Navy Sports

GreatAmerican · March 23, 2008, 7:28am

For Immediate Release
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Men’s Golf Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773

Strong Second Day Performance Leads to Third-Place Finish at George Washington Golf Invitational

BETHANY BEACH, Del. - Led by senior Erich Schoen’s (Sylvania, Ohio) 7-over par 187 (81-68-38), the Navy golf team tied for third place at the 10th annual George Washington Invitational Saturday in Bethany Beach, Del. The two-day, 54-hole tournament played Friday and Saturday on the par 72, 6,834-yard Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club on the Delaware Shore was shortened to 45 holes due to darkness.

The Mids opened the tournament struggling to find their shot and after nine hours of play, Navy was in a three-way tie for 12th with Lehigh and St. Francis (Pa.) with a 30-over par 318. Navy, however, regrouped and came back out on the links Saturday a confident squad. Paced by Schoen’s 4-under par 68, the Midshipmen turned in the field’s low round with a 4-over par 292. With darkness looming, the teams played just nine of their final 18 holes. Navy was well on its way to turning in another strong round, as the team combined to shoot a 139 (-5) over nine holes and was on pace to post a 10-under par 278.

Led by medalist Chris Gold, Maryland took the team title by 10 strokes over the host Colonials of George Washington with an 18-over par 738 (306-293-139). George Washington (301-297-150 - 748) owned a 1-stroke lead over Maryland heading into the final round, however, it had a difficult time managing the course and the wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. The Colonials turned in a 6-over par 150, while Maryland mastered the course along with Navy with a 5-under par 139. Like Maryland, Navy was able to make up ground over the final nine holes of play, catching Penn (304-296-149 - 749), who owned a 10-stroke lead over the Mids (318-292-139 - 749) with nine to play, for a share of third place. Bucknell rounded out the top five with a 38-over par 758 (304-298-156).

“I was really pleased with how well we came back and played today,” said Navy head coach Pat Owen. “The weather conditions were a struggle for everyone, so for us to finish up as strong as what we did is very encouraging.”

Schoen was the only Navy player to finish among the top 10, placing ninth. Rookie Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) got off to a rocky start with a 10-over par 82 in the opening round, however, he came back to shoot 1-over par in the second round and shot par in the shortened final round. He recorded an 11-over par 191 to finish in a tie for 22nd. Junior David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio) turned in Navy’s low round on Friday with a 5-over par 77, but fell back on Saturday with an 11-over par 83 over the second 18 holes. Miller, though, covered the final nine holes with a stingy 4-under par 36 to place 29th, just a stroke behind Hayes.

Team captain Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) had a disastrous first day of competition, putting himself in a hole with a 15-over par 87. The veteran came back to shoot 1-under par in the second round and was 1-under over the final nine holes of action to finish 36th, one stroke behind Miller and two behind Hayes. Finishing just a shot behind Renninger was rookie Josh Ziska (Camarillo, Calif.) who produced a 14-over par 194. Ziska opened the spring with a 6-over par 78 and followed up with an 8-over par 80 before closing out the invitational by shooting par.

The Mids return to action next Saturday and Sunday when they compete in the Lacrosse Homes Invitational played in nearby Grasonville, Md. at the Prospect Bay Country Club.

GreatAmerican · March 23, 2008, 1:23pm

WEC light heavyweight Brian Stann

BY JOE FERNANDEZ | <a href="mailto:joe.fernandez@newsday.com">joe.fernandez@newsday.com</a>
2:05 PM EDT, March 22, 2008

All fighters sacrifice.

But WEC fighter Brian Stann was willing to give up much more than junk food and alcohol – and he was willing to give it up for a cause that was anything but for himself.

Stann is an infantry officer for the United State Marine Corps. The 27-year-old served two tours in Iraq and is a recipient of the Silver Star, an award given for gallantry against the enemy in combat. It is the Marine Corps’ third highest honor after The Medal of Honor and The Navy Cross.

“I was platoon commander and my guys encountered quite a bit of adversity during the week-long operation,” Stann said of the actions that earned him the award. “[There were] some pretty tough events. As a unit, we performed stellar. It was amazing what my guys were able to accomplish.”

Now the 2003 Naval Academy graduate and former college football player has a shot at the WEC light heavyweight title when he faces Doug Marshall on March 26 at The Joint in Las Vegas, Nevada. The WEC card begins at 9 p.m. EDT on Versus. Stann, 27, has a 5-0 mixed martial arts record, with all of his fights ending by either KO or TKO in the first round. The Scranton, Pennsylvania product takes certain aspects of his armed services experience and is able to transfer that inside the cage.

“It gives me an advantage, especially mentally,” Stann said. “What do I really have to be worried about in an MMA fight? The real thing that’s going to get hurt is my pride. What’s a broken nose compared to no legs.”

Stann also spoke of the similarities between training to become a Marine Corps officer and training to become a mixed martial arts champion.

“Mentally it’s comparable,” he added. “When you’re in basic training as an officer in the Marine Corps, you’re learning how to break down an enemy – how to use your mind as a weapon. In MMA, despite all the physical tools and techniques you still have to use your head in there.”

Marshall (7-2) has two submission victories in the WEC, his latest one came by way of armbar against Ariel Gandulla in his last fight. Even though Stann likes to stand and trade punches, he said he should not be underestimated on the ground.

“I train ground more than I do standup,” said Stann, who started training last summer with Team Quest, a camp that is renown for its skilled wrestlers and grapplers. “I just prefer to stand.”

Even though Stann feels he can re-enlist, he realizes that being a father and a husband are extremely important to him as well.

“Staying in has really nothing to do with fighting, it has more to do with family,” said Stann, who has a wife and a five-month-old daughter. “With the new baby, my military career looks like it’s coming to an end. I’m definitely going to continue fighting, and I’ll always be involved with the military.”

Between Marshall and Stann, neither fighter has reached a decision in their respective bouts. But there’s always a chance that Wednesday’s fight might go the distance, right?

“Not a chance,” Stann said. “There’s no way this fight is going to decision.”

GreatAmerican · March 23, 2008, 1:31pm

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published March 23, 2008

When Navy opens spring football practice tomorrow, it will mark the first step toward achieving the goal of a winning season and a school record sixth straight bowl berth. However, there is a strong possibility the Midshipmen could reach six wins and still be shut out of the postseason in 2008.

Because Navy is independent and does not have a guaranteed avenue to a bowl, it is constantly in a tenuous position. Athletic director Chet Gladchuk has been successful in negotiating the Midshipmen into five consecutive bowls, but at this moment there is nothing in place for 2008.

Navy has an ongoing relationship with the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, having appeared in that game in 2005 and 2007. However, the Mids are not scheduled to return to the Poinsettia Bowl until 2010, leaving Gladchuk looking for a landing spot in 2008 and 2009.

“We are going through are annual offseason ritual of jockeying for a postseason opportunity. All we can do is try to cultivate relationships with various bowls and hope something opens up,” Gladchuk said last month.

Navy began its current postseason streak by playing in the Houston Bowl, which had an opening as a result of the Southeastern Conference failing to fill its slot.

Since then, Gladchuk has not waited until season’s end to see what was available - forging agreements in advance for the Midshipmen to appear in the 2004 Emerald Bowl and 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl. He also signed the two-year deal that put the academy in the Poinsettia Bowl.

“It is not by luck or chance that Navy has gone to five straight bowls. We have worked diligently to ensure we had something lined up,” Gladchuk said.

Making Gladchuk’s job more difficult now is the fact all current bowl games are affiliated with conferences. At the moment, not a single bowl has an at-large berth to offer. That leaves Navy hoping that a particular conference does not produce enough bowl-eligible teams to fulfill its various commitments.

However, that scenario has become less likely due to the advent of the 12-game schedule, which has allowed more schools to achieve six victories. Last season, there were several schools that finished 6-6 and did not receive a bowl bid.

The Texas Bowl was the only postseason game that wound up with an at-large opening because the Big 12 did not qualify a team. Texas Bowl officials snapped up TCU, which finished the regular season with seven wins.

By contrast, three bowls (Armed Forces, Hawaii and Motor City) had at-large berths available due to conferences not filling their slots in 2007 when it was still an 11-game schedule.

Looking ahead to 2008, the most likely postseason opportunities for Navy involve the Texas, Armed Forces and Motor City Bowls, all of which are at the bottom of the pecking order with conference tie-ins. A spot in one of those bowls could come open if the Big 12, Big 10 or Pac-10 sends two teams to the Bowl Championship Series.

“We have by choice remained independent and that status has served the football program well in a lot of ways. However, that decision does mean we could be shut out of the postseason because all the bowls have contracts with conferences,” Gladchuk said.

At this point, Navy’s best chance at a sixth straight postseason bid lies with the proposed Congressional Bowl in Washington. Game organizers are close to filing an application with the NCAA and have most of the important elements in place, including sponsorship, the support of D.C. government officials and a venue.

Gladchuk has signed a contract to have Navy appear in the inaugural Congressional Bowl if it receives approval from the NCAA. Sean Metcalf, co-founder of the District of Columbia Bowl Commission, is close to finalizing a contract with Army to play in 2009 and would like to get Air Force involved in filling what would essentially be a service academy slot.

At this point, the biggest hurdle for the Congressional Bowl involves lining up a conference to fill the other slot. Metcalf has engaged in extensive discussions with the Atlantic Coast Conference and Conference USA and said Monday he was confident a deal would be struck with one of the two. ESPN has tentatively agreed to televise the new bowl game provided there is a guaranteed opponent for Navy.

“I think the folks with the Congressional Bowl have done a fantastic job of putting all the pieces in place to meet the requirements of NCAA certification,” Gladchuk said. “We are very hopeful the Congressional Bowl comes to fruition because I believe it would be a fantastic destination for the Naval Academy football program and its fans.”

What’s truly ironic about Navy’s current situation is the fact any number of mid- or lower-level bowls would love to land the Midshipmen if able to do so. That’s because the Naval Academy is a known commodity, having proven over a five-year period it can deliver fans, pageantry and a quality on-field product.

Navy brought 25,000 fans to the Houston Bowl and sold 25,000 tickets to the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl. The Midshipmen have never brought fewer than 18,000 fans to a bowl and television ratings for all five of the program’s postseason contests have been outstanding.

For instance, TV ratings for the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl were 38 percent higher than the previous year when Navy did not participate. It marked the fifth consecutive year the Midshipmen have increased the Nielsen rating for the bowl game it was playing in or for the time slot.

That’s because Navy is one of the few football programs in the country with a truly national following. There are large pockets of Naval Academy alumni along with active or retired Navy personnel in every region, which is why the Midshipmen have drawn well for bowl games in Texas, California and North Carolina.

In 2007, only two schools not involved with the Bowl Championship Series sold more postseason tickets than Navy. Kentucky brought 28,000 fans to the Music City Bowl in Nashville while Mississippi State traveled 32,500 to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

Remarkably, Navy sold more tickets than seven BCS participants - Arkansas (Cotton Bowl), Florida (Capital One Bowl), Georgia (Sugar Bowl), Kansas (Orange Bowl), Michigan (Capital One), Missouri (Cotton Bowl), Ohio State (national championship game).

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech sold a mere 500 tickets for the Humanitarian Bowl and Tulsa brought just 2,000 fans to the GMAC Bowl. Utah, Navy’s opponent in the Poinsettia Bowl, unloaded only 3,850 tickets despite being located relatively close to San Diego.

Considering the Naval presence on the island of Oahu, there is no doubt the Midshipmen could sell more tickets to the Hawaii Bowl than East Carolina (3,000) did last year.

“Navy has become an attractive postseason candidate because we have shown time and time again that we sell tickets and bring fans,” Gladchuk said. “Whichever bowl gets Navy, gets the commitment of an entire institution and the support of a widespread fan base.”

While waiting to hear whether the Congressional Bowl is invited to join the NCAA’s postseason party, Gladchuk has been working feverishly to build relationships with bowl representatives and compile a promotional packet touting Navy’s attributes as a postseason choice.

“It’s the coaching staff’s job to make sure we reach six wins and it’s my job to ensure we have a postseason opportunity in place when we do,” Gladchuk said. “If we get shut out, it will not be from lack of effort, planning or vision.”

GreatAmerican · March 23, 2008, 1:32pm

Carlson takes command at academy’s new facility

By DOUG LaMARTIN
Published March 23, 2008

Andrew Carlson, a Gambrills resident and former professional tennis player, has been named the first tennis director of the new Tose Family Tennis Center at the Naval Academy’s Brigade Sports Complex. The tennis center, located across the street from the golf clubhouse at North Severn and in the same complex as the new hockey arena, is the new home of the varsity tennis team.

After waiting for 20 years, Navy tennis coach John Officer said, “Severn Valley and Big Vanilla were good to us and we appreciate their support over the years, but we’re looking forward to having our own facility.”

Carlson is offering memberships for tennis and fitness to the general public, as well as faculty and staff at the academy.

During open house events last week, hundreds of visitors toured the six indoor and eight outdoor courts. For Carlson this is a welcome return to Anne Arundel County after serving as tennis pro in Greensborough, N.C., and Clarskville in Howard County for the last few years.

He is well remembered here for his twin victories in doubles and singles at the Legg Mason Wild Card Challenge.

For information, contact Carlson at 410-293-9716 or <a href=“mailto:ACarlson@usna.edu”>ACarlson@usna.edu</a>.

GreatAmerican · March 23, 2008, 3:33pm

For: Immediate Release
Sent: March 23, 2008
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Navy Football Spring Press Conference To Be Broadcast Live On Navy All-Access

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo’s spring football press conference on Monday, March 24 will be carried live on Navy All-Access starting at approximately 12 noon.

Subscribers to Navy All-Access have access to all of Navy’s home men’s and women’s basketball games, select men’s and women’s lacrosse games and exclusive video of Navy football press conferences. Navy home football games are also available via Navy All-Access free of charge.

The subscription price for Navy All-Access is $6.95 per month, $49.95 for a 12-month package and 99.95 for CBS College Sports Network (formerly CSTV) All-Access XXL, which will provide you access to every CBS College Sports Network.com school. For the best results, you should have broadband and high-speed cable access to the internet. To sign in or subscribe to Navy All-Access, log onto <a href=“http://www.NavySports.com%5B/url%5D”>www.NavySports.com</a> and click on the All-Access button on the right side of the page.

GreatAmerican · March 23, 2008, 5:55pm

For Immediate Release
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Navy Wins Series, Finale Against Princeton, 3-2

ANNAPOLIS, Md. Navy relief pitchers Drew Carlson (So./Boca Raton, Fla.) and JD Melton (So./Myrtle Beach, S.C.) fired 4.1 innings of shutout baseball to guide the Midshipmen to a 3-2 win over Princeton on Sunday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. Navy took three from Princeton on the weekend series to improve its mark to 13-8, while the visiting Tigers dropped to 7-9.

Carlson came on in relief of Navy starter Yale Eckert (So./La Selva Beach, Calif.) with two guys on and two out in the fifth and recorded a strikeout to get out of the jam. The Navy right-hander would have a runner on third with two outs in the sixth, but closed the door again with a strikeout. Carlson did not let Princeton reach scoring position over his final-two frames to pick up his first-collegiate win. He allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings with no walks and five strikeouts, extending his scoreless streak to 14.2 innings this season.

Drew came in and did another great job for us, stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. He had a really good get-out with the runner in scoring position in the fifth. From that point on, he really settled the game down.

Melton took over to start the ninth and was greeted with a single to center. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, Melton got in on the hands of left-handed hitter Adrian Turnham to force him to pop out on the first pitcher. One batter later, Melton fielded a come-backer and threw to first to pick up his fourth save of the season.

JD did exactly what the closer needs to do, said Kostacopoulos. It got a little hairy with the leadoff single, but he fields his position well and made the pitches he needed to make.

Princeton jumped on Eckert immediately, as Dan DeGeorge led off the contest with a solo shot to left. However, Navy immediately answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and never trailed afterwards.

With two outs and a runner on first, Mitch Harris (Sr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) doubled down the left field line to score Thomas Hamilton (Sr./Houston, Texas), who reached on a fielders choice, and tie the game at one. Princeton starter Steven Miller then dropped the ball while toeing the rubber, allowing Harris to move to third on a balk. Harris would eventually score on the same at bat, as Miller threw a wild pitch.

Navy made the score 3-1 in the third, as Hamilton and Harris produced back-to-back one-out singles before Jonathan Berkowitz (So./Parkland, Fla.) lined a single to left to plate Hamilton.

Princeton would make things interesting in the fifth and chased Eckert out of the ballgame with a run on three hits before Carlson secured Navys one-run cushion.

Eckert scattered 10 hits with just two runs scoring over 4.2 innings with a walk and two strikeouts. The Navy southpaw came through with some clutch performances with runners on base, as he picked off one runner and forced the Tigers to strand six runners over his first-four frames.

Yale got some big outs for us today, Kostacopoulos stated. Although he gave up 10 hits, the bottom line is that he allowed just two runs. Today wasnt his best performance, but he hung around long enough and got some help from the bullpen to get the win.

Harris was the lone Navy hitter to register a multi-hit performance on Sunday, as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one run scored and one RBI. Princeton out-hit Navy in the series finale, 12-7.

Mitch had a good offensive game for us, Kostacopoulos said. There werent many highlights, tangibly speaking. Today, we took advantage of a couple of opportunities and held on real tight.

Princeton committed five errors in the contest, while Navy made three fielding miscues. However, the Midshipmen also took away several hits in earning the victory.

The mistakes we made defensively were quite silly, stated Kostacopoulos. At the same time, there were some good plays. Kendall Bolt took away a hit in the fifth, Renaldo Hollins tracked two balls that would have gone for extra bases and Jonathan Wright took a hit away on a sinking liner down the left-field line. Sometimes, the ability to take hits away does not show up in the box score.

The Midshipmen will close out their nine-game homestand on Wednesday, when they play host to Towson at 3:30 p.m. Live stats for all of Navys home games are available via GameTracker on <a href=“http://www.NavySports.com(%5B/url%5D.)”>www.NavySports.com(.)</a>

GreatAmerican · March 24, 2008, 3:25pm

For Immediate Release
Monday, March 24, 2008
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

McCoy Named League Pitcher of the Week

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. In tossing a complete-game six-hitter during Navys extra-inning victory on Saturday over Princeton, right-handed pitcher Mark McCoy (Sr./Parkland, Fla.) has been recognized as the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

The weekly honor is the first for McCoy this season and the second time in his career. He first earned kudos from the league when he fired seven scoreless innings against Central Connecticut State last season.

Against Princeton on Saturday, McCoy settled in after allowing a run in the opening frame and held the Tigers scoreless over the final-seven innings in Navys 2-1, eight-inning triumph. At one point between the first and sixth innings, McCoy retired 15-consecutive batters.

The Navy right-hander finished the day with six strikeouts and no walks over the eight innings on the hill. McCoy used just 97 pitches, 66 of which went for strikes, to record his 24 outs against a Princeton team that is hitting .299 as a whole this spring.

Navy will close out its nine-game homestand on Wednesday against Towson at 3:30 p.m., before opening the Patriot League portion of its season on the road at defending league-champion Lafayette on Saturday and Sunday. Live stats for all of Navys games this week will be available via GameTracker on <a href=“http://www.NavySports.com(%5B/url%5D.)”>www.NavySports.com(.)</a>

GreatAmerican · March 24, 2008, 4:33pm

2/5/2008

Cascadia hauls football equipment, midshipman goods and services

Download images for this press release

PORTLAND, Ore. Feb. 5, 2008 Recognizing the need for reliable, upgraded transportation, The United States Naval Academy (USNA) was ready to purchase its first Class 8 truck.

Seeking the most efficient way to transport the Navys football equipment to away games, Syd Rodenbarger, director of business services for the USNA, began researching a truck for the Academy during the 2007 football season.

“We needed a truck that could handle a lot of different uses while also being the most efficient, productive, and drivable truck available, Rodenbarger said. We also wanted it to look really impressive.”

Need for Transportation
Managing all revenue-generating business activities for USNA since 1997, Rodenbarger previously rented multiple vehicles, including a 24-foot straight truck to haul the Navys football equipment and 150-member Drum and Bugle Corps. The need to purchase a larger truck was logical for cost savings and added space for the team. Choosing a Cascadia, however, required research.

Based on the Academys rules and regulations, we are required to competitively shop for new purchases, Rodenbarger said. We compared bids from three manufacturers based on cost, reputation, reliability and fuel economy.

Assisting in their decision to purchase a new truck, John Cardwell, government sales, Baltimore Freightliner, presented Rodenbarger with the Cascadia.

They were looking for that wow factor, Cardwell said. I knew the Cascadia would make a big impression because it was brand new, aesthetically pleasing and would give the Naval Academy the most aerodynamic truck on the market.

Seeing a large poster of the Cascadia, Rodenbarger was impressed with the on-highway vehicle. More importantly, it was a good fit for the Academys business needs.

The decision came down to fuel economy and reputation. Freightliner is always mentioned as being reliable, and we knew the Cascadia was the best choice based on functionality and cost savings alone. We should have done this a long time ago, Rodenbarger explained.

Blue and Gold
Creating a design to represent USNA was equally as important as choosing the Cascadia. Originally an all-white truck, Cardwell and the Baltimore Freightliner body shop worked together to customize the paint to match the school colors and helmets worn by the Navy football team.

The custom-made navy blue paint covers the cab and is bordered by gold on the bumper. A transparent silver flake covers the truck to give it that extra sparkle. The trailer is wrapped in a decorative skin clad in Navy football players while the interior seats are custom embroidered with the school mascot, Bill the Goat.

This was the first time we took apart a Cascadia to custom paint the truck, and it was very easy to work with, Cardwell said. It was a great opportunity to develop a design that truly represents the Naval Academy.

Hauling 28,000 pounds of equipment to each away game, the Cascadia is equipped with a 2007 Detroit Diesel Series 60® engine and 13-speed Eaton transmission. Often traveling with two drivers, the twin sleeper is roomy and comfortable to support multiple passengers.

CJ Jefferson, motor vehicle operator, USNA, agrees that the Cascadia is driver-friendly.

This truck is top-of-the-line and proudly represents Navy football, Jefferson said. Traveling east of the Mississippi to San Diego, Calif., the heated seats and tilt and telescopic steering make it easy to drive, and the emergent system makes it smooth on the road. It feels like a luxury truck.

Community Support
Making its maiden voyage to the Army vs. Navy football game, the Cascadia became famous overnight.

There is never a shortage of honking horns and pictures being taken while we are traveling, Jefferson said. You can tell this truck is first-class when you see it rolling down the road.

Greg Morganthaler, assistant athletic director, USNA, knows what the Cascadia means to Navy football.

The Cascadia supports our mission of fitness and athleticism by making it easier for our football team to travel to their games, Morganthaler said. But more than that, its a great recruitment tool for future football players and their families. This truck represents the success of the football program and our athletes.

We are excited to use the Cascadia throughout the entire season next year to really get a feel for its capabilities. Traveling to four games in the 2007 season, the Cascadia holds a 3-1 record, and we hope to continue the winning streak in 2008. This truck is sexy, and were proud that it is a part of the Naval Academy.

In addition to the football team, the Cascadia will be used for transportation of goods and services to midshipmen throughout the off-season.

The truck will be used with multiple trailers when new recruits arrive for Induction
Day held in July, Rodenbarger said. Because midshipmen cannot leave the campus once classes begin, we supply them with a complete sea bag of uniforms. The Cascadia will be vital in helping us deliver these goods that used to require multiple vehicles.

Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Ore., and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 3-8 vehicles and is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

GreatAmerican · March 24, 2008, 6:44pm

<a href=“http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/navy-m-footbl-mtt.html[/url]”>http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/navy-m-footbl-mtt.html</a>

GreatAmerican · March 24, 2008, 7:23pm

This Week In Navy Sports Sponsored By Navy Federal Credit Union

<a href=“http://www.navyfederal.org/jump/x/navysports_email.html[/url]”>www.navyfederal.org/jump/x/navysports_email.html</a>

Overall Navy Sports Record: 251-118-6 (.677)

Baseball (13-8, 0-0 in the Patriot League)
Last Week: Defeated Belmont Abbey, 11-9; defeated Princeton, 6-3; defeated Princeton, 2-1 (8 innings); lost to Princeton, 20-4; defeated Princeton, 3-2
This Week: Towson (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Annapolis, Md., GameTracker on navysports.com); at Lafayette-DH (Saturday, 12 noon, Easton, Pa., GameTracker on navysports.com); at Lafayette (Sunday, 12 noon, Easton, Pa., GameTracker on navysports.com)

Lightweight Crew (0-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Princeton (Saturday, 7 a.m., Annapolis, Md.)

Women’s Crew (0-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: at the Murphy Cup (Saturday, all day, Annapolis, Md.)

Men’s Golf (1-0-1)
Last Week: Tied for third out of 20 teams at the George Washington Invitational
This Week: at the Lacrosse Homes Invitational (Saturday-Sunday, all day, Grasonville, Md.)

Men’s Gymnastics (9-8)
Last Week: Lost to William & Mary, 345.25-335.8; lost to Temple, 342.5-335.8
This Week: at the USAG Collegiate Division Championship (Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m., Springfield, Mass.)

No. 10 Men’s Lacrosse (8-1, 5-0 in the Patriot League)
Last Week: Defeated No. 12 Bucknell, 4-3 (OT); defeated Colgate, 8-3
This Week: No. 4 Georgetown (Saturday, 5 p.m., Annapolis, Md., CBS College Sports Network, Navy All-Access, 1430 WNAV, GameTracker on navysports.com)

Women’s Lacrosse (6-1)
Last Week: Lost to Colgate, 19-10
This Week: Canisius (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Annapolis, Md.); at Davidson (Saturday, 1 p.m., Davidson, N.C.)

Intercollegiate Sailing
Last Week: No results reported
This Week: at the Central Spring #1 (Saturday-Sunday, Toms River, N.J.); Southern NE Team Race (Saturday-Sunday, New London, Conn.); Women’s Dellenbaugh Trophy (Saturday-Sunday, Providence, R.I.)

Women’s Swimming & Diving (13-1)
Last Week: Competed as individuals at the NCAA Swimming Championship
This Week: Season concluded

Tennis (13-7, 1-0 in the Patriot League)
Last Week: Lost to Penn, 4-3; defeated Richmond, 6-1
This Week: at Colgate (Saturday, 12 noon, Hamilton, N.Y.); at Bucknell (Sunday, 1 p.m., Lewisburg, Pa.)

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field (6-0)
Last Week: Defeated George Mason, 286-64; defeated Lehigh, 286-58; defeated American, 286-57; defeated Maryland, 286-30
This Week: Colgate and Princeton (Saturday, 11 a.m., Annapolis, Md.)

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated Lehigh, 303.5-185.5; defeated VCU, 303.5-154; defeated Maryland, 303.5-82; defeated American, 303.5-38
This Week: at the Maryland Invitational (Saturday, 10 a.m., College Park, Md.)

Wrestling (6-4, 4-1 in the EIWA)
Last Week: Finished 18th out of 74 teams at the NCAA Championship
This Week: Season concluded

GreatAmerican · March 25, 2008, 8:36am

Tuesday, March 25, 2008; Page E02

Senior Ricky Moore (Northern) was listed as the starting center when Navy opened spring football practice yesterday, but if the coaches have their way, he won’t stay there long. Coach Ken Niumatalolo said he would prefer to use Moore as a starting tackle. For that to happen, one of the backup centers needs to have a good spring.

The most intriguing candidate is Andy Lark, a 6-foot, 290-pound junior. He is one of the strongest players on the team but spent last year as a reserve nose guard. He did not play as a freshman after he broke his leg.

Niumatalolo said Lark is too talented to remain as the third-string nose guard “and get 10 reps a game.”

The rest of the offensive line seems to be in good shape. Senior Anthony Gaskins is “one of the two best guards we’ve had in the 10 years I’ve been here,” Niumatalolo said. Senior Andrew McGinn, a two-year starting tackle, is back.

Lark is one of several players who have changed positions. Senior Jarod Bryant will be used as a quarterback, slot back and punt returner, and sophomore Emmett Merchant has moved to slot back from cornerback.

There isn’t as much change on defense. Senior safety Jeff Deliz and junior linebacker Clint Sovie are back and healthy. Each suffered a season-ending injury in a loss to Rutgers on Sept. 7.

At the news conference yesterday, it did not take long for talk to turn to Army and Air Force, Navy’s rivals for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Niumatalolo said he moved Moore to center with an eye on the game against the Falcons on Oct. 4. Air Force senior Jared Marvin is considered a top nose guard.

Niumatalolo also said the only thing he leaves on his desk each night is a replica of the ring the team gets for winning the trophy.

Niumatalolo is a head coach for the first time, replacing Paul Johnson, who is at Georgia Tech. He played for and coached with Johnson for 17 years. “But my desire to win has nothing to do with Coach Johnson,” he said.

– Christian Swezey

GreatAmerican · March 25, 2008, 8:41am

Peter Schmuck
March 25, 2008

On the first day of spring football practice, new Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo was still answering the same questions that greeted him the day he was hired to replace Paul Johnson.

That’s what happens when you take over a program that turned much deeper shades of Navy Blue and Gold under your predecessor.

So, I guess this is as good a time as any to throw out the obligatory quip about Ken’s hard-to-pronounce surname, which I’m pretty sure means “has a tough act to follow” in his ancestral Polynesian tongue.

It certainly won’t be easy to take this handoff from Johnson – who went in search of a national championship at Georgia Tech – but Niumatalolo has a big advantage over anyone who might have been brought in from outside the program. He has played a significant role in Navy’s football renaissance, so there is no pressure to make dramatic changes in a system that has worked very well over the past five seasons.

“I’ve never been one to worry about putting my stamp on the program,” he said during yesterday’s spring football luncheon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. “I want to do what’s best for the program.”

Of course, that’s what you’re supposed to say in a situation such as this. It’s probably right on the first page of the How-To manual on inheriting a successful operation. But it’s hard not to believe Niumatalolo, who comes across as way too earnest to be a Division I football coach.

No wonder Navy has done such a great job of recruiting all those smart, undersized offensive players that run the triple option so well. This guy probably plays great in the living room, in an understated, Pete Carroll sort of way. I’m guessing every visit ends up sounding something like this: Niumatalolo: “Of course, Mrs. Kaheaku-Enhada, we’ll make sure Kaipo takes his vitamins every day and studies for his nautical engineering midterm.”

Mrs. Kaheaku-Enhada: “Even I can’t pronounce your last name, but my son is going to the Naval Academy.”

Niumatalolo might be the perfect choice to take over at Navy if only because he doesn’t seem to have any ego-driven compulsion to separate himself from Johnson’s legacy. He played for Johnson and coached for Johnson. He is here because of Johnson. His old coach represents a debt, not a threat.

“We’re just going to do what’s best for the program,” he said. “I’m different from Paul in that I’m not going to have a [golf] cart out there. That’s the only difference.”

The Midshipmen still will run the triple option, the great schematic equalizer that has allowed Navy to rank among the top 20 Division I teams in victories over the past five years in spite of the size disadvantage they take into almost every game.

“There is a physical mismatch,” Niumatalolo said. "There’s also a mass factor involved. That’s why we run the triple option. A lot of coaches have come through the Naval Academy, and it’s not that what they did wasn’t right; it just wasn’t right for the Naval Academy.

“The great thing about the triple option is you don’t have to block everybody. A lot of times, you don’t have to block their best guys.”

Johnson’s teams ran it with terrific precision and Niumatalolo was right in the middle of everything, coaching the offensive line during the five years Johnson dominated the other service academies and led the Mids to five straight bowl games.

The big difference now is the scope of it all. Niumatalolo has always lived and breathed football, just not on this all-encompassing level.

“As a head coach, your mind broadens out,” he said. “There are so many things to think about.”

Your shoulders have to broaden out, too, because you’re carrying the weight of the entire program … and, at the Naval Academy, a tradition that transcends football.

“It’s a bottom-line profession,” he said. “People say, ‘There must be pressure to keep winning.’ To me, that hasn’t changed. It’s always been about winning. I understand college football is big business and I don’t have a problem with that. You’ve got to win. I’m a competitive guy. I hate to lose.”

Niumatalolo says he tries to keep his focus on the future, but he admits he takes a moment every day to reflect on everything that has brought him to this point.

“I do that every morning when I look out the window of my office, from the standpoint of being blessed,” he said. “There is one thing I keep on my desk – a paperweight of the Commander in Chief’s Trophy. There are a lot of things to do and a lot to think about to help us get better, but when I look at that, it reminds me: I have to find a way to win.”

<a href="mailto:peter.schmuck@baltsun.com">peter.schmuck@baltsun.com</a>

GreatAmerican · March 25, 2008, 8:44am

After a winter of studying film, Navy started spring football practice yesterday. Coach Ken Niumatalolo kicked it off with a 45-minute session with reporters. A wide array of topics were discussed, but none more than his continuing adjustment to the position he took over in December after Paul Johnson left for Georgia Tech. More on that in the coming weeks.

Niumatalolo said his philosophy for the next couple of months is simple: Improve the team. The Midshipmen have won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy five straight years, and the ultra-competitive coach isn’t looking for that streak to end any time soon.

“We don’t want to get complacent,” he said. “We know the other two guys we’re competing against for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy are getting out there. We don’t want to be the staff or group that drops the ball”

Niumatalolo and his staff will spend the spring evaluating plebes and Navy’s other inexperienced players, as is typical of spring practices. But they will need to see how their personnel changes work. Niumatalolo said he wants his best players on the field as much as possible, so he shifted the roles of some of his talented backups to fill needs left by seniors.

Notable changes on the spring depth chart:

<ul>
<li>Junior Andy Lark moving from nose tackle to center. Lark is one of the strongest players on the team, and the graduating Antron Harper left a void at the position. Lark was stuck behind starting nose tackle Nate Frazier, so Niumatalolo moved him to the other side of the ball.</li>
<li>Backup quarterback Jarod Bryant seeing time at slot back and serving as the main punt returner. Bryant succeeded when subbing for starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada last season. He was quick and shifty, showing an ability to make tacklers miss. Thanks to Reggie Campbell, Navy’s return game last season was stellar, and Niumatalolo would like to see that continue. It will be interesting to see how Bryant adjusts to the increased workload, since he is still one play away from being the team’s quarterback, and will need to prepare for that.</li>
<li>Junior linebacker Clint Sovie and senior safety Jeff Deliz, both starters who missed the majority of 2007 with injuries, will be back practicing this spring and competing to reclaim their starting spots. Their injuries opened the door for a slew of younger players to get game experience last year, although for the most part watching the Mids defense last year wasn’t pretty. The unit should be improved in 2008, and these two could play a big part in that.</li>
<li>Mike Fratto</li>
</ul>

GreatAmerican · March 25, 2008, 9:21am

by Ron Snyder, The Examiner

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Don¹t expect to see Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo driving around practice in a golf cart. Other than that, Navy’s spring practices will look much as they have the previous six seasons under former coach Paul Johnson.

With Johnson now at Georgia Tech, the Midshipmen are preparing for a 2008 season they hope includes a sixth straight bowl appearance

Over the next 25 days, Niumatalolo will have his first extended chance to evaluate his returning starters and see which players deserve a closer look in the fall for more playing time. Niumatalolo has spent a total of 10 seasons at Navy, including the last six as its assistant head coach/offensive line coach. Navy, which went 8-5 last season, opens its 12-game season Aug. 30 against fellow state school Towson at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

“It’s an exciting time now,” Niumatalolo said. “We’re excited to get back out on the grass. There are a lot of things you do as a football coach but there’s nothing like being on the grass. As coaches, that’ why we got into the game so we can work with the young men.”

Niumatalolo takes over a program that has gone 43-20 over the last five years. The Midshipmen have also developed into the nation¹s top service academy program as they have won 11 straight against rivals Air Force and Army. Navy is just one win away from tying the all-time record for consecutive service academy wins set by Air Force from 1997-2002.

Niumatalolo said he expects the strength of his team to be on defense with eight of 11 starters returning from that unit. His optimism comes following a season when Navy was decimated by injuries on that side of the ball, which led the Midshipmen to allow an average of 36.4 points per game.

“The last three games I thought we played well defensively,” Niumatalolo said. “We’ve got some guys coming back that were injured that we’re excited about. Our young men are very prideful. They are very tough and the guys on defense want to redeem themselves.”

At the same time, Niumatalolo expects another big season from Navy’s offense, which averaged 39.3 points. However, there will be seven new starters - including three along the offensive line - trying to execute the run-oriented triple-option offense. Among those returning are quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (1,786 all-purpose yards, 12 TDs) and fullback Eric Kettani (880 rushing yards, 10 TDs).

Niumatalolo said he will use the spring to help backup quarterback Jarod Bryant get acclimated to playing some at slot back as a way of getting the talented player on the field. Bryant passed for 252 yards and rushed for 464 more while appearing in 10 games last season.

“It’s not ideal because [Bryant is] just one play away from being in at quarterback, but he’s just too good to just be sitting on the bench,” Niumatalolo said.

The spring season concludes April 19 with the annual Blue-Gold intrasquad game.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:22am

Stann, a fighter with Philly ties, in World Extreme Cagefighting light-heavyweight championship (Philadelphia Daily News)

By Bernard Fernandez
Philadelphia Daily News

BRIAN STANN might not actually be a Philadelphian, but he’s been here enough to know he likes our town.

“I’m a big Eagles fan,” the Scranton native and former Naval Academy linebacker declared. “Some people I went to high school with live in Philadelphia. My wife, Teressa [an ex-Eagles cheerleader], still has a lot of friends there. Certainly, that’s an area we’d consider moving to in the future.”

But Stann - who says that coming onto the field before his first Army-Navy game at Veterans Stadium remains his greatest sports thrill - has places to go and things to do before he can think about maybe settling down somewhere in the Delaware Valley.

Tomorrow night, at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stann challenges Doug “The Rhino” Marshall for the World Extreme Cagefighting light-heavyweight championship.

The bout will be televised live on the Versus channel.

“I was supposed to fight someone else in February, but that match fell through. Then they offered me the champion and I jumped at it,” said Stann, 27, a decorated Marine Corps captain who earned a Silver Star for his role in saving the lives of four of his men during a May 2005 firefight in Iraq.

Now down to 205 pounds from his Navy playing weight of 230, the 6-1 Stann, who is stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is as combat-ready in the Octagon as he is in his day job as a company commander in the 8th Marine Regiment. All five of his WEC bouts have ended in first-round stoppages.

Marshall, 31, is 7-2 and figures this one also won’t go the distance.

“When me and Brian step in there, there will be some big bombs thrown,” Marshall said. “I see us touching gloves and getting right after it. I don’t think it will be too much of a technical fight.”

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:25am

By DENA POTTER * 1 day ago

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Turns out there’s some basis for the long-held belief among college admissions officials that the better their schools’ teams do in high-profile sporting events, the more applications they’ll see.

Until recently, evidence about the “Flutie Effect” coined when applications to Boston College jumped about 30 percent in the two years after quarterback Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary pass beat Miami in 1984 had been mostly anecdotal.

So two researchers set out to quantify it, concluding after a broad study that winning the NCAA football or men’s basketball title means a bump of about 8 percent, with smaller increases the reward more modest success.

“Certainly college administrators have known about this for a while, but I think this study helps to pin down what the average effects are,” said Jaren Pope, an assistant professor in applied economics at Virginia Tech who conducted the study with his brother Devin, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

The brothers compared information on freshman classes at 330 NCAA Division I schools with how the schools’ teams fared from 1983 through 2002.

Among their conclusions in a paper that is to be published this year in Southern Economic Journal:

_ Schools that make it to the Sweet 16 in the men’s basketball tournament see an average 3 percent boost in applications the following year. The champion is likely to see a 7 to 8 percent increase, but just making the 65-team field will net schools an average 1 percent bump.

_ Similarly, applications go up 7 to 8 percent at schools that win the national football championship, and schools that finish in the top 20 have a 2.5 percent gain.

There has been wide debate over the legitimacy of the Flutie Effect, especially when it comes to whether schools should pour money into athletics programs with the hope of reaping the benefits of a winning team.

Pope said that’s certainly not what he is suggesting.

For George Mason University, just outside Washington, the positive effects of its unlikely Final Four appearance two years ago were wide-reaching.

In addition to increases in fundraising, attendance at games and other benefits, freshman applications increased 22 percent the year after the team made its magical run. The percentage of out-of-state freshmen jumped from 17 percent to 25 percent, and admissions inquiries rose 350 percent, said Robert Baker, director of George Mason’s Center for Sport Management who conducted a study called “The Business of Being Cinderella.”

Baker also found that SAT scores went up by 25 points in the freshman class, and retention rates as freshmen moved into their sophomore year increased more than 2 percentage points.

“You will certainly have critics who say it would have happened anyway, but I think the general consensus is that it happened faster because of this and that it allowed this university to reach new heights more quickly,” Baker said.

Gonzaga was virtually unknown in most parts of the country until it broke into the national tournament in the mid-'90s. The Zags have been in the tournament every year since 1999, and during that time enrollment has grown from just over 4,500 to nearly 7,000, said Dale Goodwin, a university spokesman.

Inquiries have jumped from about 20,000 per year to 50,000, and the Spokane, Wash., school attracts students from eastern states where it doesn’t recruit.

“There’s no other way they would have heard about Gonzaga,” Goodwin said.

The study found that private schools saw even larger increases than public universities.

Drake made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1971 this year only to lose to Western Kentucky on a last-second 3-pointer in overtime Friday. The shot is destined for the highlight reels, meaning the 5,000-student Des Moines, Iowa, school will get even more publicity than its one-and-out counterparts.

Tom Delahunt, Drake’s vice president for admissions and financial aid, said the school already is at capacity, enrolling its largest class in 30 years last year. He still expects increased interest next year.

“We’ll see an increase in high school sophomores and juniors that are now putting Drake on their list where they wouldn’t have before, and they’ll come and visit,” Delahunt said. “We know if we can get them to come visit we have a better chance for them to enroll.”

Pope and others admit that the windfall is short-lived, usually lasting only a few years after a team’s tournament run. Experts say that’s all the time that’s needed.

“If the effect is one to three years, that’s exactly in the zone where students are paying attention to what’s going on,” said Steven Goodman, an educational consultant in Washington, D.C., and author of “College Admissions Together: It Takes a Family.”

“Not that many 9-year-olds are thinking about college admissions, but there are plenty of 15-year-olds who are following the NCAA tournament.”

Experts agree that any bump caused by a tournament appearance can’t sustain a school, but it gives them valuable national exposure that most couldn’t buy. Out of thousands of schools in the country, Goodman said most students apply to seven to 10.

“No one student can know everything about every college, so universities vie for the attention of students, and sports is one of the many ways that schools do that,” he said.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:27am

by Tim Stephens

It has made five consecutive bowl appearances and has a proven track record of delivering both strong ticket sales and television ratings. So why would it seem the Navy football team may have a hard time finding a bowl slot even if it posts yet another winning record this fall?

In case you haven’t figured this out by now, let us clue you in: bowl appearances are as much about contracts as they are about performance. Navy has been a consistent winner in recent years, and has been a much-coveted team among the non-BCS bowls. But the academy’s agreement with the Poinsetta Bowl expired after last season and it has not yet been able to secure a new deal with another bowl. Navy also is an independent rather than a member of a conference, which also complicates matters. That is both a blessing and a curse in that the Midshipmen enjoy scheduling flexibility in the regular season but only limited open slots in bowl games because of league tie-ins.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:30am

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published March 25, 2008

Since taking over as head coach of the Naval Academy football program, Ken Niumatalolo has spent the bulk of his time recruiting, evaluating videotape, conducting interviews and meeting with assistants

Niumatalolo, who spent a total of 10 seasons as an assistant at Navy, was anxious for spring practice to begin so he could get back to doing what he does best.

“I’m excited to get back on the grass. As coaches, that’s why we get into this game for that time out on the grass working with the young men.”

Navy opened spring practice yesterday afternoon and it marked the on-field beginning of the Niumatalolo era. However, the man who served as assistant head coach under Paul Johnson for the past six seasons did not expect too many changes with regard to practice organization or implementation.

“I’ve never been one to worry about putting my stamp on the program. I’m going to do what is best for the program and what I think will lead to winning,” said Niumatalolo, adding that the most noticeable difference is that he will not ride around in a golf cart ala Johnson. “The structure of practice will be pretty much the same.”

Niumatalolo said the players have looked good during offseason workouts in terms of weightlifting and conditioning. However, he said the true test will come when the team puts on pads and starts hitting.

“Football is not played in shorts. There are a lot of players who look good in shorts,” Niumatalolo said. “We won’t know what we really have until we put on the pads.”

Niumatalolo said several of the new assistants have brought fresh ideas and he thought that was a good thing. This marks the first time since Johnson arrived that Navy’s had significant turnover within the coaching staff and new hires such as Joe DuPaix (slot backs), Ashley Ingram (offensive line), Steve Johns (inside linebackers) and Mike Judge (fullbacks) have brought philosophies and thoughts from other programs.

“There’s been an infusion of new ideas and I think it’s been refreshing for the staff. The learning curve during the offseason has been great,” Niumatalolo said.

Several players have undergone position changes and none is more notable than Jarod Bryant, who remains in the role of backup quarterback while also working at slot back and punt returner.

“Jarod is a senior and too talented to sit on the bench,” Niumatalolo said. “We think Jarod is special with the football in his hands and we need to find a way to get him on the field.”

Navy must also find a center to replace standout Antron Harper and two players have been moved to the position to produce competition. Ricky Moore, who saw significant action at tackle in 2007, is listed as the starter going into the spring.

“We play teams like Air Force that use odd fronts and we needed someone who is bigger and more physical and can go against a nose guard,” Niumatalolo said when explaining why the staff chose the 6-foot-4, 283- pound Moore.

In the next breath, Niumatalolo said the staff would prefer to keep Moore at tackle and was hopeful converted nose guard Andy Lark could develop into a credible center. Lark (6-foot, 290 pounds) may be the strongest player on the team, but was third on the depth chart at nose guard.

Shun White is the team’s most experienced slot back and enjoyed a productive campaign in 2007. The Midshipmen need to find a second starter at slot and have moved rising freshman Emmett Merchant to that position in hopes of utilizing his speed and quickness.

Navy returns several key cogs from an offense that led the nation in rushing for the third consecutive season. Starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada directed an attack that averaged 39.3 points and 348.8 yards rushing in 2007.

Eric Kettani, who split time with Adam Ballard at fullback, returns after leading the team in rushing with 880 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kaheaku-Enhada took option keepers for 834 yards and 12 touchdowns while White contributed 620 yards and seven scores on pitchouts.

However, those skill players will be operating behind a revamped offensive line as Navy lost four of five starters. Right tackle Andrew McGinn has significant experience after starting the initial seven games a year ago while projected right guard Curtis Bass appeared in eight games.

Niumatalolo, who worked with the offensive line while an assistant, is looking for left guard Anthony Gaskins to anchor the unit. The 6-foot-1, 281-pound New Jersey native graded out as Navy’s most effective blocker in 2007.

Navy returns seven starters and several key backups from a defense that allowed 36.4 points and 439 yards per game last season. Youth and inexperience were the main culprits behind the poor defensive showing, but that will not be an excuse in 2008.

Navy must fill some holes on defense, notably the outside linebacker spot manned by Matt Wimsatt last fall. Travis Sudderth, who played exclusively on the junior varsity as a plebe, is listed as the starter going into spring camp. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Georgia was put atop the depth chart based on potential and performance in winter workouts.

Navy has a slew of unproven sophomores on the depth chart, including four who are currently listed as backups - Maurice Cumberland (right end) and Trey Grissom (outside linebacker) on defense along with Andre Byrd (slot back) and Jeff Battipaglia (left tackle) on offense.

Navy welcomes back a pair of defenders who missed most of last season with injuries. Clint Sovie will move into the inside linebacker position vacated by senior Irv Spencer while Jeff Deliz is hoping to regain his starting spot at free safety. Niumatalolo said both Sovie (broken ankle) and Deliz (broken foot) are expected to participate in spring drills.

Niumatalolo will conduct 14 practices leading up to the annual spring-ending Blue-Gold game, being held Friday, April 18 (7 p.m.) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:33am

Navy Women’s Lax Runs Past Canisius, 15-12

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Erin Rawlick scored three goals in a two-minute span midway through the second half to lift Navy to a 15-12 victory over Canisius on Tuesday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The win pushes Navy’s record to 7-1 overall, while Canisius, which saw a five-game winning streak end, dropped to 5-4 overall.

The Mids, who lost their first game of the season last Saturday at Colgate, remained undefeated at home with a 7-0 mark.

“It was nice to be back home after a disappointing loss on Saturday,” said Navy head coach Cindy Timchal. “Canisius played us very tough and we knew we were facing a good team. The five-goal run in the second half was obviously a key point in the game, and it was nice to get back into the win column.”

Rawlick led a strong Navy offensive attack with a career-high nine points (7 g, 2 a). Her nine points are tied for the third most nationally in a game this season, while her seven goals are the fourth most. She entered the game ranked ninth in the country in points per game (5.14) and now has 45 points (34 g, 11 a) on the season.

“My teammates just did a great job getting me open and feeding me the ball in a position to score,” said Rawlick. “We really worked on our scoring plays today and the difference between today and Saturday was that we were more patient and weren’t so rushed.”

The Mids fell behind 1-0, but took a 6-2 lead on Rawlick’s third goal of the game with 17:59 to play. The Griffins rallied by scoring six of the half’s last eight goals to tie the game at eight heading into halftime.

Canisius led 10-9 with just under 25 minutes to play, before freshman Meg Decker started a five-goal run by the Mids with her fourth goal of the game with 24:06 to play, tying the game at 10. Rawlick then scored three straight to give Navy the lead for good, while Kaylene Klingenstein added an insurance goal with 9:45 to play to push the Navy lead to 15-11, before Navy ran out the clock.

For the Mids, it was a big win to bounce back from their first loss of the season.

“I think it shows a lot for our team to respond the way we did against a good team after losing our first game on Saturday,” said Rawlick. “We were able to put that loss behind us, learn from it and get the win today.”

“It was just a rough game for us on Saturday. It was our first road game and we weren’t ready for the pressure they put on us,” said Navy senior goalie Natalie Blandon, who stopped a career-high 14 shots, including several from point-blank range. “It really reinstates our confidence. We wanted to show that we will play hard every game and that we are here for the long run and can be a threat in the Patriot League.”

Besides Rawlick’s nine points, Mary Ruttum scored six points (2 g, 4 a), Decker added five points (4 g, 1 a) and Klingenstein (2 g) and Amanda Towey (2 a) scored two points.

Canisius outshot the Mids, 32-31, but Navy won 20 draw controls to Canisius’ nine. The Mids did turn the ball over 19 times to Canisius’ 10.

Navy will travel to Davidson on Saturday, March 29, for a non-conference tilt, beginning at 1:00 pm. Navy’s next home game will be on April 1 against American at 5:00 pm for a key Patriot League contest.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 9:59am

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Hunter and Harris Claim League Weekly Kudos

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. The Navy mens track & field duo of Darryl Hunter (Sr./Des Moines, Iowa) and Paul Harris (Sr./Fairburn, Ga.) have been recognized as the Patriot League Field and Track Athlete of the Week, respectively, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Hunter produced two IC4A marks in winning a pair of events in Navys Five-Team Meet with American, George Mason, Lehigh and Maryland last Saturday in Annapolis. Hunter topped the field in the shot put with a distance of 538-1/4 (16.36 meters) before winning the discus throw with a toss of 1627 (49.55 meters). This is the third time in his career that he has been recognized as the leagues outdoor field athlete of the week.

Harris delivered an IC4A time in winning a very competitive 800-meter race on Saturday. The Navy senior crossed the finish line in 1:51.83, 0.04-second ahead of second place Carlos Jamiesons time from American and 0.08-second ahead of teammate Craig Meekinss (Sr./Baldwin, N.Y.) third-place showing. Harris has been crowned as the leagues outdoor track athlete of the week three times during his career.

The Midshipmen (6-0) will remain home this Saturday, as they host Colgate, Penn and Princeton at Ingram Field, starting at 11 a.m.

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