C-USA memories: Why Army, Big East aren’t a match
November 2nd, 2011 | After Action Army Football | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Army fullback Craig Stucker tries to shed Navy's Bas Williams during the 1998 Army-Navy game. It was the first year Army played in Conference USA (see logo, shoulder) and also its best ... at 2-4. (M. David Leeds/Allsport photo via Getty Images)
As the rumblings of Navy and Air Force joining the Big East as football-only members become more than rumblings, some fans might wonder why Army has been the odd service academy out.
Why wouldn’t the Black Knights want to become a football-only member of a conference without a regional identity? Well, it didn’t work last time.
Army finished 10-2 in 1996, with a 10-1 regular-season record tarnished only by a road loss to Syracuse and an up-and-coming Chunky soup spokesman. The next year, the Black Knights announced they’d begin play in Conference USA in 1998.
From 1998 to 2004, the Black Knights finished 9-41 in conference action. After going 1-11 overall in 2002, they dropped all 13 games in 2003. It’s the worst season possible under current NCAA rules: Teams are allowed 12 regular-season games a year, but can tack on a 13th if they play at Hawaii, to help cover the cost of the road trip.
Army pulled the plug on C-USA membership before its dreadful 2003 season. Superintendent Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr. cited a number of reasons for the move, including an inflexible schedule and the failure to cash in on the C-USA’s guaranteed bowl bids.
Last year’s 7-6 mark was the first time Army cracked .500 since its experiment with conference play. Army Athletic Director Boo Kerrigan didn’t sound thrilled with the prospect of big-time conference college football. It’s not hard to see why Kerrigan and Army faithful would wish the other service academies the best, but stay independent.
Tags: Army football, Big East, conference expansion, Conference Realignment, Conference USA, Football
Comments
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Military Sports Report - After Action – Navy AD says they will join the Big East (sooner or later) Says:
December 14th, 2011 at 2:01 pm[...] East, Army and Air Force won’t be joining them. Army has shown no public interest in joining, despite rumors earlier this year. Air Force last week committed to staying in the Mountain West [...]
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Military Sports Report - After Action – Point/counterpoint: Navy to the Big East Says:
January 24th, 2012 at 5:44 pm[...] Is it a move to remain relevant in the evolving world of big-time college football, or a descent into an “ethical cesspool of misplaced priorities“? A way to ensure a competitive schedule, or a repeat of Army’s disastrous Conference USA run? [...]
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Military Sports Report - After Action – Reports: Big East adds Memphis Says:
February 8th, 2012 at 9:43 am[...] Memphis leaves Conference USA to join the Big East, creating a reunion of sorts with six other former C-USA football programs — Central Florida, South Florida, Southern Methodist, Houston, Louisville and Cincinnati. While Navy football’s team has never played in a conference, Army tried it a few years ago — in C-USA. It didn’t go great. [...]