Army reveals 2011-12 football schedules

Earlier this week, West Point released the upcoming football schedules for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, with both slates featuring games at Yankee Stadium. (The release also features my photo of fullback-turned-linebacker, Kingsley Ehie, from the black/gold scrimmage).

It’s a little hard to think now, in the middle of June, about a football game in late November (Army battles Notre Dame on Nov. 20, 2010 at the stadium), but I think everyone who’s heard about this match up is already excited; a lot of people have asked me about getting tickets, and to them I say, good luck.

The upcoming fall season features five games at West Point, all to be nationally televised on CBS College Sports. Sept. 18 is Hall of Fame weekend, Oct. 2 is homecoming, VMI visits again for Military Appreciation Day (big flag), and the ’85 Peach Bowl team returns on Nov. 6:

Sept. 11  HAWAI’I, 12 p.m.
Sept. 18  NORTH TEXAS, 12 p.m.
Oct. 2  TEMPLE, 12 p.m.
Oct. 30  VMI, 12 p.m.
Nov. 6  AIR FORCE, 12 p.m.

What’s cool, photo-wise for me, is the Temple and VMI afternoon games, weather permitting, should feature some nice color in the trees around West Point — 2009’s schedule featured a night game against Rutgers (in the rain) at peak foliage, and the weather was miserable against VMI.

For the most dedicated of fans, there’s also games nearby against Rutgers at the new Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey, the aforementioned showdown with the Irish in the Bronx, and, of course, the friendly afternoon with Navy in Philadelphia.

I’m excited about the various venues, but honestly, I like being at Michie. It’ll be cool to be in the Meadowlands, but I can’t get enough of Michie Stadium, personally. We’ll have to deal, this will be good national exposure for West Point and the football program.

For the record, the 2010 season kicks off on Sept. 4 on the road at Eastern Michigan (Army won that game, 24-17, to begin the ’09 season). And while some people have criticized Army’s schedule for 2010 (they were ranked No. 108 out of 120, which is pretty weak — although, hey, Navy was 107), they’ll definitely face some tougher teams in ’11, including Northwestern, a roadtrip to Vanderbilt, Air Force on the road, Rutgers in the Meadowlands and… Navy.

Here’s a look at the 2011 gameplan:

2011 Army football
Sept. 3  at Northern Illinois, TBA
Sept. 10 SAN DIEGO STATE, 12/3:30 p.m.
Sept. 17  NORTHWESTERN, 12/3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Ball State, TBA
Oct. 1 TULANE, 12/3:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Miami (Ohio), TBA
Oct. 22  at Vanderbilt, TBA
Oct. 29 FORDHAM, 12/3:30 p.m.
Nov. 5  at Air Force, TBA
Nov. 12 RUTGERS (at Yankee Stadium)
Nov. 19  at Temple, TBA
Dec. 10 vs. Navy (FedEx Field in Wash., D.C.)

Yes, that means only four measly afternoons at Michie Stadium next fall. Boooo.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but — Nov. 3, 2012, Army hosts Air Force at Yankee Stadium.

Speaking of Army football, have you seen my 2009 video of photos from the season?