The Army ROTC flag football team has now picked up their fourth straight loss in the WCU Intramural Flag Football League. They are now 0-4 on the season after having to forfeit their previous game to Team Extreme on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Although this Army ROTC team has gotten off to a slow start, they do not seem rattled. True freshman Andrew Tsygan had this to say on the losses: “We’re a tough team, mentally and physically. We’ve lost a couple close games, but I have faith in our guys. We’ll be a threat come playoff time.”
Although Tsygan might be a little over-confident when talking about his team, he isn’t far off when talking about their close losses. Other then the forfeit, the Army ROTC team lost their first three games by a combined 24 points. They have scored at least 24 points in each of the games they have played, tallying 41 points against the currently undefeated PIKE 1 in week 3.
Prior to 2012, out of the 183 NFL teams to start 0-4, only one of those teams (1992 Chargers) went on to make the postseason. And if this were the NFL that statistic would be relevant. Seeing that this isn’t the NFL, a team in the WCU Flag Football League only needs a 3.0 sportsmanship rating to make the playoffs, and the Army ROTC team looks to be in good shape with a 3.5 rating so far. Led by Andrew Tsygan, this team should not be taken lightly the rest of the way. “It’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish” said Tsygan. “The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.”
The Army ROTC team is probably one of the more mentally tough teams in the league. I wouldn’t bet against them come playoff time, when it really counts. As the season progresses and this team gains more experience, don’t be surprised to see them move up in the standings. This team is on a mission. The Army ROTC team expects to be in some more close games, and the vibe around the team is that they are more than up for the challenge.
The flag football playoffs begin on Sunday Oct. 18. Look for the ROTC team to grab its first win in the playoff.
Ferris Berlin is a first-year student accounting major and can be reached at FB845767@wcupa.edu.