Former Army QB Rob Healy talks past, present, and future

As Army sets off on its first season under new field mentor Rich Ellerson, the levels of optimism take folks back to the mid-80s, where Army found success with "The 'Bone". In 1985, Army went 9-3 and capped their season with a thrilling 31-29 victory over Illinois in the Peach Bowl. At the helm of that team's offense was senior signalcaller Rob Healy, the MVP of the Peach Bowl win. Healy, now the president of the Army Football Club (the letterwinner's club), took some time to catch up with GoBlackKnights.com and share some thoughts about his playing days, Army's current struggles, and what he sees in the future for Army.

GoBlackKnights.com:

Looking back, what is your fondest memory from your days playing Army football?

Rob Healy: It would have to be the celebration in the

locker room after the Peach Bowl. My Dad and my brother were in the locker room

and we were all jumping up and down together in celebration. It is absolutely a

moment I will never forget. I also have very fond memories of beating Air Force

at home under the lights in Miche my junior year as my brother was a senior at

USAFA at the time.

GoBlackKnights.com: What was it like playing for

Coach Young?

Rob Healy: It was great and it was tough all wrapped

into one. It was great because you knew you were playing for a truly great

coach who was teaching you things well beyond football. It was tough because

he was extremely demanding…in the end, you grow to appreciate such a level of

expectations, but day to day could be challenging at times. In the end, it was

one of those periods in life when you really develop and learn. I credit much

of this to Coach Young.

GoBlackKnights.com: Like current Army QB Chip Bowden,

you were recruited to play a pro-set offense. However, you successfully made

the switch to the option with great success. What is the biggest challenge for

a quarterback making that transition?

Rob Healy: On the mental side, it was thinking like

an option QB. I had never thought that way before so it was 100 percent new to

me. The reads, the running lanes, the fast-break style, the extreme focus on

ball protection…these were all new to me.

On the physical side, I think the toughest challenge for

folks is the demand for quickness. Speed is fine but an option QB must be

quick. I am talking about the 5 yard burst vs. the 40 yard dash. Some folks

are just not quick and this presents problems in the option offense for a QB.

GoBlackKnights.com: In your mind, what is the single

biggest key to successfully running the option?

Rob Healy: If a QB has the physical talent, then I

believe the biggest challenges are the FB read and the extreme requirement for

ball control. A QB has a split second to get the FB read correct and must do it

at about a 90 percent correct rate to be successful on a consistent basis. This

is challenging. Furthermore, in the option offense, you just cannot turn the

ball over. It is a ball control offense. If you turn the ball over, you will

not be successful. We were possessed with ball control in the 80s and we had a

lot of success holding onto the ball and getting turnovers.

GoBlackKnights.com: You were there when Army was

struggling, and you capped off your senior year leading Army to its second

straight bowl game. Can you talk a little about the transformation of the

program while you were there?

Rob Healy: It was truly amazing. To see how the

Academy reacted to the turn-around was something incredibly special. We had no

idea at the time that those years would be special. We were just playing

football. When we left, Army Football and the Academy in general expected to

win every Saturday no matter who we were playing…that was pretty darn cool!

GoBlackKnights.com: In the 1985 Peach Bowl, you guys

played in some miserable conditions and beat a heavily favored Illinois team,

led by QB Jack Trudeau. Can you talk a little about that game, and comment on

what the differences in the game were that led you to the win?

Rob Healy: They really struggled defending the

option. Coach Young had an amazing game plan. He moved the fullback read

around on the Illinois defense and they were very confused. I heard them

yelling at each other about their assignments repeatedly. I told Coach Young

after the game that he called a brilliant game. I still think he it was the

best play calling I have ever experienced. Trudeau had a great game but our

defense got some big turn-overs and we won it in the end. It was a great game.

GoBlackKnights.com: Of all the guys you played with

or against, who stands out to you as "the best"?

Rob Healy: Doug Flutie was the most impressive player

I ever played against. He was simply unreal for BC. His mobility combined with

a great arm made him a great threat. I would have to mention Napoleon McCallum

for Navy also…he was a great running back.

There were a number of great Army players in my era but I

think Don Smith and Rob Dickerson stand out above the rest on the line. In the

backfield, it would be hard to match Doug Black's toughness and Clarence Jones

was an ideal back for the wishbone.

GoBlackKnights.com: As an alum and president of the

Army Football Club, what is your involvement with the program today, and how

closely do you follow Army football?

Rob Healy: Pretty closely. I am an A Club member and

I am heavily involved with AFC. The Superintendent asked me to be on the Army

Football Oversight Panel which I have served on for the past two years. I also

served on the selection committee for the recent head football coach. I am a

season ticket holder and I try to listen to or go to every game. I talk with

Coach occasionally and I try to stay in tune with what is going on.

GoBlackKnights.com: Do you keep in contact with many

of your teammates?

Rob Healy: Yes, although we are very spread out these

days. I recently heard from Rob Dickerson who is commanding in Afghanistan

along with Scott Spellmon. The AFC provides a great venue to keep in touch. I

play golf with Ron Rice, James Brock and Joe Manausa every year at the AFC

event. And, I sit on the AFC board with Rick Dauch and Jim Cantelupe among

others.

GoBlackKnights.com: Have you had an opportunity to

talk with Head Coach Rich Ellerson, and if so, what are your initial

impressions?

Rob Healy: Yes, I have spoken with and met Coach

Ellerson a number of times. I am very impressed with everything he is doing.

He is a very smart individual who is extremely cognizant of the history of the

Academy and what has worked and what has not worked. I am very confident he

will be successful at the Academy. I am intimately familiar with what he did at

Cal Poly and I think he is a real winner. I don't think anyone can predict when

and how he will win, but I know he will consistently win at Army.

GoBlackKnights.com: Why do you think Army has

struggled as much as they have over the last decade?

Rob Healy: Others may disagree, but my personal

opinion is that we did not have the right head coach. You can blame it on many

things but Navy and Air Force have won all along with similar schedules. After

the Jim Young/Bob Sutton eras, we lost our way…we went away from proven winning

formulas. I think General Hagenbeck understood this and has been determined to

get back to winning Army Football. I think the hiring of Rich Ellerson is the

precise way to do exactly that.

GoBlackKnights.com: Do you see brighter days ahead

for the Black Knights?

Rob Healy: Yes I do. I feel this very strongly.

Sometimes, you just know that a guy is special and is going to get it done.

Rich Ellerson will get it done. I truly believe that in the near future,

people will feel differently about Army Football.