WEST POINT, N.Y.—Army begins a new football season on Saturday with a new head coach, a new quarterback, and a renewed sense of urgency to start winning more often.
“We are all anxious. We are all ready to get on a plane and get off post and go play a game and see where we stand,” first-year head coach Stan Brock said as the Black Knights prepared for their opener against Akron. “Once we get there and get into the stadium and the kids settle down, it will be special.”
Brock had never been a head coach at college’s top level until he was tabbed to succeed Bobby Ross. He takes over a team that lost its final six games under Ross, including an embarrassing 43-7 loss to Air Force at Michie Stadium in the final home game of 2006 (Army committed turnovers on three consecutive offensive plays and Air Force parlayed four turnovers into touchdowns before halftime) and a 26-14 loss to Navy in the season finale.
Ross, who retired in January after three seasons, had come out of retirement to coach a team on a 15-game losing streak and one that had become the first in NCAA history to finish a season 0-13 (2003). The former NFL coach departed with a 9-25 record at West Point, but he had begun to sow the seeds of a revival.
Now, it’s up to Brock to try to build a consistent winner.
“We feel very comfortable with where we are and what we have been doing,” said Brock, 48, who played 16 years in the NFL, spent five years as a head coach in the Arena Football League, and was an assistant under Ross for three years. “Right now, my emotions are kind of weird. I’m ready to play a game now. I’m keeping those emotions in check. I’m getting ready just like I’m playing a game. Once we get there and get into it, I will be fine. I’m pretty jacked-up now.”
On the strength of a solid preseason showing, Brock named senior David Pevoto as his starting quarterback for the opener, which will be played at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Pevoto started the first eight games of 2006 before being replaced by freshman Carson Williams, who started the final four. Pevoto completed 106 of 193 passes for 1,012 yards, throwing six touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 11 career games, he has a .546 completion percentage (112-for-205).
Williams, who will be the backup, became just the sixth freshman to start at quarterback for Army, and his four starts tied the school record for quarterback starts by a plebe. In seven games overall, he went 56-for-98 for 577 yards with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Both competed throughout spring practice and preseason camp to land the starting job, and Brock didn’t announce his decision until Tuesday.
“Really, what it came down to was a consistency level, and look at what David has been through,” Brock said. “He came in here and backed up Zac Dahman for a couple of years. Then he was a starter, struggled and a freshman was put in in front of him. He continued to work hard and support Carson. The opportunity to play against Notre Dame and Navy passed him by, then losing his head coach and bringing in a new guy. It speaks volumes about David.”
Army returns six starters on offense, including two senior captains—fullback Mike Viti (55 carries for 247 yards in 2006) and wideout Jeremy Trimble (52 catches for 534 yards). Brock also tabbed junior Wesley McMahand (a team-high 654 yards rushing and four TDs) as the starting tailback but promised an “attack by committee.”
The defense, which ranked seventh nationally against the pass (156 yards per game), also returns six starters, including senior captains Caleb Campbell (strong safety) and Tony Fusco (tackle).
“We knew coming in our defense was going to be the strength of this team,” Brock said. “They are the group that has played together the longest.”
Campbell, the team’s leading tackler a year ago with 59 stops, is coming off a knee injury that caused him to miss the final three games last fall. Brock has kept him in check all through training camp to avoid further injury.
“I’ll be honest with my knee because I don’t want to hurt anything else,” Campbell said. “I have to differentiate between being injured and just being in pain, and I think I’m doing pretty good with that now.”
Army is unbeaten in three games against Akron. A victory Saturday would give the Black Knights a 1-0 record for the first time since 1996, their last winning season.
“Camp was very positive,” McMahand said. “It feels like there is a new energy here.”
