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Behind the scenes: Army takes on Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio — I’m again traveling with Army football this season as the Black Knights look to build on the momentum of a huge 2016 season that included a win over Navy and a victory in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

West Point, with two wins in its first two games this year, took off for Ohio State on Sept. 15 ahead of its showdown a day later at Ohio Stadium. Below, I’d like to show you a behind-the-scenes look at the moments leading up to and through the first half of Army’s game at OSU. Less action and more scenery. I used a wide-angle lens for much of these (a Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, as you’ll notice) for settings tight and sprawling.

It all starts here. The football team boards buses at a hotel in Dublin, Ohio ahead of the 4:35 p.m. kickoff in Columbus:

Junior Army quaterback Luke Langdon puts on his pads and jersey in the locker room:

A locker room sign lays out the pre-game schedule ahead of kickoff:
Army takes the field for pre-game activities:
Sean Saturnio, Army’s Special Teams Coordinator, pumps up his players before the game. Some readers here may know my love for Hawai’i — Sean is a native of Hilo, Hawai’i and spent nine seasons as the head coach at Waipahu High School. His pre-game ritual is heavy on the Hawaiian vibes:

 

Offensive lineman Noah Utley during pre-game warmups:
Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw warms up in front of 108,400 fans at Ohio Stadium:
Bradshaw warms up:
Lt. General Robert Caslen, Superintendent of West Point, was the last to leave the field after pre-game warm ups. Caslen was earlier this year considered for the role of national security adviser at the White House:
Ohio State players gather before their game against Army:
Flanked by a pair of New York State Troopers, senior defensive back Rhyan England (8) leads Army out of the locker room:
Army head coach Jeff Monken walks out of the visitor’s locker room before the game:

Senior defensive lineman and co-captain John Voit takes in the view after emerging from the stadium tunnel:

Army takes the field at a sold-out Ohio Stadium:
Army players stand for the national anthem:
A soldier from the Ohio National Guard holds a giant American flag:
Army senior offensive lineman Bryce Holland (65) walks with teammates to greet Ohio State players at mid-field
 
Army running back Kell Walker:
 
 
 
 

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