GreatAmerican

By Sheldon Y.


It's a big weekend for Army football and the Black Knights aren't even taking the field for a game. Still, history can be made by strong safety Caleb Campbell. Campbell could become the first Army player selected in the NFL draft since the Green Bay Packers took quarterback Ronnie McAda in the seventh round of the 1997 draft.

Three other Army players, fullback Mike Viti, wide receiver/punt returner Jeremy Trimble and punter Owen Tolson could sign NFL free agent contracts after the draft.

"The faculty, my tactical company, my classmates, everyone has been so supportive," Campbell said. "It's been exciting. I'm thankful the Army has given me the opportunity to pursue this career. I don't know where I'm going to go (in the draft), but I'm just excited to go to a camp." McAda, who helped Army to its last winning season in 1996, also played for Denver. But he never played in a regular-season game. Things were different back then.

McAda hung around the Packers' training camp until last cuts in 1997. Then it happened. He didn't get release, but McAda had to leave the Packers to serve two years active duty in the Army.

Making an NFL roster will be a little easier for this year's group of hopefuls because of a new policy introduced by the Department of Army in 2005. It's called the alternative service option program.

Cadets accepted into the program "will owe two years of active service in the Army, during which time they will be allowed to play their sport in the player-development systems of their respective organizations and be assigned to recruiting stations. If they remain in professional sports following those two years, they will be provided the option of buying out the remaining three years of their active-duty commitment in exchange for six years of reserve time."

Navy and Air Force don't have that type of program in place. Both academies require two years of active service after graduation before allowing the option of switching the final three years of active time for six years in the reservesCampbell's been projected anywhere from a fourth round pick to a free agent sign. He's talked to more than a dozen teams. At 6-foot-1, 229 pounds, he's on the board as a safety, but could be moved to linebacker in the NFL. Maybe Campbell can another version of Cato June. June, of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers starred, played safety at the University of Michigan. The Indianapolis Colts took him in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft and moved June to linebacker. He made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and led the Colts in tackles in their Super Bowl win over the Bears. "Teams that run the Tampa Bay defense (Cover 2) have talked to me about playing outside linebacker," Campbell said. "That just gives me more options."

While Campbell is the headliner of Army's NFL hopefuls, Viti, Tolson and Trimble have all talked to NFL teams about possible free agent deals. Tolson joined Campbell at the NFL combine in February.

"Everyone has been coming up to me (on campus) and asking which team are you going to," Tolson said. "They are taking a lot of pride in our success. I just tell them 'Guys, I'm just one of ya'll. I just want to make it and represent all of you.'"

Extra points: Army wanted no part of Ohio State, but Navy does. The Midshipmen and Buckeyes announced that they will play in 2009 and 2014. That hole was left on Ohio State's schedule after Army backed out.

Navy will visit Columbus on Sept. 5, 2009 and the Buckeyes will return the favor in five years, playing Navy somewhere near its campus in Annapolis, Md., on Aug. 30, 2014.

dyenior_2008

My Detroit Lions picked up Mr. Campbell in the 7th Round!!!!!

USNA69

The Navy is at war. They are commencing to limit alternatives for personnel. The following is discontinuing to allow 10 different designators to go to NASA:

Navy Limits Nominations to Space Program

Actually, it is something I had rather read about Army and the pro athlete option. Glad to see at least one of our services which realizes where the priorities are.

usservicemom

I am an Army mom and I suggest you all go back and read post #7 by Shogun one more time. Please consider ending this conversation. It is embarrassing.

18 Delta

Great post usservicemom. I agree

USNA Dad&Grad

I'm a Navy dad with two kids at USNA - I would be ashamed of them if they chose the NFL (or any other ASO) over real, active Navy/Marine service - especially when we're ordering others to extend involuntarily.

What's embarrassing is the sophistry employed by West Point, the Army and the supporters of West Point football who are drinking the koolaid and trying to convince themselves and everyone else that this policy is fair and in keeping with West Point's mission and values - especially when those listed on "post #7" have paid the ultimate price.

"Inconvenient Truth", perhaps?

The Huge Blog - MLive.com

Another county heard from - and he's in Detroit Lions country. The idiots who posted replies seem to think this is a combination of "Rudy" and "Invincible" where some poor schmuck has been picked from obscurity and will avoid Iraq and Afghanistan. The responses to the article show just how ill-educated most of America is when it comes to the mission of nation's military academies.

shogun

I think everyone's pretty much had their say on this topic. Cadet Campbell will make his decision, the Army will make their's. If anyone in the other service academys feels this is so detrimental to the war effort, Iam sure the Army is more than willing to accept an inter-service transfer so they can strap on a pair and hit the sand in his place. Till then, I think the Army and West Point have shed enough blood to have earned the right to determine what's best for both.

USNA Dad&Grad

Ludicrous...

shogun

Folks,
It appears that for some, I have out-stayed my welcome on this board. I certainly don't want to foster any ill will amongst posters here. I will keep my posts limited to the USMA discussion group going forward.
Best wishes to all of you.

USNA69

Hey, don't go. What does disagreement have to do with being 'welcome'. I agree with grad & dad that somehow trying to equate war deaths with a football policy is 'ludicrous' but that doesn't mean I will not listen to your opinion. Each war has a different service in the forefront in harm's way. When I graduated, the Rotunda at USNA displayed midshipman photos of missing and KIAed graduates. They were 8x0 photos on 4x8 boards, probably 32 pictures on 8 or so boards. Do the math. Does that give USNA the right to do anything they want based on these sacrifices. I don't think so.

There is only one day a year that USNA grads don't recognize USMA grads as their closest brothers. We, through a common background, share more common ground than differences. Most alumni clubs will have one or two joint meetings each year. Some clubs are actually joint clubs. I always get their input on things that are happening, to compare the two academies.

This new policy for WP is huge and it will affect USNA. Yes, we are interested. No, it will not go away. Discussion across boundaries is good. Stick around.

USNA Dad&Grad

I agree. Please stay.

JustAMomOf4

Shogun - hang around. I know this is a touchy subject and it is bound to get touchier. The implications of this transcend Army/Navy Football. I certainly hope the folks who thought up the ASO rules were not simply out to figure out how to get Army to Beat Navy!.
Not knowing what happend behind closed doors and the 'intent' of the ASO, we can only speculate. We have heard it all now we must see how this will all play out.

As of today - 4 Army football players have signed with NFL teams. Campbell with the Detroit Lions (the GM's son plays Army Football), Tolson with the Giants, Trimble with the Chiefs and Viti with the Bills.

I watched the Espn spot on Caleb Campbell and the "round table" discussion -
the suggestion was made - will teams draft Army players to keep them out of Iraq? This was most disturbing to me. Yet 4 teams have signed players.

I fear the backlash - not all publicity is good publicity.

USNA69

Yep. I wonder how many other third rate Div I 3-9 teams had four players sign.

This is probably the most significant thing to happen to SA football in decades. It plays out on so many levels, many probably not yet identified. And it affects Navy tremendously.

Emsa

I cant quite make up my mind on this issue to be honest, in principle I have a real problem with people getting out of their service obligation in return for playing sport well but then I think if its a couple of guys each year and they can really have such a big impact in terms of recruiting and the face of the Army to the nation and they are able to live with their choice then it makes sense to let them go.

I think if its going to be long term Army policy then I dont see how Navy and AF cant follow suit. There is no doubt that West Point has suffered casualty figures far far higher than either USNA or USAFA (I noticed the USMA class of 2006 had its first death on active service in the last couple of days) but I really dont think too many people applying to a SA focus on such things, I certainly didn't. So for any young scholar athlete who would be happy and proud to serve their country as a military officer but in the back of their mind dreams of making it in pro sports Army is going to be the perfect fit. Thats a problem for Navy and AF.

AF6872

Former West Point mission and values.

"...your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable. It is to win our wars. Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital dedication. All other public purpose, all other public projects, all other public needs, great or small, will find others for their accomplishments; but you are the ones who are trained to fight. Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory, that if you loose, the Nation will be destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be Duty, Honor, Country."

General Douglas MacArthur's farewell speech to the Corp of Cadets May 12, 1962. Someone should walk over to the statue and read the inscriptions.