Army Black Knights
Encyclopedia
Army Black Knights is the name of the athletics
teams of the United States Military Academy. They participate in NCAA
Division I-A as a non-football member of the Patriot League
, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school, and a member of Atlantic Hockey
, the Collegiate Sprint Football League (men), the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
(men), the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
, and the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association
. Army is also one of approximately 300 members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The three major service academies
(Army
, Air Force
, and Navy
) compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
, which is awarded to the academy that defeats the others in football
that year (or retained by the previous winner in the event of a three-way tie).
because of the animal's historical importance in Army operations. The academy's football team was nicknamed "The Black Knights of the Hudson" due to the black color of its uniforms. This nickname
has since been officially shortened to "Black Knights". The Army Black Knights also inspired a book The Black Knight's God: Horror Anthology.
U.S. sports media use "Army" as a synonym for the academy. "On Brave Old Army Team" is the school's fight song
. Army's chief sports rival is the Naval Academy, due to its long-standing football rivalry and the inter-service rivalry with the Navy
in general. Fourth class cadets verbally greet upper-class cadets and faculty with "Beat Navy", while the tunnel that runs under Washington Road is named the "Beat Navy" tunnel. In the first half of the 20th century, Army and Notre Dame
were football rivals, but that rivalry has since died out.
(RMC) Paladins
in the annual West Point Weekend hockey game. This series, conceived in 1923, is the longest-running annual international sporting event in the world.
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
teams of the United States Military Academy. They participate in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I-A as a non-football member of the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school, and a member of Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
, the Collegiate Sprint Football League (men), the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
The Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League is an NCAA Division I college athletic conference which sponsors men’s gymnastics. It is an affiliate of the Eastern College Athletic Conference .-Members:*Army Black Knights*Navy Midshipmen...
(men), the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association is an NCAA Division I collegiate wrestling conference. It has been active since 1905 and has had a variety of schools as members throughout its tenure.-Current members:*American University...
, and the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association
National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association
The National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association is a women's collegiate fencing organization in the United States. The organization was founded as the IWFA in 1929 by two New York University students, Julia Jones and Dorothy Hafner and Betsy Ross, a student at Cornell University who based...
. Army is also one of approximately 300 members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The three major service academies
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
(Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
, Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
, and Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
) compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
Commander in Chief's Trophy
The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is awarded to each season's winner of the triangular college football series among the United States Military Academy , the United States Naval Academy , and United States Air Force Academy...
, which is awarded to the academy that defeats the others in football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
that year (or retained by the previous winner in the event of a three-way tie).
History
Since 1899, Army's mascot has officially been a muleMule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
because of the animal's historical importance in Army operations. The academy's football team was nicknamed "The Black Knights of the Hudson" due to the black color of its uniforms. This nickname
Athletic nickname
The athletic nickname, or equivalently athletic moniker, of a university or college within the United States is the name officially adopted by that institution for at least the members of its athletic teams...
has since been officially shortened to "Black Knights". The Army Black Knights also inspired a book The Black Knight's God: Horror Anthology.
U.S. sports media use "Army" as a synonym for the academy. "On Brave Old Army Team" is the school's fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
. Army's chief sports rival is the Naval Academy, due to its long-standing football rivalry and the inter-service rivalry with the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in general. Fourth class cadets verbally greet upper-class cadets and faculty with "Beat Navy", while the tunnel that runs under Washington Road is named the "Beat Navy" tunnel. In the first half of the 20th century, Army and Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
were football rivals, but that rivalry has since died out.
Men's sports
Men's ice hockey
Women's basketball
Longest-running annual international sporting event
Every year, Army faces the Royal Military College of CanadaRoyal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
(RMC) Paladins
RMC Paladins
The RMC Paladins are the athletic teams that represent Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are red and white...
in the annual West Point Weekend hockey game. This series, conceived in 1923, is the longest-running annual international sporting event in the world.
Awards
- Lt. Raymond Enners AwardLt. Raymond Enners AwardThe Lt. Raymond Enners Award is an award given annually to the NCAA's most outstanding player in men's college lacrosse. The award is presented by the USILA and is named after Raymond Enners, who attended the United States Military Academy, class of 1967, and served in the U.S. Army during the...
(national men's lacrosse award; named for a member of the Class of 1967) - Maggie Dixon AwardMaggie Dixon AwardThe Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually since 2007 to the women's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition who achieves great success in her first year as a Division I head coach...
(national women's basketball rookie coach award; named for Army women's basketball coach) - NCAA Award of ValorNCAA Award of ValorThe NCAA Award of Valor is presented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to recognize "courageous action or noteworthy bravery" by persons involved with intercollegiate athletics....
:- 2007 - Derek Hines (Class of 2003), who demonstrated valor in Afghanistan before being killed there.
- 2008 - Emily Perez (Class of 2005), who died after an improvised explosive device exploded near her vehicle in Iraq and whose U.S. Army unit recognized her for her leadership after her death.
- NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award:
- 1967 - Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
(football) - 1973 - Omar BradleyOmar BradleyOmar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
(baseball)
- 1967 - Dwight D. Eisenhower
Facilities
- See United States Military Academy grounds and facilities#Athletic facilities
See also
- Military World GamesMilitary World GamesThe Military World Games is a multi-sport event for military sportspeople, organized by the International Military Sports Council . The Games have been held since 1995, although championships for separate sports had been held for some years. A winter edition of the games has been recently created...
- List of college athletic programs in New York, USA#Division I