It’s with a heavy heart that I give out Superlatives this week.  Folks, some of these are not going to be good.

We knew going in that Tulane was a tough matchup.  However, that doesn’t soften the disappointment.  It’s like going into a Physics WPR realizing it might be too much to expect a good grade.  That doesn’t make it any easier seeing the pages bleed with red ink!  What makes it tougher is resetting the home winning streak.

No more active win streaks.

Maybe the Michie Magic is gone.  Did the BTO take that away?  He might have.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3P8h0wIfxF/

Honestly, they are who we thought they were.  We were outplayed and out coached in all facets of the game.  It’s not complicated.

Army always wavers on the razor thin edge of winning and losing in college football.  Winning is hard.  Maybe we here at AFF have propelled a belief that because Army has entered a modern “golden era,” losing is simply outside of the realm of possibility.  If so, we’re sorry.  Luckily, we still have a lot of good college football left to be played.  Stay tuned, stay engaged, and don’t go joining the Michie Stadium Book Club.

Anyone else catch the firstie reading a book in the stands? Too cool for football?

— As For Football (@asforfootball) October 5, 2019

Much like Danno, I’m tired of dwelling on the Sunday Scaries.  Nothing is ever quite so bad as walking to the barracks before recall formation.  So, let’s bring some constructive levity to your Monday! 

Before we get started, did you know we’re giving away Army-Navy Tickets, offering premium content now for Patreon members, and running a new weekly NCAA video game series on YouTube?  We’ll even give you betting advice!

Check it out:

— The Ultimate Army-Navy Experience Giveaway
— Patreon for Premium Content
— AFF’s YouTube Channel

Now, let’s get to the Superlatives!

Superlatives

Moore Scoop and Score – AFF Play of the Week

Coming late in the 4th Quarter, this play stood out as Tulane worked to ice the game.  Firstie LB Donavan Lynch came off the edge like CGF after a naked man!  He sacked McMillan, forced a fumble, and then got tangled in the quarterback’s feet (don’t dwell too much on that).  Plebe DB Jabari Moore,scooped the ball and took it 54-yards to the house!

Army fought to the bitter end.  That’s why this was the AFF Play of the Week.

The AFF Firstie Club helped decide which play deserved the highly touted title of “AFF Play of the Week.”  If you want a say, become an AFF Patron and join the conversation!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SUrDDBjmk/

Cam Harrison – Land Navigation Instructor

Cam, you had a career day with 5 receptions, 103 yards and 1 TD!  What did that earn you?  The summer training instructors found your ability to navigate across the field inspiring.  They’ve decided your Firstie summer will be spent re-plotting the Beast and Buckner Land Nav courses.  You went high and low, east and west, and you waded through plenty of swampy green wave water to get those points!

After reworking the course, you will teach pace counts, terrain association and dead reckoning to eager, albeit smelly, new cadets.  We can’t let your skills go to waste.

Kelvin Hopkins Jr. is a COMPETITOR! TOUCHDOWN @ArmyWP_Football pic.twitter.com/1uQYGp5fLw

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 5, 2019

Although we don’t like seeing so much passing, keep up the good work.  There’s more touchdowns to be had!

Army Coaches – Chalkboard High Zero 

Gents, I’ll caveat everything I say with the fact that it’s easy to armchair coach.  With that being said, though, we here at AFF think y’all are getting too fancy.  I straight up do not understand the decision to go for 2-points when down by 3 touchdowns.  It haunted us later in the game.  Setting that aside, why did we get away from owning time of possession by staying ahead of the chains with the good, old fashioned ground and pound?  It’s simple, and it was working.

You were asked to take boards and answer an age-old question: how does Army win this game?  Yet, you drew up something so complicated and overwhelming that no one understood it.  There’s chalk everywhere, even on those stale, wool pants.  Perhaps the instructor appreciated your enthusiasm, but all that earned you was a High Zero for the class.

Thankfully, there are more important WPRs and TEEs down the road.  We still believe in you guys!

Tulane Offense – Poop Deck Guests

We can’t go through these Superlatives without giving y’all a nod.  It’s impressive that you put together 525 yards of total offense (201 Passing/324 Rushing) against our stout defense in our house!  We run the ball down people’s throats.  Instead we got a taste of our own medicine.

For that, you are cordially invited to climb up to the Poop Deck during Monday’s lunch as the Corps forces mediocre Mess Hall food down their miserable gullets.

Corey Dauphine CAN FLY. @GreenWaveFB grabs the lead. pic.twitter.com/oInC3AZ0hN

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 5, 2019

Maybe you’ll get the honor of announcing Coooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Chowder!

Don’t worry, we never understood it either.

When the ball gets in Amare Jones' hands, good things tend to happen for @GreenWaveFB. pic.twitter.com/1YDUxf861m

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 5, 2019

Now that we’ve played, we hope you tear up the AAC to improve our strength of schedule.  Best of luck, Green Wave!

Army Defense – Basic Marksmanship Instruction

It’s time to get back to the fundamentals!  There were way too many bad angles and missed tackles on Saturday.  It looked way too easy for Tulane to move the ball down the field.  We saw flashes of brilliance with a couple sacks, 4 tackles for loss, and a couple takeaways.  But, it was tough to watch otherwise.

To help with hitting your targets, we’re putting you through a 2-hour block of Basic Marksmanship Instruction.  That’s 120 minutes of reviewing:

1. Steady Position
2. Aiming
3. Breath Control
4. Trigger Squeeze

We need y’all sharp for the rest of the season!  There are bigger targets on Army’s HPTL.  We know the Loose Bad Boys are still an excellent Defense!

Cole Christiansen – Player of the Week

Captain America, you were a lonely bright spot on the Defense!  With double digit tackles for the third time this season, you anchored a struggling defense and prevented the game from getting totally out of hand.  Moreover, we loved seeing you execute that fake punt even though it got called back.

Imagine putting you at the Fullback spot!

I know this is a bittersweet, but we want to reward your leadership on the field.  We look forward to you continuing to lay the hammer against future opponents (or should I say shield?).

CBS Sports – Goats of the Week

Some from AFF have claimed that CBS Sports hates Army Football.  I don’t fully agree with this statement.  But, y’all are making some annoying broadcasting choices:

1. Navy Commercials during Army Games are like low quarters and jeans.  They just don’t go together.
2. Missing Key Replays during the Game.  What’s up with that?
3. Catheter Commercials?  How old do you think the Army fanbase is?
4. Saying the word “Analytics” over 100 times throughout the game.  WE GET IT!!!

Luckily, y’all have 5 games in a row to close out the season.  Redemption is possible!

But seriously, please, fix this stuff.

***

O-Club

S Ryan Velez, you get in with your 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, and 1 sack.  But yo!  Holding on fake punt was a bad mistake.  Keep getting after it, but let’s work on the down blocking, too, yeah?

? https://t.co/UZxrjN0lDj

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 5, 2019

QB Kelvin Hopkins, you also get into the O-Club.  You had 302 yards of total offense and 3 touchdowns!  Also, we love your ‘Fight til the End’ mentality.

Kelvin Hopkins wanted the first down but got the TOUCHDOWN. @ArmyWP_Football ties it up. pic.twitter.com/iQiT2NgcWQ

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 5, 2019

Lastly, the Corps gets in.  That’s right, the entire Corps.  It’s tough being so spoiled with winning, and we want to keep y’all engaged and hyped for home games.  Don’t stop believing in this Army Team!

That’s all for this week.

We’ll provide more reaction and analysis from the game next week as well as a Tulane preview on the Army Football Show (via Stitcher, Spotify, or iTunes) next Thursday.  The Night Before the Night Before!

Beat Western Kentucky!

Rest.