It’s almost time for Fall Football Camp! But before we get into the preseason nitty gritty, we at As For Football would like to take a few minutes to introduce our Crew.
Danno E. Cabeza: Editor & Managing Partner
USMA Class: ’95, With Honor We Strive
Cadet Companies: E4, Get Drunk, See Visions, Go Naked! (Plebe & Yearling); E1, Go Vikes! (Cow & Firstie)
Major: European History with an engineering track in Computer Science. Wrote his senior thesis on Britain’s decision to stay in WW2 after the Battle of Dunkirk.
Every Cadet an Athlete: Four years on the Corps Squad Men’s Swim Team (1991 to 1995). Won the 200 Butterfly at Army-Navy three times, Patriot League Champion in the 100 Fly in 1994, Co-Champion in the 200 Fly in 1995. Also played intramural Flickerball and Softball.
Short Bio: Dan was born in San Diego, CA, when his father, a Marine infantry officer, was stationed at Camp Pendleton. The family moved around a lot, but he eventually settled in Stratford, CT, after getting a job as an electrical engineer in Manhattan, New York City.
He’s been married to the former Sally Duffy since December 2002. They have two daughters, Hannah and Emma, and a dog, Faith.
Outside AFF: Dan captains Team RBG in the annual Swim Across the Sound, a major Connecticut-based cancer charity marathon swim. He is the author of a five-star memoir, Swim Bike Run Live Love Repeat (SBRLLR). You can find Dan’s personal blog at Casa Cabeza.
Jordan Horvath: Host of the As For Football Army Football Show
USMA Class: ’18, With Strength We Lead
Cadet Companies: G4 (Plebe); B3 (Yuk and Cow); F2 (Firstie)
Major: Management with Civil Engineering Track
Every Cadet an Athlete: Rabble Rouser (Plebe-Cow); BDE MWR Staff (Firstie)
Short Bio: Jordan is a Florida boy born and raised. He grew up in Orlando, but now lives in Alabama.
At the Academy, Jordan was a Rabble Rouser for three years before becoming the Brigade MRW Gameday Operations Officer. He has famously never watched an Army game from the stands at Michie Stadium. Every game he attended as a cadet, he was on the sidelines either as a Rabble Rouser or as a member of the MRW staff. When not enjoying his sideline pass, he was a frequent flyer at the Firstie Club and remains proud of the fact that he only studied in the library just six times in his 47 month journey.
Outside AFF: Jordan’s hobbies include watching college football, lifting, biking, golf, and spending time at the lake with his wife Morgan.
Rob Robinson: Host of the College Football Roundtable Podcast
USMA Class: ’97, With Pride We Defend
Cadet Companies: C4 (Plebe & Yearling), F1 (Cow & Firstie)
Major: Systems Engineering with a minor in Area Tours
Every Cadet an Athlete: Four years on the Sprint Football Team, plus in the booth with WKDT.
Short Bio: Rob is a tropical Ranger, born and raised in GA. Well, that’s where he calls home since he is an Army brat. Rob retired in 2020, after serving 23 years in the Army (20 years as an Infantryman and 3 as an electronic warfare officer) and with multiple operational deployments.
At the Academy, Rob played 150s Football (now Sprint Football) all four years, and when he was not on the field, he was in the press box covering Army Sports for WKDT. When he was not in his Barracks Room, he was on the road covering some Patriot League Action. He saw his classmates BEAT NAVY many times on the fields of friendly strife.
Outside AFF: Rob’s hobbies include college football, Jiu-Jitsu, and hosting a Veteran Transition Podcast, Philosophy From the Front Line, as well as spending time with Tabitha and their Fur Babies and identifying and transitioning technology to support the warfighter.
James from Brigade Review: AFF Flightleader
USMA Class: ‘19, So Freedom Will Reign
Cadet Companies: A1
Major: Philosophy
Every Cadet an Athlete: Does sitting in the booth with WKDT count? Otherwise, sluggo by definition.
Short Bio: Born in Virginia. Raised in North Jersey. James’ father went to that dirty institution on the Severn, so like Coach Monken, he was brought to the light.
At the Academy, James worked at WKDT where he started a weekly radio show called Brigade Review. As he was excused from drilling to do things like the show, he felt naming it after a full, four-regiment parade was fitting. The show started out tiny, but found its niche updating mostly grads and parents on the less followed Army Sports.
Outside AFF: James is married with two kids. He cross-commissioned and now flies for the Navy.
Omar Rashon Borja: American Conf. Fanboy & Kornacki of Bowls
USMA Class: ’21, Until the Battle is Won
Cadet Companies: I-4 all four years. Go I-Beams!
Major: US History with a track in Systems Engineering. Omar did his thesis on the long process of integration for West Point sports.
Every Cadet an Athlete: Flag football and Flickerball. The creator of the “I-Beam Stack” flag football formation and nicknamed “Borja Mayfield” in flickerball.
Short Bio: Omar was born at Fort Riley, Kansas, to a Signal Corps NCO and an Adjutant General NCO. His parents both left the Army in 2000 when he was one, so he never experienced the Army brat life.
Football has been his love for as long as he can remember. On one fateful Friday night in 2005, he met the love of his life, Army Football. His dad also took him to multiple Holy Cross games over the years, so that explains how he became arguably the biggest non-Catholic Holy Cross fan in America.
Omar is one of the biggest proponents of bowl games and their rich history and meaning for the sport. In high school, he would ask his mom for a subscription to asking TV for Christmas just to watch all the bowl games in December.
Outside AFF: Omar is married to Kimberly Peña and soon to be a father! He volunteers in various capacities at church and does broader college football work for redshirtsports.xyz and on the Hardware Pod YouTube Channel!
Lynn Fern: Photographer & In-Person Interviewer
Collegiate Class: 1996
Major: Business – Howard Jr College/Photography – NYIP
Every Cadet Contributor an Athlete: Rodeo! Capturing memories from the sidelines
Short Bio: Lynn originally hails from a small West Texas town—think Friday Night Lights but now calls the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York home.
Growing up, she cared for and rode horses, competing in youth rodeos throughout her childhood and well into adulthood. Eventually, Lynn traded the quiet country life for the vibrant energy of New York City.
Once a successful part of the Finance Industry specializing in Compliance & Operations, she is now a successful full-time photographer. When not enjoying her passion of DIY Furniture restoration, where her creative talents led her to compete – and win – on HGTV’s Flea Market Flip, she can often be found capturing the excitement of sports at West Point for the Army Black Knights, as well as high school sports, media days, portraits, and events.
Outside AFF: Lynn owns Lynn Fern Photography!
Go Army! Beat Tarleton State!!!
Cover image via USMA Flicker: U.S. Military Academy cadets and Army sports fans cheer on the Army West Point Black Knights as they face the Tulane University Green Wave in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., December 6, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Cadet Noah Murray).
