1951 Army Cadets football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1951 Army Cadets football 2–7 Independent Earl Blaik 11th Game captains Michie Stadium The 1951 Army Cadets football team represented the United States Military Academy as an independent during the 1951 college football season. Led by head coach Earl Blaik, the team finished with a record of 2–7. The Cadets offense scored 116 points, while the defense allowed 183 points. Army was ranked at No. 89 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings The Nashville Banner December 14, 1951 49 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-vols-top-final-1951-lit/124782001/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1951 AP September 29 l Villanova Michie Stadium West Point, NY 7–21 October 6 l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 14–20 October 13 l Dartmouth Michie Stadium West Point, NY 14–28 20,242 Dartmouth Whips West Point, 28-14 Louis Effrat October 14, 1951 S1 The New York Times New York, N.Y. October 20 l y Harvard Harvard Stadium Boston, MA 21–22 14,000 Harvard Tops Army; Cadets Upset, 22-21 Louis Effrat October 21, 1951 S1 The New York Times New York, N.Y. October 27 w Columbia Michie Stadium West Point, NY 14–9 20,349 Army Upsets Columbia, 14-9; Cadets Hold Fast Joseph M. Sheehan October 28, 1951 S1 The New York Times New York, N.Y. November 3 l y USC 7 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY 6–28 16,508 Trojans Overpower Green Army Eleven at Yankee Stadium, 28-6 https://www.newspapers.com/articleasbury-park-press/137813792/ Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Associated Press November 4, 1951 13 January 1, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 w The Citadel Michie Stadium West Point, NY 27–6 28,183 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-army-defeats-ci/137595299/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Army defeats Citadel, 27–6 November 11, 1951 December 28, 2023 Newspapers.com November 17 l y Penn Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA 6–7 40,000 Sempier's Kick Tops Cadets After Ruling Aids Quakers Louis Effrat November 18, 1951 S1 The New York Times New York, N.Y. December 1 l y Navy Philadelphia Municipal Stadium Philadelphia, PA Army–Navy Game 7–42 Offseason In the offseason, Blaik was still agitated by the loss Army suffered to Navy in 1950. In addition, he was upset over the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur. Sam Galiffa, who was part of the 1949 team, was now a decorated aide to General Matthew Ridgway. Galiffa arranged for members of the Army coaching staff to come to Japan and visit the troops.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.118, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 Vince Lombardi and Doug Kenna first visited Tokyo and conducted several football clinics for the troops stationed there. Although defensive coordinator Murray Warmath helped the discharged players relocate to other schools, it was his last year at Army. He left at the end of the season to become the head coach for Mississippi State.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.131, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 Honor code violation A massive honor code academic violation was revealed in the spring of 1951. There were accusations that football players were distributing unauthorized academic information.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.120, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 This was reported to Colonel Paul Harkins on April 2. It was later revealed that Red Blaik's son, Bob, was part of the honor code violation.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.123, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 On August 3, the violations were announced and several athletes were implicated in the scandal.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.130, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. spoke to assistant coach Doug Kenna and he helped pay the way for several discharged players to attend the University of Notre Dame. Bob Blaik left Army for Colorado College. Of the players that were discharged, three went on to careers in the National Football League: Al Pollard, Gene Filipski and Ray Malavasi. Malavasi also became head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.132, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 The event was dramatized in the 2005 ESPN film Code Breakers. Regular season The makeshift team that was assembled had no involvement in the honor violation, but they were still a reminder of it. After losing several games to Ivy League schools, Army defeated Columbia for its first win. The team received a congratulatory note from General Douglas MacArthur.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.138, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 In sixth week of the season, the Cadets played Frank Gifford and his USC Trojans squad at Yankee Stadium. Before the Army–Navy Game, the Cadets had a record of 2–6. This was Blaik's only losing season at Army.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.139, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, 978-0-684-84418-3 In the Army–Navy game, Navy scored two touchdowns before Army even ran an offensive series. Roster 1951 Army Cadets y Fr Tommy Bell HB So Leroy Lunn G Earl Blaik See also William & Mary scandal of 1951: a transcript-altering controversy at the College of William & Mary involving the school's football and men's basketball programs References Army Category:Army Black Knights football seasons Category:Cheating in school Category:College football controversies Army Cadets football