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Sounds like someone really, really, really wanted to go to West Point...
West Point's annual pillow fight...wait what? West Point has an annual pillow fight?
- Thread starter Ooh-Rah
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policemedic
Verified SWAT
Oh, it was definitely genuine. I'm sorry I wasn't clear, but if there was a dig or sarcasm implied in my post, well...it wasn't directed at the USMA.
Fordham has a football team?
Yes they do, Women's NCAA Div III football.
Exactly. Fordham is the football team's "safe school," the same way Annapolis is for West Point when it comes to admissions. Yet we couldn't even beat Fordham this year. Does not bode well for the rest of the season.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate
According to the US News, USNA admits 7.4% of applicants and USMA admits 9%.
USMA could always try playing high school teams next season. All jokes aside, it is really sad. Army has only had one winning season in the past 18 years. Looks like they won't be bowl eligible this year and won't come to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl. Again.
Red Flag 1
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FWIW, I played against the USMA 150# football team when I was in highschool. We lived due west of West Point on what was then NY Rte 17, perhaps a 90 minute drive. We did not beat them, but did manage a TD, extra point and a field goal. They had three TD's, and they were pretty good guys to talk with after the game.
Yeah, like I said, safe school.
I never really cared about football... I do care what we're sacrificing to try to make a winning team
I know right? At the Marine Service Academy... Oh wait, nevermind. :-"
Reed
I do care what we're sacrificing to try to make a winning team
Have you tried children using an elaborate ceremony?
The Marine Corps' service academy is the Naval Academy.
@Marauder06 what are you guys sacrificing to make a winning team? I know Navy's football program is paid for by alumni and ticket revenue. Actually I think the football and basketball programs pay for the rest of the sports at the academy. A good coach makes all the difference. Ken Niumatalolo turned Navy's program around in 2007.
In other news, did you guys hear that Westpoint football is dropping the "Black knights" and is going by "cadets" now? Supposedly it has something to do with a rebrand deal going on with Nike. Army has been the Black Knights at least since I was a midshipman in 99. I don't think they should change it.
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I don't know if it is related or not, but UCF is known as the Knights with a black knight for their logo and they have a deal with Nike for clothing. Maybe that's a coincidence, I don't know.
Red Flag 1
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West Point's football team was known as the Black Knights as far back as the early to mid '60s. Our highschool team had the same name during press coverage. Our fron four defensive linemen waere knowh as the Hungarian Headhunters.
Brill
SOF Support
#blackknightsmatter
Some people, especially grads (which I'm not) will tell you that admission standards, retention, and morale are all taking a hit in order to boost the football team's chances. USMA stresses "a culture of winning," but the element annointed to represent that ethos, the football team, has a 13+ year losing streak.
I've heard that USMA was going to "cadets," but the rebranding already occurred and as far as I know the mule and black knight are still in place. The only change so far has been the emblem and "Army West Point." While it wouldn't surprise me that there is some deal in the works to make further changes, I don't know of one.
Considering the way Army senior leaders have taken to fighting wars and leading their troops as of late, I can't say that it isn't a good fit.
This is what the Superintendent had to say:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You may have heard about an incident reported in the media Saturday involving a pillow fight
by the members of the Class of 2019. Here is an update and some clarifying facts.
On August 20, 2015, many members of the plebe class participated in a pillow fight in order to
build espirit de corps among their class, especially following their tough first summer. Previous
plebe classes have done similar events over the years.
Unfortunately cadets were injured, with 30 cadets evaluated by medical personnel. Specifically,
24 cadets were diagnosed with concussions, none of them severe. Other injuries sustained
included a broken nose, a dislocated shoulder, and a hairline fracture of a cheekbone for one of
the concussed cadets. Medical personnel evaluated and released four other cadets with no
injuries. No cadets left the Academy because of their injuries. All cadets have been returned
to duty.
While these spirit events do occur, we never condone any activity that results in intentional
harm to a teammate. Although the vast majority of the class appears to have maintained the
spirit of the event; it is apparent that a few did not. A military police investigation that began
the night of the incident is ongoing. I assure you that the chain of command will take
appropriate action when the investigation is complete.
We have accountability of every cadet identified with injuries. Medical personnel have
conducted comprehensive follow-up with the injured cadets, including following established
evidence-based concussion care protocols. In addition, the chain of command and medical
professionals will continue follow-up with these cadets to address any negative impact on their
performance or experience as a cadet.
As Superintendent, I take full responsibility for all actions that occur here at West Point to
include the event on August 20, 2015. We remain committed to the development of leaders of
character. We will continue our investigation, ensure accountability, and reinforce with the
Corps that we must all take care of our teammates.
Robert L. Caslen, Jr.
LTG, US Army
Superintendent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You may have heard about an incident reported in the media Saturday involving a pillow fight
by the members of the Class of 2019. Here is an update and some clarifying facts.
On August 20, 2015, many members of the plebe class participated in a pillow fight in order to
build espirit de corps among their class, especially following their tough first summer. Previous
plebe classes have done similar events over the years.
Unfortunately cadets were injured, with 30 cadets evaluated by medical personnel. Specifically,
24 cadets were diagnosed with concussions, none of them severe. Other injuries sustained
included a broken nose, a dislocated shoulder, and a hairline fracture of a cheekbone for one of
the concussed cadets. Medical personnel evaluated and released four other cadets with no
injuries. No cadets left the Academy because of their injuries. All cadets have been returned
to duty.
While these spirit events do occur, we never condone any activity that results in intentional
harm to a teammate. Although the vast majority of the class appears to have maintained the
spirit of the event; it is apparent that a few did not. A military police investigation that began
the night of the incident is ongoing. I assure you that the chain of command will take
appropriate action when the investigation is complete.
We have accountability of every cadet identified with injuries. Medical personnel have
conducted comprehensive follow-up with the injured cadets, including following established
evidence-based concussion care protocols. In addition, the chain of command and medical
professionals will continue follow-up with these cadets to address any negative impact on their
performance or experience as a cadet.
As Superintendent, I take full responsibility for all actions that occur here at West Point to
include the event on August 20, 2015. We remain committed to the development of leaders of
character. We will continue our investigation, ensure accountability, and reinforce with the
Corps that we must all take care of our teammates.
Robert L. Caslen, Jr.
LTG, US Army
Superintendent
Blizzard
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- Dec 10, 2012
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Here's "what REALLY happened at the pillow fight." Kind of. Not really a lot of detail here.
Wasn't there a recruiting "scandal" last year? All the service academies compete for the same pool of talent i.e. football players who are willing to join the military after school. Air Force has built a nice little niche for themselves in the Mountain West Conference since 1999 and does pretty well considering the players have to juggle sports and academics and maintain some semblance of height and weight standards. The same could be said for Navy since around 2001 when Paul Johnson took over and especially since Ken Niumatalolo picked up the head coaching job in 2007. I couldn't imagine how Army's coach entices recruits to play for Army over Navy or Air Force unless they have a family connection to the service. No one wants to play for a losing team.
Honestly Army should stop playing in the NCAA Div I FBS and bump down to the FCS and play on the patriot league. Fordham is an FCS school and they just beat Army. Why dump tons of money into the Army football program to try to turn it around? It would take a miracle. You need a phenomenal coach to do that but a service school can't afford to pay Nick Saban sized salaries. Alumni want a winning team, you can give them one in the FCS.
All that being said, Army won't move because Navy and Air Force are staying in the FBS and service rivalries won't permit them to go into a "lesser" football subdivision.
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