What Navy fans need to know as the Mids dip down into the Football Championship Subdivision in search of their first win. Who, where, when: Virginia Military Institute (1-2) at Navy (0-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Eastern. TV: CBS Sports Network (Grant Boone and Todd Christensen have the call). Series: Navy’s never lost to VMI (8-0). Trey and turnovers: VMI may not be a top-tier opponent, but mistakes don’t discriminate — Navy will need to control the football to avoid an upset. Both Washington papers, Post and Times, seized on the scariest stat for Navy fans: The Mids are dead last…
Browsing: Navy football
Four quick hits from Saturday’s games, which saw Army and Navy both fall to 0-2 on the season. 1. P.J.’s big day. We told you about Penn State senior/enlisted Navy diver P.J. Byers last week, and while the officer candidate didn’t play during Saturday’s 34-7 win over Navy, he was part of Penn State’s Military Appreciation Day tribute. Byers carried the American flag onto the Beaver Stadium turf in the above picture, served as a game captain and was honored in a second-half ceremony along with teammate and former Marine Brent Smith, a freshman who also didn’t see action. While…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpnYOZZqNFg[/youtube] One’s an aspiring Navy officer. One’s a former Marine. This week, one will be running Navy’s triple option in his sleep, the other will be coming off the defensive edge, aiming at Penn State ball carriers. Their goal? Get PSU ready to earn its first win of the season Saturday when the Nittany Lions host the Midshipmen. Instead of attending Annapolis, senior fullback/Navy diver P.J. Byers began his path toward a commission by enlisting after his high school graduation. After a delayed entry and stops in Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii and San Diego, Byers applied to become an officer. Once…
Five quick hits for an 0-2 weekend of service academy football: 1. Yes, it’s that bad. Army’s 42-7 loss at San Diego State on Saturday wasn’t the worst in opening-day performance in school history — but it was the Black Knights’ worst start since falling to Boston College 44-7 in 2005. And Navy’s 50-10 demolition at the hands of Notre Dame on Sept. 1 wasn’t the worst opening-day loss in Annapolis history — Navy fell 53-0 to Virginia in 1992. But when it comes to both schools struggling at the same time, this year’s combined minus-75 point differential to start…
Ten quick hits after a two-continent service academy football opening weekend (events on some continents ended better than others): 1. Despite the on-field outcome, the Navy flight home came with a pleasant surprise: a “water salute” from the workers at Washington Dulles International Airport. Click the link for a picture and to read a few positive comments in the wake of a less-than-positive final score. 2. Not every airport tale is a good one. Check out this horror story from Philly.com about fans headed to Dublin who had their flight delayed, then canceled, then rescheduled for the day of the…
We’re at the end of the countdown. Let’s celebrate: A day before Notre Dame takes on Navy, here’s a picture all Annapolis fans can appreciate. Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, center, leads the celebration after Navy’s 46-44 triple-overtime win over Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Nov. 3, 2007. The victory broke a Notre Dame win streak stretching back to 1963 (and this guy). The 2007 season would be head coach Paul Johnson’s last in Annapolis, with assistant coach Ken Niumatalolo taking over for the season-ending loss to Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl and holding the job ever since. Navy and…
First, Navy senior wideout Brandon Turner was out for failing the academy’s fitness test. Then he was back in. Now, according to multiple reports, he’ll miss the season opener against Notre Dame in Dublin on Saturday. Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo announced the one-game suspension of last year’s leading wideout, calling it an “in-house deal, a family deal” and offering no further information. Niumatalolo previously had said Turner wouldn’t start against the Irish; he’s listed third on the most recent Navy depth chart, released Aug. 23. Junior Matt Aiken, another projected starter at wideout, went down during the annual Blue-Gold…
Your Tuesday morning reading list, in three parts, as we come closer to kickoff: 1. Navy in the news. A big week for the Mids continues as the team prepares to fly to Ireland tomorrow. The season-opening Dublin tilt against Notre Dame has drawn extensive media coverage. Among the highlights: The Washington Times looks at Navy starting quarterback Trey Miller’s growth into a leadership role; CBSSports.com examines the Notre Dame running back situation after Cierre Wood’s suspension; and The Associated Press offers its preview — get that, and all your Navy news, here. 2. Navy on the tube. CBS will…
Five football updates as the season approaches. Count down with us, won’t you? 1. Falcons on the Web. Don’t bother checking your local listings for the Air Force-Idaho State game Sept. 1: It’ll be available online-only after talks broke off with a regional sports network, according to The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Last year’s opener against South Dakota State was broadcast, along with many of the Falcons’ contests, on The Mtn., a regional sports network that went off the air earlier this year. Air Force will continue to pursue broadcast deals for two other home games without TV clearance, according…
Some rapid-fire Friday military sports links. Get your mouse ready. Hurley’s huge day. Naval Academy graduate Billy Hurley III shot an opening-round 2-under-par 69 on Thursday at the AT&T National outside Washington, D.C., putting him two behind the leader entering today’s play. Follow the leaderboard here. Key quote from Hurley on why he’s not bothered by the D.C. area heat: “It was 110 in the shade in the Persian Gulf.” More golf. Stay tuned to After Action and the Military Times websites over the weekend for updates from the AT&T National, a military-friendly affair. Prefer watching the old guys? Click…