Power Four games once highlight Army’s independent future schedules. These games have become the backdrops of some of the most memorable moments of the millennium for the Black Knights football. Power Four games, most notably, against Oklahoma and Michigan, increased Army’s relevance and proved that the team could compete with ANYONE under the right circumstances.
Unfortunately, the move to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) all but eliminates several opportunities to play against the Power Four. Still, Army AD Mike Buddie remains committed to playing at least one Power Four conference per season despite having only two non-conference openings per year. This last detail of the new scheduling philosophy makes it surprising that Army kept multiple Group of Five series alive on its future schedules. One series that stands out is against Old Dominion.
Can't wait! We're getting closer to kickoff! pic.twitter.com/ZQYOku30tA
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) July 10, 2024
The Old Dominion Series
In 2030 and 2032, Army and Old Dominion will swap home-and-home dates in Norfolk and West Point, making it highly likely that Army will not play a Power Four school in either of those seasons. However, this series remains beneficial in several ways.
First and foremost, it offers the Black Knights a rare opportunity to play in front of recruits in the Tidewater region. Several NFL greats are native to the region, including Michael Vick, Kenny Easley, and Bruce Smith. Army has also benefited from talent in the region, with former starting quarterback Tyhier Tyler, defensive contributor Joe Stephenson, and 2021 starting left guard Noah Knapp all hailing from there. The Tidewater region serves as an important, wide-open recruiting ground for the AAC, so any opportunity to play in the region could provide the Black Knights with a boost over their conference rivals.
Norfolk also holds a revered place in college football history. Before kickoff games at NFL stadiums, the Oyster Bowl was the king of all regular season showcases. From 1948-1995, several current ACC schools and other revered programs such as Georgia, Maryland, and South Carolina, appeared in the yearly game at Norfolk’s Foreman Field. College football greats including Fran Tarkenton, Roger Staubach, and Ernie Davis, and many more played in the Oyster Bowl.
While Navy made 11 appearances in the Oyster Bowl, Army never played in this fabled classic. The Oyster Bowl became an Old Dominion home game in 2011 and remains so. This came after a brief hiatus from 1996-1998 and a revival involving smaller schools from 1999-2010. Strong history with Navy makes it at least somewhat logical for the Monarchs to designate their 2030 home game with Army as the Oyster Bowl.
Final Thoughts
Black Knights fans should welcome keeping the Old Dominion series game due to historical significance and recruiting advantages. The team will play in one of college football’s most tradition-rich cities when they visit Old Dominion in 2030. This matters because one cannot tell the story of college football without Army. The Old Dominion series therefore allows America’s Team to intertwine itself into yet another time-tested tradition of the college game. A win against Old Dominion may not advance the Army program as much as a Power Four win would, but the game itself still provides Army an opportunity nearly 80 years overdue.
Go Army! Beat Lehigh!!!
Cover image via Flickr: The United Stated Military Academy.
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