| Message from USMA Superintendent regarding Army vs. Tulane Game Time Change |
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| Written by Donna McAleer | |
| Thursday, 27 September 2007 | |
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Fellow Graduates, As you well know, the start of the Army-Tulane football game is now 1900. I understand your frustration. This late start disrupts many of your plans, and affects your ability to bring children to the game. I am also not delighted with this time, and we told ESPN that we would prefer an afternoon kickoff. However, through 2009, we have contracted to play at least one game per year on Thursday or Friday, and potentially two contests in Saturday primetime. 1900 is primetime. The Academy does make a little money through this contract, but money was not the primary reason for partnering with ESPN. Our deal was based on the fact that every soldier can watch ARMY football no matter where they are in this world, free of charge. Every home game is now webcasted over AKO thanks to this partnership. We also use our ESPN telecast to tell the West Point story. This year 10 of our games will be nationally televised. Greater awareness will assure us of a continuing pool of qualified applicants to fill our cadet ranks and, ultimately, our commissioned ranks - and, as you know, our mission is to produce leaders of character. We will always work for what is in the best interests of the Academy and our fans, and we will take all this into consideration when we renegotiate the contract in two years. I ask you to understand the value of this exposure as well as the cost. No one wants a 1900 kickoff, but our homecoming game will be nationally televised. Thanks for all you do for the Corps and for America. We need your continued support. Go Army! Beat Navy! LTG Buster Hagenbeck Superintendent |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 14 October 2007 ) |
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