Round 1 - Vote in the top player of the last 50 years

The play-in games are over, and Calvin Cass and Ben Barnett have made their way into the field-of-32.  Cass took out Dan Enright, and Barnett beat out Greg King.

So now the tournament begins.  Over the next seven weeks, the players will be narrowed down until we get to Army-Navy week, when you will vote in Army’s best player of the last 50 years.  Below is the tournament bracket. (download a printable bracket here)

Let’s take a look at this week’s matchups:  Click here to vote!

#1 Mike Mayweather vs. #32 Calvin Cass

Mike Mayweather - Army’s top career rusher with 4299 yards.  He finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1990.  Mayweather was the model of consistency. He produced as a RB, Kick off returner, and caught the ball well coming out of the backfield. He wasn’t the biggest guy on the field, but some how he would keep pushing the ball forward even when it appeared the play was over. Mike did it all- blocked on the edge, ran inside, ran outside.  He is still the modern measuring stick for Army running backs.

Calvin Cass - Arunning back who played along side running back Mike Mayweather and fullback Ben Barnett, both candidates for Army’s top player in the last 50 years.  While Cass could run with the best of them, he may best be known for his blocking ability.  Many consider him one of the best in Army history, and his blocks in Jim Young’s wishbone offense opened up running lanes for Mike Mayweather.  Cass ranks as Army’s 20^th best rusher all time, with 1546 yards and a career 5.8 yard average gain per run.

#16 Caleb Campbell vs. # 17 Gerald Walker

Caleb Campbell - Many consider Campbell to be one of the best overall athletes to ever have played at Army.  A ferocious hitter, Campbell ranks third in Army history in fourced fumbles, and ranks 9th in career tackles in Black Knight history.  Campbell was a team captain in 2007, and teamed with Jordan Murray to make up one of the most physical safety combinations in the nation.  Though sidelined with a knee injury his junior year, Campbell came back strong for his senior year and gained national recognition.  He played in the East-West Shrine gane in 2008.  He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, and was making good progress before the "Alternative Service" policy was reversed prior to training camp.

Gerald Walker - In an era when Army struggled, Walker was Army’s top weapon. He ranks 4th in Army history in career rushing yards with 2700 and a 4.5 yard per attempt average.  He was a team Captain his senior season, and turned in a 121 yard performance against Pittsburgh that year.  He led Army to a win over California in 1980, and had 10 games of 100 yards or more.  He ran for 1,051 yards in 1981 and is only one of 12 Army running backs to amass a 1,000 yard season on the ground.

#9 Lynn Moore vs. #24 Jack Roth

Lynn Moore - Moore was considered a quiet professional.  He captained the 1969 Army team, and set the Army single game rushing attempts recored with 40 (resulting in 206 yards) against Navy his senior season in an Army win.  He played in the College All-Star game and East-West Shrine game in recognition of his performance.  He ran for over 125 yards in a game five times in 1969 against stiff competition. For the Corps, his efforts against Navy and the Army win allowed the Corps to "fall out" until holiday break.

Jack Roth - Roth was a team Captain in 1971, and was nominated as such for his singular leadership skills. He captained a team coming off a 1-9-1 season and is widely regarded as impacting and leading the team to a 6-4 season including wins over Georgia Tech, Missouri, Rutgers, Virginia and Navy. No gaudy stats but an inspirational leader who got results.  He did not have gaudy stats, but led the team with forced fumbles (4) in 1971.

#25 Troy Lingley vs. # 8 Doug Black

Troy Lingley -Lingley was a team Co-Captain in 1988, the year Army faced Alabama in the Sun Bowl. He led Army in tackles in 1987 and 1988, including 161 in 1988 which stands as second best all time at West Point.  He was a three year starter at linebacker.  A winner and great leader, Lingley was always around the football, was a real playmaker, and great all-around player.

Doug Black - Black was Army’s top rusher in 1984 and 1985, a part of Army’s resurgence under Jim Young.  He went from the intramural football team to starting fullback when Jim Young switched to the wishbone. In two years, he never had a negative rushing play. He was considered the backbone of the teams that returned Army football to respectability. Even after not making the team in his first 2 years, Black worked to make the team and became the quiet heart and soul of the recovery of Army football.  He gained 1,000 yards during the 1984 season and stands as Army’s 8th leading career rusher with 2,098 yards.

#5 Ken Johnson vs. #28 Willie McMillan

Ken Johnson - Johnson captained the 1968 Army team that went 7-3.  He was a First Team All-American (Coaches and AP), and played in the North-South Shrine Game, Lions American Bowl, and Coaches All-America Game. Hw was a  leader on the 67-68 Army teams that combined for a 15-4 record.  He was considered the team leader both on and off the field.  He was a hard hitter and was always at the top of his game. He stuck whatever he had into offensive linemen, backs and the ball carrier.

Willie McMillan - McMillan was one of the best quarterbacks in the Jim Young - Bob Sutton option era teams.  A team captain in 1991, McMillan stands 15th in Army history with 1694 yards on the ground and a 5.3 yard per attempt average.  He ran for 195 yards on 35 attempts against Navy in 1990, beating the Middies and tying up the overall series.  He had six games of 100 yards or more, and was regarded by his teammates as a real leader, on and off the field.

#12 Don Smith vs. #21 Carlton Jones

Don Smith - Smith was a First team All-American offensive guard on one of the top rushing teams in the nation. He cleared the holes during the first years of Jim Young’s wishbone era. He was a great blocker, and strong leader on and off the field. He was a team Captain in 1985, and also served as a Regimental Commander at West Point.  He was a quiet, hard worker who did his "talking" on the field.  Smith led Army to a second bowl (Peach Bowl) and was a Rhodes Scholar following graduation.

Carlton Jones - Jones was a Captain on the 2005 team, and is Army’s #2 rusher all time with 3,536 career yards on the ground.  He had great field vision, and would utilize his blockers to find his holes and break big gains.  While Jones played on teams that were not overly successful during his tenure at the Academy, he was a real bright spot for the Black Knights and kept Army in games with his play.  He was a quiet leader.  Against South Florida in 2004, Jones ran for 225 yards and had 5 touhdowns.  He followed that performance with a 213 yard performance against Air Force that same year.  He finished with 1269 yards rushing in 2004, the third best season performance in Black Knight history,

#13 Ron Leshinski vs. #20 Greg Washington

Ron Leshinski - Leshinski was a Captain on the 1996 Army team that set the season record for wins, and played in the Independence Bowl.  He started all 45 games during his Army career.  Army’s option attack did not put the ball in the air often during his tenure, but when the ball came his way, Leshinski was reliable.  He was a great blocking tight end.  He played in the Hula Bowl, and played in the NFL and NFL Europe after graduation.

Greg Washington - Greg Washington was a two-year Captain for Army (2003-2004).  He was a vicious tackler, and led the nation in tackles his senior year with 149.  He holds the Army season tackle for loss record with 23 in 2004.  He ranks as Army’s #5 career tackle leader with 334, and is 4th in Academy history in tackles for loss with 33.  He played in the East-West Shrine game in 2005.  Washington was a leader at a critical time during Army’s history as Army went through two head coaching changes during his two-year tenure as team Captain.

#4 Mike McElrath vs. #29 Townsend Clarke

Mike McElrath - McElrath was a four year starter and team Co-Captain in 1992. He received the National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award, an NCAA Football Scholarship, and a NACDA/Disney Postgraduate Scholarship, and was a Kodak All-American as a senior. He is Army’s career tackles leader with 436, unassisted tackles leader with 282, second in interceptions with 10, second in passes defended with 29, and 4th in pass breakups with 19.  He holds the season record for unassisted tackles with 93 (1992). He led Army in tackles in 1991 and 1992 (117 - 157), was the team leader in pass breakups from 1989-1991. He was an absolute warrior on the field. Leader on and off the field, and was one person on Army’s team the opponent had to account for on every play. He was a prolific hitter and return man.

Townsend Clarke - Clarke was a Army’s single team Captain during Army’s first season under Coach Tom Cahill in 1966.  Following Paul Dietzel’s abrupt departure in the spring, Army was facing a significant challenge going into the 1966 season.  Clarke helped lead Army to an 8-2 record.  Clarke was named an All-American.  He was Sports Illustrated Player of the week.  He led the defense in defeat of Stabach and Navy in 1964. He dominated his position for 3 years, and played in the Coaches All America game his senior year.

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