Army AD thrilled for Liberty Bowl berth
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Within 24 hours, the Army football team went from frustration to elation as the Black Knights finally secured a bowl berth.
The Autozone Liberty Bowl officially extended an invitation to Army and school officials accepted it Monday evening during a conference call. The Black Knights will face West Virginia on Dec. 31 (3 p.m. ESPN) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
“We are absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to play in a great bowl game like the Liberty Bowl, against a tremendous team,'' said Army coach Jeff Monken, who is taking Army to its fourth bowl game in five seasons. “I'm so happy for our players. We just felt like they earned an opportunity to play in the postseason.''
Army ran its record to 9-2 with consecutive wins over Navy and Air Force, claiming the Commander-in-chief 's Trophy title for the first time since 2017 and 2018.
The Black Knights headed into Sunday afternoon waiting for the announcement on who Army would play in Saturday's Independence Bowl but as the day dragged on there was no word.
The Pac-12 was slated to fill the open spot but all but two of its league members opted out of the postseason for various reasons. In all, over 20 major college programs opted out and a dozen bowl games had to be canceled, as the Independence Bowl announced Sunday evening, leaving Army out of the bowl picture.
Monken was infuriated and railed against programs like USC and Boise State that only days ago were begging for admittance into the College Football Playoff and then quickly changed their tune and opted out after losing in conference championship games.
Monken, athletic director Mike Buddie and West Point leadership informed the team of the Independence Bowl cancellation during an early evening dinner, and reaction from the players ranged from stunned silence, a feeling of being blind-sided, confusion and anger.
“What hurts the most is not being able to play one last game,'' said co-captain and fullback Sandon Mccoy, who was shocked at the announcement. “That's what we've been working for all year.''
Army athletics leadership took their message to the national media and social media right away. Buddie stated Sunday that Army would pursue any opportunity to play, but he realized the only way into the postseason was if another bowl team had to withdraw.
That's exactly what happened to Tennessee. A number of coaches and players contracted COVID-19 and the decision was made to pull out of the Liberty Bowl. The timing could not have been any perfect for Army, who worked out details with Liberty Bowl officials and West Virginia all Monday afternoon.
Monken said the exposure Army will receive by being in a “Tier Two” bowl game “is tremendous.''
“I'm happy for our players and I'm happy for the men and women who serve the United States Army,'' Monken said.
“We're going to have a chance to represent them and they deserve that. I think we would have felt particularly bad for our players to not have this opportunity, especially our seniors and for everybody we represent.
“I know the state of West Virginia is fully behind the Mountaineers and I think it's fantastic,'' Monken added, “but we're America's Team, we represent this nation.''
West Virginia athletics officials were praise-worthy of Army.
“I have great respect for the Army football tradition and the sacrifice the cadets make daily for our country,” said WVU football coach Neal Brown. “Coach Monken and his staff have done a terrific job at West Point with 43 wins in the last five years.”
West Virginia director of athletics Shane Lyons was disappointed that Tennessee had to pull out.
“Our team deserves to be in a bowl and so does the 9-2 Army squad,” Lyons said. “While we are disappointed that Tennessee couldn't be in the game, Army needed a bowl and an opponent, and the Mountaineers are glad to solve the problem.”
Added Brown: “We started the day preparing for one opponent and will end it preparing for another but that's how crazy 2020 has been.”
Steve Ehrhart, the executive director of the Liberty Bowl, was thrilled to bring Army to his bowl. He said efforts were made more than 30 years ago to bring the winner of the Commander-inChief 's Trophy to the Liberty Bowl, in an effort to promote patriotism. At that time, Air Force won the CIC trophy four years in a row and appeared at the Liberty Bowl from 1989-92, winning twice. Ehrhart said he reached out to West Point to secure a contract but it never developed.