{"id":29299,"date":"2017-09-01T14:11:23","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T14:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/01\/army-kicks-off-season-at-home-against-fordham\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:49:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:49:17","slug":"army-kicks-off-season-at-home-against-fordham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2017\/09\/01\/army-kicks-off-season-at-home-against-fordham\/","title":{"rendered":"Army kicks off season at home against Fordham"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Forgive Army coach Jeff Monken if he\u2019s a little antsy \u2014 the season opener at home Friday night is against Fordham of the Football Championship Subdivision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rams may play at college football\u2019s second level, but they\u2019re a powerhouse and two years ago stunned the Black Knights 37-35 at Michie Stadium. Fordham finished 8-3 in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you look at their record and what they\u2019ve accomplished over the last few years, it\u2019s really incredible that one of the most successful teams in the country both at the FBS and FCS level is Fordham,\u201d Monken said. \u201cThey have a lot of confidence coming in here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, too, does Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black Knights finished 8-5 last year, just their second winning season since 1996, and the last two wins came against archrival Navy to snap a 14-game losing streak in that series and North Texas in a bowl game. It marked the first time since 1984 under Jim Young that Army had beaten Navy and won a bowl game in the same season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know we\u2019re playing a different Army program than we did two years ago,\u201d Fordham coach Andrew Breiner said. \u201cCoach Monken\u2019s done a great job of creating a culture now where his football team is confident and believes that it can win. The Navy win, the bowl win, is only going to increase that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be certain, that loss to the Rams remains fresh on the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, we\u2019ve talked about it quite a bit, and it\u2019s not the responsibility of this team. That loss belongs to the 2015 team,\u201d Monken said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of our guys back, and the guys that played two years ago are still on our roster. They still feel the sting of that game and, hopefully, we\u2019ll be able to perform and play a little bit better than the last time out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other things to know when Army hosts Fordham on Friday night at Michie Stadium:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CUT TO THE CHASE<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fordham running back Chase Edmonds was a consensus first team All-American in 2016 and finished fourth in voting for the 2016 Walter Payton Award. He led the FCS in rushing yards per game (163.5), was second in total rushing yards (1,799), second in all-purpose yards per game (194.6), and third in rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army knows him well. Edmonds rushed for three TDs in the 2015 win at West Point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we are going to get our hands full and we are going to have to play really well,\u201d Monken said. \u201cBut, hopefully, our guys are prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t