1949 Army Cadets football team

1949 Army Cadets football
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Conference	Independent
Ranking
AP	No. 4
1949 record	9–0
Head coach	Earl Blaik (9th year)
Offensive scheme	T formation
Home stadium	Michie Stadium

The 1949 Army Cadets football team represented the United States Military Academy in the 1949 college football season. The Cadets scored 354 points, while the defense allowed only 68 points. Arnold Galiffa was the starting quarterback, ahead of Earl Blaik's son, Bob.^[1] Johnny Trent was the team captain. The Cadets won the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best college team in the East.^[2] At season’s end, Red Blaik confessed that he thoughts of retiring.

Offseason

Sid Gillman left Army to become the head coach for the University of Cincinnati. Head coach Red Blaik interviewed Vince Lombardi, but harboured doubts that Lombardi’s background as a high school coach would prepare him for the job.^[3]

Coaching staff

Besides Lombardi, Murray Warmath of Tennessee was the other new face on the coaching staff. Lombardi would focus on offense, while Warmath worked on the defense. They were the only civilian coaches on the staff.^[4] In November 1934, Lombardi (with Dartmouth) faced off against Warmath (playing for Tennessee) with Dartmouth winning the game 13-12.^[5] The other members of the staff included Doug Kenna, Paul Amen, and John Sauer.

Regular season

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	Result
September 24	Davidson		Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	W 47–7
October 1	Penn State		Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	W 47–7
October 8	at No. 1 Michigan	No. 7	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	W 21–7
October 15	at Harvard	No. 2	Harvard Stadium • Boston, MA	W 54–14
October 22	Columbia	No. 2	Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	W 63–6
October 29	VMI	No. 2	Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	W 40–14
November 5	Fordham	No. 2	Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	W 35–0
November 12	at Penn	No. 2	Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA	W 14–13
November 26	vs. Navy	No. 4	Municipal Stadium • Philadelphia, PA (Army–Navy Game)	W 38–0
^#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

Accusations of dirty play

There were accusations that Army played dirty. Against the University of Michigan, Wolverine’s halfback Chuck Ortmann was knocked unconscious. The accusation was that Army player Gil Stephenson kicked him.^[6] The matter was escalated when Michigan professor of Geology, WH Hobbs was interviewed by the Michigan Daily and commented on the play. The press continued to establish Army’s notoriety as bullies after convincing wins over Harvard 54-14, and Columbia 63-6. Army hosted Vince Lombardi’s former team, the Fordham Rams at Michie Stadium.^[7] One of the members of the Rams was Vince’s brother, Joe Lombardi, who transferred to the school after Lombardi left. Tim Cohane, writer of Look Magazine was a Fordham alumnus, and a friend of Army coach Red Blaik. He pressured both teams to play each other. Cohane felt the game would help Fordham rise to national prominence.^[8] Herb Seidell, the Fordham captain, lost a tooth in the game. Several fights ensued and the media named the match, the Donnybrook on the Hudson. There were multiple penalties for unnecessary roughness.

References

↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.105, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.109, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, pp.97-98, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.99, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.100, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.107, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.108, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
↑ When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.108, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3

Army Black Knights football

Venues	The Plain (1890–1923) Michie Stadium (1924–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Air Force (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy) Navy: Army–Navy Game (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy; Thompson Cup) Notre Dame

Culture & lore	Army Mule Black Death Award "On, Brave Old Army Team" "The Army Goes Rolling Along" 1946 "Game of the Century"

People	Head coaches Statistical leaders

Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

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