Sting of defeat gone
Army riding high on wins
West Point ? Army quarterback Zac Dahman wakes up every Sunday morning with an assortment of bumps and bruises.
But getting out of bed these days is much easier. There's nothing like the healing power of a few victories.
"Everything feels better," Dahman said. "Everything in life seems rosier and you have a little more pep in your step. You have more confidence."
There's a lot of that going around Michie Stadium. Army has won three in a row for the first time since 1996 and ? get this ? is a seven-point favorite over visiting Arkansas State (5-4) today. Kickoff is set for noon.
Army has been favored only three times since 2002. But this is proving to be a better team than recent editions. Army's run began on Oct. 22 with a 20-0 win at Akron.
The Black Knights followed that up with a 27-24 win at Air Force ? their first in Colorado Springs, Colo., since 1977. Army beat Division I-AA power Massachusetts 34-27 last week at Michie.
The UMass win was the sloppiest of the three. Army threw an interception, lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and had a punt blocked that UMass returned to the end zone. Army allowed 57 yards in giving up 27 points.
"After the game, my initial reaction was 'wow,' " Ross said. "We can't play giveaway like that. We have to be very careful there."
Army (3-6) is two wins from achieving a goal set after the Akron win ? "running the table." The Black Knights take on Navy on Dec. 3 in Philadelphia with a chance to win their first Commander in Chief's Trophy since 1996.
Arkansas State also has something to play for today. The Indians can become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1995 with a win. Arkansas State will make a trip to the New Orleans Bowl ? to be held in Lafayette, La., on Dec. 20 ? with a victory over North Texas next week and a loss by Louisiana Monroe in one of its last two games.
"I just want to keep this up," Dahman said. "I would rather wake up hardly being able to get out of bed with a win, rather than a loss feeling fine. I would take that any day."
