Service Academy FOOTBALL Question

[CochiseCowbell]

Let me preface this thought/question with the admission that I've little knowledge of our modern military.

I just watched a recap of the Army/Navy game & the OL/DL for both teams had me wondering about the size/stamina of these guys in service. Obviously, they're more athletic than my slovenly personage & this isn't an era like the two World Wars or Vietnam.

Are they smaller/or more fit than the rest of the country's D1 lineman & I didn't notice for they were playing each other?

Does it not necessarily matter as much for the Academies are also OCS's (Officer Candidacy Shools)?

 

[RocketDawg]

Let me preface this thought/question with the admission that I've little knowledge of our modern military.

I just watched a recap of the Army/Navy game & the OL/DL for both teams had me wondering about the size/stamina of these guys in service. Obviously, they're more athletic than my slovenly personage & this isn't an era like the two World Wars or Vietnam.

Are they smaller/or more fit than the rest of the country's D1 lineman & I didn't notice for they were playing each other?

Does it not necessarily matter as much for the Academies are also OCS's (Officer Candidacy Shools)?

I doubt the 300+ lb linemen would physically qualify for the military, not to mention that you don't often find service academy quality brains inside a 300 lb body. To the best of my knowledge the service academies have the same entrance requirements for athletes as they do for other cadets/midshipmen/whatever.

 

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

From the article I linked:

• Height and weight requirements. They differ slightly by academy, but at Air Force, a 6'4 applicant cannot weigh more than 221 pounds for admission -- and must also not weigh more than that upon graduation. In some cases at the academies, athletes can be over the height or weight limits but must still adhere to stringent body fat restrictions. This makes recruiting offensive linemen very difficult. "I'd love to have a bunch of 320-pound guys with good feet," Calhoun said. "We've never had a 285-pound kid, which is very small for a Division I offensive lineman. We usually average 255 pounds with our offensive line."

https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...0/college-football-military-service-academies

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Stormin' Norman was far from a wee lad. He was a Mensa Member as well. I always wanted him to run for President.

 

[punterjoe]

Unless something has changed since 2003-2004, all athletes must meet same requirements as other cadets. Whatever that branches requirements are height and weight Wise you must meet.

 

[WrapItDog]

Stormin' Norman was far from a wee lad. He was a Mensa Member as well. I always wanted him to run for President.

My dad went to West Point and was a couple years younger than Schwarzkopf. During the Gulf War I was watching TV with my dad when Gen. Schwarzkopf was giving a presser. Dad said: I went to school with that guy. I bet he's a great General. I asked why is that. Dad said because he was real prick in college.

 

[Duncflydawg]

Actually that’s not true. While playing football, they are on a waiver for military height/weight standards. However once the season is over and they are seniors awaiting their commission, they have to quickly get into standards. I believe it was within 6 months but that was a LONG time ago. It’s crazy what some of those guys do to make weight.

 

[AFDawg]

I was in training with a USAFA grad who played OL. That’s what he told me as well. He dropped tons of weight to graduate. For him it was a big struggle to keep it off thereafter.

 

[Duncflydawg]

I love your avatar, Robin Olds is my hero. By the way, the Air Force sucks. The flying is awesome, the leadership is about to destroy what was once a great organization. Once my 10 year commitment was up, there was a cloud of dust where I once stood, I got out so fast.

 

[AFDawg]

I've had this name/avatar for a decade but have been out of the Air Force for about 5 years now myself. You're right about the leadership. I had some great bosses personally, but the bureaucracy and politics were terrible. My friends who are still in say it's getting worse and worse.

 

[Duncflydawg]

I just escaped 2 months ago. Best decision I ever made.

 

[GloryDawg]

Here the question I have. Are these females Cadets? I am not talking about the football players

 

[Duncflydawg]

Yep. I actually taught a couple USAFA cheerleaders how to fly. One of them was really cute. The other, well, meh.

 

[Webbmoore]

Been in the military 21 years and sponsored 3 USNA mids(one is a current Blue Angel, LT James Haley), married to an Annapolis girl and retiring next year... here is the deal...

The mids who play get waivers as stated above but have to lose weight to get commissioned. Later than can tape out on BMI to pass weight standards...

I admire the service academy kids as they are the best this country as to offer in so many ways...

 

[Webbmoore]

Sucks is harsh and incorrect. A lot of good officers like myself are rebuilding the mess that 8 years of neglect under Obama. The force was broken to say the least. The real issue is the millennials are good kids but very entitled and need hard direction. Like I tell them life is not fair ever...

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I'm bumping this just to thank those who have answered my question & have served.

Thank You. Y'all are better men than I am.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

The mids who play get waivers as stated above but have to lose weight to get commissioned. Later than can tape out on BMI to pass weight standards...

I admire the service academy kids as they are the best this country as to offer in so many ways...

^^^This^^^ It's the same standard for alI if I remember the 600-9 correctly. I know I always had to tape out due to a muscular build, thick lower half. I remember at 19 years old after graduation from AIT being 10 lbs overweight and around 11% body fat. I think we were allowed 20% or so. I have a neighbor that is an NFL o-lineman... At his 4th of July party he had at least a dozen NFL lineman there and I would bet 10 of the 12 would tape out under body fat.

The big challenge is that the service academy life makes it hard to gain bulk muscle. Jeffrey Simmons would tape around 15-18% body fat at most, at 6-4 300lbs after 3 years at Mississippi State.(83 lbs over weight) If he'd gone to West Point he would be spending all off season eating the same **** on a shingle as everyone else, running 25 miles a week, marching another 50, and would look like Sweat and tape out at 9%.

Somebody should change the standards for the academies.. I would like to to see some 4-5* players go once in a while, get a reserve waiver if drafted into the NFL, NBA, WNBA, whatever... I am happy to see Army much more competitive, but I think the upside of letting the best athletes go to the Academies and serve part time if pro careers are available would be great for everyone.

I honestly don't think anyone that ever served a day would be bothered if one of their own got a little special treatment at an Academy and the opportunity to play in the NFL, if it means watching one less **** stain waste the opportunity instead.

 

[Abledawg]

Service Academy Players

Let me preface this thought/question with the admission that I've little knowledge of our modern military.

I just watched a recap of the Army/Navy game & the OL/DL for both teams had me wondering about the size/stamina of these guys in service. Obviously, they're more athletic than my slovenly personage & this isn't an era like the two World Wars or Vietnam.

Are they smaller/or more fit than the rest of the country's D1 lineman & I didn't notice for they were playing each other?

Does it not necessarily matter as much for the Academies are also OCS's (Officer Candidacy Shools)?

I graduated in ‘05, and this is the way it went down then. After the last game, football players had 5 months or so to get down to Army regulation height and weight standards. If they didn’t, they would get chaptered and would have to pay back their education. They did, however, have the resources of the dieticians of the school and the football training staff to meet their goals, but the timeline for some of them was so short it bordered on unhealthy.
I think things are better now, they get more time through the summer as GAs or something like that.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I doubt the 300+ lb linemen would physically qualify for the military, not to mention that you don't often find service academy quality brains inside a 300 lb body. To the best of my knowledge the service academies have the same entrance requirements for athletes as they do for other cadets/midshipmen/whatever.

I guess you have never known an offensive lineman. The average Wonderlic scores for offensive tackles and centers are higher than QB's at the combine and correlate to an average IQ of around 112. Not a bad average, better than the goofball from my highschool that got an appointment and washed out of West Point by Halloween.

 

[Duncflydawg]

After what Mattis and the Air Force did to Jalen Robinette, I would hope any athlete with a small hope of playing in the pros would avoid the Academy like the plague.

 

[Duncflydawg]

Unfortunately, the AF is screwed and no amount of “good officers” like yourself can undo what the current and previous flag officers did. The pilots are gone and anyone who has a place to go is leaving. I had CJOs from Delta, Southwest and United before I was even close to my separation date. I’m no fan of President Obama, but he didn’t force the AF to completely get away from combat effectiveness in exchange for white space on OPRs and endless witch hunts from $hitty Commanders trying to cover their own a$$es. I would understand if you think I’m just a bitter pilot who didn’t get what I wanted so I’m dumping on everything on the way out, but on the contrary, I was a school select who got my first choice on every single VML but realized that the AF had a culture problem and the best way to show the AF it needed to fix itself was by voting with my feet. In all sincerity though, thank you for your service and I hope you can make a positive impact in your small corner of influence. I several good Commanders who truly embodied “Service before Self” who set me up to be successful. Unfortunately, one is a FO at Southwest and the other is at FedEx. The worst ones I had all have Stars on their shoulders and are implementing policy at the HAF!