ARMY HIRES ROSS
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James Joyner | Tuesday, December 9, 2003 |
Wow: ESPN reports,
Army is counting on Bobby Ross and his record of success to turn around college football’s worst team.Ross was hired to lead Army on Tuesday, returning to football after resigning as the Detroit Lions’ coach three years ago. His football experience is vast: Ross coached the San Diego Chargers to the Super Bowl in 1995 and won a national title at Georgia Tech in 1990.
Army, meanwhile, is in disarray. It became the first team in NCAA history to finish 0-13 after losing to Navy 34-6 on Saturday. The academy fired coach Todd Berry in October with the team 5-35 in his four seasons. John Mumford acted as interim coach, going 0-7 after replacing Berry.
Ross said his past service in the Army and his sons’ military background — one graduated from the Naval Academy, another from the Air Force Academy — made him a good fit for the job.
“I believe I understand the mission of West Point. I do. I believe in it strongly,” Ross said at a news conference.
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Ross, a Virginia Military Institute graduate, spent 15 years as a college coach, including stints with The Citadel (1973-77), Maryland (1982-86) and Georgia Tech (1987-91). His national champion Georgia Tech team went 11-0-1, sharing the title with Colorado. His college record was 94-76-2.
I’m amazed West Point was able to attract a coach of Ross’ caliber, given all the obstacles that exist for recruiting players. But this sounds like an excellent fit and gives Army a chance to get back to respectability in a hurry.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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I think the current Supe(rintendent) is determined to restore Army football ... can't tell if it's due to his own desires or pressure from alumni, which certainly exists in some quarters.
Anyway, it will be great to see Ross' effects on the Black Knights.
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