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MIKE VITI - ARMY'S 2006 BLACK LION
Despite playing with chronically aching knees and a host of other injuries throughout the year, Viti started at fullback in all 12 contests for the Black Knights this season.
The Berwick, Pa. (Berwick H.S.), native underwent arthroscopic knee surgery 10 days prior to the Black Knights' season opener against Arkansas State, but remained a key element of the Black Knights' offense across his junior campaign. He finished the year ranked third on the club in rushing (239) and fourth in pass receiving (13 catches). He averaged 4.3 yards per carry, a figure that listed second among all Black Knight players boasting at least 10 attempts. He also averaged 5.7 yards per catch and stood sixth on team with 74 receiving yards.
Viti, used primarily as a blocker most of the season, assumed a heavier workload during Army's season-ending date against Navy. He responded with a career high 57 yards rushing yards on 15 attempts (also a career best). Both figures topped the team. Two days earlier, Viti had been presented with the Black Lion Award, given annually in memory of former Army football great Don Holleder, who was killed in combat in Vietnam on Oct. 17, 1967, and the men of the 28th Infantry Regiment (nicknamed the "Black Lions"), who died with him that day.
The Black Lion Award is presented to the player "who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self sacrifice, and - above all - an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself."
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December 02, 2006
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The timing was anything but convenient for Mike Viti, the Army fullback and former Berwick standout. Just 10 days before the Black Knights were to open their season back in September, Viti underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
But Viti returned in time for the opener and went on to start all 11 games for the academy on the season. On Thursday, the junior was rewarded for his leadership and dedication, receiving the prestigious Black Lion Award.
Viti, who has averaged a team-high 4.6 yards a carry this season, became the first non-senior to win the award, which is given in honor of former Army great Don Holleder, who was killed in combat in Vietnam following a standout football career.
The award is intended to go to the player 'Who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self sacrifice, and - above all - an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself.'
'The coaches had to go through about four rounds of voting because there were so many worthy candidates for this award,' Army coach Bobby Ross said in a release. 'But we got the vote right. Mike is very deserving of this award. He is the perfect choice to receive the Black Lion Award in my mind.'
Viti will wear a patch representing it during today's Army-Navy Classic at 2:35 p.m.
Copyright © 2006 Wilkes Barre, PA Times Leader, All Rights Reserved
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Army football coach Bobby Ross announced following Wednesday's practice that Army's 2006 Black Lion is Mike Viti (pronounced VEE-tee) . I couldn't be more pleased. In a season that hasn't always gone as the Cadets had hoped, Mike, a 5-10, 245 pound fullback from a storied high school football program in Berwick, Pennsylvania, has been a consistent tower of strength. ESPN commentator and former coach Bill Curry made special note throughout the season of Mike's blocking, and on the few occasions that he has carried the ball (whatever happened to giving the ball to the fullback, anyhow?) Mike has been a load to bring down. He's not a bad receiver, either. But mainly, Mike Viti is a blocker, and even against Texas A & M and Notre Dame, he has been a force.
Let me put this in a way coaches will understand - Mike Viti is a STUD.
All season long, my friend Doc Hinger and I have remarked that based on what we saw on the field, Mike Viti would have been our Black Lion, but you can't make that selection based only on what you see on the game field - the Black Lion has to be a special guy on and off the field, including practices.
It was with great pleasure that I learned that in the opinion of his coaches Mike Viti is as good a team man as he is a player.
Mike follows Will Sullivan and Scott Wesley as previous Army Black Lion Award winners, and he is the first non-senior chosen for the award, which is selected annually by the coaching staff just prior to the Navy contest.
Mike underwent arthroscopic knee surgery 10 days prior to the Black Knights' season opener against Arkansas State, but despite playing with chronically aching knees and a number of other injuries throughout the season, he started all 12 games. Third on the club in rushing and fourth in pass receiving, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry, and 6.1 yards per catch.
"We had a very difficult decision to make as a coaching staff," said Army head coach Bobby Ross. "The coaches had to go through about four rounds of voting because there were so many worthy candidates for this award. But we got the vote right. Mike is very deserving of this award. He is the perfect choice to receive the Black Lion Award in my mind."
Look for Mike, #33, in Saturday's Army-Navy game. He'll be wearing the Black Lions patch on his jersey. Navy has won the last four games, and is heavily favored to make it five in a row, but if every Army player gives it the same effort as Mike Viti will, the game could go either way.

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From the POINTER VIEW, official newspaper of the West Point Community
Story by Eric S. Bartelt Sports Editor
Twenty-nine Army seniors walked onto Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Saturday to play the last game of their collegiate football careers. But, only one was chosen to wear the Black Lion patch against Navy.
Senior fullback Mike Viti was notified two days before the game that he won the honor of wearing the Black Lion patch. The Black Lion Award is presented in memory of former Army football great Don Holleder, who was killed in combat in Vietnam Oct. 17, 1967, and the men of the 28th Infantry Regiment [nicknamed the "Black Lions"], who died with him that day. The award is intended to go to the player "who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self sacrifice and -- above all -- an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself."
"It's a great honor," Viti said. "It means a lot more than just football … I [was] very proud to represent the team … and more proud to represent the Holleder family."
The rugged, hard-nosed 5'10", 242-pound chiseled back was chosen by Army head football coach Bobby Ross and the coaching staff. Ross felt there were many worthy candidates for the award, but decided, in the end, that Viti was the perfect choice to receive the Black Lion Award. "It's an outstanding award," Ross said. "That award is one of the most prestigious awards to be given at West Point [and to] our football team. It's in honor of Don Holleder, who was a great, great player … he was a great player, a great inspiration to us all and Mike earned that award."
Holleder was an All-American end as a junior at West Point in 1954 and appeared headed for a more successful senior season before head coach Earl "Red" Blaik approached him the following spring to play the quarterback position for the 1955 season. According to Army athletic communications officials, Blaik knew that Holleder had never played the position before, but felt his team's best all-around athlete could learn to handle the ball well. In what became known as the "Great Experiment" or "Blaik's Folly," Holleder struggled at times at quarterback during the season, but engineered a season-ending 14- 6 upset of heavily-favored Navy.
Viti, as the team's fullback, has played second fiddle to many running backs over the past four years, but he got his chance in the limelight Saturday as he got the most carries of any Army ball carrier with 15 rushes for 57 yards. "Viti did a hell of a job [Saturday] and has all year long," Ross said. "We wanted him to be a work horse for us."
Viti took the notoriety of being the main ball carrier with a modest demeanor knowing that any one of the team's running backs could have carried the load versus Navy. "It's not about me. It's whatever I can do," Viti said. "Each guy has an important role when I'm carrying the ball … but there are 10 other guys out there fighting just as hard."
Holleder fought hard during his military career until the fateful day when he was second in command in a savage battle between the 1st Infantry Division and the Viet Cong. He assumed control of the troops after battalion commander, Col.Terry de la MesaAllen Jr., was killed during the early stages of the skirmish. Holleder and several other Soldiers boarded a helicopter and flew over the area of conflict. After viewing wounded in the field, Holleder ordered the chopper to land. Holleder raced into the heat of the battle in an attempt to recover wounded men, but was killed by enemy sniper fire.
The Black Lion Award is presented with the approval of the 28th Infantry Association and the permission of Holleder's former wife, Caroline. Viti is the third Army player to receive the award joining Will Sullivan (2004) and Scott Wesley (2005).

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