Misplaced Pages

Army Black Knights
University	United States Military Academy
Conference	Patriot League (primary) The American (football) ECAC (men's gymnastics) AHA (men's ice hockey) GARC (rifle) NIRA (women's rugby) Rugby East (men's rugby) CSFL (sprint football) EIWA (wrestling) NCA (cheerleading)
NCAA	Division I (FBS)
Athletic director	Mike Buddie
Location	West Point, New York, U.S.
Football stadium	Michie Stadium
Basketball arena	Christl Arena
Baseball stadium	Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field
Other venues	Gillis Field House Tate Rink
Mascot	Mule
Nickname	Black Knights
Fight song	On, Brave Old Army Team
Colors	Black, gold, and gray
Website	goarmywestpoint.com

The Army Black Knights are the athletic teams that represent the United States Military Academy, located in West Point, New York.

The Black Knights compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a non-football member of the Patriot League, a football-only member of the American Athletic Conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), and a member of Atlantic Hockey America, the Collegiate Sprint Football League (men), the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League (men), the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association, the Great America Rifle Conference, the National Collegiate Boxing Association, the National Collegiate Paintball Association, and the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association. Army is also one of approximately 300 members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

Three of the 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 is retained by the prior year's winner in the event of a three-way tie.

History

Since 1899, Army's mascot has officially been a mule because of the animal's historical importance in military operations. For many years, Army's teams were known as the "Cadets". The academy's football team was nicknamed "The Black Knights of the Hudson" due to the black color of its uniforms. In 1999, Army adopted "Black Knights" as its official nickname in all sports. They may also use "Cadets" in certain circumstances.

U.S. sports media use Army as a synonym for the academy. In 2015, the academy adopted this usage formally, referring to its sports programs as Army West Point.

"On Brave Old Army Team", by Philip Egner, 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 largely died out and has only been intermittently played in recent decades.

Athletic programs

Football

As of the upcoming 2024 season, Army will be a football-only member of the American Athletic Conference (The American). For almost all of Army's previous football history, with the exception of a relatively short stint as a football-only member of Conference USA, it had been an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school (not in a conference), and before joining The American was one of only four remaining FBS independents. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946. The annual Army-Navy Game between the Black Knights of Army and the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy at Annapolis (Navy) is among the most storied rivalries in all of college sports and currently marks the end of regular season play for college football each year. Although the two academies' football programs will be united in The American, their rivalry game will continue as a non-conference game on its traditional date.

Men's golf

The men's golf team has won 21 conference championships:

• Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (9): 1982–88, 1989 (spring), 1989 (fall)
• Patriot League (11): 1991–93, 1994 (spring), 1994 (fall), 1995, 2002, 2004–05, 2011, 2016, 2019

Men's ice hockey

Every year, Army faces the Royal Military College of Canada (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.

Men's rugby

Army rugby plays college rugby in the Division 1–A Eastern Conference. The Black Knights play their home games at the Anderson Rugby Complex on the campus of West Point. Rugby is a relatively popular sport at Army; for example, the 2012 game against Air Force was attended by 2,000 fans. Army is led by Director of Rugby Matt Sherman.

Army has one of the most successful college rugby teams in the country. Army played in three consecutive national championship games from 1990 to 1992 and reached the national semi-finals four consecutive years from 2000 to 2003, twice in a row in 2009 and 2010. More recently, Army reached the quarterfinals in 2013. Army also plays in the Collegiate Rugby Championship for rugby sevens, the highest profile college rugby tournament in the U.S., reaching the finals in 2011. The Collegiate Rugby Championship had been played every year in early June near Philadelphia and was broadcast live on NBC. It has been played in New Orleans since 2021.

Men's soccer

Army won the Division 1-A rugby national championship in XVs in 2022, defeating St. Mary's of California, 20-8. The team defeated three perennial powerhouses in a row by earlier defeating both Life University and Lindenwood University in the tournament.

Wrestling

The Army Black Knights Wrestling team host home dual meets, tournaments, workout, and practice in the state of the art facility Arvin Gymnasium on campus. The team currently competes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) since Army is a member of the non-wrestling Patriot League.

In 2014, Kevin Ward, a former Oklahoma State All-American, was named the new head coach of Army wrestling. In 2010, Ward started the Ouachita Baptist University wrestling program, the first NCAA wrestling program in Arkansas.

Non-varsity sports

Boxing

In intercollegiate competition, both the men's and women's boxing teams compete in the National Collegiate Boxing Association, though the women's team was part of the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association from 2013 until 2015. The men's team won the national NCBA tournament from 2008 to 2011, from 2013 to 2014, and from 2016 to 2019; the women's team won the first-ever USIBA women's championship in 2013 (also the very first national collegiate women's boxing tournament in the U.S.), won again in 2014, and won the NCBA championship in 2017 and 2018.

Handball

The Army handball team is the most successful college handball team. They have at least 37 men and 23 women National Championship titles.

Awards

• Lt. Raymond Enners Award (national men's lacrosse award; named for a member of the Class of 1967)
• Maggie Dixon Award (national women's basketball rookie coach award; named for Army women's basketball coach)
• NCAA Award of Valor:
  • 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. Eisenhower (football)
  • 1973 — Omar Bradley (baseball)

Hall of Fame

For a list of members by name, sport, class year, or induction year, see footnote The Army Sports Hall of Fame consists of displays in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, which is located within the Kimsey Athletic Center. The first set of members was inducted in 2004.

See also

• Military World Games
• List of college athletic programs in New York#Division I
• United States Military Academy grounds and facilities#Athletic facilities
• List of sportspeople educated at the United States Military Academy

Footnotes

1. Army Brand Guidelines (PDF). April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
2. "National Collegiate Paintball Association —". ncpapaintball.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
3. "Army Mules". GoArmyWestPoint.com. March 6, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
4. Edson, James (1954). The Black Knights of West Point. New York: Bradbury & Sayles.
5. "Army plans games for home gridiron". The New York Times. January 15, 1947. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
6. "Army West Point Quick Facts". GoArmyWestPoint.com. March 6, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
7. ^ "'Army West Point': New logo highlights sports rebrand". Army Times. April 14, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
8. "Alma Mater & Fight Songs". GoArmyWestPoint.com. March 6, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
9. Crowley and Guinzburg, pp. 243–245.
10. Lapointe, Joe (September 8, 2005). "Notre Dame and Army to Wake Up the Echoes". New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
11. "MAAC Men's and Women's Golf Championships History". Retrieved June 13, 2013.
12. "Golf". GoArmySports.com. Army Sports Properties. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
13. "About the Army-RMC Rivalry". GoArmyWestPoint.com. January 19, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
14. Crowly, R, and Guinzburg, T: "West Point: Two Centuries of Honor and Tradition" (ISBN 0-446-53018-2), page 234. Warner Books, 2002.
15. College Premier Division
16. Rugby Mag, Army Beats Air Force, November 2, 2012, http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/6290-army-beats-air-force.html Archived January 26, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
17. College rugby
18. ^ For the 2004 induction year, go to "Hall of Fame". GoArmyWestPoint.com. Army West Point. Retrieved April 6, 2017., select "By Induction Year", press the black "Sort" icon (which will then produce a list of members by induction year (starting with the most recent year), and then scroll down to the bottom (for the first group of inductees, the Class of 2004).
19. "Army Sports Hall of Fame". GoARMYsports.com. Army Sports Properties. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.

External links

• Official website

v t e United States Military Academy
Academics	Combating Terrorism Center DPE
Athletics	Teams Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Football Handball Men's ice Hockey Men's lacrosse Rugby Men's soccer Softball Venues Arvin Gymnasium Christl Arena Doubleday Field Gillis Field House Michie Stadium Tate Rink Rivalries Navy (football) Navy (lacrosse) Navy (soccer) Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
Campus	Chapels Catholic Jewish Old Cadet Protestant Other buildings Flirtie Walk Grounds Cemetery Hayes Gym Lusk Reservoir Monuments Plain Thayer Hotel Trophy Point West Point Light
History	Academy History Constitution Island Fort Clinton Fort Putnam Great Chain Kosciuszko's Garden Redoubt Four
People	Alumni Top-ranking graduates "Class the stars fell on" Notable non-grads Master of the Sword Superintendent current Sylvanus Thayer
Traditions	Class ring Honor Code IOCT Mules On, Brave Old Army Team Sandhurst Competition Thayer Award The Corps
Lore	Eggnog riot
Category

Links to related articles

v t e Patriot League Full members (all sports) Bucknell Bison Colgate Raiders Holy Cross Crusaders Lafayette Leopards Lehigh Mountain Hawks Full members (except football) American Eagles Army Black Knights Boston University Terriers Loyola Greyhounds Navy Midshipmen Football associates Fordham Rams Georgetown Hoyas Richmond Spiders (joining in 2025) Women's rowing associates Georgetown Hoyas MIT Engineers v t e American Athletic Conference Full members Charlotte 49ers East Carolina Pirates FAU Owls Memphis Tigers North Texas Mean Green Rice Owls South Florida Bulls Temple Owls Tulane Green Wave Tulsa Gold Hurricanes UAB Blazers UTSA Roadrunners Wichita State Shockers (non-football member) Football associates Army Black Knights Navy Midshipmen Women's lacrosse associates James Madison Dukes Old Dominion Monarchs Vanderbilt Commodores Men's soccer associates FIU Panthers Missouri State Bears (joining in 2025) Women's swimming & diving associates FIU Panthers James Madison Dukes Liberty Lady Flames Marshall Thundering Herd (all joining in 2025) Championships and awards Conference champions Media American Digital Network See also 2010–2013 Big East Conference realignment 2021–2026 NCAA conference realignment v t e Atlantic Hockey America Teams Air Force Falcons men American International Yellow Jackets men; leaving in 2025 Army Black Knights men Bentley Falcons men Canisius Golden Griffins men Holy Cross Crusaders men Lindenwood Lions women Mercyhurst Lakers men women Niagara Purple Eagles men Penn State Nittany Lions women RIT Tigers men women Robert Morris Colonials men women Sacred Heart Pioneers men Syracuse Orange women Future teams Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women, joining in 2025 Venues Cadet Ice Arena (Air Force) MassMutual Center (American International; leaving in 2025) Tate Rink (Army) Bentley Arena (Bentley) LECOM Harborcenter (Canisius) Hart Center (Holy Cross) Centene Community Ice Center (Lindenwood) Mercyhurst Ice Center (Mercyhurst) Dwyer Arena (Niagara) Pegula Ice Arena (Penn State) Gene Polisseni Center (RIT) Clearview Arena (Robert Morris) Martire Family Arena (Sacred Heart) Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion (Syracuse) Future venues Fred Rust Ice Arena (Delaware) Men's seasons 2024–25 Women's seasons 2024–25 Predecessors Atlantic Hockey Association College Hockey America NCAA List of champions v t e Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association American Eagles Army Black Knights Binghamton Bearcats Brown Bears (leaving in 2024) Bucknell Bison Columbia Lions (leaving in 2024) Cornell Big Red (leaving in 2024) Drexel Dragons Franklin & Marshall Diplomats Harvard Crimson (leaving in 2024) Hofstra Pride Lehigh Mountain Hawks LIU Sharks Navy Midshipmen Penn Quakers (leaving in 2024) Princeton Tigers (leaving in 2024) Sacred Heart Pioneers v t e National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division 1 Army Black Knights Brown Bears Dartmouth Big Green Harvard Crimson Long Island Sharks Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Navy Midshipmen Princeton Tigers Quinnipiac Bobcats Sacred Heart Pioneers Division 2 American International Yellow Jackets Molloy Lions New Haven Chargers Notre Dame College Falcons Post Eagles Queens Royals West Chester Golden Rams Division 3 Bowdoin Polar Bears Colby–Sawyer Chargers Guilford Quakers Manhattanville Valiants New England College Pilgrims Norwich Cadets University of New England Nor'easters Vermont State Castleton Spartans Future teams Adrian Bulldogs v t e Great America Rifle Conference Akron Zips Army Black Knights Kentucky Wildcats Memphis Tigers Navy Midshipmen West Virginia Mountaineers v t e Sport teams based in the New York metropolitan area Australian rules football USAFL New York Magpies Baseball MLB New York Mets New York Yankees EL Somerset Patriots SAL Brooklyn Cyclones Hudson Valley Renegades ALPB Long Island Ducks Staten Island FerryHawks FL New Jersey Jackals New York Boulders Sussex County Miners Basketball NBA Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks WNBA New York Liberty G League Long Island Nets Westchester Knicks ABA Jersey Express Entertainment Teams Harlem Wizards Esports CDL New York Subliners OWL New York Excelsior Football NFL New York Giants New York Jets WFA New York Sharks Hockey NHL New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers AHL Bridgeport Islanders PWHL New York Sirens FPHL Danbury Hat Tricks Rugby league USARL White Plains Wombats NARL New York R.L.F.C. Rugby union MLR Rugby New York USAR New York Athletic Club RFC Old Blue Soccer MLS New York City FC New York Red Bulls NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC USLS Brooklyn FC USLC Brooklyn FC MLSNP New York City FC II New York Red Bulls II USL1 Westchester SC USL2 Cedar Stars Rush F.A. Euro Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Westchester Flames NPSL FC Monmouth FC Motown New York Athletic Club S.C. USLW Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Westchester Flames Roller derby WFTDA Gotham Roller Derby Jersey Shore Roller Girls Long Island Roller Rebels Suburbia Roller Derby MRDA New York Shock Exchange Team tennis WTT New York Empire College athletics NCAA Division I Army Columbia Fairfield Fairleigh Dickinson Fordham Hofstra Iona LIU Manhattan NJIT Princeton Quinnipiac Rider Rutgers Sacred Heart St. John's Saint Peter's Seton Hall Stony Brook Wagner Yale NCAA Division II Adelphi Bridgeport East Stroudsburg New Haven NYIT Southern Connecticut NCAA Division III Merchant Marine NYU TCNJ Ultimate AUDL New York Empire Gaelic games New York GAA: Gaelic football Hurling Main article: Sports in the New York metropolitan area v t e Sports teams based in New York State Baseball MLB New York Mets New York Yankees IL Buffalo Bisons Rochester Red Wings Syracuse Mets EL Binghamton Rumble Ponies SAL Brooklyn Cyclones Hudson Valley Renegades ALPB Long Island Ducks Staten Island FerryHawks EPBL Plattsburgh Redbirds FL New York Boulders Tri-City ValleyCats ACBL Hampton Whalers NYCBL Cortland Crush Genesee Rapids Hornell Dodgers Olean Oilers Rochester Ridgemen Rome Generals Sherrill Silversmiths Syracuse Salt Cats Syracuse Spartans Wellsville Nitros PGCBL Elmira Pioneers Jamestown Jammers Newark Pilots Watertown Rapids Basketball NBA Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks WNBA New York Liberty G League Long Island Nets Westchester Knicks TBL Albany Patroons Jamestown Jackals ABA Buffalo eXtreme Entertainment Teams Harlem Wizards Esports CDL Cloud9 New York OWL New York Excelsior Football NFL Buffalo Bills AFL Albany Firebirds WFA New York Sharks EFL Watertown Red & Black GDFL Albany Metro Mallers Hockey NHL Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders New York Rangers AHL Rochester Americans Syracuse Crunch Utica Comets ECHL Adirondack Thunder PWHL New York Sirens FPHL Binghamton Black Bears Elmira River Sharks Watertown Wolves NAHL Jamestown Rebels OJHL Buffalo Jr. Sabres EHL New York Apple Core EHLP Adirondack Junior Thunder Entertainment Teams Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team Soccer MLS New York City FC USLS Brooklyn FC USLC Brooklyn FC MLSNP New York City FC II USL1 Westchester SC NISA New York Cosmos (hiatus) USL2 Blackwatch Rush F.A. Euro Hudson Valley Hammers Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Pathfinder FC Westchester Flames NPSL FC Buffalo Cedar Stars FC Flower City Union Kingston Stockade FC New York Shockers WPSL Brooklyn City FC Clarkstown SC Downtown United SC Fox Soccer Academy New York Athletic Club New York Dutch Lions FC New York Shockers SUSA FC United Women's Soccer Albany Rush FC Berlin FC Buffalo Rochester Lady Lancers Syracuse Pulse USL W League Long Island Rough Riders MASL Utica City FC Lacrosse NLL Albany FireWolves Buffalo Bandits Rochester Knighthawks PLL New York Atlas UWLX Long Island Sound WPLL New York Fight Upstate Pride Roller derby WFTDA Assault City Roller Derby Central New York Roller Derby Gotham Roller Derby Hellions of Troy Hudson Valley Horrors Roller Derby Ithaca League of Women Rollers Long Island Roller Rebels Queen City Roller Derby Roc City Roller Derby Suburbia Roller Derby MRDA New York Shock Exchange Rugby league USARL White Plains Wombats NARL New York R.L.F.C. Rugby union USAR New York Athletic Club RFC Old Blue Team tennis WTT New York Empire College athletics (NCAA Division I) Adelphi Panthers (women's bowling) Albany Great Danes Army Black Knights Binghamton Bearcats Buffalo Bulls Brockport Golden Eagles (women's gymnastics) Clarkson Golden Knights (men's and women's ice hockey) Canisius Golden Griffins CCNY Beavers (women's fencing) Colgate Raiders Columbia Lions Cortland Red Dragons (women's gymnastics) Cornell Big Red Daemen Wildcats (women's bowling and men's volleyball) Dominican Chargers (men's volleyball) D'Youville Saints (men's volleyball) Fordham Rams Hilbert Hawks (women's bowling) Hobart Statesmen (men's lacrosse) Hofstra Pride Hunter Hawks (men's and women's fencing) Ithaca Bombers (women's gymnastics) Iona Gaels Le Moyne Dolphins LIU Sharks Manhattan Jaspers Marist Red Foxes Molloy Lions (women's bowling) NYU Violets (men's and women's fencing) Niagara Purple Eagles Queens Knights (women's fencing) RPI Engineers (men's and women's ice hockey) Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks (women's bowling and men's volleyball) Rochester Yellowjackets (men's squash) RIT Tigers (men's and women's ice hockey) St. Bonaventure Bonnies St. John's Red Storm St. Lawrence Saints (men's and women's ice hockey) St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (men's volleyball) Siena Saints Stony Brook Seawolves Syracuse Orange Union Garnet Chargers (men's and women's ice hockey) Vassar Brewers (men's and women's fencing) Wagner Seahawks Yeshiva Maccabees (men's and women's fencing) College athletics (NCAA Division II) Adelphi Panthers Daemen Wildcats Dominican Chargers Dowling Golden Lions D'Youville Saints Mercy Mavericks Molloy Lions NYIT Bears (Suspended) Pace Setters Queens Knights Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks Saint Rose Golden Knights St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans Staten Island Dolphins College athletics (NCAA Division III) Alfred Saxons Alfred State Pioneers Bard Raptors Baruch Bearcats Brockport Golden Eagles Brooklyn Bulldogs Buffalo State Bengals Canton Roos Cazenovia Wildcats CCNY Beavers Clarkson Golden Knights Cobleskill Fighting Tigers Cortland Red Dragons Delhi Broncos Elmira Soaring Eagles Farmingdale Rams Fredonia Blue Devils Geneseo Knights Hamilton Continentals Hartwick Hawks Hilbert Hawks Hobart Statesmen Houghton Highlanders Hunter Hawks Ithaca Bombers John Jay Bloodhounds Keuka Wolves Lehman Lightning Bugs Manhattanville Valiants Medgar Evers Cougars Merchant Marine Mariners Maritime Privateers Mount Saint Mary Blue Knights Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins Morrisville Mustangs Nazareth Golden Flyers New Paltz Hawks City Tech Yellow Jackets NYU Violets Old Westbury Panthers Oneonta Red Dragons Oswego Lakers Plattsburgh Cardinals Potsdam Bears Pratt Cannoners Purchase Panthers RPI Engineers Rochester Yellowjackets RIT Tigers Russell Sage Gators Skidmore Thoroughbreds St. John Fisher Cardinals St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) Bears St. Joseph's (Long Island) Golden Eagles St. Lawrence Saints Sarah Lawrence Gryphons SUNY Poly Wildcats Union Garnet Chargers Utica Pioneers Vassar Brewers Wells Express William Smith Herons Yeshiva Maccabees York Cardinals College athletics (USCAA) Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Panthers Berkeley Knights Bryant & Stratton College, Albany Bobcats Bryant & Stratton College, Buffalo Bobcats Bryant & Stratton College, Greece Bobcats Bryant & Stratton College, Syracuse Bobcats Culinary Institute of America Steels Five Towns Sounds The King's Lions Paul Smith's Bobcats SUNY ESF Mighty Oaks Vaughn Warriors Villa Maria Knights Word of Life Bible Institute Huskies College athletics (NJCAA Division I) Globe Institute of Technology Knights Monroe Mustangs ASA Avengers College athletics (NJCAA Division II) SUNY Erie Kats Genesee Cougars Jamestown (Jamestown) Jayhawks Jamestown (Olean) Cattaraugus Jaguars Monroe Tribunes Niagara County Thunderwolves SUNY Orange Colts SUNY Sullivan Generals Hudson Valley Vikings College athletics (NJCAA Division III) SUNY Adirondack Wolves Borough of Manhattan Panthers Bronx Broncos SUNY Broome Hornets Cayuga Spartans Clinton Cougars Columbia-Greene Twins Corning Red Barons Dutchess Falcons Finger Lakes Lakers FIT Tigers Fulton–Montgomery Raiders Genesee Cougars Herkimer County Generals Hostos Caimans Jefferson Cannoners Mohawk Valley Hawks Nassau Lions North Country Saints Onondaga Lazers Queensborough Tigers Rockland Fighting Hawks Schenectady County Royals Suffolk County Sharks SUNY Sullivan Generals Tompkins Cortland Panthers SUNY Ulster Senators See also: Sports in New York City, Sports in Buffalo, Sports in Rochester, Sports in Syracuse, and Sports in New York's Capital District

• Army Black Knights