Army athletics rebranding may be end of 'Black Knights'

2014-11-20T17:08:28-05:00

From: Army Times

A rebranding plan for Army athletics could mean the end of "Black Knights" as an official team name as early as next spring.

"We really want to make sure we have something that identifies regionally, nationally and internationally," Army athletic director Boo Corrigan told the (Middletown, New York) Times Herald-Record last week. He didn't speculate on possible alternatives.

An Army athletics spokesman said Corrigan had nothing to add to his published remarks, but confirmed an announcement on rebranding, which could include a name change, could come in March or April, as the spring intercollegiate athletics season comes to a close.

"Black Knights" has been the official nickname of all Army teams since 1999, but its roots go far deeper, with New York sportswriters calling the football club "The Black Knights of the Hudson" as early as the 1920s. That name would go along with the traditional "Cadets" moniker for most of Army football's history.

"When I was getting recruited ... it was almost interchangeable between the two," said Alex Moore, a captain with the 2002 Army football team whose first year at West Point was the first under the name change. "Personally, I like more the Black Knights. Cadets are great ... but I'd like a name that really encompasses the entire Army."

"Black Knights" picked up traction in the mid-1940s, during Army's run atop the college football landscape. The team went unbeaten from 1944 to 1946, cranked out back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners (Doc Blanchard in 1945, followed by Glenn Davis) and outdrew the NFL's Giants when playing in New York City.

National identification wasn't much of an issue at that point, with the team's record speaking for itself.

"It was kind of a metaphor for the U.S. Army's strength," said Jack Cavanaugh, whose half-century in journalism includes a stint covering Army football for the New York Times. He said he ran into the nickname issue while writing "Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside," a look at the Blanchard-Davis teams during the final days and aftermath of World War II, while poring through contemporary newspaper accounts that varied between team identifiers.

"Personally, I like 'Cadets' better," he said.

Rumors of a switch back to Cadets started earlier this year, Moore said, and while he might prefer Black Knights, he's fine with whatever change gets made — on one condition.

"I'm all for it if it reverses the streak against Navy," he said. "We had more success with that when we were the Cadets."

http://www.armytimes.com/story/sports/outdoors/2014/11/19/army-rebranding-ending-black-knights-west-point-football-academy-atheletics/19284403/

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 20 at 2014 5:34 PM

2014-11-20T17:34:23-05:00

Okay, with all the great ideas from the current Commander and Chief, how about Caballeros Negro...or even better la reina negra?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Nov 20 at 2014 5:41 PM

2014-11-20T17:41:36-05:00

Tis but a flesh wound....The Black Knight ALWAYS triumphs....!!!! ;o)

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2014 5:46 PM

2014-11-20T17:46:54-05:00

Not surprised the Army has trouble sticking to anything, Always changing something uniform, motto etc etc ect. Just stick to something Army!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 20 at 2014 6:33 PM

2014-11-20T18:33:17-05:00

I don't see why this is even an issue, but given the explanations in the article, I guess it would make sense to rename Army's football team with a mascot name that resonated well across the Army. Through that lens, Black Knights doesn't make much sense -- though I would argue that Cadets doesn't make much sense either, since the majority of the Army can't relate to that.

I'll throw out a few ideas for other team names: Blackhawks, Apaches, Chinooks, Hellfires, Strykers. What does everyone think of those? I would buy an "Army Chinooks" jersey, haha! :-)

Response by SGT Steve Vincent made Nov 20 at 2014 6:41 PM

2014-11-20T18:41:33-05:00

The Army should just change its' name to the Politicians. its' new motto could be "This is our motto.... until polls show that more people support having a new motto, in which case we will change it, until a new poll comes out and shows the first poll was right, until someone spins the new poll to show that the old poll was indeed wrong, at which case we will.. screw it, we'll just go with 'This motto for sale to highest bidder'".

Whatever happened to 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'? We are the U.S. Army; sure we have two hundred and some-odd MOS's, but all those MOS's combined work in concert towards one goal, which is to completely and utterly destroy anything and anyone who would do harm to our Nation and our Citizens. I miss the old Army commercials from when I was a kid, with Rangers and green Berets dudes, creeping through swamps and shit, all covered in cammo paint, looking like total bad asses. And the old Marines commercials with the guy stabbing the dragon and then the lightning hitting his sword and turning him into a marine in his dress uniform. Now you've got commercials of guys rolling in and dropping off aid packages and stuff in some third world shithole that can't take care of itself. Whatever happened to this country's balls? Our sense of masculinity? Oh damn, sorry, I just said a bad word... Quick, someone help me; what is a gender-neutral term for having a big set of brass balls? Anyone? No? in case nobody sees through it, that was pretty much sarcasm... pretty much...

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 20 at 2014 6:45 PM

2014-11-20T18:45:57-05:00

How about the Generals, the mascot could be Patton'ish looking.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2014 7:39 PM

2014-11-20T19:39:27-05:00

Is this Duffle Blog?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2014 7:51 PM

2014-11-20T19:51:06-05:00

Forget the representing the entire Army. Why mess with tradition? We going to change Navy and Air Force too? Do we really have nothing better to do than change names instead of improving other things?

Response by SFC Jason Porter made Nov 20 at 2014 8:44 PM

2014-11-20T20:44:00-05:00

Why? Is this part of the Army's transition into a Socail Program?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 20 at 2014 9:20 PM

2014-11-20T21:20:42-05:00

Typical military thinking. When something doesn't work or gets bad press....change the name; but keep everything the same.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 7:11 AM

2014-11-21T07:11:32-05:00

Usually this is nothing more than a marketing scheme to boost sales of new merchandise. It's why sports teams are constantly retooling jerseys, and, in extreme cases, colors and names. By changing to the cadets or whatever, they are forcing the faithful to spend money on new stuff.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 21 at 2014 7:13 AM

2014-11-21T07:13:20-05:00

Who have we offended now and how much money will this cost? Professional teams change their uniforms almost yearly to keep merchandising dollars up.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 7:58 PM

2014-11-22T19:58:18-05:00

Seems the Kool Aid is now from the Potamac to the Hudson! the color of shoes, facial hair and nicknames are more the focus than the ongoing missions we are not supposed to be in and the forced restructuring that will make the Army unable to sustain itself...it's a crazy time to be in the Army!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 8:52 PM

2014-11-22T20:52:37-05:00

There are few things that are of less interest to me than the name of the West Point football team. I can think of none at this time.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 22 at 2014 8:56 PM

2014-11-22T20:56:55-05:00

I don't care what we call them, as long as they HALO jump into the stadium before the game!

Response by SPC Tom Maddox made Nov 22 at 2014 11:26 PM

2014-11-22T23:26:41-05:00

FUBAR If it's not broke don't fix it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 9:12 AM

2014-11-23T09:12:07-05:00

Other than their boxing team, does West Pt have any competitive athletics? I'm really asking, not trying to be a jerk.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 29 at 2014 1:26 AM

2014-12-29T01:26:19-05:00

Say it isn't so....

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 29 at 2014 1:34 AM

2014-12-29T01:34:49-05:00

Why not the USMA Mules (tongue in cheek)?! The tradition goes back to 1899, USMA stables two Army Mules assigned to the Mule Corps, and has official Army Mule Riders to train and ride them! However, to be fair, the mules are officially the mascots of the U.S. Army and the official USMA mascot is still the Black Night.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 2:39 PM

2014-12-29T14:39:02-05:00

One can only expect this coming from the administration that has elected to employ the services of al Sharpton. Are we going to change the names of Blackhawks, Apaches, Chinooks and so on? Why is it that there is a sediment that it is ok to have black entertainment television BET, or Miss Black USA or even the Black Panthers but not Black Knights? Its funny how this administration is a pick and choose. I know all of them are but to be so blatant racially racist is a shame.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 12 at 2015 8:34 PM

2015-07-12T20:34:16-04:00

They shall henceforth be known as the White Knights.

Response by SFC Jeff Gurchinoff made Jul 12 at 2015 9:12 PM

2015-07-12T21:12:51-04:00

Lets hope the rebranding is not reflective of the American society, they would have to call themselves "Bunch of Pussies"

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2015 9:35 PM

2015-07-12T21:35:24-04:00

Could one you esteemed West Point alum get me a Black Knights rugby jersey before the change? I will be happy to pay for it.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Apr 15 at 2021 3:59 PM

2021-04-15T15:59:11-04:00

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Don't be a suck ass.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2021 6:13 PM

2021-04-15T18:13:36-04:00

Might I suggest "The Ring Knockers"?