Collin Mooney
Encyclopedia
Collin Karl Mooney is a former American college football
fullback for the Army Black Knights
of the United States Military Academy
. Mooney is West Point's all-time single-season rushing leader with 1,339 yards. In the last play of the 2008 Army-Navy Game
, his final college game, he bested Mike Mayweather's record by a single yard.
to Chuck and Kris Mooney. In high school, Mooney played on both sides of the ball as a fullback
and linebacker
. He was a three-year letterwinner in football and earned All-Academic team honors all four years. Mooney also played baseball and belonged to the National Honor Society
.
Mooney first played in the 2006 season and saw action in nine games, including a role on special teams. In 2007, Mooney played as a back-up in all 12 games.
In 2008, Mooney ran for a record 1,339 yards in 12 games. In an overtime loss against Buffalo
, Mooney rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns including an 81-yard touchdown run. For his performance against the Bulls, who went on to beat undefeated Ball State
for the MAC
championship, Mooney was honored with a "helmet sticker" by ESPN. In a loss at Rice
, Mooney picked up 61 yards in a touchdown run. Mooney scored four touchdowns in the 44–13 victory over Tulane
. For this, he was bestowed West Point's Black Death Award
for "near perfect play", named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week, and nominated for the AT&T
All-America Player of the Week honors.
In the last play of his final game for West Point, the 2008 Army-Navy Game
, Mooney beat the old school record for single-season rushing by one yard, setting the new record at 1,339 yards. The record was previously held by Mike Mayweather, who still holds the West Point record for career rushing. Army defensive coordinator John Mumford caused some controversy earlier in the season when he stated that "Collin Mooney is probably better than any Navy
fullback we've ever faced. Not to compliment Navy, but that's a compliment to Collin."
Mooney played for the East squad in the 2009 East-West Shrine Game
. He will likely serve a minimum two years as an Army officer before being granted a release to play professional football, with Caleb Campbell
being a precedent the year prior.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
fullback for the Army Black Knights
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. Mooney is West Point's all-time single-season rushing leader with 1,339 yards. In the last play of the 2008 Army-Navy Game
Army-Navy Game
The Army–Navy Game is an an American college football rivalry game between the teams of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. The USMA team, "Army", and the USNA team, "Navy", each represent their services' oldest...
, his final college game, he bested Mike Mayweather's record by a single yard.
Early years
Collin Mooney was born in Katy, TexasKaty, Texas
Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area...
to Chuck and Kris Mooney. In high school, Mooney played on both sides of the ball as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He was a three-year letterwinner in football and earned All-Academic team honors all four years. Mooney also played baseball and belonged to the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
.
College career
In 2008, Mooney ran for a record 1,339 yards in 12 games. In an overtime loss against Buffalo
Buffalo Bulls football
The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first...
, Mooney rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns including an 81-yard touchdown run. For his performance against the Bulls, who went on to beat undefeated Ball State
Ball State Cardinals football
The Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Mid-American Conference .-Recent history:...
for the MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
championship, Mooney was honored with a "helmet sticker" by ESPN. In a loss at Rice
Rice Owls football
The Rice Owls football team represents Rice University in NCAA Division I college football. The Owls have competed in Conference USA's Western Division since 2005. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games.-Venue:...
, Mooney picked up 61 yards in a touchdown run. Mooney scored four touchdowns in the 44–13 victory over Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
. For this, he was bestowed West Point's Black Death Award
Black Death Award
The Black Death Award is an individual honor awarded to college football players at the United States Military Academy who distinguish themselves during a game. It is presented to players only in the case of "exceptional, near perfect play."The award was first instituted by Army coach Jim Young in...
for "near perfect play", named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week, and nominated for the AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
All-America Player of the Week honors.
Army-Navy Game
The Army–Navy Game is an an American college football rivalry game between the teams of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. The USMA team, "Army", and the USNA team, "Navy", each represent their services' oldest...
, Mooney beat the old school record for single-season rushing by one yard, setting the new record at 1,339 yards. The record was previously held by Mike Mayweather, who still holds the West Point record for career rushing. Army defensive coordinator John Mumford caused some controversy earlier in the season when he stated that "Collin Mooney is probably better than any Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
fullback we've ever faced. Not to compliment Navy, but that's a compliment to Collin."
Mooney played for the East squad in the 2009 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
. He will likely serve a minimum two years as an Army officer before being granted a release to play professional football, with Caleb Campbell
Caleb Campbell
Caleb Matthew Campbell is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is also a lieutenant in the United States Army. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
being a precedent the year prior.
Statistics
| Army | Rushing | Receiving | Returning | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Att | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD | Kick | Yds | Lg | TD | |||
| 2006 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2007 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 2.6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 45 | 9.0 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2008 | 12 | 231 | 1,339 | 5.8 | 81 | 8 | 9 | 59 | 6.6 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career | 33 | 237 | 1,361 | 5.7 | 81 | 9 | 14 | 104 | 7.4 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 76 | 21 | 0 | |||
External links
- Army's Workhorse Has Plowed the Opposition, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, December 1, 2008. - Mooney blossoms at Army, The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, December 3, 2008. - One uniform for another, Houston ChronicleHouston ChronicleThe Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, January 16, 2009. - Gleason: Army FB Mooney is the one who didn't get away, Times Herald-RecordTimes Herald-RecordThe Times Herald-Record, often referred to as The Record or Middletown Record in its coverage area, is a daily newspaper published in Middletown, New York, covering the northwest suburbs of New York City. It covers Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties in New York; Pike County in Pennsylvania; and...
, October 16, 2008. - Mooney sets rushing record as Army falls to Navy, The Mountaineer, December 11, 2008.