Wednesday football links: Kettani’s path to the Patriots, Big East speculation, Army Pinterest and more
May 23rd, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Eric Kettani, here scoring during the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl, took a unique road from the Naval Academy to the NFL. (Image of Sport photo by Kirby Lee via US Presswire)
From leaving the Navy to being honored by the Army to the never-ending offseason soap opera that is the Big East Conference, here’s some quick football hits while you pick your favorite “Anchorman” clip — sequel trailer or Tim Kennedy experience:
1. Kettani’s quest. The Boston Herald gives an extensive look at Naval Academy grad Lt. j.g. Eric Kettani’s struggle to secure an early release from service to play football for the New England Patriots, a release he was granted late last month. Kettani must pay back about $60,000 for his education and will continue to serve in the Navy Reserve. The Herald report outlines a complicated appeals process that involved Kettani, his brother/manager, a family friend in Jacksonville, Fla., who happened to be a retired Army colonel, and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, whose Annapolis ties are firmly established.
2. Army honors. Speaking of NFL coaches, Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens will receive the Army’s third-highest civilian honor today in Arlington, Va. Coughlin — who’ll get the honor from his friend, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno — will be honored for his work with military veterans and the USO; Harbaugh helped established Military Appreciation Day for the Ravens and has organized visits to military bases.
3. Big East blowout. Links for those who like to keep up with conference chaos: Two from Keith Pompey at the Philadelphia Inquirer — an overview of the league meetings so far in Florida and a look at proposed football divisions (Air Force fans: The second one includes the latest round of Falcons-to-the-Big East speculation). And Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples offers his take here. Key quote: “When (if?) Navy joins the league for football in 2015 …”
4. Odds and ends. Navy makes the front page of ESPN’s “100 days till kickoff” section (No. 6 on the right-hand side). And are you up to speed on the photo-sharing site Pinterest? The folks at West Point are — here’s a page of pics from the spring game at Fort Benning, Ga.
Former WVU coach Bill Stewart had ties to Navy, Air Force
May 22nd, 2012 | Air Force Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Bill Stewart, who died Monday at age 59, served as an assistant coach at Navy in 1984 and at Air Force in the early 1990s. (US Presswire photo by Mark Zerof)
The death of former West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart on Monday brought about many tributes and remembrances, many with a common theme — mourning the loss of “a true Mountaineer” and “a rock-solid West Virginian.”
Stewart was born in West Virginia and died on a golf course in that state nearly 60 years later of an apparent heart attack. But his coaching career — which ended in 2010 after a decade with WVU, including three years in the top job — took him all over the place, with stops in Arizona, Canada, North Carolina, and on the sidelines of both Air Force and Navy.
He coached the Mids in 1984 under Gary Tranquill, who Stewart called “the best football coach I ever worked with” in this 2011 profile. He also had kind words for Fisher DeBerry, his boss at Air Force from 1990-93, saying his “enthusiasm was second to none.”
He coached the defensive line at Air Force under DeBerry for four seasons, which resulted in three Liberty Bowl appearances and led to his first head coaching job in 1994 at Virginia Military Institute. He began his WVU head coaching career after Rich Rodriguez left the Mountaineers for Michigan before the 2008 Fiesta Bowl; this Denver Post piece from 2008 recounts that story and lets Stewart relay some fond memories of Colorado Springs before reinforcing the common theme: “Stewart … is a true blue (and gold) West Virginia mountain man.”
Reports say Stewart was recounting a story about DeBerry on the golf course when he passed away. Stewart was 59.
Monday football roundup: More on Air Force’s Asher Clark, big Big East meeting, All-Independent Team out
May 21st, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force’s Asher Clark dives over Toledo’s Diauntae Morrow (5) to score during last year's Military Bowl -- Clark's last game with the Falcons. (Getty Images photo by Rob Carr)
Three quick hits for a Monday afternoon:
1. Clark’s dad: He didn’t know. The news broke Friday and The Associated Press picked it up Saturday: Senior Air Force running back Asher Clark, second on the Falcons’ all-time rushing list, is no longer at the school, reportedly after being part of an academy investigation into illegal drug use. Sunday, Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette gave the Clark family’s side of the story via Asher’s father, Mark, who said his son thought he was smoking tobacco at a March 2011 party when in fact he’d been given a pipe packed with “Colorado Chronic” — a type of synthetic marijuana.
That act, Mark Clark said, resulted in his son’s dismissal from school. Key quote: “I get it, they made an example out of him. There are 4,000 cadets and they said, ‘If we’ll kick Asher Clark out of this school, we’ll kick you out even faster.’”
Mark Clark said the next step — re-enrolling at another school, filing a lawsuit, etc. — is up to his son. Air Force Academy officials would only tell The Gazette that Clark no longer attends the school and have not said whether he’ll be asked to reimburse the school for the cost of his education, which would be well into six figures.
2. Conference powwow. Officials from the Big East — including future members, like Navy — will meet this week in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and they’ve got plenty to talk about. ESPN blogger Andrea Adelson breaks down some of the issues here, and the Tampa Bay Times offers a good overview here. Major topics: Negotiating a new TV deal, finding a new commissioner, figuring out future division alignments and finding the league’s place in what’s become known as “BCS 2.0″ — the postseason setup that will begin after the 2014 season and could include a four-team playoff and radically different bowl affiliations. One piece of good news for the conference: It looks like Boise State’s still in the fold.
3. Independents’ day. Army junior running back Raymond Maples and Navy senior linebacker Matt Warrick were the only service academy representatives on Phil Steele’s All-Independent first team, which the college football guru released Friday. Eleven academy players — five Midshipmen and six Black Knights, including senior quarterback Trent Steelman — received second-team mentions. It’s a high honor, but the pool is limited — Army, Navy, Notre Dame and BYU are the only independent Football Bowl Subdivision programs this season.
Thursday football update: Concussion notes, more on Hall-of-Famer Thomas, SEALs and the NFL
May 17th, 2012 | After Action Air Force Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
A few football items for a Thursday, while we try to come up with some more sports that can be played on an aircraft carrier:
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Soto reads a concussion evaluation guide Jan. 25 while his convoy travels through Helmand province, Afghanistan. A new study shows a link between brain injuries suffered in the war zone and on a football field. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard)
1. New concussion study: A must-read here, and it’s not good — scientists studying the autopsied brains of four combat veterans found “evidence of a progressive degenerative brain disorder known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease found in recent years among deceased professional football players who had suffered multiple concussions.” CTE symptoms include memory loss and suicidal thoughts, and the disorder can lead to dementia, according to the report. Researchers have said CTE likely stems from multiple concussions, but according to this report, a single war-zone “blast exposure” could do a similar amount of damage.
Football fans are familiar with the headlines but don’t always make the connection between gridiron injuries and the “invisible wounds” that have drawn the military’s attention throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This study may strengthen that connection and gives yet another reason for military-NFL cooperation in battling brain injuries.
(Off-topic, but not really: The fall youth sports season is approaching — it starts earlier every year. Many military families have players and/or coaches involved, especially in the youth football ranks. Be prepared.)
2. On a positive note: We told you about Air Force Academy safety Scott Thomas’ induction into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this week. We could bury you in stats and superlatives, but if you want a real look what makes Thomas an all-time great, visit The Air Force Academy Sports Blog over at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Frank Schwab talks to Thomas’ wingman and has posted must-hear audio of the defender-turned-fighter pilot, cool as can be, discussing a developing engine fire. On his F-16. That he’s flying over Iraq. Key quote: “Bummer.”
3. Searching for SEALs: We missed this from a few weeks back — Gidget Fuentes of Navy Times outlined the Navy SEALs’ diversity efforts in a recent story and mentioned that the Navy had partnered with the NFL Regional Combines to help attract candidates of all backgrounds, especially minorities. A quick look at the regional combine website confirms that partnership. According to the report, nearly 100 prospective football players spoke with Navy folks about becoming prospective special operators. Here’s a good look at the regional program, which the league took over last year.
Air Force’s Scott Thomas named to College Football Hall of Fame
May 15th, 2012 | Air Force Football | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Scott Thomas will join Air Force teammate Chad Hennings and coach Fisher DeBerry as members College Football Hall of Fame. (Air Force photo)
Air Force’s Scott Thomas, an All-American senior safety in 1985, will join his coach from that standout season in the College Football Hall of Fame.
The hall announced its 2012 enshrinement class Tuesday; Thomas, who intercepted six passes and had 89 tackles in his senior season, joins a 17-member class that includes NFL legends Art Monk and Dave Casper, Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer and coaches Phillip Fulmer, Jimmy Johnson and R.C. Slocum. Thomas’ coach at Air Force, Fisher DeBerry, was selected for enshrinement last year. Chad Hennings, another Air Force defender on that 12-1 1985 club, was inducted in 2006.
This year’s inductees will be enshrined in July as part of a two-day event at the Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Ind.
Thomas was inducted into the Air Force Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame last year: Catch video of Lt. Col. Thomas’ acceptance speech here and read an article from his hometown paper on that induction here.
Monday football roundup: Short Ben Garland update, bad Big East news, Army film in heavy rotation
May 14th, 2012 | Air Force Army Football Navy nfl | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force Academy grad Ben Garland talks to reporters Sunday after minicamp workouts in Denver. (US Presswire photo by Ron Chenoy)
A few service academy-related football notes to start off your week:
1. Praise from high places: We promised you updates on Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland’s quest for an NFL job with the Denver Broncos, so we pass this along from Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Denver head coach John Fox offered some short remarks on Garland’s stellar work ethic during a post-rookie workout news conference late last week. Judging from the picture in that first link, the Air Force Academy grad’s strength and conditioning won’t be an issue.
2. Conference calamity: Speaking of early outs, they’re not just for academy grads anymore — the University of Pittsburgh is suing the Big East to escape the league a year earlier than planned. Pitt wants to join the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013 instead of 2014. According to The Associated Press, Pitt will argue that it shouldn’t have to adhere to the league’s 27-month waiting period before shifting conferences because the Big East recently allowed West Virginia to bolt for the Big 12 without a wait. Syracuse is slated to leave for the ACC with Pitt in 2014; the results of Pitt’s case — a school spokesman told AP the goal still was to settle the matter out of court — could alter the Orange’s plans.
Also, CBSSports.com’s Brett McMurphy, who has been breaking all kinds of news on the changing college conference landscape, reports that Boise State hasn’t pulled the trigger on its departure from the Mountain West Conference — something it must do by the end of next month to join the Big East as a football-only member as planned in 2013. Instead of explaining the move away, a school spokesman simply told McMurphy: “We are actively monitoring the changing landscape in college athletics and remain committed to making the best long-term decisions for Boise State.” Navy will enter the Big East as a football-only member in 2015.
3. Documentary deluge. Did you miss “Army Spring Football Mission: Fort Benning,” a documentary on CBS Sports Network that traces the Black Knights on the road to their historic spring game? Well, get the DVR ready or just find CBSSN on your local cable provider; the documentary is in heavy rotation. When you can catch it this week (all times Eastern, per the CBSSN website): Monday at 4 p.m.; Tuesday at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.; and Thursday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Air Force’s Calhoun top service academy football coach on Sporting News list
May 10th, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force's Troy Calhoun is tops among service academy coaches in a recent Sporting News ranking. (US Presswire photo by Ron Chenoy)
The Sporting News just released its ranking of all 124 college football coaches. It gives new meaning to the word “complete.” Also, possibly new meaning to the word “long.”
We’ll simplify for you service academy football fans: Air Force gets bragging rights, with head coach Troy Calhoun checking in at No. 29.
Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo checks in at No. 35, while Army’s Rich Ellerson rounds out the academy pack at 79. The SN folks don’t spell out their methodology, but if you went by traditional metrics — you know, like their records from last year — you’d have the same order of finish.
These rankings don’t quite line up with the coaches’ paychecks — if the SN folks are right, Air Force might have themselves a good deal.
Former Annapolis head man Paul Johnson, now at Georgia Tech, ranks 19th. Alabama’s Nick Saban leads the rankings. Charley Molnar of the University of Massachusetts ranks last — UMass is new to the Football Bowl Subdivision, and Molnar’s entering his first season.
Greg Oden: Airmen really know how to knock ‘em back
May 10th, 2012 | Air Force Basketball | Posted by Phil Creed
When most folks think of the Air Force, things like stealth bombers, crisp blue uniforms and nuclear weapons come to mind. Not for Greg Oden, apparently.
Grantland’s Mark Titus scored an interview with the ex-Portland Trailblazer, getting the former No. 1 overall pick to open up about his cursed NBA career. One of the nuggets Oden revealed was that during his second season in the league he developed a serious drinking problem. So what does this have to do with the Air Force? Let Oden explain:
But after longing for a veteran role model the previous season, Greg got exactly what he wanted in his second year, only the results were disastrous. That’s because it wasn’t an NBA veteran who took Greg under his wing in his second season — it was his veteran cousin from the Air Force who moved into Greg’s house in Portland.
“If you know anything about guys in the Air Force,” Greg explained, “it’s that they drink a ton. My cousin got wrapped up in the NBA lifestyle and threw parties at my house all the time. So I got wrapped up in it too. When I played well, I’d drink to celebrate. And when I played poorly, I’d drink to forget. That second year in Portland I pretty much became an alcoholic.”
And with that, a bad week for the Air Force gets slightly worse.
Returning to a deferred dream: Ex-Falcon Ben Garland back with Broncos
April 24th, 2012 | After Action Air Force Football | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland works out March 12 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Garland will be leaving active duty to rejoin the Denver Broncos. (Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Valencia)
We’ve written about Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland before, when his career paths collided last year and he chose to give up his chance at becoming a pilot for the chance pursue an NFL career.
As we reported, the defensive lineman had to skip the 2011 NFL season and serve on active-duty while applying for the Palace Chase program, part of which allows airmen “early release from active duty to pursue activities with potential recruiting or public affairs benefit to the Department of the Air Force.”
Cut to a year later — his release has been approved, according to this Defense Department-released article, and Garland’s busy making the transition from “Air Force shape” to “knocking over an NFL offensive lineman” shape.
Good news: He had to meet Air Force fitness regs during his year away from football. “Air Force and fitness go hand in hand,” he told Stuart Zaas for this article on the Denver Broncos’ official site.
Bad news: Air Force fitness has limits. Garland said in the DoD article that he’ll need to hang about 300 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame to “stay competitive” in pro football — a number that would’ve made the exercise portion of the Air Force fitness test difficult and the waist-measurement portion darn near impossible. He was an inch under the maximum 39-inch waist limit, he said in the article.
Garland, who anchored stellar defenses at the academy from his nose tackle spot in 2008 and 2009, will be leaving his post as 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs chief of media operations at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. How’d he do off the field? Well, according to public affairs chief Karen Petitt, per the report:
We absolutely adore Lt. Garland! … He’s this big gentle giant with a great laugh, strength of character, and genuine interest in his team. He’s got this amazing gift for details and a memory that keeps us on track with all the taskings that come our way. Everyone just naturally looks to him as a leader, but not because he’s the ‘office linebacker’ like you see on those TV commercials, but because he’s got integrity and charisma, and they know they can depend on him.”
(Note: Too young to remember the “office linebacker”? Do yourself a favor.)
Garland, 23, is one of seven defensive tackles listed on the Broncos’ roster, a number that could swell with the upcoming draft and post-draft free-agent frenzy. It’s unlikely the team will carry even the existing seven on the active roster, meaning Garland’s NFL dreams aren’t reality just yet. Here’s a little more on the offseason team activities Garland will be a part of (including a picture of some guy the Broncos already made roster room for). We hope to have updates as the offseason progresses.
Tuesday link central: National Guard invades Kansas (race track), lots of Air Force football, Navy bowl update
April 24th, 2012 | Air Force Army Baseball Football NASCAR Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
The Kansas National Guard assisted in the demolition of the Kansas Speedway track after Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. (AP photo by Orlin Wagner)
A handful of military-sports links for a Tuesday morning — weekend stuff you might’ve missed, some scheduling notes, and your typical mid-America military invasion (no, not this one):
1. Tank vs. track: When you absolutely, positively have to destroy a race track surface so it can be repaved and ready for a fall NASCAR Sprint Cup race, call in the National Guard. That’s what they did in Kansas on Sunday, using military equipment and know-how to break up the asphalt. As deployments go, you could do worse than the infield of a Sprint Cup race.
2. Falcon left behind: Missing from this video of President Obama honoring the Air Force Falcons football team at the White House on Monday is senior running back Asher Clark, who is not “meeting academy standards” and was not allowed to make the trip, according to this report. Clark stared 40 games over four seasons for the Falcons and is second on the all-time rushing list.
3. Better news from the sidelines: Another one from Frank Schwab at the Colorado Springs Gazette — read this feel-good story about former Air Force defensive coordinator Richard Bell returning to the sidelines at age 74 to help out a high school squad.
4. Speaking of former coaches: Despite years of therapy, Air Force football fans might still remember a 31-30 loss to nationally ranked Tennessee that started the 2006 season with a whimper. Why did head coach and College Football Hall of Famer Fisher DeBerry go for a late two-point conversion instead of playing it safe? He tells all here, and it sounds like he’d do it again.
5. Book your tickets: If Navy wins six games this year, it’s booked to play in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 29 at AT&T Park — formerly Pacific Bell Park, formerly SBC Park … it’s safest just to go with “The Field Where the San Francisco Giants Play Baseball.” The game will be broadcast somewhere on the ESPN family of networks and is scheduled to include a team from the Pacific-12 Conference as well as the Mids.
6. Baseball milestone: The Army Black Knights, thanks in part to a Saturday no-hitter by senior southpaw Logan Lee, rank 30th in the nation in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll — a first for the program. Army (33-9) is a perfect 16-0 in the Patriot League and will face Marist on Wednesday.