the loss dropping Army to 3-2 this season, there is not a sense of panic at West Point. Rich Ellerson looked more annoyed at his team like a parent would at their child missing curfew rather than someone who saw his team take a step back.

“That’s a bowl team we’re playing out there,” Ellerson said of Temple. “We had them on their heels and we had an opportunity.”

As for the Black Knight players, they had a starkly different presence. Sophomore quarterback Trent Steelman, who had a direct hand in all five of his teams touchdown (4 rushing, 1 passing), looked personally hurt. It was almost as if something was missing from him, he looked physically and emotionally beaten.

“That’s not who we are. That’s not what we represent,” Steelman commented after the game. “We’ll go back and we’ll recover. We’ll forget it and clear and move onto the next objective.”

While the offensive leader looked upset, one of Army’s defensive captains looked plain mad. Senior linebacker Stephen Anderson seemed as if someone stole something from him and he was ready to immediately get back on the field and rectify the situation.

“At the end of the day, this team knows and believes that we are the team that is going to bring winning back to Army,” said Anderson when asked if this loss is a step back for the struggling program.

The Cadets have not had a winning season since 1996, they have not beaten Navy since 2001 but they had not been 3-1 in four weeks since 1996 and seemed to be on the right foot coming into Saturday. The overwhelming feeling after the loss is that while it was not the expected outcome, it is not going to deter or alter the course of action at West Point.

“We believe and we’re going to go back to work and we’re bringing winning back,” Anderson said in a definitive tone. They get a chance to do that on Saturday on the road against Tulane, a team that just beat Army’s opponent the week after in Rutgers.

Army's Homecoming trampeled by Temple's Brown

When the injury report for the Temple Owls said star running back Bernard Price was not going to play against Army, the odds stacked up slightly in favor of the Black Knights. That was until Matt Brown took the field. Brown ran for 226 yards on just 28 carries and four scores leading the Owls to a second half comeback over Army in a 42-35 victory on Homecoming day at West Point.


“Matt’s proven himself in big games and big environments,” said Temple Head Coach Al Golden. “He may be our finest competitor , and he made a lot of guys miss.”

The 5’5” 170 pound sophomore used his agility and vision to tear apart the Cadet defense rushing for 108 yards in the first quarter. Army was able to stifle the running attack in the second frame giving up just seven yards on the ground taking a 21-13 lead into the halftime break.

Army (3-2) scored again in the third to take a 15 point advantage before a stout Temple defense and Matt Brown’s running contributed to 29 unanswered points to take a 42-28 lead. The Owls (4-1) put up 240 yards of total offense in the second half en route to the victory.

“They did a nice job of getting him started,” said Army head man Rich Ellerson after the loss. They had enough space and, in that open field tackling drill, he won way too many reps.

The Cadets did have a solid outing from sophomore quarterback Trent Steelman who ran for 65 yards on 19 carries and four scores while throwing 124 yards (9 of 16 passing) and another touchdown. Steelman has been directly responsible for seven straight Army touchdowns dating back to last week’s victory at Duke.

“In an option offense, the quarterback is in the eye of the storm,” noted Ellerson on his second year starter. “In a situation like that where it’s close, and you give him a chance to check, he’ll generally call his own number.”

Temple was arguably the most talented team on the schedule for Army to this point in the season and a good barometer of how Rich Ellerson’s second season at West Point would go. Army has now lost three straight against their MAC opponent. They last defeated Temple in 2007 at Michie Stadium 37-21.

“If you’re going to beat a team like Temple, you have to be hitting on all cylinders,” said Ellerson.

Army will be away from the friendly confines of the Academy for the next two weeks traveling first to Louisiana to take on Tulane and then hosting Big East opponent Rutgers at the New Meadowlands Stadium on October 16th. The Black Knights will return home on October 30th against VMI at noon.

Army Gets First Shutout In Five Years Thanks To Military Strategy

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.