What a game Friday night !!!!
Prior to the season we talked about the team's quality depth everywhere, O-line size, the new offense "potential", player enthusiasm, a very difficult 2023 schedule, and the high level of OPTIMISM for the season. I confidently and optimistically predicted an 8-4 record.
Then the ULM "bomb" hit all of us resulting in the Joe Iacono post game, accurate video of just how God-awful that game was....and he was totally on point and accurate. We all bought into that and rightfully so. We questioned the new offense, our quarterback, and the readiness of the entire team as well as even any possibility that a bowl game was feasible. I have never seen a more despondent Coach Monken in the aftermath of that game. Sure, we all believed ULM should have been a "W", but maybe the team wasn't as good as we had thought. Then there was a dominant victory over Delaware State...but wait, anyone could defeat them, right? So what did that prove...BUT how many would post a 57-0 shutout? confusing to say the least. And next we faced murder's row...five consecutive games that could potentially leave the team with a record of just 1-6 after the LSU game. And how in the world could Army consider a move to the American Conference. No way Army could be competitive there, right?
That was then, and what do we know now?
Friday's Army team validated most if not all our pre-season expectations, IMHO.
1. The new GUN OPTION works and we still see an efficient run game with the addition of a passing threat. (254 run and 188 pass split). There is an Offensive Coordinator that can have a great game plan and call a great play-calling game that is not predictable to our opponent.
2. This offense can "control" the game with time of possession. 44:25 minute Friday.
3. We have a Quarterback! And he is a tough runner who throws better than I could have imagined. Daily looks confident, calm and in control. I like his option reads.
4. The defense in not impregnable but stout and not a pushover. OK, the defense can be susceptible to a long, speedy WR if their QB can get the pass in the right spot. BUT, what defense isn't? And by statistics, the run defense isn't bad...just 117 y/p/g so far, and the pass defense allows just 175 y/p/g so far.
5. Army just defeated a heavily favored UTSA team and as I've said before, this will be called an UPSET. But consider this, how is it an upset if Army dominated and never trailed in the entire game? So what if Frank Harris did not play! I believe and many of us predicated this result not knowing he was injured.
6. This one victory changes the entire trajectory of Army's season. Before the game and with the ULM game in mind, the best most could predict was a 6-6 season with two FCS victories. After last night, the FPI win Prediction percentages NOW suggest eight victories showing. And, percentage chance of victory improved in every future game. Those are now showing W's for BC, Troy, UMASS, HC, Coastal , and Navy prior to this afternoon games.... (8-4 which is bowl eligible). AFA being 3-0 has Army the "dog", but let's see what happens, the CiC should come home to Army this year.
I could go on, but I'll leave more to your thoughts.
Let's address the elephant in the room for a moment... joining the American Conference. I'm no expert in this matter, but there are some interesting thoughts rolling around in my head as a result of the defeat of UTSA. Not thoughts of will we or won't me, but some food for thought.
1. Anyone bet against the AAC Commissioner's hair standing up over Army just taking down the team picked second in the AAC this year. The same team that won the USA Conference Championship the previous two years.
2. You think the AAC could believe Army is a fit in their conference?
3. What could have been a better "AUDITION" for inclusion than that performance Friday night?
Any thought that fans might add?
Go Army....Beat Syracuse
1 for 1 this Saturday
