Stan Brock has played in a Super Bowl. He knows what constitutes a big game.
Brock, Army’s first-year coach, brings that knowledge with him Saturday when the Black Knights play Air Force at 1:30 p.m. at Falcon Stadium. While this will be his first service-academy game as a head coach, the former University of Colorado offensive lineman has an opinion about the academy matchups.
“People think they’ve played in big games, and I’ve played in a Super Bowl, but the Army-Navy game is a lot bigger than a Super Bowl game from an emotional standpoint,” Brock said. “We’ve started to get the Army-Air Force game to be a big rivalry game, but when you’ve beaten Air Force only three times in the last 20 years, I don’t know if that’s a rivalry.”
The Black Knights gained a glimmer of hope two years ago when they beat the Falcons 27-24 at Falcon Stadium. Previously, the bright spots against Air Force were a 23-7 victory at West Point in 1996 and a 28-15 victory at West Point in 1988.
Brock got his first taste of academy football last year as an assistant coach on Bobby Ross’ staff. The Black Knights lost 43-7 to Air Force at West Point and 26-14 to Navy on a neutral field.
Ross resigned unexpectedly after the 2006 season, and Brock moved into the head coach’s office.
“I wasn’t prepared for it,” Brock said. “Bobby Ross was the reason I came to West Point, and I was working at being a good assistant coach. There’s a lot more to being a head coach. I’m trying to get my attitude and personality involved in the team.”
Army comes in with a 3-5 record and an offense that has Brock shaking his head.
“We’re just not executing, but we don’t have the same group that was with us in the spring,” Brock said. “We’re doing the best we can with the players we have. We’ve lost some players at key positions.”
Brock says his team has lost five starters on the offensive side of the ball alone.
Army’s rushing average of 84.1 yards per game ranks 111th in Division I-A, and quarterback Carson Williams has thrown seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Turnovers – 15 interceptions in all and eight fumbles – have plagued Brock’s first team.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun dangles motivation for his team by pointing out that none of his players have experienced a victory at Falcon Stadium over either Army or Navy.
“I think they’re just looking for something to get them excited about the game,” Brock said. “They’re already bowl-eligible. They know this is the Army-Air Force game.”
Brock is bringing the Black Knights to Colorado on Thursday. His team will visit the troops stationed at Fort Carson.
On Saturday, it’s off to Falcon Stadium, where a group of his former CU teammates will be in attendance. He expects a lot of West Pointers as well.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
