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** Jeff Monken begins by saying bye weeks are interesting. It's a good time to get healthy and to prepare for an opponent for two weeks. But it's hard on Saturday afternoon to sit and just watch everyone else play. Army players are excited about a "big opponent" out of the ACC. "That's why our guys come to school here. They really get excited about playing these games against these Power Five opponents". Ever since they started putting pads on they dreamed of playing at the very highest level. Monken acknowledged he enjoys these games himself because it's the highest level of CFB.
** BC is a very talented team and calls Hafley a tremendous coach with a great staff. Very impressed with the BC team. Florida State is one of the most talked about teams in the country. You see their success and BC's going blow for blow with those guys. It will be a heck of a challenge and glad to be coming home to West Point. First home game in a few weeks and only the second home game so far this year.
** Asked how critical it is for a P5 team to play at West Point, Monken said it's great to have teams like that in their stadium. It's a "feather in the cap for the program." A lot of these games are played on the road and a lot of the games they play are guarantee games. Teams in the Group of Five, FCS, and other P5 schools will take a one-game series with a team for a guarantee, so to be able to play some home/homes with P5 programs is fantastic for them like Wake Forest did. Duke has been there to play. Army crowds get excited to see those major conference teams. It's a great opportunity and a tremendous football program with a lot of prestige.
** Asked about the bye week, Monken said they change their approach. They played Syracuse a week ago Saturday. They came back on Sunday and practiced on Sunday. Important to get the game behind them. Then took Monday off which they always do during the week. Practiced on Tuesday. Light workout Wednesday then practice on Thursday. Gave the guys Saturday and Sunday off. A lot of guys got away from campus which is healthy mentally. Hopefully they recharged then started game week routine on Monday. Took Tuesday off but will go through the rest of this week like a normal game week. They tried to approach last week a little bit like they would not during preseason camp but almost like a couple of weeks into spring ball when you have a majority of schemes installed but want to focus on fundamentals. Inordinate amount of blocking drills, block destruction, tackling, ball security. Things they need to make tremendous improvements on if they are to have a chance against Boston College. Things they may have wanted to install and just couldn't fit it in... these are things they could do. Added some new things to the playbook. "What we do is what we do," but added some complementary things.
** Asked for an overall assessment of Army, Monken said they've played really hard. They've played with great effort. They care about each other, about the team, and about winning. There's nothing in him with any disappointment about the commitment level. "I'm certainly disappointed that we're 2-2..." But some things in the two losses they recognize they could have done better and have to focus on being better at those things. As they continue to face talented, well coached teams they have to improve in those critical areas. They have to block better and sustain blocks, tackle more effectively, and take care of the ball. Had they done those things better against Monroe and Syracuse they would have had a chance.
** RB Hayden Reed, DB Max Didomenico, RB Tyrell Robinson may all have a chance to play. They have been injured. Tyrell had a long rehab and is finally back practicing "more like the T-Rob we know". May be available Saturday but depends on Tyrell's comfort level and the trainers.
** Asked about young players they're excited about: Excited to see WR Tobi Olawole. Hampered by hamstring injury in preseason camp then reaggravated it early in the season. He played some last game which was positive. Think he's feeling healthy. RB Kanye Udoh is a physical runner and Monken is interested if he can become a dynamic back. QB Champ Harris, a freshman, is just adjusting to college football. There's a guy here, guy there among freshmen who are playing, but hopefully he'll continue to progress. Just some of the young guys Monken foresees as having good careers. Some guys start to get fatigued this time of year. Some guys can power through and overcome.
** Said BC had a great win against UVA. Resilient and tough win. Went to OT against NIU and battled Florida State to the finish. Comeback victory this past weekend. "This is a very good football team and it's going to be a tough game to win, but
it's a game we've got to win if we hope to be in the conversation for postseason play. It's okay to acknowledge that and recognize it." So Army considers this a must-win game. Not everybody can make the playoff but a lot of teams can make the postseason. Comes down to math for them. If they don't win it, doesn't mean there's no chance but certainly makes it harder. Army players are smart. Not something they talk about but they know it. Essentially have six games left that count. There's a sense of urgency.
** Looking at Hafley's success at Ohio State, easy to see. One of the best programs in the country and you deal with tremendous scrutiny and criticism as the DC there. The pressure there prepared him for BC and thinks he's doing a great job and a tremendous job recruiting. Not like he took over an easy situation. They weren't ACC champs before he got there and has a very talented team.
** Asked about Thomas Castellanos, who has more than 1,000 passing and 358 rushing, "He's a really good player." Thrown really well and BC's leading rusher. He's a handful. Watch him on field and if you don't contain him in the pocket he's going to get loose and run where he's really dangerous. Very impressed with him, outstanding player, great thrower. Dual-threat quarterback makes it twice as difficult to defend him.
** DL Dre Miller was in the hospital after the Syracuse game. He came back later that night in wee hours of the morning and he's in good health. Not going to play this week, recovering, but they anticipate he'll make a full recovery.
** Army has players from 39 states. They recognize the big teams nationally. Their practices are fun and competitive. "Rarely, rarely in our season do I have to say something to our guys about not being excited to practice or work hard." Sometimes, not often. They're not particular about who they play. But they, like everybody else, who grew up playing football, the major conference opponents is exciting. Monken played D3 football and would have loved to play in a stadium like Army's or gone to play at Syracuse. Experiences for their players. Dreamed it growing up "and now they're here playing Boston College," a team with great history and talent they have to go match up with. Guys recruited by other Power Five programs. They were equally excited to play Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Duke, Wake Forest, Stanford, Missouri, etc. They've played a lot of those teams and every time it's a thrill, as it should be.
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