Army football is known for its ground-and-pound offensive strategy. Although the Black Knights may not have many (or any) four and five-star recruits, they have some serious dudes.
Every time that the United States Military Academy takes the field, it has 22 guys on both sides of the ball who are willing to die for their country. Football is just a game. War is life or death.
To help counteract some of the disadvantages in terms of size and talent, Army and head coach Jeff Monken hammer the ball down their opponents’ throat. Although the Black Knights ran the under-center triple option since 1997, Monken was forced to make a change during the offseason.
The NCAA changed a rule that eliminated blocking below the waist — known as cut-blocking — anywhere but inside the tackle box. Cut-blocking is a crucial part of the triple option, so Army moved to the shotgun ahead of 2023.
That did not change the primary focus: run the ball hard and strong. In addition to the cut-block ban, the NCAA made another crucial college football rule change that had a direct impact on Black Knights football.
The game clock no longer stops after first downs, unless it is under two minutes in the second or fourth quarter. As a result, Army can hold the football forever.
Army football keeps its opponents off of the field.
The new rules made for a hilariously on-brand drive during Saturday’s game against Syracuse.
Army got the ball first and drove 75 yards on 17 plays for six points.
- Run
- Run
- Pass
- Pass
- Run
- Run
- Run
- Run
- Pass
- Run
- Pass
- Run
- Run
- Run
- Run
- Run
- Run
Because the clock did not stop after first downs, the drive took nine minutes and 25 seconds. Syracuse touched the ball for the first time with five minutes and 35 seconds left in the quarter.
It doesn’t get much better than that!