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Rams lose

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- After failing to get into the end zone in four tries from the Army 4-yard line, URI lost in overtime to the Cadets, 14-7. The Rams came up short on the final play when junior running back Jimmy Hughes was forced out of bounds trying to go around left end.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:15 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Army Scores

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- On the first play of overtime, Army QB David Pevoto lofted a 25-yard TD pass to senior tight end Justin Larson, giving the Cadets a 14-7 lead over upset-minded URI.
The Rams now have to score on their O.T. possession.l

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:12 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Overtime

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Rams and Cadets head into overtime, tied 7-7, as URI QB Derek Cassidy is sacked on the final play in regulation.
Army is 3-0, all-time, in o.t., winning twice last year -- over Kent State, at Michie Stadium, and at Baylor.
URI last played an overtime game at Maine, in 2005, losing 27-24.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:07 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Another Chance

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- With 21 seconds left in regulation, the Rams stopped a last-ditch Army drive when Kirk Blackmon sacked Cadets' QB David Pevoto from behind, forcing him to fumble. Carl Daniel recovered for URI at the Army 47. Rhody has one timeout remaining and the score is tied, 7-7.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:03 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Wide Left

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- URI missed a marvelous opportunity to take the lead late in the game when, with 1:56 to go, senior kicker Bryan Giannecchini hooked a 33-yard, field-goal attempt from the middle of the field wide left.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:58 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Upset In the Making?

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- After surviving an illegal participation penalty that enabled Army to retain possession after the Cadets had punted the ball away, but resulted only in a missed, 39-yard, field-goal attempt, URI has driven from its own 22 to a second-and-three at the Army 28 with 4:48 remaining and the score tied, 7-7.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:48 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Dangerous Duty

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- It's dangerous being the mascot for the Rhody Rams.
Last year, "Rhody" was accosted in a men's room at the Civic Center during a basketball game with arch-rival Providence College. During the third quarter this afternoon at Michie Stadium, "Rhody" had his head stolen by some "commandos" from the corps of Cadets.
If only the Army could have similar success against Osama Bin Laden...

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:20 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

URI fumble leads to Army score

Rhode Island, leading Army, 7-0, was driving on its first possession of the second half when it lost a fumble near midfield, after which the Cadets marched to the tying touchdown.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 2:55 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Rams Take The Lead

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- After failing to capitalize on two earlier scoring opportunities, the Rhody Rams capped an impressive, 80-yard drive in the closing minutes of the first half with a 5-yard scoring run by sophomore Tim Allen, who took a pitch from QB Derek Cassidy and darted around the right side for a 7-0 lead with 1:30 remaining in the second quarter.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 2:12 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Missed Opportunities

WEST POINT, N.Y. _ The Rams have failed to capitalize on a couple of excellent scoring opportunities early in their game at Army.
The Cadets fumbled the ball away at their own 48 on the third play of the game, but Rhody failed to pick up a first down and punted.
Then, in the first minute of the second quarter, URI cornerback Antonio Johnson intercepted a pass by Army QB David Pevoto at the Rams' 26 and returned it 35 yards to the 39 of the Cadets. The Rams had moved to Army's 16 when junior running back Joe Casey fumbled the ball away.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:46 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Rhody boys in the lineup

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- There is no one from Rhode Island on Army's football roster.
And just two of URI's 22 starters played their high-school ball in the R.I. Interscholastic League -- 6-3, 285-pound, offensive guard Antal Keszthelyi (LaSalle) and wide receiver Tolbert Evans, who played one year at South Kingstown before transferring to the Salisbury School, in Connecticut.
The Rams do list seven other Rhode Island HS players among the backups on the two-deep, depth chart.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:26 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Feeling the Heat at Michie Stadium

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Temperature at kickoff this afternoon was 84 degrees, but the humidity made it feel much warmer -- especially for aging sportswriters who made the steep climp up Stony Lonesome Road from The Plain to Michie Stadium.
Temps on the field certainly were higher, because Army plays on FieldTurf.
The heat could work to the advantage of the Cadets, who always are superbly conditioned.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:13 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Not A Prayer of Beating Navy

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- It would appear that Army doesn't have a prayer of beating Navy.
Although the sign on the front door of the Cadet Chapel -- a beautiful church high above the campus -- said it was open daily at 0800, it was still locked at 0815.
Navy has won five straight over Army, and leads the storied series, 51-49-7.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:06 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Breakfast on Game Day at West Point

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Visitors to West Point can grab a bite to eat in Grant Hall. That's U.S. Grant, class of 1843, later General-In-Chief of U.S. Armies during the Civil War, and the 18th president of the United States.
Decorating the Hall are portraits are portraits of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, class of 1915, and also a former President; General Omar Bradley, also class of '15, General Douglas MacArthur ('03) and General "Hap" Arnold, '07, who commanded the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:01 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Parachutists on The Plain

WEST POINT, N.Y. _ Following the parade, four members of the Academy's "Black Knights" parachute team jumped from a "Huey" helicopter at 2,500 feet and, after about 10 seconds of free fall, opened their 'chutes and landed on The Plain.
All four were First Class Cadets -- seniors -- and each had made more than 400 jumps. The experience showed, as each landed standing, as easily as if they had jumped off the lowest step of a ladder.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:56 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Corps of Cadets March In

The Fourth Regiment of Cadets marched into Michie Stadium 15 minutes before kickoff wearing, not their usual grey uniforms, but their Army Combat Uniform -- camouflage shirts, pants, and caps, with brown combat boots.
The rest of the Corps, also wearing their ACUs, stand throughout the game in the northwest story of the stadium.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:50 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Fight Songs

WEST POINT, N.Y. _ Fight songs are an integral part of college football, and few would argue that "On, Brave Old Army Team" is one of the very best.
"On, Brave Old Army Team,
On to the fray;
Fight on to victory,
For that's the fearless Army way."
Others that everyone knows are Michigan's "Hail To The Victors,", "On Wisconsin," Southern Cal's "Fight On," and Tennessee's "Rocky Top."
The greatest of all college fight songs is, of course, the Notre Dame Victory March.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Parade On The Plain

WEST POINT, N.Y. _ This is one of the great places in America to watch college football.
The campus of the United States Military Academy sits on a bluff above the Hudson River, and part of the pageantry of game-day is the parade on The Plain at 10 a.m., when two regiments -- half the Corps of Cadets -- marches in review. They emerge from the Eisenhower and MacArthur Barracks in their full-dress uniforms -- grey tunics, with black braid and gold buttons; white pants; and hats they call "tarbuckets." The first-class Cadets -- the seniors -- are recognizable because they have plumes on their hats, and carry sabres, instead of rifles.
They march into formation on the lush, green grass, in front of bleachers that, when empty, are painted in such way as to read "Beat Navy."
The U.S. Army Band plays martial airs throughout the approximately half-hour long ceremony.
URI president Robert Carothers was among the dignitaries invited to be part of the reviewing party, which also included the Superintendent of West Point, Lieutenant General Franklin Hagenbeck, and the Commandant Cadets, Brigadier General Robert L. Caslen Jr.
It's a moving scene when the band plays the Star Spangled Banner and the voices of people in the stands carry across The Plain.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:19 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0