Rookie coach Ellerson goes to great lengths
After 12 straight losing seasons under five different head coaches, Army needed creative solutions. So when the Black Knights hired Rich Ellerson, he delivered a doozy, moving 6-foot-10, 310-pound offensive tackle Ali Villanueva to — what? — wide receiver?
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Saturday when Army (5-6) faces Navy (8-4) in the 110th edition of their storied rivalry, there’s no need to adjust your TV set. That’s really Villanueva, all 82 inches and 283-slimmed down pounds of him, at wideout.
Out-of-the-box or off-the-reservation, this Frankenstein-like experiment was the first hint that Ellerson’s takeover was anything but business as usual. Nine months later, Villanueva leads Army in receptions (29), receiving yards (460), and touchdowns (5) and Army is in position to earn its first bowl berth in 13 years.
For that to become reality, the Black Knights must beat the Midshipmen Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. What would it mean for Army to reach the EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 29, at RFK Stadium?
“It would validate our culture. It would validate all of those things that much more,” said Ellerson, 56. “Whether it’s evident to the people around the program or not, it has turned. It has changed. The direction is different. The path we are on is exactly right. We are going to get where we set out to go. Let’s find out if we can get there Saturday.”
Ellerson came to Army after eight years at Cal Poly, where he compiled a 56-34 record using the triple-option offense. Ellerson learned the system at Hawaii, where he played (1974-76) and later served on the same staff as former Navy head coach Paul Johnson. While Johnson was offensive coordinator for the Rainbows, Ellerson was defensive coordinator. Ellerson also has ties to current Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, who he recruited to Hawaii.
“[Ken’s] team has really given us that bar to strive for as we too want to partake in that level of success,” said Ellerson. “Ken is a dear friend. I respect Ken, but next Saturday, that friendship gets put on the shelf. We want to beat Navy.”
To do that, Army will have to beat Navy at its own game — the triple option. In installing the offense and seeking quicker, more mobile offensive linemen, Ellerson made several position changes in addition to the high-visibility move of Villanueva.
Some have worked. Some have backfired. While Army ranks No. 12 in the nation in rushing offense (212.1 yards per game), it only scores at a rate of 16.4 points per game, ranking No. 112 (out of 120 teams) in the FBS.
“The offense has allowed our athletes to do more things,” said junior fullback/slot back Pat Mealy, a DeMatha grad who has rushed for 641 yards. “But really I think it’s been more a team bonding thing. We’re more together, more focused.”
