Strolling through Twitter: Sports News & Notes

Hey folks!

Happy Saturday!  It's finally game-day!!!  Let's get it on.

5 Things on a Friday: Not Going Back to Korea

Happy Friday, folks!

Army Football Preview: UT – El Paso

I did not much care for that Tulane game.  In his post game press conference, Coach Jeff Monken said that he felt like the game was Tulane’s to lose, that the Green Wave nearly let Army steal one, but I still think that Army had the better team most of the day.  The Black Knights just couldn’t quite put it all together at the critical moments.  It was maddening as Hell to watch.

Alas, those kinds of games are a little easier to tolerate at Michie Stadium.  It’s cathartic to scream at the team, and I think the long post game walks back to my car are good for the soul.  Screaming at my television does not feel nearly as productive, and what’s worse, my pacing back and forth makes the dog nervous.

What can you do?

Thankfully, we’re back at Michie this week for a showdown against FBS doormat UT – El Paso (UTEP).  I’m taking the whole family on Saturday, and this time the Black Knights had better freaking win.  Having dropped a winnable game on the road, Army’s season now has next to nothing in the way of margin for error.

Army Screws the Pooch at Tulane

Riddle me this: how do you rush for 371 yards, gain 22 first downs to the opposing team’s 15, and own time of possession 39:18 to 20:42, and still lose?

Final pic.twitter.com/r4TqlWaMBi

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 23, 2017

That shit ought to be impossible.

College Football: What to Watch in Week 4

You’re an Army Football fan, and you’re wondering what to watch this weekend.  I’m here to help.

5 Things on a Friday: The Mad Pooper’s Revenge!

Happy Friday, folks.  It’s a crazy world out there.

Finally!

Reimagining the Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon

The old 1980s-era Dungeons & Dragons cartoon from Marvel Studios has been getting some love on Twitter this week, with guys like Nathan Stewart, Senior Director of Dungeons & Dragons, seemingly paying some attention.  This blog has done almost nothing but football for the last several weeks, so in the interest of both content diversity and helping to press for a quality D&D cartoon reboot, let’s talk about what a new show might potentially look like.

I want a #DnD cartoon again! Help me, @Wizards_DnD !!! Good wholesome cartoon for the whole family, please! https://t.co/zHfGgxU6vD

— Alphastream (@Alphastream) September 18, 2017

Army Football Preview: at Tulane

I didn’t love Army’s game against Ohio State, but it’s had to say that the team failed to meet expectations.  Their 99-yard drive to end the second quarter was one of the best Army offensive efforts of the last ten years.  The Black Knights managed to establish the Fullback Dive against one of the best rushing defenses in the country, and though they still lost by 30+ points, they at least did it in a way that seems to have captured some positive media attention.  Ohio State fell two spots in the AP Poll despite the win, and Army picked up a big-time recruiting commitment from the state of Texas.  

Final here from The Shoe pic.twitter.com/1jGG50Uu9u

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 16, 2017

It’s never good to lose, but overall, I guess the game itself went about as well as we might’ve hoped.

This week, the Black Knights travel to New Orleans to take on the Tulane Green Wave, a decidedly similar team coming off a similar schedule with largely similar results.  One of these teams will come out with a hard-fought victory, having taken an important step towards bowl eligibility.

Quick Thoughts: Army at Ohio State

Army looked competitive "at times" against Ohio State, but the game got out of hand quickly in the 3rd quarter after the missed 41-yard field goal.  In that sense, this was one of those games where we saw not only how far Army Football has come, but also how far they have to go.  It's not surprising, for example, that Army's defense couldn't stop the Buckeyes' rushing attack.  However, the Black Knights need to be able to make ostensibly simple field goals to be truly competitive in college football, and they need to be able to complete basic passing plays to wide-open receivers.

Final here from The Shoe pic.twitter.com/1jGG50Uu9u

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 16, 2017

We've come a long way, but we still aren't there, yet.

5 Things on a Friday: The Last Saturday Night EVER!

We’re back!

The hiatus was unintentional, but I hope you missed me nonetheless.  Did you miss me?

Army Football Preview: at Ohio State

Army got a hard-fought come-from-behind victory last week against Buffalo, but I don’t know how much confidence it gives me going forward.  The 2017 Black Knights are either a hardy, confident crew who can win games even when they don’t necessarily have their best stuff, or they’re not quite as good as we’d all hoped that they were.  Or maybe the Bulls just match up well against Army’s triple-option because they have so much beef at D-Tackle.  Unfortunately for Buffalo, that particular defense has become a kind of niche advantage in modern college football.

This week, Army travels to Ohio State for a matchup against ostensibly the best team in the nation.  For better or worse, I expect we’ll learn a lot about exactly what kind of team these Black Knights are going to be after this game.

Story in Photos: Army 21, Buffalo 17https://t.co/SyVFE2HabD pic.twitter.com/A9HT3usyfQ

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 11, 2017

Quick Thoughts: Army vs. Buffalo

For a good part of the afternoon yesterday, I thought the rumors of Army Football’s long-term turnaround looked a bit premature.  But it’s also true that good teams find a way to win, even when they don’t necessarily have their best stuff.  Army certainly didn’t have its best stuff yesterday, but they still found a way to pull out a convincing win.  At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.  

There is no substitute for victory.

2 games. 2 wins. #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/QkthXsFsWu

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 9, 2017

Go Army: Getting the Weekend Off to the Right Start

Win first! Sing second!#GoArmy #BeatAirForce pic.twitter.com/zaVXTYBXl2

— Army WP W.Soccer (@ArmyWP_WSoccer) September 9, 2017

Army Football Preview: Buffalo

The Black Knights started their season about as well as we could possibly have hoped.  They smoked Fordham, putting up 60+ points for the fourth time in a calendar year.  Outside of a fumble and two incomplete passes, the day was pretty much perfect.

Great way to start off 2017 #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/ZAC3WqFjO8

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 2, 2017

This week the University of Buffalo Bulls come to Michie Stadium, looking to rebound from an early loss to Minnesota.  If you believe in moral victories, then the Bulls maybe have something to build on, having been competitive for sixty minutes against a legitimate, perennially achieving Big 10 team.  Buffalo still has something to prove, however, and a win against a resurgent Army team would go a long way towards proving it.

D&D with Kids: “The Sunless Citadel” Play Report

We were up in Maine last week, and as we have been wont to do while on vacation, the girls and I sat down for a few sessions of D&D while we were there.  We all enjoy D&D, but we never seem to play as much as we want when we’re at home, owing to the busy nature of our Real Lives.  Life’s a little different up in Maine, however, and this time in particular, I went up with a goal.  I wanted the kids to come away with a legitimate understanding of how to play their characters to their fullest potential.

I wanted them to “get” the game, not just the basics of combat mechanics.

I decided to run The Sunless Citadel out of the recently released Tales from the Yawning Portal.  The adventure’s intro notes that it was designed in part to help teach the game, and in this it performed flawlessly.  It was also relatively short.  We got through it over the course of our week away, totally maybe eight hours of actual play.  This included character set-up and level-ups along with one wholly unrelated side-quest written and run by my older daughter Hannah.

Quick Thoughts: Army 64, Fordham 6

My God, what a game!  I thought Army would win.  I did not think they would romp the Rams 64-6.  In fact, when we met for the group picture at halftime, guys were saying, “Hey, I thought you said these guys were good?”

1-0 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/ReXeSxkgT8

— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 2, 2017

5 Things on a Friday: College Kickoff Comes at Last!

Army football kicks off tonight alongside the rest of the college football season.  I am super-psyched!

Go Army!  Beat Fordham!!!