McAda believes program is going in right direction

When Ronnie McAda reminisces about his undergrad days as an Army football player, the most memorable moments never waver.

And like most players and coaches, it is the losses that remain most vivid.

There was that 28-27 loss to Notre Dame, the 1995 game at Giants Stadium in which Army went for a two-point conversion at the end of the game and failed.

There was the 1996 Independence Bowl in Louisiana, when they entered the fourth quarter down 32-7, rallied to within 32-29, reached the Auburn 10 with 33 seconds to play and wound up having to settle for a field goal.

What they settled for was a near-miss, as the field goal attempt went wide right.

His three years at quarterback did not lack for success. His sophomore year they beat Navy 22-20. His junior year they beat Navy 14-13, and his senior year, with him rushing for a career-high 134 yards, Army again beat Navy, 28-24.

The Black Knights won a school-record 10 games his senior year, their only regular season loss coming at Syracuse, as Donovan McNabb led the Liberty Bowl-bound Orange to a 42-17 victory.

He continues to follow the West Point football team, though from a distance, near his home where he attended high school in Mesquite, Texas.

Now, 36, McAda is well aware that it's been 14 years since Army posted a winning record. "It's crazy,'' he said. "Absolutely crazy."

"But they have some good players there now. What they needed was a good coach who understood the Academy and what kind of football needed to be played there. They have that now.''

McAda met Army coach Rich Ellerson last year when Army played at North Texas. The former player introduced the new coach when he (Ellerson) made time to speak to the Dallas West Point Society.

"I had lunch with him,'' McAda said. "He's a good guy. I like him.''

Football in the blood

Football never strayed from McAda. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1999, following two years of active duty at both Fort Sill and Fort Hood. He joined the National Guard in order to pursue professional football.

Released by the Packers, he went on to sign with the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, where he was then traded to the Berlin Thunder. He wound up playing with two former Army teammates, 1995 team captain Jim Cantelupe and 1996 team captain Ron Leshinski.

A torn rotator cuff led to surgery in 2000, a year after he made his one and only appearance in the NFL during a preseason game against Miami.

He returned to Texas and began working in his dad's used car business, but the following year the Denver Broncos invited him to camp. Although he hadn't thrown a football in, as he put it, "forever,'' he had a good tryout and signed a one-year contract.

Three months later his shoulder popped and his playing days were over. "My one preseason game was the highlight of my NFL career,'' he joked. "The game was at Lambeau Field , and me and Brett Favre ran out together and the crowd went nuts. I looked up at the jumbotron and they had a picture of he and I out on the field. I remember thinking, "Man, that's pretty sweet.' ''

These days the father of three - two boys (9 and 7) and a girl (3) - owns an alternative investment company, the president of McAda Management.

He is also the president of a youth football league, which includes teams across Dallas. He coaches his oldest son's team. "They're both quarterbacks,'' he said, "but I don't think they'll have the height. But they have the heart and the passion to play.''

No surprise that the former Cadet has tried to inject an option play or two for the youngsters. "But we do run the military, Army-style offense,'' he said with a laugh. "We pound the ball down your throat. We make you stop us and we don't think you can, so we're just gonna pound it on you.''

Some things never change

McAda still holds the single season record for completion percentage (.632 in '96). He is in the top ten for career passing yards (2,333), number of pass completions (162), and is ranked 14th in school history for most rushing yards (1,703).

He is 6th in total offense with 4,036 yards.

Twice in his career he passed for more than 200 yards in a game; 257 vs. the Citadel as a sophomore, and 225 vs. Duke as a junior.

The Black Knights have a bye this week and have to deal with a 4-3 record after an overtime loss to Rutgers, a game in which they outplayed their opponent and should have won.

As McAda well knows, no matter the final scores, West Point is about a lot more than the game he loves. "I learned a lot of different things when I was there. Mostly discipline,'' he said.

"How to take care of yourself, how to handle yourself in certain situations; and anytime you own your own business, everything falls on your lap. You're responsible for everything.

"You have to get yourself out of bed and go to work. You don't have a boss looking over your shoulder - except for my wife,'' he cracked. "At West Point you learn about life, how to treat people, a work ethic, and playing Army football you learn passion and skills that you may not learn at other places.''

McAda knows those elements have been instilled in today's players, and believes those who are now coming to West Point to play football will soon have similar memories.

Not just close defeats, but, as it was 14 years ago, winning seasons and bowl games.