Navy Accepts Invitation To Play In The Meineke Car Care Bowl

Colleges & Universities United States Naval Academy (USNA)
81

<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson’s Comments Following Practice On Monday, Dec. 18</p>

<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Bob Socci (Navy Radio), Ron Snyder (Baltimore Examiner)</p>

<p>Wagner: You seem a little perturbed. Can I ask you why?</p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah, we didn¹t practice very well.</p>

<p>Wagner: You had told me originally that you would only go full pads the first couple of days, but it looks like you are going to do a little more full pad work.</p>

<p>Johnson: Yep. We will probably go full pads every day right up to the game.</p>

<p>Wagner: Why is that?</p>

<p>Johnson: We haven¹t exactly practiced the way I thought we should.</p>

<p>Snyder: Anything in particular you¹re seeing?</p>

<p>Johnson: We are lackadaisical and have no focus. Other than that it¹s been OK.</p>

<p>Wagner: Does hitting wake them up a little bit?</p>

<p>Johnson: I don¹t know. It hasn¹t yet, but it makes me feel better. I can¹t him them, but they can hit each other.</p>

<p>Wagner: Do you think making four bowl games in a row has made them lackadaisical? Are they taking this for granted?</p>

<p>Johnson: I don¹t know. You would hope not.</p>

<p>Wagner: Have you started putting in the game plan?</p>

<p>Johnson: Oh yeah, we are well into it. We¹ve got the game plan; it¹s just the question of executing it.</p>

<p>Wagner: Are the scouts at least giving you a good look?</p>

<p>Johnson: They are about like everybody else. They are going through the motions too. Some are better than others.</p>

<p>Snyder: Are you talking all aspects? Offense, defense and special teams?</p>

<p>Johnson: The defense was probably a little better than the offense today. I wasn¹t over there much so it¹s hard to say.</p>

<p>Wagner: Do you think the layoff is to blame?</p>

<p>Johnson: That has nothing to do with it. I thought maybe last week with finals and all that but that¹s no excuse today.</p>

<p>Wagner: What will happen if they practice in Charlotte after Christmas break the way they¹ve practiced here?</p>

<p>Johnson: They will get embarrassed.</p>

<p>Wagner: There isn¹t much time to correct it once you get to Charlotte.</p>

<p>Johnson: No, if they don¹t show up ready to play we will all get embarrassed. It will be really bad. Maybe that¹s what it will take.</p>

<p>Snyder: You can¹t just show up against Boston College and expect to win.</p>

<p>Johnson: I¹ve got news for you. We don¹t have anybody on our schedule where we can just show up and beat.</p>

<p>Wagner: Do you know Frank Spaziani at all?</p>

<p>Johnson: Not really. I know who he is, enough to say hello to him.</p>

<p>Wagner: Apparently he enjoyed his time at Navy.</p>

<p>Johnson: I¹m sure he did. It¹s a good place to coach.</p>

<p>Snyder: What are your thoughts on where your program is now compared to where it was the last time you played Boston College in 2002?</p>

<p>Johnson: I think we are better than we were in 2002 and so are they. I¹m not real sure they aren¹t the best team in the ACC.</p>

82

<p>Published in today’s Charlotte Observer:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/colleges/16275131.htm[/url]”>http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/colleges/16275131.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

83

<p>Fullback tandem ready to set tone for Midshipmen in bowl game</p>

<p>Published in today’s Annapolis Capital:</p>

<p><a href=“Real Estate – Capital Gazette”>Real Estate – Capital Gazette;

<p>

</p>

84

<p>On 2 December in Philadelphia the Naval Academy football team continued its success in the historic Army-Navy series. The win made Navy’s senior class the first in team history to finish 8-0 against Army and Air Force. All aspects of our efforts to develop future combat leaders were seen first hand by a sold out stadium and a national television audience. The Brigade of Midshipmen proudly returned to Annapolis with the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy secure in Bancroft Hall for our 4th straight year!</p>

<p>Now, we are focused on the upcoming Meineke Car Care Bowl game in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to our desire to beat the Eagles of Boston College, we also want to “Fire It Up” with our Alumni, Sailors and Marines on the East Coast. The Bowl appearance is about more than Navy football – it’s about telling the great story of our Navy and Marine Corps, in an exciting venue and on national television.</p>

<p>While ticket sales are on a strong pace, we need your help to fill Bank of America Stadium with Navy fans. Buying your tickets through the Naval Academy Athletic Association ( <a href=“http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D”>www.navysports.com</a> or 1-800-US4-NAVY) gets you the best seats at the best price, helps support the Brigade and allows you to sit and cheer with thousands of Navy fans. We also want you to know that you have the opportunity to donate tickets for our midshipmen as well as our Sailors and Marines.</p>

<p>Join us for the Pep Rally on 29 December, the 4th Annual “World’s Largest Navy Tailgate” on 30 December at 10 a.m. and, of course, a great game of Navy football!</p>

<p>I encourage you to come to the game to display blue & gold, support the Navy team, or, if you can’t attend, donate a ticket so a Midshipman, Sailor, Marine, Soldier, or Airman can cheer Navy on to victory. Be a part of something much bigger than yourself * support Navy football! Go Navy!</p>

<p>VADM Rodney P. Rempt '66
Superintendent</p>

85

<p>By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Associated Press Sports
Updated: 6:03 a.m. ET Dec 19, 2006</p>

<p>Boston College owns the nation’s longest bowl winning streak at six games, but won’t have its coach around as it tries to make it seven straight.</p>

<p>The Eagles take on Navy in the Meineke Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 30 and coach Tom O’Brien won’t be there.</p>

<p>O’Brien, who went 75-45 in 10 seasons at Boston College, accepted the vacant position at ACC rival North Carolina State. The 1971 Naval Academy graduate would have coached against his alma mater in a bowl for the first time.</p>

<p>Frank Spaziani, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator under O’Brien the past eight seasons, will serve as interim head coach against Navy.</p>

<p>"We have a system that’s been in place here and a staff that’s been together for quite a while, so we kind of know how to do things, and we have a way of doing it, it’s called the BC way,‘’ Spaziani said. "We have great kids who have adapted to it. It’ll be different, obviously … but I don’t think it will be anything major.‘’</p>

<p>Quarterback Matt Ryan was surprised at first by O’Brien’s departure and said O’Brien and the players had an "emotional meeting’’ on Dec. 8, the day his leaving became official.</p>

<p>"I have a lot of respect for Tom O’Brien. He’s a great man and a great coach,‘’ Ryan said. "That’s the nature of college football and the nature of the business - change is a constant.‘’</p>

<p>O’Brien’s move marks only the second time in league history that a football coach left one ACC school to lead another in the next season, the league said. Boston College and N.C. State are both in the ACC’s Atlantic Division and play annually.</p>

<p>Boston College (9-3) will be trying to slow down Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and the prolific Navy offense. Kaheaku-Enhada, who began the season as a backup before Brian Hampton tore his left ACL on Oct. 14, will become the fourth different quarterback to start a bowl game for Navy in the last four years.</p>

<p>Kaheaku-Enhada gained 480 yards rushing and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground to match Hampton for the team lead, spearheading the nation’s best rushing attack at more than 327 yards per game. He’ll be counted on even more since leading rusher Adam Ballard broke his right leg in the first quarter of a 26-14 victory over Army on Dec. 2 and won’t be available.</p>

<p>Ballard finished with 792 yards rushing this season and three TDs. Reggie Campbell, who gained 655 yards rushing and scored five times, will likely become the featured back.</p>

<p>The Eagles, who ranked 13th in the country against the run by allowing only 90.1 yards per game, don’t anticipate changing their gameplan.</p>

<p>"You have to play good, sound defense, run to the ball and gang tackle,‘’ BC linebacker Jolonn Dunbar said.</p>

<p>Dunbar anchored that run defense by recording a team-high 78 tackles.</p>

<p>However, Navy’s dependence on the ground game should negate the Eagles’ ability to intercept passes. BC finished with 21 for the season - tied for the third-highest total in the country - and have recorded at least two interceptions in seven straight games.</p>

<p>Navy (9-3) has won its last two bowl games, but is stepping up in the class of its opponent as it gets ready for a fourth straight postseason appearance.</p>

<p>The Midshipmen captured the 2004 Emerald Bowl over New Mexico and the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl over Colorado State. This year, they’ll be looking at an opponent from the powerful ACC for the first time and a perennial bowl team as the Eagles are making their eighth straight postseason appearance.</p>

<p>"I’m excited the team has achieved one of their goals, to have a chance to go to a bowl game, and I’m excited to be going to Charlotte,‘’ Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "It’s a great city and I’m sure the kids will have a great time.‘’</p>

<p>Navy went 1-3 this season against opponents headed to a bowl while BC went 6-2 against bowl teams.</p>

<p>The Midshipmen will have to slow down a BC offense guided by first team All-ACC quarterback Ryan, who led the conference in passing with over 245 yards per game. He has 4,564 passing yards in his career, the fifth-highest total in school history.</p>

<p>The Eagles also have a tremendous two-way player in Brian Toal, a linebacker who recorded 28 tackles this year. The 238-pound Toal also appears frequently in the backfield in short-yardage situations, scoring five touchdowns and picking up first downs on seven other occasions.</p>

<p>BC won four straight against Navy under O’Brien from 1999-2002 by an average of nearly 22 points after blowing an 18-point lead in a 32-31 loss to the Midshipmen in 1998.</p>

86

<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson’s Comments Following Practice On Tuesday, December 19, 2006</p>

<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Bob Socci (Navy Radio), Gary Lambrecht (Baltimore Sun), Corey Masisak (Washington Times), Comcast SportsNet</p>

<p>The TV portion was not recorded</p>

<p>Johnson: Did Ralph (Friedgen) give you that?</p>

<p>Wagner: No, the guy from Volvo racing.</p>

<p>Johnson: I forgot you were the sailing beat writer.</p>

<p>Wagner: A little better effort today?</p>

<p>Johnson: It was a little better. Either that or they beat me down to their level. I don¹t know which it is.</p>

<p>Lambrecht: As a staff, how do you deal with the layoffs? You played Dec. 2 against Army and then they had a week off for final exams, you come back and practice for five days and then the guys are gone again for Christmas break.</p>

<p>Johnson: I don¹t think we¹ve had enough of a layoff for it to matter. When we play as late into the season as we do with the Army-Navy game it¹s not like the teams that finish in November and have to start over. You never know what¹s going to happen when they come back from break, but I can¹t keep these guys here the entire time for a Dec. 30 game. They don¹t get much time off anyway; they¹ve been here since July. I¹m not going to ask them to do that.</p>

<p>Socci: What concerns is there given the distance some of these guys have to travel like Kaipo for instance who is traveling to Hawaii.</p>

<p>Johnson: I don¹t know if Kaipo is going home.</p>

<p>Socci: He said he was.</p>

<p>Johnson: Well, I used to make that flight all the time. It¹s 8 1/2 hours from Honolulu to Atlanta.</p>

<p>Lambrecht: Did you go home for three days and then fly back?</p>

<p>Johnson: I did it every recruiting weekend when I was at Hawaii. I recruited the South for eight years and would have to fly from Atlanta to Honolulu every weekend. I would leave on Sunday and fly back on Thursday.</p>

<p>Wagner: Did you ever get any players from the South?</p>

<p>Johnson: We had a ton of players from there. Our 1992 team that won the WAC Championship had eight players from Georgia.</p>

<p>Wagner: What do you think about the situation with Boston College? It¹s got to be a strange situation for the team. They have hired a new head coach, the coach that helped them get to a bowl game is at N.C. State, O¹Brien¹s staff is trying to get them ready for the bowl game and they may or may not be at Boston College next year. It¹s a bizarre situation.</p>

<p>Johnson: What do you want me to say about it?</p>

<p>Wagner: Don¹t you think it could affect their preparation?</p>

<p>Johnson: I¹m sure they will be prepared. They want to win the game just like anybody else. I don¹t think it will have an affect at all.</p>

<p>Masisak: Since Hampton got hurt, have you seen Jarod Bryant improve at quarterback because he is getting more reps in practice?</p>

<p>Johnson: I don¹t know. It would be hard to say. He¹s like everybody else. He has good days and bad. I was disappointed in him yesterday and today he was a little better. I think Jarod has a lot of ability and I would like to see him max out his ability. I think if he did that he could be a pretty good player for us.</p>

<p>Masisak: Do you ever sit down with the sophomores after the season since they could leave school?</p>

<p>Johnson: I meet with every player on the team after spring practice and tell them where I think they stand and what I think they need to work on. It takes me a week, but I meet with every single player.</p>

<p>Masisak: You guys haven¹t lost many that left after their sophomore year have you?</p>

<p>Johnson: No, not many.</p>

<p>Wagner: Do you think Bryant will leave?</p>

<p>Johnson: If he is he hasn¹t told me. I haven¹t seen anything to make me think that he will leave unless you know something that I don¹t.</p>

<p>Wagner: I don¹t. It sounds like Corey might.</p>

<p>Masisak: Is Bullen healthy enough to kick in this game?</p>

<p>Johnson: He¹s healthy enough, but Harmon is the kicker right now. He¹s done a good job and I¹m not going to pull him.</p>

<p>Masisak: Was Joey healthy enough to kick in the Army-Navy game?</p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah.</p>

<p>Wagner: Are you surprised that they haven¹t run the ball a little more effectively with the size of their line?</p>

<p>Johnson: I think they have a good quarterback and they¹ve emphasized that. They can run the ball if they wanted too.</p>

<p>Lambrecht: Can you talk about Ryan?</p>

<p>Johnson: He¹s played a lot of football and he¹s very efficient. He doesn¹t get them beat. He makes plays.</p>

<p>Wagner: Hampton dressed in the Army-Navy game. Will he dress in the bowl game?</p>

<p>Johnson: I don¹t think so. He wanted to dress in the Army game. He asked me and I said yes. He didn¹t ask me about this game. He will be like all the other injured guys wearing their jersey on the sideline.</p>

87

<p><a href=“College Football News, Scores, Standings & Stats | FOX Sports”>College Football News, Scores, Standings & Stats | FOX Sports;

88

<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson’s Comments Following Practice On Wednesday, December 20, 2006</p>

<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Christian Swezey (Washington Post), Gary Lambrecht (Baltimore Sun), Corey Masisak (Washington Times)</p>

<p>Wagner: How many guys are coming back to Annapolis to fly down on the charter?</p>

<p>Johnson: It¹s a mix. We have about 25-26 kids flying with us down to Charlotte. We did it by distance and convenience for them.</p>

<p>Wagner: So certain kids that lived in certain places were told they had to fly out with you guys?</p>

<p>Johnson: Some of them. Yeah. If it makes sense for them to go from here then they go from here.</p>

<p>Wagner: So if a guy lived in Pennsylvania it would make sense for him to come back to Annapolis and fly down on the charter.</p>

<p>Johnson: There you go.</p>

<p>Wagner: I could do this stuff for a living.</p>

<p>Johnson: You may have to if you keep writing some of these articles I¹ve been reading. </p>

<p>Wagner: Does Al Heinze (Associate Athletic Director) make all those decisions?</p>

<p>Johnson: Not all of them. Once in a while they ask me.</p>

<p>Lambrecht: How many other schools do it that way?</p>

<p>Johnson: We¹ve done it this way forever. We have more guys that are just going to meet us there because we have a lot from that area. We have a lot of guys from the south. It makes little to no sense to have a guy from Texas fly back to Annapolis so he can fly down with us to Charlotte when he can fly directly to Charlotte. That¹s why it¹s done that way. We do the same thing with the California kids. This is the first time we¹ve had a break over Christmas. Last year we just never left for home because the game was before Christmas, but they all flew home from the bowl. It¹s not a big deal.</p>

<p>Lambrecht: What time are they required to be in Charlotte?</p>

<p>Johnson: They have to be there by 1 p.m. We will try and have most of them there before then. Once the charter touches down we will go to the hotel and pick the guys up and go straight to practice.</p>

<p>Wagner: Boston College has won six straight bowl games. Do you make anything out of that?</p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah, it¹s a pretty good record.</p>

<p>Wagner: Does it show that they prepare well for bowl games or that O¹Brien really stressed how important it is to win the bowl game?</p>

<p>Johnson: I think there are probably a lot of factors involved. I think they have had some pretty good teams and they probably prepare well. I¹m sure there are a lot of reasons.</p>

<p>Wagner: But it¹s to the point where they really take pride in that.</p>

<p>Johnson: Sure. I¹m sure it¹s something they focus on.</p>

<p>Wagner: You guys have won two in a row. Do you think you can develop a similar streak?</p>

<p>Johnson: Who knows? You would like too. You have to get three in a row first. It would be a good thing to shoot for.</p>

<p>Swezey: Paul, how are the fullbacks looking without Ballard?</p>

<p>Johnson: They are doing all right. These guys have been pretty good about when somebody gets hurt we just move on. I hadn¹t thought much about it until you mentioned it. We are going to play with who¹s there.</p>

<p>Masisak: What kind of difference does Zerbin (Singleton) and Byron (McCoy) make with the offense as far as their blocking?</p>

<p>Johnson: Those guys exemplify what this team is about. They are willing to do anything to help the team win. They both play with great effort and they are both good kids. They are the kind of guys you want to have on your team.</p>

<p>Wagner: We talked about Kaipo and how he wasn¹t his sharpest in the Army-Navy game. Have you talked to him at all since then? He¹s going to have to be much sharper for you to have a chance in this game.</p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah. I talk to him every day at practice.</p>

<p>Wagner: Did you point out to him what he did wrong?</p>

<p>Johnson: We watched the tape and we pointed out his errors to him just like we do every other game. We didn¹t make a big deal out of it. He understands when he did the right thing and when he didn¹t. You have games like that. That¹s why you play the game. If you could just plug guys in it would be easy. The good thing is his mistakes weren¹t physical. It wasn¹t because he couldn¹t do things. He just missed some reads.</p>

<p>Lambrecht: He said it was the worst football game he¹s ever played counting high school.</p>

<p>Johnson: Well, I don¹t know about that. He¹s pretty hard on himself. He didn¹t play the way I would like to see him play, but I don¹t know if I would go that far.</p>

<p>Masisak: How valuable has Jeremy McGown been?</p>

<p>Johnson: Really valuable. He¹s a guy that came in as a really good athlete that was willing to move around and play whatever position we asked. The bottom line is if we would have left him at quarterback he probably would have been the quarterback right now, but he moved early on to try and help us. He went from quarterback to wide receiver as a freshman and then moved to defensive back that spring of his freshman year. He¹s a great athlete and has a great attitude.</p>

89

<p>Published in today’s BS:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navyfoot21dec21,0,2875885.story?coll=bal-college-football[/url]”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navyfoot21dec21,0,2875885.story?coll=bal-college-football&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

90

<p>For: Immediate Release
Sent: December 21, 2006
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy football fans have donated more than 5,000 tickets for Midshipmen and enlisted personnel and their families to attend the Dec. 30 Meineke Car Care Bowl game against Boston College in Charlotte, N.C.</p>

<p>Close to 1,500 of those tickets will be used by Midshipmen from the Naval Academy, while more than 1,300 Marines and their families from Camp LeJeune in North Carolina and over 1,000 sailors from Little Creek, Va. and Norfolk, Va. will descend upon Charlotte for the game.</p>

<p>Other military installations that will have personnel at the bowl game include Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, N.C., Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C., Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., Marine Corps Air Station Beufort in Beufort, S.C., Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island in Parris Island, S.C., Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, N.C., Charleston Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek, S.C., Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Mary’s Ga., Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va., Marine Corps Recruiting Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C., Naval Recruiting Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C., Naval Recruiting Raleigh in Raleigh, N.C., Walter Reed Army Medical in Washington, D.C., Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla., Naval Air Station Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pa., Langley Air Force Base in Langley, Va. and the U.S Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.</p>

<p>“Bringing the Navy family together is our single most significant goal in Charlotte,” said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. “Having the Midshipmen and our enlisted personnel with their families in the stadium all cheering the team to victory with one voice will be special. Help us help them be there by sponsoring those who will benefit from your generosity through your ticket donation. We have hundreds of enlisted personnel hopeful there will be additional tickets available to them. If you help, we all win and the bowl game will truly be our greatest show of school, Navy and Marine Corps spirit.”</p>

<p>Navy fans can still donate tickets by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or online at <a href=“http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D”>www.navysports.com</a>.</p>

91

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Comcast Navy Sports Magazine Show will air a special bowl preview show on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. on 1430 WNAV in Annapolis. The special show will be brought to you by Constellation Energy and Areva. The 30-minute show, hosted by Bob Socci, will feature interviews with Navy head coach Paul Johnson and selected players as they preview the Dec. 30 Meineke Car Care Bowl game against Boston College.</p>

<p>The Navy Sports Magazine Show will also air on WLRT (1490 AM, <a href=“http://www.1490theoutlaw.com%5B/url%5D”>www.1490theoutlaw.com</a>) on Friday Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. and on 1050 WFED (<a href=“http://www.federalnewsradio.com%5B/url%5D”>www.federalnewsradio.com</a>) in Washington, D.C. at 11:30 a.m. Navy All-Access will also archive the show and it will be available for
subscribers every Friday (<a href=“http://navysports.cstv.com/)%5B/url%5D”>http://navysports.cstv.com/)</a>.</p>

92

<p>Published in the Annapolis Capital:</p>

<p><a href=“Real Estate – Capital Gazette”>Real Estate – Capital Gazette;

<p>

</p>

93

<p>Published in today’s Washington Times:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20061221-115214-6096r.htm[/url]”>http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20061221-115214-6096r.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

94

<p>Published in the Orlando Sentinel:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-whitley2206dec22,0,3956593.column?coll=orl-sports-col[/url]”>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-whitley2206dec22,0,3956593.column?coll=orl-sports-col&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

95

<p>Thank you to the alumni, parents and friends who have already donated Meineke Car Care Bowl tickets! Many of you have set the bar for donated tickets to the game:</p>

<pre><code>* More than 3,300 tickets have been donated to date (an average of about 6,000 each were donated for the three previous bowls).

  • The Classes of the 60s decade (led by ’67ers) have donated more than 500 tickets to date, and are followed by the 70s decade with more than 400.
  • Largest single donation by an individual(s) – 50 tickets by two alums each.
  • And, the Class of ’58 gets a special kudos for its gift of 58 tickets.
    </code></pre>

<p>All good news…</p>

<p>But we need you to join in the ticket campaign today! The local Carolina, Eastern Seaboard and Southeast based alumni and friends will be in Charlotte to cheer on Navy, as evidenced tickets sales through NAAA of more 17,000. But, we need to redouble our nationwide effort and make this an “All Hands” push. Turn Bank of America Stadium Navy Blue & Gold, and anchor our midshipmen and the local military community in making it a Navy home game!</p>

<p>It is up to each of us, from Tokyo to Turkey, Hawaii to Hampton Roads, and Dallas to Dulles, to take action now! We have only 14 days left to ensure we meet our goal and set an East Coast bowl Navy fan attendance record.</p>

<p>What you can do…</p>

<p>Buy: tickets through NAAA and sit with Navy! Mention your Class, Chapter and/or Parent Club when you purchase – let’s see which Class, which Chapter and which Parents Club has the most spirit! The best effort will be rewarded! Visit <a href=“http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D”>www.navysports.com</a> or call 800-US4-NAVY.</p>

<p>Donate: tickets for midshipmen and enlisted Sailors and Marines to attend the game and cheer for Navy. Be sure to give credit to your class, chapter or parent club include your affiliation when purchasing tickets through NAAA.</p>

<p>Book Events: Sign up through Anthony Travel for the 4th Annual Brigade of Midshipmen Bowl Game Tailgate sponsored by Constellation Energy and Areva. The event is also generously supported by Navy Federal Credit Union , Maersk, DRS Technologies , AT&T and Lockheed Martin .</p>

<p>Don’t miss the Blue & Gold Come Around on 29 December at 6:45 p.m. – Hosted by the USNA Alumni Association. Join friends, family and other Navy fans at the Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery immediately following the pep rally. The Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery is located on the corner of Tryon and 7th (just a couple blocks north of the Pep Rally). 2 hours of unlimited food, freshly handcrafted beer, house wine, coffee, tea and sodas for $25 per person. Sign up today <a href=“US Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation - www.usna.com”>www.usna.com/bowl</a> or call 410-295-4020/4018 Limited space so don’t wait!</p>

<p>See you at the game!</p>

<p>* Major funding for the Brigade of Midshipmen Bowl Game Tailgate is provided through successful operation of the Academy’s businesses including the Midshipmen Store, the Naval Academy Gift Shop, Naval Academy Catering, official USNA Web sales, and the Drydock and Steerage restaurants. Your continued patronage of these activities makes Brigade of Midshipmen events such as this possible.</p>

96

<p>By The Associated Press</p>

<p>Boston College owns the nation’s longest bowl winning streak at six games, but won’t have its coach around as it tries to make it seven straight.</p>

<p>The Eagles take on Navy in the Meineke Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 30 and coach Tom O’Brien won’t be there.</p>

<p>O’Brien, who went 75-45 in 10 seasons at Boston College, accepted the vacant position at ACC rival North Carolina State. The 1971 Naval Academy graduate would have coached against his alma mater in a bowl for the first time.</p>

<p>Frank Spaziani, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator under O’Brien the past eight seasons, will serve as interim head coach against Navy.</p>

<p>"We have a system that’s been in place here and a staff that’s been together for quite a while, so we kind of know how to do things, and we have a way of doing it, it’s called the BC way,‘’ Spaziani said. ``We have great kids who have adapted to it. It’ll be different, obviously … but I don’t think it will be anything major.‘’

Quarterback Matt Ryan was surprised at first by O'Brien's departure and said O'Brien and the players had an ``emotional meeting'' on Dec. 8, the day his leaving became official.

"I have a lot of respect for Tom O'Brien. He's a great man and a great coach,'' Ryan said. ``That's the nature of college football and the nature of the business - change is a constant.''

O'Brien's move marks only the second time in league history that a football coach left one ACC school to lead another in the next season, the league said. Boston College and N.C. State are both in the ACC's Atlantic Division and play annually.

Boston College (9-3) will be trying to slow down Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and the prolific Navy offense. Kaheaku-Enhada, who began the season as a backup before Brian Hampton tore his left ACL on Oct. 14, will become the fourth different quarterback to start a bowl game for Navy in the last four years.

Kaheaku-Enhada gained 480 yards rushing and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground to match Hampton for the team lead, spearheading the nation's best rushing attack at more than 327 yards per game. He'll be counted on even more since leading rusher Adam Ballard broke his right leg in the first quarter of a 26-14 victory over Army on Dec. 2 and won't be available.

Ballard finished with 792 yards rushing this season and three TDs. Reggie Campbell, who gained 655 yards rushing and scored five times, will likely become the featured back.

The Eagles, who ranked 13th in the country against the run by allowing only 90.1 yards per game, don't anticipate changing their gameplan.

"You have to play good, sound defense, run to the ball and gang tackle,'' BC linebacker Jolonn Dunbar said.

Dunbar anchored that run defense by recording a team-high 78 tackles.

However, Navy's dependence on the ground game should negate the Eagles' ability to intercept passes. BC finished with 21 for the season - tied for the third-highest total in the country - and have recorded at least two interceptions in seven straight games.

Navy (9-3) has won its last two bowl games, but is stepping up in the class of its opponent as it gets ready for a fourth straight postseason appearance.

The Midshipmen captured the 2004 Emerald Bowl over New Mexico and the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl over Colorado State. This year, they'll be looking at an opponent from the powerful ACC for the first time and a perennial bowl team as the Eagles are making their eighth straight postseason appearance.

"I'm excited the team has achieved one of their goals, to have a chance to go to a bowl game, and I'm excited to be going to Charlotte,'' Navy coach Paul Johnson said. ``It's a great city and I'm sure the kids will have a great time.''</p>

<p>Navy went 1-3 this season against opponents headed to a bowl while BC went 6-2 against bowl teams.</p>

<p>The Midshipmen will have to slow down a BC offense guided by first team All-ACC quarterback Ryan, who led the conference in passing with over 245 yards per game. He has 4,564 passing yards in his career, the fifth-highest total in school history.</p>

<p>The Eagles also have a tremendous two-way player in Brian Toal, a linebacker who recorded 28 tackles this year. The 238-pound Toal also appears frequently in the backfield in short-yardage situations, scoring five touchdowns and picking up first downs on seven other occasions.</p>

<p>BC won four straight against Navy under O’Brien from 1999-2002 by an average of nearly 22 points after blowing an 18-point lead in a 32-31 loss to the Midshipmen in 1998.</p>

97

<p>Published in the Baltimore Examiner:</p>

<p><a href=“Examiner is back - Examiner.com”>Examiner is back - Examiner.com;

<p>

</p>

98

<p>Fans Urged To Arrive At Bank Of America Stadium Early For Meineke Car Care Bowl Game</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. Navy fans attending the Dec. 30 Meineke Car Care Bowl Game in Charlotte against Boston College are urged to arrive at the stadium early. Game time is 1 p.m. and the gates will open at 11 a.m. All fans entering the stadium will have to go through security. The Brigade of Midshipmen march-on at 12:41 p.m. and the fly-by will take place at 12:58 p.m.</p>

99

<p>Boston College line offers imposing test</p>

<p>Published in today’s Annapolis Capital:</p>

<p><a href=“Real Estate – Capital Gazette”>Real Estate – Capital Gazette;

<p>

</p>

100

<p>Not specific to the MCC Bowl but, nevetheless, a great article on Navy football:</p>

<p><a href=“http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/122206aac.html[/url]”>http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/122206aac.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;