Three hundred games.
About 300 times seen an Army football game in person, from the mid-1960s to this year. Hundreds of games at Michie Stadium. Road trips to Boston College, Stanford, California-Berkeley, South Bend, Ind., Syracuse and Boca Raton, Fla. Of course, dozens of visits to Philadelphia for the annual Army-Navy rivalry.
Seen the best of times. Victories over big-name schools like Boston College, Syracuse, California and Duke. Seen periods of success, starting in the mid-1960s when Army produced three straight teams that were among the best in the nation. And, again in the 1980s when Jim Young came up with the idea to institute the triple option and the result was a run of solid teams and Army’s first-ever bowl game.
Saw the 1995 squad that had a chance to beat Notre Dame at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, only to see victory snatched away when an undersized Irish cornerback stopped an Army tight end at the 1-yard line on a game-deciding two-point conversion with less than a minute left. And, saw the 1996 squad, win their first nine games before running into a Donovan McNabb-led Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
Sat in a snowstorm during a victory over Memphis in 1985 and countless rain storms, including a 34-10 win over Tulane.
Most recently, been privileged to not only be at the games, but report on them for Black Knight Nation as Jeff Monken turned the fortunes of Army around. That includes the 10-3 2017 team and 11-2 2018 squad. And, this year’s team, a solid 9-0 and in first place in their first year in the American Athletic Conference.
Have also seen the worst of times. That devastating 77-7 loss to Nebraska to open the 1972 season, a year where Army actually won six games including a road win at Texas A&M. Attended every home game in the sad season of 1973 when a depleted team, caused by the unpopularity of the Vietnam War, finished 0-10, even losing to Holy Cross 17-10, and arch-rival Navy, 51-0.
Was present at every home game and some away games when Army lost 50 of 57 games from 2001 to 2004 when a new coach decided to install a pro-style offense that could never work with the undersized players at Army.
Have been there to see Notre Dame beat Army 17-0 at Shea Stadium in 1965, Notre Dame beat Army, 62-3, in their only visit to Michie and Notre Dame beat Army 41-9 in South Bend.
Have seen it all.
Will tell you that from this long-time Army fan, who has had season tickets since 1972, that Saturday’s game against No. 6 Notre Dame is the biggest game for Army in my lifetime.
And, despite being two-touchdown underdogs, am certain that Army has a chance to win this game.
Carl Menyhert
November 23, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Go army! Will be a great victory!
Don Davison
November 25, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Great story, Seth.
I so appreciate your long loyalty to Army football. My father was commandant at WP ’63-’65. I was in junior high school. A few buddies and I had home-game jobs at Michie, showing up around 0800, putting up flags, sweeping out the Supe’s box, other assorted tasks. Around 1000, we would be called together, receive a crisp $1 bill and a south end-zone ticket (it was maybe a 4 row set of field level bleacher seats primarily for kids my age).
I would also attend practice on an almost daily basis by just walking across the parade ground to where the team used to practice, and I’d stay afterwards to help the managers clean up the various practice items.
After the ’64 A-N game, I latched on to my father and went into the locker room after the game. I was solidified then as an Army fan for life.
Whenever I play the lottery, 4 numbers I always play are 16 (Stichweh), 22 (Johnson), 31 (Parcells) 42 (Waldrop).
Saturday’s dominant performance by ND takes nothing away from Black Knights successful season so far, and the game really is not the most important game, given Army’s first season in the AAC and qualifying for the league championship game.
I almost have to pinch myself when I realize there are 4 more games remaining! Particularly after the past two bowl-less seasons.