<p>Army's '07 football schedule filled with bowl teams
Army football coach Bobby Ross says he welcomes the Black Knights' 2007 schedule.</p>
<p>Oh, really. Some top 25 teams might be intimidated by Army's challenging slate this fall.</p>
<p>The Black Knights will take on seven teams that qualified for bowl games this past season, including Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, who played for the Atlantic Coast Conference title. The other bowl teams include Boston College, Central Michigan, Rutgers, Tulsa and Navy.</p>
<p>Those teams combined for a 68-26 record last year.</p>
<p>Army went 3-9 and hasn't had a winning season since 1996.</p>
<p>"It's obviously a very tough schedule, but the kind we welcome playing," Ross said. "It will be another good test by which to judge our football program. In my mind, this is an attractive schedule to not only our fans, but to the young people we are recruiting."</p>
<p>"I can tell you this, I inherited this schedule," Army athletic director Kevin Anderson said when asked why slumping Army has three ACC teams on its schedule. "If I had my druthers, we would have spread out some of these (tough) games. But I know myself, coach Ross and the young people on this team look forward to the challenge. We think we can be competitive."</p>
<p>Here is a look at the Black Knights' schedule.</p>
<p>Sept. 1: at Akron</p>
<p>2006 record: 5-7</p>
<p>The intel: A winnable game to open the season. The Black Knights lost at Arkansas State 14-6 to open last season and haven't won a season opener since 1996.</p>
<p>Sept. 8: Rhode Island</p>
<p>2006 record: 4-7</p>
<p>The intel: A Division I-AA team, at home. It's a must win. Rhode Island gave up an average of 41 points per game last season.</p>
<p>Sept. 15: at Wake Forest</p>
<p>2006 record: 11-3 (finished No. 18 in AP poll)</p>
<p>The intel: Good luck. Wake Forest, once an Atlantic Coast Conference doormat, won the ACC title in 2006. The Demon Deacons lost to Louisville 24-13 in the Orange Bowl.</p>
<p>Sept. 22: at Boston College</p>
<p>2006 record: 10-3 (No. 20 in AP poll)</p>
<p>The intel: Some Black Knights might actually want to pat Boston College on the back. The Eagles scored a shocking come-from-behind 25-24 win over Army rival Navy in the Meineke Car Care Bowl this year. You know Army loved that. If only the Black Knights could play Boston College as close.</p>
<p>Sept. 29: Temple</p>
<p>2006 record: 1-11</p>
<p>The intel: Temple wasn't supposed to be on the schedule until 2009, but after Army athletic director Kevin Anderson talked with MAC officials, the game was moved up. Good move. The Owls are 8-50 over the last five seasons.</p>
<p>Oct. 6: Tulane</p>
<p>2006 record: 4-8</p>
<p>The intel: Two in a row for Army? Could be. Tulane is coming off a rough season and fired coach Chris Scelfo, replacing him with former UCLA coach Bob Toledo. Tulane beat Army 42-28 last season in the Louisiana Superdome.</p>
<p>Oct. 13: at Central Michigan</p>
<p>2006 record: 10-4</p>
<p>The intel: It isn't the ACC, but Central Michigan won a conference last year: Mid-American Conference. Central Michigan beat Middle Tennessee State 31-14 in the Motor City Bowl.</p>
<p>Oct. 20: at Georgia Tech</p>
<p>2006 record: 9-5 (received 8 votes in AP poll)</p>
<p>The intel: Most fans at Georgia Tech will never forget Bobby Ross. He's a legend in Atlanta, having led the Yellow Jackets to an 11-0-1 record and a co-national championship in 1990.</p>
<p>Let the lovefest begin, at least, until kickoff. Georgia Tech lost to West Virginia 38-35 in the Gator Bowl.</p>
<p>Nov. 3: at Air Force</p>
<p>2006 record: 4-8</p>
<p>The intel: How's this for motivation: Air Force beat Army 43-7 last season at Michie Stadium and, even better, Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney predicted a 49-7 win entering the game. Troy Calhoun takes over as Air Force coach, replacing Fisher DeBerry, who resigned after 23 years.</p>
<p>Nov. 9: Rutgers</p>
<p>2006 record: 11-2 (No. 12 in AP poll)</p>
<p>The intel: About five years ago, Army and Rutgers were regarded on just about the same level. Not anymore.</p>
<p>The Scarlet Knights defeated Kansas State 37-10 in the Texas Bowl.</p>
<p>Rutgers running back Ray Rice is expected to be a Heisman Trophy candidate again this season.</p>
<p>Nov. 17: Tulsa</p>
<p>2006 record: 8-5</p>
<p>The intel: The good news? Tulsa's Steve Kragthorpe, regarded as one of the best young coaches in the business, took the job at Louisville earlier this month.</p>
<p>The bad news? Todd Graham, who orchestrated Rice's 48-14 dismantling of Army last season, took over at Tulsa.</p>
<p>Tulsa lost to Utah 25-13 in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.</p>
<p>Dec. 1: Navy (at Baltimore)</p>
<p>2006 record: 9-4</p>
<p>The intel: Army has lost five in a row to Navy by a combined score of 202-68, losing 26-14 this past season.</p>
<p>2007 Army football schedule
Sept. 1 at Akron</p>
<p>Sept. 8 Rhode Island</p>
<p>Sept. 15 at Wake Forest </p>
<p>Sept. 22 at Boston College</p>
<p>Sept. 29 Temple</p>
<p>Oct. 6 Tulane</p>
<p>Oct. 13 at Central Michigan</p>
<p>Oct. 20 at Georgia Tech</p>
<p>Nov. 3 at Air Force</p>
<p>Nov. 9 Rutgers </p>
<p>Nov. 17 Tulsa </p>
<p>Dec. 1 Navy*</p>
<ul>
<li>- at Baltimore, Md.</li>
</ul>
<p>Times are TBA</p>