GRIP OF YOUR FAR OFF HOLD
Connecting the Inches — TO FIGHT & DIE FOR THAT INCH part III
THE DAYS
In less then 3 weeks new cadets from the class of 2019 will begin to learn their required 4th-class-knowledge (18 and a butt days, to be exact…as of 10JUN2015). ‘The Days’ are a running tally of significant events throughout the academic calendar year (500th Night, 100th Night, Army-Navy, Graduation, etc) that must be memorized and updated, daily.
The Class of 2019's countdown will begin with a much larger and rather distant number: 1,426. That’s the length of their 47-month West Point Experience — R-Day to Graduation Day.
THE NUMBERS
But today we will focus on a different countdown and a smaller, more manageable number:
86
Today marks 86 days until the beginning of a new college football season for Army Football. It will mark the beginning of year-2 for Jeff Monken’s regime. Extinguished are the hopes of first-year miracles and instant turnaround. In a way, reality has set-in…real, tangible change takes time and patience…maybe expectations of an immediate turnaround have simmered (BUT, that’s probably not the case). Not unlike the previous 13 years, we last left our beloved Black, Gray & Gold as they were coming off another loss to Navy. Despite a gutsy fight, the day ended with disappointment in the win column.
Now, I grew-up in a suburb of Chicago and can be called an eternal optimist (to be read Chicago Cubs fan)…
and because old habits die hard, I produced a Army-Navy post-game Photo Essay full of hope — a silver-lining-outlook cloaked in drab reality of cadet gray.
I actually wrote the essay for myself because I had noticed something in my first edit of the images — I had never seen images of Army Football that looked like the ones I had taken (now I say this in the sincerest way possible…I say this strictly as a viewer of the images and as a former Army Football player..not as some braggadocios & pompous photographer who took the images).
I think it was because of this fact that the Photo Essay struck a chord with the West Point community and the work was shared and shared and shared. I received many positive responses via email. I don’t know how you classify ‘going viral’ but this was the closest I’ve been to it. I spent 4-years as a Cadet and 5-years as an Officer in the U.S. Army, but it was this Photo Essay that earned me approval from some top Brass — U.S. Army Chief of Staff GEN Ray Odierno (West Point class of 1976 and former Army Football and Baseball player).
But it also allowed me to connect & [re]connect with many other members of the Long Gray Line. One such connection was with Elizabeth Allardice…widow of Robert Duncan Allardice, Army Football & West Point class of 1969.
Bobby finished his Div-I collegiate career having played in 10 games. His offensive stats were minuscule with just 4 rushes for 26 yards. He finished his career as a defensive tackle. He wore number 86.
Bobby’s death was attributed to the lingering effects of concussions and to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE in exchange for a stat sheet with 10 games, 4 rushes, and 26 yards. But statistics hardly tell the whole story. And Legacy is not merely a numbers game.
THE LEGACY
Robert ‘Dice’ Allardice died just weeks before (November 7, 2014) the playing of the 115th Army-Navy Game. Yet, his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Kelly, were in attendance amidst a flurry of emotions.
They were there to cheer on the Army Team and they were there to honor a husband & a father. They were there to celebrate a man. Kelly had custom Army jerseys made with Bobby’s #86. Via email, Elizabeth describe the experience as rather bittersweet. She also described her late husband for me:
“Robert Duncan Allardice was born on July 21, 1947 in Plainfield, New Jersey and moved to Pittsburgh as a child. He was one of 6 siblings (5th born) 4 brothers and two sisters. He participated in Boy Scouting and was an Eagle Scout. He earned two varsity letters in football as DE and HB at North Allegheny High School, one varsity letter in wrestling (180 lb. class) and three varsity letters in track & field for discus where he held a record (which legend has it…still stands). He was captain in track & field and co-captain in football. He went on to play football and wrestle at West Point.
‘Dice’ was a man who believed that everyone he met held the potential to be his friend. He owned an infectious knee-buckling laugh, and could dance like no other. He was bound by his ties to West Point and the members of the Long Gray Line. He lived Duty, Honor, Country every day. Integrity was how he lived his life. He was fiercely loyal and an honorable man.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
The 115th Army-Navy game began with an exchange of a fruitless drives. But Army found itself in position to strike first. After gaining some defensive momentum with a tackle for a loss from DE Joe Drummond, Navy faced a 4 and 12 from their own 18 yard line.
Often times good fortune is needed when photographing sports. You also rely heavily on your knowledge of the game and your preparation and anticipation and instinct. As is the case with this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated:
All of those things played into this sequence. So, on this 4 and 12, for no particular reason, I locked-in on Josh Jenkins.
His jump off the ball was reminiscent of my own explosive 10-yard split (in this case I am most certainly being a braggadocios and pompous speedy, functionally arrogant WR — thanks Doc Z & CEP). Immediately, I had a good feeling about the sequence as a photographer and as a fan.
But, at times you can’t always tell exactly what has happened on a given play…the shutter is actually closing & opening & closing, albeit very quickly. But if you don’t see a given event or fraction of a second take place…that can actually be a good thing. It means you just might have captured the moment.
In this case, I didn’t need to see anything. Recalling my days on the punt-block team…all you need to do is listen…
**TH-THUD**
I heard that glorious double thud…and since I was positioned in the end zone directly in front of The Corps of Cadets…that double thud was followed-up by an eruption that could be felt. This was the kind of eruption that results from 12-years of pent-up frustration caused by continual loses to your arch-rival. Hope.
Josh Jenkins had blocked the punt. And it was every Special Teamer’s dream come true — the Scoop & Score. After a mad scrambled the ball was picked up and returned for a touchdown by…
Xavier Moss, #86 — As he broke the goal line, his arms sprang from his sides extending as would a pair of wings. At that moment he was soaring like a bird or as I like to think…an angel.
The game ended with that scoop & score being the only TD of the day for Army. Despite the outcome of the game, the Allardice family was subtly, yet significantly rewarded for their dedication to Army Football — a moment they wont forget.
Whether you believe in guardian angels or write it off as an ordinary chaotic coincidence, it’s one hell of a connection. An inch one way or an inch the other way and it doesn’t unfold like that. Maybe it’s a bit of stretch or maybe Bobby’s spirit helped instill a sense of hope in a fan base, team and an institution where a sense of hope was sorely needed.
The hopeless romantic & eternal optimist in me likes to think he did.
The long gray line of us stretches
Thro’ the years of a century told,
And the last man feels to his marrow
The grip of your far off hold.
I’m Chris. I am an independent freelance photographer and storyteller. I am available to tell your story and am seeking new collaborations & projects.
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