By Ken Kraetzer, Bleacher Report
On our West Point Football Report radio show on New Rochelle, NY-based WVOX we had the chance to discuss the Army football program with the Director of Athletics at the U.S. Military Academy Boo Corrigan, who came aboard early this year.
There has been much speculation in the media over the last week about the potential of Navy and Air Force being invited to join the Big East conference, but not Army. John Chuhran and I were pleased to speak exclusively with the Army Athletic Director on Tuesday night.
Q. Army has had great home games this year against San Diego State, Northwestern, the big win over Tulane and we understand you have a sellout for Fordham in 10 days?
A. We are very excited about the crowds we have had this year, about the football team led by Coach Ellerson, and we are also excited to be going to Vanderbilt this weekend. But then the week after that to be playing (Fordham) at home, there are a limited number of tickets still available. Very, very limited. But we were able to find a couple hundred more tickets the other day when we were checking through everything, to make sure we have a big house and a sellout, when we play Fordham.
Q. You have had a number of distinguished alumni visit West Point and speak to the athletic teams, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Martin E. Dempsey ’74 and Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odierno ’76 to the Academy. What is it like when these senior military leaders visit the Academy and speak to the cadets?
A. First of all it is a thrill, is what it is, beyond everything else. I got a chill when you were just talking about that. The chance to see and spend time with General Dempsey or General Odierno, and to see the affection they have for the cadets at West Point. Their understanding of West Point and the 47-month journey, as well as where our cadets are going for the next five years. It is really humbling to see that interaction, and see the affection they have for our cadets.
Q. You have a tremendous background in college sports, you have worked at some of most outstanding places in college athletics Notre Dame, Navy and Duke before coming to Army earlier this year. What do you see driving the fury of college conference realignment we hear so much about?
A. A lot of it has to do with being a part of one of the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) conferences, the automatic qualifier into the bowl game. Whether it is the television dollars that are associated with these conferences, the dollars have grown so significantly from teams in conferences receiving 8-10 million dollars, to the new Pac-10 deal with 20 to 25 million dollars per school. In a time of declining resources, which I am sure everyone is familiar with, right now if you can find an additional five, 10, 15 million dollars by joining a conference, you kind of owe it to yourself to at least look at it, and if it is a fit for you to move forward with it.
Q. What are your thoughts about the service academies, how they fit into conferences, and what you would like to see Army do going forward?
A. Let me start by talking about West Point, because that is my lane, if you will. We are very happy where we are right now as an independent. We are happy with the ability to schedule teams all around the country. We are happy with the flexibility that gives us.
Our goal at the end of the day is to develop leaders of character for the United States Army.
Where we are right now gives us the best opportunity; gives us the opportunity for our football team to go out there and play on a weekly basis with a chance to compete; to win the game and then move on to a bowl.
The entire interview as well as many of other Army football interviews and shows can be heard on http://www.legionpost50ny.com/Radio_SAL_111018_WP_Boo_Corrigan_AD_USMA.html