FREE: FB, Cole Macek answers the call

Not a subscriber to GBK? There’s no better time than now as the Army Black Knights have kicked-off the first half of football season with an impressive 4-2 start.

CLICK HERE

It appears that Cole Macek can relate to the path that his fullback partner and Army leading rusher Andy Davidson has taken during the off-season.

Both players are sophomores, each played linebacker and running back in high school and they both started their Army football careers on the defensive side of the ball.

Now, both players, along with Darnell Woolfolk, who is also a sophomore make up the fullback trifecta in Army’s triple option offense. Davidson as the starter, Woolfolk 2nd on the depth chart, followed by Macek..

But on Saturday, it would be Macek’s turn to shine. The 5-foot-11, 225 pounder from McKees Rocks (PA) had a breakout game versus Lafayette, where he rushed for career high 111 yards and one touchdown when called upon for the Black Knights’ 2nd offensive series of the game when Davidson went down with an undisclosed injury.

To the surprise of many of the Army faithful, this is not the first fullback action that he has seen this season. He actually rushed for 21 yards on 6 carries against UTEP, but that was in the latter stage of the contest which was a 66-14 blowout and perhaps most fans had turned the station by the time head coach Jeff Monken relieved his starters and even some of his two-deep.

But for sure, last Saturday’s reps were not “mop-up” work and Macek was an integral part of the offensive success, as he picked-up where Davidson was just about to start.

After returning to the practice field under a beautiful autumn skies and 75 degree temperatures on the campus of West Point, GoBlackKnights.com caught up with Macek, to get his take on Saturday’s performance and looking ahead.

“Honestly, I didn’t know what happen to him ... I didn’t now if he got hurt or what,” Macek told GBK, when asked what his initial reaction was when he was called in to step in for Davidson so early in the contest. “I initially thought they were just subbing me in earlier than than usual. So, my number was called and I was ready as I always am.”

“Then they put me up for the 2nd series and then it hit me that Andy might be hurt. So, I went off to the sidelines after the 2nd series and saw that he was sitting and they were attending to his shoulder.”

“I mean, it was a wake-up call for sure,” the 2nd year fullback confessed. “But, I’m always getting ready in practice and working hard to just to make sure that I’m ready to go whenever my numbers called and it was called that day. And I was ready to go the distance no matter how many plays it took.”

Obviously there is plenty of healthy competition at the B-back spot with the trio of sophomores. But according to Macek, he first hand to adjust from playing linebacker his freshman year, along handling the competition at fullback.

“You know, it’s football and I love football and I’m willing to play any position that they put me at,” he declared. “It could be linebacker, fullback, special teams, safety, quarterback and I’m willing to do everything necessary to learn that position. So at linebacker last year obviously I worked hard all last year and got better and then I got moved to B-back in the spring. It was an exciting move, I played running back in high school and I kind of miss toting the rock a little bit {laughing}.”

“So, I just did everything I could to perfect my craft, I know the type of back I am ... meaning I’m not the speed guy and that’s why they have me a fullback for a reason. So, I told myself that I am just going get 4 or 5 yards a carry every time and as I continue to get better, I’m getting my footwork better and being able to read blocks and hit holes as necessary. It’s been awesome, it’s been a good move for me thus far.”

“As far as the competition, we just continue to get each other better,” explained Macek. “Darnell and Andy are fantastic running backs. I love them, they are good guys and they get me better and I do my best to get them better. On the depth chart, I’m really the 3rd guy ... those guys have been working hard and doing well all year. We all cam here to win, so whatever they need me to do .... if that’s a starter, 3rd string guy, scout team or water boy, we are here to win. So, whatever it takes to get the CiC ring and win a bowl game, so we are going to go after it and I enjoy the competition between us.”

And when it came to his performance on Saturday, the fullback said that he can look back on it and know that he made his family proud, despite their absence from seeing Army huge homecoming victory versus Lafayette.

“Unfortunately they were not at the game,” Macek told GBK. “My brother, who is a senior in high school had a recruiting visit for college and my sisters were at home ... which is okay. But, they watched the game at home. I told my parents that there was a good chance that I would play and they all gathered together and watched the game at home. Little did I know that I would be playing the whole game, which was awesome for them and I talked to them afterwards.”

“I talked to my grandmother before the game and I told her that I would get a touchdown for her, so I met that commitment {laughing},” shared the humble, but excited sophomore. “Then my parents were obviously happy and excited that I played as much as I did and that I played well.”

“I was just glad to contribute to this program and this team. We’ve been working hard each and everyday. So, it feels good to be able to contribute and let my hard work show out on field for the fans and my family back home.”

One glaring fact that can be tied to Macek’s on-field performance against Lafayette is that is a clear example of one of Monken’s hope for the Army program when he took it over and that develop quality depth.

From where we sit, there is little drop off if any between Davidson, Woolfolk and Macek. Clearly, not all positions on the roster have that quality of depth, but the program is surely turning the corner in many of the area’s that Monken preached on 3-years ago.

**To chat with other Army fans about this article and more, please visit The 12th Knight message board**