PHILADELPHIA » It didn't take long for Army football coach Stan Brock to realize he had reached a desperate hour in the storied Black Knights program.

When named coach on Jan. 29, 2007, Brock needed only one look to see the once legendary Army program was struggling. To make matters worse for the corps, West Point academic officials, the brass in Washington, alumni and followers demanded change. No one associated with Army football was satisfied with the status quo.

This is a program with one winning season since 1993. Officials brought in Bobby Ross, who once captured a national championship, but he could win only nine games in three years. Brock was then given the burden to revive a program steeped in history, glory and tradition.

In his first campaign at West Point last year, Brock did no better than Ross as the Black Knights dropped nine of their scheduled 12 games, including the Navy contest. In fact, Army (3-8) has not defeated Navy (7-4) since a 26-17 win in 2001. That's six straight losses, something not sitting terribly well with the faithful.

Enough is enough, Brock thought. He decided that in order for Army to regain past glory he needed to take a page from the Navy playbook.

“;We had to make a change,”; Brock said. “;We decided to go with the option, and that's who we are.”;

The centerpiece of Brock's new attack is senior fullback Collin Mooney. A blocking back last season, Mooney was given the responsibility to carry the offensive load. As the main option, and some will say the only option in Brock's scheme, Mooney, a bruising 5-foot-10 247-pounder out of Katy, Texas, has nearly rewritten the Army record books.

Coming into the Navy game tomorrow at Lincoln Financial Field, Mooney is 11th in the nation in rushing and needs 54 yards against the Mids to set the Army single-season rushing record. That mark is currently held by Mike Mayweather, who picked up 1,338 yards in 1990. Neither legendary Doc Blanchard nor Glenn Davis gained 1,000 yards in any of their seasons at West Point.

“;We've put this thing on Collin's shoulders, and he's answered the bell,”; Brock said. “;It's just phenomenal what he has done. He's accomplished this with style and class.”;

By contrast, Mooney carried the ball only five times last season for 13 yards and once, as a sophomore, in 2006.

Though the Army record remains within Mooney's reach, Brock indicated the mark means little compared to the game itself.

“;If Collin gets 3 yards and we win, that's all he cares about,”; the coach added. “;The record carries little importance. It's all about beating Navy, and that's something his class has not done.”;

Army center Trey Miranne, a 6-foot, 273-pound senior is another key component in the option attack. The fifth-year man rallied from a bad ankle injury in 2006 to become what Brock believes is the power and force up front.

Complementing Mooney in the option is quarterback Chip Bowden, a 6-foot, 218-pound sophomore from Plant City, Fla. It took Brock three games into the season to settle on Bowden, and the results are positive.

While Mooney has gained 1,289 yards on 214 carries with a team-high eight touchdowns, Bowden is second in rushing with 688 yards on 180 carries and one score. Wesley McMahand, a 5-5, 177-pound senior from Charlotte, N. C., rounds out the option attack with 313 rushing yards on 39 carries and two touchdowns.