ARMY PREPS FOR MATCHUP WITH NEW-LOOK IRISH IN SOUTH BENDNew head coach, Mark Pisano recently promoted to the position after 7 seasons as the linebackers coach, said, "The locker room has a great feel to it this season." "This is as focused as I've seen them in the past few seasons."
The revolving door at head coach couldn't have been helpful for those issues, with the Knights having gone through 3 head coaches in 7 years. "Mark has been there from the start with us and understands the Army way." said the mercurial AD, Bryno. "We tried bringing in a couple of outsiders to the program and it just didn't sit well."
Army will start the season with virtually the same roster as they finished with for the most part. The only exceptions will be at Right Tackle, where
Billy Brinker, the first freshman signee for 2004 will get the nod to bookend the OL along with last season's #1 signee,
Aaron Baudoux. Army's long time Punter, Mark Kent left the program to head for graduate school a year early - the Knights signed red shirt freshman,
Russell Thrasher to take over.
One other 2024 red shirt freshman will assume a starting role on the defense. Bryno's second signee,
Sonny Sinclair. Sinclair will move in to the SLB position with sophomore
G. Shockley right behind him on the depth chart.
The off-season did see
FS Earl Renner leave the University of Oregon a year early to pursue a career in the military. This, amid some controversy where pundits believe that Army was taking a huge risk in clearing a roster spot for the 3rd year senior.
Off season scrimmages saw some good and some bad, with injury always the biggest threat on everyone's mind it seems, across of of the college football landscape. Pisano, "We'll head in to South Bend without the services of LDE Ray Wright and Veteran
TE Sean Eckert." "We sure would have liked to have both of them for this one."
"This one." The Black Knights open against the 4-peat defending college football champions, Notre Dame with a new head coach and new AD. "Listen, just because Nickel retired and Bryson headed to the west coast, don't think Notre Dame will be taking some kind of plunge." "Michael is too good of an AD to let things slip.", said George Pounds the recently demoted former head coach.
"George!!", bellowed Pisano from across the room. "You better shut your ***!" "Quit being so **** cordial!" Pisano went on, "Let the Irish know, we have one thing in mind, and that is to continue with the massive changes that have gone on down there!" "We are focused and determined to knock these turds off now...and again later in the season." "Notre Dame is the hunted right now and we know a thing or two about hunting missions." "We're going to do our part to CHANGE where that division (Conf) trophy resides heading in to 2025!"
