Over the past 72 hours for the Army Black Knights football program, along with the United States Military Academy at West Point itself -- the vibe is almost a scene or even the theme from Charles Dickens ‘A Tale of Two Cites’.

The team is engaged in their best start (2-0) since the 1990’s and from their ‘high’ post-game celebration after the win versus Rice on Saturday to their ‘lowest of low’ when the players and the academy was told of the death of sophomore cornerback Brandon Jackson ... it has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least.

As tragic as the death of the Queens, New York native has been to his family, the academy, as well as the Army football brotherhood from players, to coaches to equipment personnel to the strength & conditioning coaches to all involved ... this team that already has played with controlled swagger and by the way, no one else demonstrated that more on the field than Mr. Jackson.

Well, those same group of players and coaches understand that despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding them, they are scheduled to lace them up and strap it on at 7pm EST versus UTEP on the road in El Paso, Texas.

During Saturday’s game against Rice, GoBlackKnights.com Sideline Reporter Maddy Daugherty had the opportunity to chat with Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy. Truly, those same poetic words that he shared to describe the Black Knights team's performance in the first two game of this season, they will surely carry this program into their contest versus UTEP and throughout the season ... despite having heavy hearts for their fallen brother, Brandon Jackson.

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