Man, I love beating up on some keydets (…still not sure what that is)!

I think we should do this every year.  It was good to see another dominant November performance from our beloved Black Knights.  Now we’ve got some momentum going into the bye week.

These are the games that make Superlatives fun!

Saturday was a beautiful late-fall day up at West Point, and we got to celebrate the outstanding firsties we’ve had on this team for the past four years.  I loved it!  Happily, it seemed like the firsties were showcased throughout the match-up.  From FB Connor Slomka’s 3-touchdown performance to SB Kell Walker’s and QB Kelvin Hopkins’ long runs, this game stands as a tribute and a thank you for what this firstie class has done for Army Football in the Monken era.

Happily, there’s still football left to play.

If you haven’t seen it already, Danno recapped the game with his usual insight.

TEAMWORK on and off the field for @ArmyWP_Football ? pic.twitter.com/H9g3a1AIX0

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 16, 2019

PSA: This is the last week to enter for a chance to win FREE Army-Navy Tickets!

Check it out:
— The Ultimate Army-Navy Experience Giveaway

Now, let’s get on to the Superlatives.

 

Superlatives

AFF Play of the Week – Hopkins Houses It 

The week’s Play of the Week was an easy choice as it captured the general sense from Army fans of how good it felt to have Kelvin Hopkins Jr. looking like his former self.  We highlight this 63-yard run to the end zone because it displays Hopkins running with confidence and swagger.  Plus, Cam Harrison gets in on some of that badass downfield blocking from last week!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4-g-xWhnYs/

 

Army Offense – Scooter Privileges

The Army Offense went rolling along!  They put up 594 yards on the ground, out-gaining last week’s performance by nearly 100 yards!  Overall, the team averaged 9.1 yards per carry.

The offensive line is playing well.  The wide receivers are blocking well.  The skill positions are running like they’re trying to get from Boxing Class to Thayer Hall.  It’s fun to watch.  So, we’re giving all of y’all Razor Scooters to help with that inter-Barracks transportation.

Your TAC NCO’s have been notified.  Take it easy on those legs and stay hungry!

5️⃣9️⃣4️⃣ rushing yards.

7️⃣ TDs

?#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/e5tSWea5Pu

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) November 16, 2019

 

VMI – New Battle Streamer

We know y’all pride yourselves on effort and involvement in significant losses.  So, in honor of coming to West Point just to get whooped, we’ve decided to give y’all a new battle streamer to carry around and brag about.

Much like the Civil War, you started off strong with some minor victories.  But you couldn’t hold up to the resources and power of a legitimate Federal Service Academy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4sK3jchNeg/

Thanks again!

I really enjoy playing VMI because much like the football, the smack talk just seems too easy.  Keep on paying to get hazed!

 

Photographer Danny Wild – Tricare Prime Benefits

If you don’t follow Danny Wild, you’re not seeing the best of Army Football Photography.  He goes above and beyond to visually capture the highs and lows of our Brave Old Army Team every single week.

This week, an uncoordinated Ref hit Danny on the sideline, resulting in a deep laceration that required four stitches.  Thankfully, we have a quality Army medical center on post — Keller Community Hospital.

But Danny, we want to ensure you stay healthy, so you can capture even more Army moments.  We’ve enrolled you in the best healthcare system the Army can provide — Tricare!

Prepare for long waits and a lot of extra strength ibuprofen.

Remember, Army Fans dig scars.  Rep yours with pride!  Thanks for all you do, Danny.

 

Landon Salyers – “Every Cadet an Athlete” of the Month

While all the other kickers go on room restriction, you get to enjoy the praise and adoration of forcing and recovering a fumble on a kickoff.  The Army has a lot of “Every ‘blank’ is a ‘blank'”-type sayings. “Every Cadet an Athlete.”  “Every Soldier is a Sensor.”  You get the idea.  Now, we can say that every football player is a tackler!

Kicker Landon Salyers with the HIT on the kickoff!

ARMY BALL! #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/wouCm0bmbN

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) November 16, 2019

We’ve made a nice, framed picture naming you the “Every Cadet an Athlete” of the Month.  It’ll mainly be used to taunt the other kickers into actually making points-after-try and chip-shot field goals, but you can show it off in your future “I Love Me” room.  Keep it up!

 

Kwabena Bonsu – DMI Special Briefer

With two big sacks, you were a major source of pressure for VMI QB Reece Udinski.  DMI saw your ability to penetrate the offensive line, locate the key command and control element, and defeat him.  Because of this, they’ve selected you to brief MI100 students on how to properly execute a tactical penetration.

It’ll only take a few Dean’s hours. Plus, it’ll prepare you for CLDT!

2 plays. 2 SACKS!

4th down VMI.#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/PB5idpfnGs

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) November 16, 2019

 

Firsties – AFF Commendation Medals

In honor of Senior Day, we want to recognize your class for all that you’ve done for Army Football.  The Class of 2019 has an overall record of 34-16 with three consecutive bowl wins, three consecutive wins over Navy, and two straight Commander-in-Chief’s trophies!  Need I say more?!

We here at As For Football have filed DAFF Form 638s for the Firstie class requesting AFF Commendation Medals for your efforts.  Originally, we requested AFF Meritorious Service Medal, but they were downgraded by headquarters.

Get those bad boys on your Officer Record Briefs (ORBs) and update your DA photos now!

 

Kelvin Hopkins Jr. – Player of the Game

This is a given!  KHop had 208 yards on 16 carries plus 49 yards through the air.  More importantly, his presence on the field and inside the stadium was indescribable.  We are deeply concerned for Jabari Laws after that knee injury.  However, it was great to see Hopkins get his swagger back.  We’ve been missing it for some time!

There’s still more football we need him to play!

 

CBSSports Network – Super-Goats of the Week 

We’ve complained all year about the second-tier sports broadcasting that CBSSports provides.  This week was the perfect storm.  There were Navy and catheter commercials, incorrect graphics, weird “skynet” text, and super-slow replays.

It seems our frustrations with CBSSports will never end.  Perhaps they really do hate Army Football as Jordan has suggested.

Oh another Navy commercial…you suck @CBSSports

— As For Football (@asforfootball) November 16, 2019

And catheters!!

— As For Football (@asforfootball) November 16, 2019

Either way, they become our first SUPER-Goats of the Season.

***

O-Club

The O-Club stays open and packed!

First off, the Army Training Staff gets in for all their hard work.  Lots of guys went down with injuries.  We’re glad they’re in good hands.

Walker and QB Christian Anderson get in for breaking off their big runs.

59-YARD HOUSE CALL for @ArmyWP_Football ? pic.twitter.com/SyIupjrGES

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 16, 2019

Come on in, Connor Slomka!  You were an absolute beast in the redzone!

Connor Slomka has himself a HAT-TRICK of TDs for @ArmyWP_Football ??? pic.twitter.com/uD2M9ZVTKk

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 16, 2019

That’s all for this week.

We’ll provide more reaction and analysis from the game in two weeks as well as a Hawaii preview on the Army Football Show (via Stitcher, Spotify, or iTunes).  Look for that on Thanksgiving.  The Night Before the Night Before!

Go Army!  Beat Hawaii!!!

Rest.