So I’m opening a new, professional set of boards on College Sports journal.

http://forums.college-sports-journal.com/

There is a serious of Patriot League-specific boards for Patriot League topics/sports:

http://forums.college-sports-journal.com/viewforum.php?f=4

And there is a neat page of “Patriot League Message Boards”:

http://forums.college-sports-journal.com/viewforum.php?f=1

I bring up the “message boards” one in particular because it is a page that links to all the known Patriot League-themed message boards, from Army to Lafayette. When a good message board didn’t exist, really (which was the case with BU and Loyola), I simply added a forum for them.

Feel free to sign up over there as well to talk Patriot League stuff that doesn’t seem to just fit on this board. My intent isn't to replace this board, but to set up a place where all PL people can go to discuss the topics of the day.

I recently purchased Phil Steele's 2016 College Football Preview (via iTunes download). If you enjoy college football this $10 guide is a must read. This year Phil spent over one hour in late May interviewing Coach Monken personally by phone. Last year there was no Army interview and I take the change as a sign that our head coach is heading into the 2016 season with increased confidence. Here are my notes on Phil's extensive analyses:

1) Chris Carter is Phil's projected QB starter. He notes that Army offensive production was over 40 YPG higher in the 2 games with Carter despite a banged up O line.
2) He thinks our backs will be much stronger despite the loss of Harris and 'hopefully a FB emerges.' My comment: Uh oh/Damn right! We better have a good FB!
3) He predicts that Edgar Poe will have the highest receiving yards for an Army player since at least 2007.
4) The O line 'should be' healthier and stronger despite losses. Not exactly a compelling prediction.
5) 'Best D line since 2010.' Now that's more like it!
6) Army's most experienced LB corps 'in quite some time.'
7) D backs could get Army to our 'best pass defense rating finish' (for a season) in 'years'. I love that. Josh who?
8) Special teams won't match 2015's success. Me: OK but I sure hope we have better kick returns this year.
9) Overall offense: Phil predicts Army's best offensive yards per game since 1996. Wow!
10) Overall defense: Best defense in Coach Monken's 3 seasons at Army.
11) Wins. Predicts at least 4 wins and says 7 of his 9 power ratings predict at least 6 Army wins. But he does not pick Army to appear in a bowl which I take as a cautionary indicator and hesitancy to say we will turn a corner this year.
12) Predicts 28.4 points of offense per game while surrendering only 25.1 to the competition. Overall he seems to be more confident about our offense which I find a bit surprising (since we still do not know we have a ringer at FB and the O line is still unproven).
13) Phil Predicts Army to be the 15th most improved FBS team in offensive points while Navy will be second to last (almost worst change in points).

Extras: Has AF as 15th best pass defense in FBS while Navy will have the worst decrease in defensive points per game.

Few days ago I surprisingly surfer a dissecting aortic aneurysm, but that thanks to family that who came from all over the country, friends and of course prayer .... I am back up and ready to start off the Army 2016 season GoBlackKnights.com Style.

Some of my immediate family .... love them to "LIVE"

An inside look with GBK's Senior Writer, Gordon Larson (CLICK HERE)

The recent announcement by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter that Keenan Reynolds would be allowed to pursue a career in the NFL rekindled a controversy that’s been around for a long time.

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GBK is extremely excited about our partnership/sponsorship with Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Peekskill, New York and clearly the "Stay Smart" slogan is well deserve.

We recommend that all our subscribers take advantage of this newly formed relationship by making your hotel experience both family & fan friendly while taking in any Army football venue and/or West Point event.

This article on the future of the sport is kinda long, but a pretty interesting read. The writer says he works in media and that TV is going to demand a lot of changes as it puts more money into college football including 4 16-team major conferences and an 8-team playoff. It also predicts that some current P5 schools will end up in G5 conferences and vice versa, based mostly on the size of the television markets they play in. It's a good offseason read and you can see the obvious implications of this if it's accurate.

http://www.thechaosindex.com/cest-l...-to-change-a-whole-lot-more-than-you-realize/

I am predicting our first verbal no later than Monday of next week.

Who will it be?

What is the thinking out there with the Army faithful on how we will stack up here in 2016? My following of Spring ball did not give me a good feel for whether or not we will progress, stay the same, or regress on these important aspects of the game. My sense is place kicking will be slightly improved. .long snapping l am clueless. .I recall us launching two snaps well over the head of our 6'4" punter, one contributed greatly to the loss of our opener. Ihave no clue what the div1 average is on erratic long snapping. So I hope we are better in 16. Punting based on Tradieu having very good years as a Jr and Sr, we regress slightly. .but again I am not well informed on the potential we have for excellence in this aspect of the game on our team. .
Go Army!

Who will win this year's NBA Championship?

We conclude our early look at the Army Black Knights' opponents in the 2016 season, with a preview of the last opponent on the schedule the Midshipmen of Navy. And no one breaks it down better than our own GBK staff writer, Gordon Larson.

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http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...ack-gets-final-approval-play-baltimore-ravens

This is amazing!!!!! Now you understand (WHY) for this to happen around recruiting time, NEED I SAY MORE

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Great video! I do notice a certain player in question (#3) on other threads participating. Not that that necessarily means anything but it's a good sign IMO . Either way, fun video...check it out.

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Hasn't he already gone to class as a Cow making him committed? Does anyone know if this is true?

Redleg

Anyone see the NFL network special on Golden Boy and the Ravens last night? At a clip from the graduation, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said "A journey that began for all of you when you turned down your appointments to West Point." (Squids let out a giggle and applause)

Hahaha....you squids are so funny . Almost as funny as thinking that graduating from Canoe College means something.

I can't wait for Monken and our boys to stick it right where the sun doesn't shine this December in Baltimore. It's about time we gave Mabus, Gladchuck and all these other clowns in Good Humor uniforms a nice tall glass of shut the hell up!!

Andrew King, rip somebody's freakin head off!!

Noticed on Fb that USMAPS Graduation was this past Sunday. That is about two weeks after this year's Spring Game.

I have been quiet this past couple of years; but, am once again wondering why the Prep School football players do not participate in Spring Practice.

Many programs have early high school graduates and enrollees at their Spring Practices such that those players get the additional practice sessions under varsity level coaching with the attendant development, evaluation, and team building.

We are behind those schools before we start. Our guys:

o are high school graduates
o have been through a semi R Day and basic training
o have been prep'd in military aspects and cadetship and have taken an oath

Currently, there are six weeks between this graduation and R day as a New Cadet.

Are we dealing with DOD, Army, USMA, or NCAA rules and regulations? Or, are we accepting self imposed paradigms of schedule, tradition, etc?

As I recall, the Plebes were separated from the rest of the team in early Fall Ball such that they could learn practice expectations, etc. Summer schedules for all classes have been adjusted in order to get the team back on post in time to be ready for Fall Ball. Some changes have been made to allow New Cadets, still in Beast Barracks, to participate in S&C and practices. So, we have demonstrated we can adjust.

Would't it be great to have seen the prep quarterback(s), and o and d linemen as they measured up to the D1 standard?

Could this impact retention of the Prepsters. Would more stay? Would more report on R Day?

Just saying......

Beat Temple!

only names missing from last pre-season roster are

LB Cole Jones (left either before season or very early in the season to wrestle at Indiana)
DB Caleb McNeill

no height/weight updates/changes since August
no position changes

http://goarmywestpoint.com/roster.aspx?path=football

Separately, Sal Interdonato tweets that Villegas has left the team