Navy Sports

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:03am

by Ron Snyder, The Examiner

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The lopsided losses suffered by UMBC and Mount St. Mary’s against Georgetown and North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday only tell part of the story regarding the state of college basketball in Maryland.

With five state schools advancing to a postseason tournament, the Free State experienced arguably its most successful college basketball season ever, with the exception of Maryland going to the National Invitation Tournament for the third time in four years.

Along with UMBC (24-9) and Mount St. Mary’s (19-15), the nation also got to witness Coppin State (16-21), which lost to Mount St. Mary¹s in the NCAA play-in game, become the first team to make the NCAA Tournament with 20 losses. Coppin State advanced to the NCAA Tournament by upsetting fellow Maryland school Morgan State in final of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.

Still, Morgan State qualified for the NIT for the first time by winning the MEAC regular season title.

Coppin State coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell said this is the best he has seen college basketball in the state in a long time, and expects it to be even better next season.

“When you look at what the Mount, UMBC, Coppin and Morgan did along with the strides at Loyola, Navy and Towson, I see we¹re at the point where local college basketball has really come up,” he said. “All the programs are respectable now and I only expect better things ahead.”

Mitchell’s assessment of the area provides further optimism for teams that didn¹t make the postseason this year. Navy (16-14) finished in second place in the Patriot League and will return four of five starters from a team that posted its first winning season in seven years. Midshipmen coach Billy Lange received a five-year contract extension for the team¹s turnaround.

Loyola (19-14) advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals this season and has won 37 games over the past two years, the best such span for the program in decades. Towson (13-18) also expects to make strides next season in the Colonial Athletic Association with the additions of several transfers and the return of standouts Junior Hairston and Josh Thornton.

UMBC coach Randy Monroe said he expects teams from Maryland to consistently compete for bids for the NCAA Tournament, something that hasn’t happened since Coppin State, Towson and Navy accomplished the feat in the 1990s. UMBC advanced to the tournament for the first time in its history and returns four of five starters from its America East championship squad.

“I think the future looks bright for our area,” Monroe said. “You look at what mid-major programs like UMBC, Mount St. Mary’s and Coppin State accomplished. We had some terrific years. We had a terrific year this year and I think it will open the eyes of the youngsters and people in our community and the people in our area.”

Mount St. Mary’s coach Milan Brown said the biggest gains he expects the area programs to make with the success from this year is in recruiting, especially when it comes to landing local players.

“I think it’s been great for our state that we’ve been able to compete and win,” Brown said. “Most of the schools in our league are obviously going to be very competitive to come up with wins. Hopefully, it puts pressure on you, and it¹s great because the guys in the state all know we are going to make positive strides and it will make you wok even harder.”

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:11am

By David Ausiello

Posted Mar 25, 2008

A lot has been made about how Navy’s first-year head football coach Ken Niumatalolo is similar to his predecessor, Paul Johnson. The offense will be pretty much the samethe defense will be the samethe practices will be the sameand on and on. However, one detail that won¹t be the same is the press conferences.

For example, at last year¹s spring media luncheon for beat reporters, practice may not have started at the Academy, but Johnson was already in mid-season form with his one-liners.

When asked about the importance of spring ball, Johnson sent a clear message to his team, saying:

“Coming out of morning workouts there are a couple of young guys that I was really counting on that I’m disappointed in. I don¹t know if they can play for us. I don’t know if they are tough enough. They give up awfully easy.”

To say that Johnson felt comfortable dealing with the media is a pretty substantial understatement. In his sixth year at the helm at Navy , he knew how to work the room and he never really held back with his comments.

Enter the Niumatalolo media era.

It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions from what is in reality his first real press conference, but if yesterday was any indication, fans should expect a more conversational approach from Niumatalolo as he gets familiar with the crowd.

However, there were moments yesterday when one may have thought Johnson was back behind the microphone, albeit slight hints.

When asked about putting his mark on the program and what would change, the first-year coach let everyone know that a permanent fixture on the Navy practice field over the past six years would not be occupied by him.

“I’m not going to have a (golf) cart out therethat might be the only difference.”

With the assistants pretty much running the practices, it was common-place to see Johnson chewing on some sunflower seeds while seated in a golf-cart.

There was also a question to Niumatalolo about whether or not players had come to him regarding position changes and how exactly those conversations were handled.

With little hesitation, Niumatalolo responded by saying, “Football is not a democracy.”

He paused, and then continued in a very diplomatic manner, “I’ll always listen to the young men to see what they have to say. Everybody wants to get on the field.”

There was another light moment when the head coach spoke about evaluating players and at what position they may be able to help the team.

“We¹ve got a big board that we always look at – we’ve got a personnel board. We spend a lot of time in that room just looking at nametags. People walk in and wonder what the heck is wrong with these guys?”

If you take a few moments, and actually think about walking into such a room with a bunch of coaches staring at a board, it may actually be pretty funny. So for those Navy fans hoping that press conference transcripts will continue to be must-read copy * for its comedic value, there is, well, hope.

As for what Niumatalolo thought of Johnson’s approach with the media, he remarked, “He always said what was on his mind.”

And as for how he expects to deal with the press, the man who played for and coached with Johnson for 17 years said, “I’m just going to be honest. I think I’ll (tell the media) how it is.”

Here are some other observations from the media luncheon:

One Person at a Time, Please

Niumatalolo said that his staff learned a lot, especially in the communications realm, during his coaching debut against Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl.

“The game happens so fast. You can’t give a guy ten suggestions in .5 seconds and try to get him to decipher all of that. We’re going to do some things differently from that standpoint. There won’t be too many people talking – from the headset standpoint – so (offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper) can think.”

“(The bowl game) was great from my standpoint. It kind of allowed us – I
won’t say a dry run because I’m still ****ed that we actually lost.”

Secret, Secret, I’ve Got a Secret

First, Army’s head coach Stan Brock said a few weeks ago that he wanted to keep his new offense a secret for as long as possible. Now, in a follow-up to that statement, Army has closed its spring practices to the media and fans alike. In the past years, such a move would get little reaction out of Paul Johnson, who probably would have said that he had enough to worry about in Annapolis . However, the new sheriff in town is very interested in what his chief rivals may be scheming before the fall.

“With Air Force and Army, I always keep up with what the off-season is like. I always try to see what they are up to.”

As for Army’s ability to keep their offensive scheme a secret, Niumatalolo, wasn’t so sure that it will be possible.

“I don’t know. I’m anxious to see what they are going to do.”

Navy fans will be happy to know that all of Navy’s practices are still open to the public under the new head coach.

Can We Get Mids to Those Road Games in 2008?

Last summer, Navy fans were in an uproar over new rules by the incoming administration that significantly decreased the number of midshipmen who were allowed to travel to away games to support the team. So what will happen this year? Of course Coach Niumatalolo does not have the answer to that question, but now, as the head coach, he does have the topic on his radar.

“All those things come into play now. My dealings with the Supe have been great. I’ve seen their commitment. It’s been all positive.”

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Having new coaches on the staff means new opportunities, according to Niumatalolo, for a lot of players, especially those in the offensive trenches.

“I told the offensive linemen – for some of the guys that have been in my doghouse for the last couple of years, this is a great opportunity for them. They have different people looking at you.”

Now Returning Punts, Your Back-up Quarterback–

I have my research staff checking into this, but I¹m not sure a back-up quarterback has ever been asked to return punts for a Division I-A football team. If senior Jarod Bryant does as well in that role as the coaching staff hopes, history could be made in Annapolis this August. But isn’t Niumatalolo concerned about having his number-two option quarterback out of harm’s way just in case (knock on wood), number-one goes down?

“Those thoughts definitely went through our minds. It’s definitely a risk. (But Bryant) is too good to sit on the bench. We are taking a risk in putting him out there.”

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:13am

Cloak of secrecy for new offense

By Sal Interdonato
Times Herald-Record
March 26, 2008

West Point Don’t be surprised if military police are guarding the entrance to the Foley Athletic Center this afternoon.

You’d have a better chance of getting on stage when John Legend plays at West Point next month than watching Army football open its spring practice.

Fans and media have been banned from Army’s indoor practices.

What’s coach Stan Brock hiding? Did quarterback Carson Williams suddenly morph into Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow over the winter?

Brock has closed practices as he begins to implement a mystery offense. Traditionally at West Point, spring practices have been open to the public.

It’s not uncommon for paranoid coaches to close practices to keep an edge. College coaches are a skittish bunch, who guard their secrets closely.

Brock is keeping his hand close to the vest and his players even closer. Don’t expect definitive answers anytime soon.

“There’s going to be some new things and some new terminologies along with the old things that need to be better than we did last year for an offensive standpoint,” Brock said.

The big question on the minds of Army football fans is what offense Brock will install this season.

Will Brock go with a full-blown option attack? Will he just add a few wrinkles to the playbook? Who will be the quarterback?

Brock and his offensive staff didn’t embark on a five-day retreat last month to discuss potential changes for nothing.

A playbook, handed out this afternoon, will have some of the answers.

Junior running back Tony Dace said the off-season has been typical, with players lifting and working on the team’s weaknesses. If Brock is making a drastic change, apparently the players have been kept out of the loop.

“I don’t think there will be huge changes,” said Dace, Army’s leading rusher (330 yards) in 2007. “We’ve talked about going out there running, throwing and catching the ball. I haven’t heard anything major.”

You’d think Brock and his staff would rip up the 2007 playbook of Army’s pro-style offense that produced 19 touchdowns in 12 games. Army had just six rushing touchdowns and went 31 quarters without one. Dace became the lone running back to top 100 yards in a game, against Navy in the season finale.

“No offensive player wants to have a year like that,” Dace said.

“I’m not a coach by any means or a football genius,” Dace said. “Having 100-yard games doesn’t mean you are going to win. I had 100 yards against Navy and we got our (butt) kicked. You have to be balanced and have trust in the coaching staff.”

Brock isn’t making the offensive decision on a whim or a prayer. He and his staff have done tons of research. They traveled to Arizona, soliciting the advice of former Army coach Jim Young. Young led Army to consecutive bowl games in 1984-85 using the option.

And if Brock picks an option-based attack, class starts today. Option plays were installed last season but only departed senior quarterback Kevin Dunn ran them.

“This week, we were joking around about the defensive players knowing more about the option than some of the offensive players,” sophomore defensive tackle Mike Gann said.

So, the Foley Athletic Center could become one big lecture hall in the 15 practices that Brock gets with his players this spring.

“(Outside) on the football field, it’s not a great teaching area because there’s wind blowing and lots of distractions,” Brock said. “So I close it off, I just eliminate all of the distractions and I don’t have to worry about any of those things.”

Brock is taking great measures to keep the offense a top secret from one team Temple, which Army will host on Aug. 29 in its season opener.

But will the offense stay incognito until August? Someone’s bound to let the cat out of the bag.

And Army’s spring game is April 19. Will the offense just watch as the first-team defense scrimmages the second-team defense?

There’s a chance Brock might break his closed-practice stance for the kickers and punters.

“If the weather is good and they’re outside kicking, then they will be outside,” Brock said. “If I had a fence up and I could screen it in, I’d screen it in.”

Army’s covert mission begins today.

<a href="mailto:sinterdonato@th-record.com">sinterdonato@th-record.com</a>

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:18am

By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

Calling World Extreme Cagefighting’s Brian Stann battled-tested is misleading. In one way, he isn’t. And in another, more profound way, he is.

At 5-0, Stann’s victories have come in the first round either by knockout or TKO. He hasn’t exactly been challenged.

But in his day job, Stann knows what it is like to fight when the stakes are life and death.

A former football player at Navy and now a burgeoning mixed-martial arts star in WEC, Stann, a U.S. Marine Corps captain, spent two tours of duty in Iraq.

In 2005, Stann earned a Silver Star the military’s third-highest award for “gallantry in action” when Iraqi insurgents ambushed Stann’s company when it tried to secure a bridge near Karabilah, a city northwest of Baghdad near the Syrian border. Forty-two U.S. soldiers withstood rocket-propelled grenades, suicide attacks and gunfire for six days. None died.

“We were hit with a tremendous amount of adversity,” Stann says. "The great thing for me is that I’m a U.S. Marine, and the guys with me were U.S. Marines. They executed. When you’re pinned down in a spot like that, sometimes you put your head down and force your way out.

“You can’t always pitch a shutout in war. Sometimes, you have to call an audible.”

After that kind of ordeal, fighting light heavyweight title-holder Doug Marshall on Wednesday (Versus, 9 p.m. ET) for the WEC championship is easy.

“This is the fun part,” Stann says.

After graduating from the Naval Academy and finishing officer candidates school in Quantico, Va., Stann needed an outlet for his competitive nature. He became involved with martial arts.

“It focused on ethics, and it also helped prepare me for the fog of war and the intensity and anxiety of war,” Stann says. “That helped me for combat, and combat has helped me fight in the cage.”

Stann didn’t set out to become a professional mixed-martial arts fighter. He fought in amateur bouts before his first deployment in Iraq. But at the end of that tour, he logged onto a computer, looking for opportunities to fight professionally. He said he begged promoters to put him on a card.

“What started as a hobby turned into a lifestyle,” he says.

While the military comes first, Stann saves leave time and vacation for training and fights. Stationed at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune, Stann says the base is a perfect training ground. He needs to be shape for his job, and he is surrounded by soldiers in outstanding physical condition. A day for Stann starts around 5:30 a.m. when arrives at the office (he oversees about 900 soldiers) and ends around 9:30 p.m. when he finishes training.

“On a base this big, people come from all walks of life,” Stann says. “We have some phenomenal wrestlers, boxers, kick boxers and jiu-jitsu fighters here. Many are dedicated. It might not be world class but they are good. The biggest thing they bring to the table is their mind-set. In this community, you’re not allowed to have a bad day. You can’t go at 50%.”

Stann won three fights in 2007, including a victory vs. Jeremiah Billington in September, his last fight. Like a football player watching film of an opponent, Stann has been studying Marshall’s past fights. Even while in Iraq on his second tour of duty from July 2006 to February 2007, he had a friend send him DVDs of Marshall’s fights.

“He’s primarily a striker and a brawler, but he’s becoming an all-around fighter,” Stann says. "I’ve identified his strengths and weaknesses, and I plan on capitalizing on those weaknesses with my strengths.

“The fans wanted to see this fight, so we’re giving it to them.”

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:20am

Web Posted: 03/25/2008 10:27 PM CDT

San Antonio Express-News

Like millions across the country, former Spurs center David Robinson has spent the past week indulging in March Madness.

Robinson never will be mistaken for a couch potato he looks like he still could play but he spent a good part of the Easter weekend watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on television.

Although Robinson experienced the thrill of winning two NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals, there’s something about the college game that continues to stir a special feeling inside him around this time each year.

“Oh, yeah,” Robinson said Tuesday. “I love the first weekend of the tournament because you never know what might happen. It’s exciting. There’s just so much balance nowadays. It’s great to see a school like Davidson make it to the Sweet 16.”

Robinson, of course, experienced the excitement of the NCAA tournament personally. A two-time All-American at the U.S. Naval Academy, he played on teams that earned bids to the Big Dance in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

“I guess I like watching the first round because that’s as far as we usually got,” Robinson said, chuckling.

The Admiral, as he will forever be known in San Antonio, was just being modest. In this day of look-at-me, chest-pumping athletes, his humility always stood as a reminder that there’s still a place for dignity in sports.

Robinson always will be synonymous with grace and class, as the nation learned when he carried Navy to the NCAA tournament.

The Midshipmen lost to Maryland in the second round his sophomore season but advanced to the Elite Eight the following year, when they lost to Duke in
the East Regional final.

“It was a great time,” said Robinson, 42.

Michigan beat Navy in the first round in 1987, but Robinson capped his stellar college career by earning the Wooden and Naismith awards as the country’s player of the year.

Robinson talked about college basketball and the Spurs after participating in an event at the Carver Academy, the school he founded, to help promote this year’s Final Four in San Antonio.

Ever the exemplary mentor, Robinson briefly spoke to 120 Carver students, including his youngest son, Justin, a fifth-grader at the East Side school, before they dribbled basketballs around the courtyard twice.

Robinson led the students, smiling and talking to them as he dribbled.

The “basketball parade” was a preview of the NCAA Dome Dribble to Hoop City, scheduled April 6 at the Alamodome.

“I think it’s great that we’re having the Final Four in San Antonio again,” Robinson said. “Kids can see all this and have aspirations. Very few will ever get to the NBA, but they can dream of going to college and maybe playing college basketball.”

While Robinson wouldn’t predict which teams will advance to the Final Four, he gave North Carolina rave reviews.

“From what I’ve seen, North Carolina is head and shoulders above everybody else,” he said.

Turning his focus to the Spurs, Robinson expressed cautious optimism about their chances of repeating as NBA champions.

“I don’t think you can count them out because of their experience, and I believe they’ve got as good a chance as anybody to win it all,” Robinson said. “But I’d like to see them commit to defense a little more. At times, teams score on them a little too easily, and their transition defense isn’t always what it should be.”

Robinson said Tim Duncan is such a great player that most fans take him for granted.

“You never appreciate what you have,” Robinson said. “I think Tim is the best power forward to ever play the game. He’s underappreciated, but that’s OK because he’ll just keep winning championships.”

Robinson smiled immediately when he was asked his thoughts on Manu Ginobili.

“He’s so good, he’s ridiculous,” he said, smiling. “You never know what to expect from him. From the first day he got here, he was my favorite player to watch.”

When he isn’t watching college basketball or Spurs games, Robinson stays busy trying to keep up with his three sons.

“I don’t play golf much at all now,” he said. “I’m a father and the chauffeur for my three boys.”

Then he smiled again.

<a href="mailto:dflores@express-news.net">dflores@express-news.net</a>

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:22am

By BRETT McMURPHY of The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2008

TAMPA - A proposed bowl game to be played at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field starting this season will be submitted to the NCAA’s bowl certifying board by Tuesday.

“We have been exploring with a number of partners, the viability of launching a bowl game in St. Petersburg,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager of ESPN Regional.

The game, to be televised on ESPN or ESPN2, would pit teams from the Big East Conference and Conference USA and is tentatively scheduled for Sunday night, Dec. 21. If the Rays’ outdoor stadium is built, which would open in 2012, the bowl would be moved there.

The bowl, which likely would be named the St. Petersburg Bowl if a corporate sponsor can not be obtained, would be the sixth bowl run and operated by ESPN. The network’s other bowls: Pioneer Las Vegas, Sheraton Hawaii, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Papajohns.com and New Mexico.

“We’re involved in a process which requires NCAA bowl committee certification before anything is official,” Derzis said. "We have a tentative plan in place and continue to work on that plan with a number of stakeholders in the market.

“St. Petersburg is extremely attractive and our potential conference partners have indicated a desire for a Florida experience.”

The St. Petersburg bowl would make the Tampa Bay area the fifth community to host two bowl games along with Orlando (Champs Sports, Capital One), New Orleans (New Orleans, Sugar); Phoenix/Glendale, Ariz. (Insight, Fiesta); and San Diego (Poinsettia, Holiday).

The Outback Bowl, played at Raymond James Stadium, has been held annually in Tampa since 1986.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or <a href="mailto:bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com">bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com</a>

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 10:23am

Boxing: 
Last Week: Idle
This Week - @Midwest Regionals (Thur, Fri, Sat, Lexington, KY)

Cycling -
Last Week: @ Appalachian State Univ: Saturday Road Race Finishes: 2
Second Place, 1 Third Place, and 1 Fourth Place;

Team Trial Finishes; 3 Third Place and 4 Second Place; Sunday Criterium: 2nd Place Finish.
This Week: @ James Madison Univ / Univ of VA Jefferson Cup (Sat, Sun,
Harrisonburg, VA)

Hockey - (20-18-1)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Idle

Karate - (0-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: @ All American Open (Sat, New York, NY)

Pistol - (7-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Idle

Lacrosse - (3-0 )
Last Week: defeated Delaware 6-5 in sudden death overtime!
This Week: vs Towson, (Tues 4:oopm, Farragut Field) vs Salisbury (Thurs, 5:00pm, Farragut Field) @Beltway Bash (Sat 9:00am, College Park, MD)

Marathon - (2-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: @ National Marathon ‘Official Pace Group’ (Sat 7:ooam, Washington, DC)

Powerlifting -
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Idle

Rugby (M) (3-0)
Last Week: DEFEATED William & Mary 53-27
This Week: @ MARFU Finals (Sat, Sun, Richmond VA) and C Side vs York (Sat 12::oopm, Hospital Pt)

Rugby (W) -A Side 21-2-1 / B Side 12-2-2
Last Week: A Side defeated Princeton 115-3 while B Side defeated Pax River Club 27-0
This Week - @ MARFU Finals (Sat, Sun 11:00am, Richmond VA)

Soccer - (1-0)
Last Week: defeated UMBC 3-1
This Week: Idle

Softball -
Last Week: Idle
This Week: @ NCSU Tournament (Sat, Sun, Raleigh, NC)

Tennis - (3-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week : vs Towson (Sat, 12:oopm, Outdoor Courts)

Triathlon - (0-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Lone Star QuarterIron (Sun, 8:ooam, Galveston, TX)

Volleyball - (12-9)
Last Week: lost to UPENN 0-2, defeated Delaware 2-0
This Week - @ UNC Chapel Hill Tournament (Sat, Chapel Hill, NC)

Field Hockey -(0-0)
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Idle

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 12:16pm

The Navy offshore sailing team sent a crew to Los Angeles to compete in the inaugural Harbor Cup hosted by California Maritime Academy, Los Angeles Yacht Club and the Port of Los Angeles. A total of eight heats were sailed over the two-day weekend event. When the dust settled, Navy finished third, losing a tiebreaker for second place with USC and only was just one point out of first, behind the Maine Maritime Academy.

The Midshipman crew included skipper Matt Recker, Cullen Shaughnessy, Will Arnest, Owen Brooks, Mark Picinich, Kenneth Endicott and Alex Fletcher.

The team will compete in the Intrepid Trophy Regatta on April 19-20.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:24pm

For Immediate Release
Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Swimmer Zahalka Selected as Truman Scholar

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Madeline K. Albright, president of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and former U.S. Secretary of State, announced Tuesday that Navy swimming standout Kelly Zahalka (Jr., Richmond, Va.) was named as one of the 65 recipients of a 2008 Truman Scholarship.

There were nearly 600 candidates representing close to 300 colleges and universities for one of this year’s awards that are presented to college juniors. Zahalka was one of three Midshipmen to reach the regional interview stage of the process. The Scholars were selected by independent selection panels on the basis of “leadership potential, intellectual ability, and likelihood of making a difference.”

Recipients will have the opportunity to take part in an internship with a government agency in Washington, D.C., after the completion of their undergraduate degree, then will receive up to $30,000 in scholarships for graduate study in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Additionally, they must be U.S. citizens, have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, be in the top quarter of their class, and be committed to careers in government or the not-for-profit sector.

An honors history major with a Chinese minor, Zahalka has posted a 4.00 cumulative grade-point average at Navy. She has been named as the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s swimming and diving in both 2007 and '08 and last year was selected as a Third-Team Academic All-American (for at-large sports) by ESPN the Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Zahalka has been equally successful as a member of the Navy swimming team. Selected as the 2007 Patriot League Swimmer of the Year, she has totaled six individual event and four relay event titles during her career at the Patriot League Championship and has never finished lower than fourth place in an event at the championship. She holds Navy records in the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley events, with her time in the 400 IM also being a league record, and has totaled 70 individual event victories during her three-year career.

Established by the federal government in 1975, the Scholarship program is funded by the U.S. Treasury and has selected nearly 2,700 Scholars over the last three decades. Zahalka, the 15th Mid to be tabbed as a Truman Scholar since its inception, will formally receive her Scholarship in a ceremony at the conclusion of a leadership training week for all selected 2008 Scholars at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo., on May 18.

Zahalka plans on working towards a graduate degree in U.S.-China relations.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:25pm

By
Sal Interdonato

Looking for information on what offense the Army football team will be running this spring?

Who’s under center? Which players are stepping it up?

My reporting skills will be put to test the next three or so weeks. For the time being, Army spring practices, which kick off Wednesday, will be closed. The reason? A coach’s decision by Stan Brock. Army will practice inside the Foley Athletic Center and unless you are a four-star general; Franklin Hagenbeck, the superintendent or Kevin Anderson, the athletic director, clearance into practice will not be granted.

The biggest question since the Army’s 38-3 loss to Navy last December, is what changes will Brock and his offensive coordinator Tim Walsh make Army’s offense more offensive in 2008. A few weeks ago, Brock said he wanted to keep the offense a secret for as long as possible. The only people Brock is hiding the offense from is the Temple football team, Army’s first opponent in 2008. Once Army plays Temple, the big secret would be out. My job is to sniff out the offense before spring practices ends.

This isn’t the best move for Brock. Figure he would want as much publicity on his team as possible following its 11th straight losing season in 2007.

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:28pm

Center Valley, Pa. - With finishes in the top half of the Patriot League in all six winter sports, Bucknell took the lead in the 2007-08 Patriot League Presidents’ Cup standings with 71 overall points. The Bison have the edge in both the Men’s and Women’s races as well. They have 31 points in the Men’s race, and 40 in the Women’s.

The Patriot League sponsors six sports during the winter season, with men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving and men’s and women’s indoor track and field. Each Patriot League member participates in all six of the winter sports.

Bucknell captured the women’s indoor track and field title, and placed second in men’s indoor track and field and men’s swimming and diving. The Bison won the Patriot League Women’s Basketball Tournament to claim third place in overall points in that sport after placing fifth in the regular season. They also advanced to the semifinals of the Men’s Basketball Tournament to pull into a tie for fourth in overall points. A third-place finish in women’s swimming and diving rounded out the winter season for the Bison. Bucknell led all schools with 38.25 points in the winter sports.

Navy comes in second in the overall standings with 63.75 points. The Mids are tied for second in the Women’s Race with 35 points, and in third place in the Men’s with 28.75 points. Navy finished third or higher in five of the six winter sports, and earned the Patriot League Championship in men’s swimming and diving and men’s indoor track and field. The Mids were second in women’s swimming and diving and third in men’s basketball and women’s indoor track and field. They notched 36 overall points in the winter sports.

Colgate and American are right behind the Mids in the overall standings, as the Raiders took third place with 62.25 points and the Eagles snagged fourth with 62 points. The Raiders won the women’s swimming and diving title, and a berth in the Patriot League Championship game gave Colgate the second-most points in men’s basketball. The Raiders are a close second to Bucknell in the Men’s race with 30.75 points, and are in fourth in the Women’s race with 31.5 points. American has 35 points to tie for second with Navy in the quest for the Women’s trophy, and sits in fourth place with 27 points in the Men’s competition. The Eagles received strong finishes in basketball during the winter, winning the regular-season and Tournament titles to claim first-place in men’s basketball and riding the regular-season crown to a second-place overall finish in women’s basketball.

The remaining four spots in the overall standings are occupied, in order, by Army (51.75), Lehigh (46.75), Lafayette (44.5) and Holy Cross (35.5). The Crusaders notched the most overall points in women’s basketball after placing second in the regular-season and losing in the Patriot League Championship game to Bucknell.

Bucknell took home its 13th Patriot League Presidents’ Cup at the conclusion of the 2006-07 year. Army is the only other team in League history to win the cup, taking home four trophies (1994, 1995, 1997, 2005).

Patriot League Presidents’ Cup points are awarded based on a team’s performance in the regular season and postseason Patriot League standings. In cross country, football, golf, rowing, swimming and diving and track and field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with postseason tournaments, points are awarded based on a combination of the team’s finish at the Patriot League championship and the regular-season standings.

2007-08 Patriot League Presidents’ Cup Standings (through Winter 2008)

Overall

Bucknell, 71 points
Navy, 63.75
Colgate, 62.25
American, 62
Army, 51.75
Lehigh 46.75
Lafayette 44.5
Holy Cross 35.5

Men

Bucknell, 31
Colgate, 30.75
Navy, 28.75
American, 27
Army, 24.25
Lehigh, 21
Lafayette, 20.75
Holy Cross, 16.5

Women

Bucknell, 40
American, 35
Navy, 35
Colgate, 31.5
Army, 27.5
Lehigh, 25.75
Lafayette, 23.75
Holy Cross, 19

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:29pm

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

Navy Rallies Late to Defeat Towson, 8-7

ANNAPOLIS, Md. Navy designated hitter Mitch Harris (Sr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) belted the game-tying triple in the eighth and would later score the go-ahead run as the Midshipmen came from behind to defeat Towson, 8-7, on Wednesday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Mids improved to 14-8 on the year and 10-3 over their last-13 games, while the Tigers dropped to 8-14 overall.

Trailing 7-5 going into the bottom half of the eighth, Navy used three extra-base hits to reclaim the lead. Michael Speciale (So./Pearland, Texas) led off the frame with a double down the left-field line and went to third when Jonathan Wright (Fr./Arden, N.C.) lined a double that the centerfielder jumped up but could not hold onto before hitting the ground. After a strikeout, Harris drilled a triple to the gap in right-center to knot the game at seven. With a drawn-in infield, Mike Guadagnini (Fr./Virginia Beach, Va.) hit a grounder, but the ball scooted under the glove of the shortstop to allow Harris to cross the plate and take the lead.

We were threatening all day, but had nine runners left on base after the first-five innings. However, we kept the pressure on and finally broke through with the big hit, stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. In the eighth, we had a really good at bat by Michael and Jonathan hit the ball very hard to center before Mitch gave us that big hit we were looking for.

Navy held a 5-4 advantage going into the seventh before Greg Furmanek blasted a three-run shot over the centerfield fence with two outs to make the score 7-5. However, Navy relievers Kevin Heasley (Sr./Cincinnati, Ohio) and JD Melton (So./Myrtle Beach, S.C.) each fired a scoreless inning to keep the Mids in the game and eventually come away with the win.

Heasley was credited for the win, as he used just six pitches to get three outs in the eighth to improve to 2-1 on the year. Melton picked up his fifth save in 2008, throwing just 10 pitches in a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout.

Each Navy hitter picked up at least one base hit as the Mids narrowly out-hit the Tigers, 13-12. However, the Midshipmen took advantage of four Towson errors in plating five unearned runs, while not committing a fielding miscue for the ninth time in 22 games this spring.

We had a very balanced attack at the plate and certainly gave us several opportunities to score, said Kostacopoulos. The game really boiled down to Towson giving us extra outs, us playing some solid defense and turning three double plays.

Wright led the offense with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with two runs scored, while Speciale and Kendall Bolt (So./Stockton, Calif.) each had two hits and a run scored. Speciale swiped his team-best 11th stolen base of the year during the first inning.

Towson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second before Navy put up a three-spot in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Driscoll (Fr./Riverview, Fla.) smacked a RBI-single to center to tie the game and would eventually score the third run of the frame on back-to-back hit by pitches, the latter of which came with the bases loaded.

The Tigers chipped away with a run in the third and fourth inning to tie the contest at three, only before the Midshipmen would come back with a run of their own in the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Renaldo Hollins (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.) singled on a bouncer in front of the plate and all the runners advanced a base as the throw from the catcher sailed into right field.

Towson again tied the score, this time at four in the sixth, before the Mids answered yet again with a run in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and Wright standing 90 feet away from home, Guadagnini delivered a single up the middle to plate the go-ahead run.

Navy starter Wes Olson (Fr./Indianapolis, Ind.) lasted three innings on a pitch limit on Wednesday. Olson scattered four hits and two runs with one walk and one strikeout.

The Midshipmen will head on the road to take on defending Patriot League champion Lafayette in the league series opener this Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon in Easton, Pa.

We have played in a lot of close games, especially as of late, and I think it has gotten us ready for Patriot League play, stated Kostacopoulos. Lafayette and the entire Patriot League plays so hard and our experiences this spring have helped us prepare for several close games.

Live stats for each of the games this weekend will be available via GameTracker on <a href=“http://www.NavySports.com(%5B/url%5D.)”>www.NavySports.com(.)</a>

GreatAmerican · March 26, 2008, 7:33pm

By
Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital

The proposed Congressional Bowl took a major step toward becoming a reality on Monday when it signed an agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference. Sean Metcalf, co-founder of the District of Columbia Bowl Commission, confirmed today that he has nailed down a deal to have the ACC fill a slot for the annual bowl. Plans call for a service academy to fill the other slot with the Naval Academy having already signed a contract to appear in the inaugural Congressional Bowl in 2008. Metcalf is close to signing an agreement with Army and also would like to get Air Force involved.

“I am extremely pleased the ACC has agreed to become involved with the Congressional Bowl. It was really the last piece of the puzzle,” Metcalf said.

News of the ACC’s commitment enabled ESPN to sign an agreement to televise the fledgling bowl, which is slated to be held on Dec. 20 at either RFK Stadium or the new Nationals Park. Metcalf said the D.C. Bowl Commission can now move forward with filing an application with the NCAA for certification as a postseason contest.

The NCAA requires prospective bowls to have guaranteed opponents, a TV contract, venue and a letter of credit. Metcalf said all those elements are in place, including documents proving the proposed Congressional Bowl can meet its mandate of paying $1 million to each participating school.

GreatAmerican · March 27, 2008, 10:03pm

For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Paul Harris Named ECAC Track Athlete of the Week

CENTERVILLE, Mass. - One day after earning Patriot League Track Athlete-of-the-Week honors, Navy men’s track & field middle distance runner Paul Harris (Sr./Fairburn, Ga.) has been recognized as the ECAC Track Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced it on Wednesday night.

This marks the first time in Harris’s career that he has been distinguished by the ECAC during the outdoor season. The Navy middle distance runner has twice been named the ECAC Track Athlete of the Week during indoor action during his career.

Harris delivered an IC4A time in winning a very competitive 800-meter race in Saturdays five-team meet in Annapolis. The Navy senior crossed the finish line in 1:51.83, 0.04-second ahead of second place Carlos Jamieson’s time from American and 0.08-second ahead of teammate Craig Meekins’s (Sr./Baldwin, N.Y.) third-place showing.

Harris and the Midshipmen (6-0) will remain home this Saturday to take on Colgate, Penn and Princeton at Ingram Field, starting at 11 a.m.

GreatAmerican · March 27, 2008, 10:10pm

Stann Continues Assault; Marine Captain Wins Title By KO, Improves to 6-0 (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Stann continues assault

Marine captain wins title by KO, improves to 6-0

By ADAM HILL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Doug Marshall, left, staggers backward after being hit with a left hook by Brian Stann on Wednesday night at the Hard Rock Hotel. Stann stopped Marshall in the first round to claim his World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight title. Stann improved to 6-0, with all of his victories coming by first-round knockout.

Brian Stann went through light heavyweight champion Doug Marshall with military precision, much like he has each of his professional mixed martial arts opponents.

That should come as no surprise from Stann, a Marine Corps captain who has served two tours of duty in Iraq and was awarded a Silver Star.

“I try to look at it similarly,” Stann said of the comparisons between fighting in the cage and on the battlefield. “I try to revisit the emotions I’ve felt when I’ve been to Iraq. I look at my opponents the same way I looked at my opponents in combat. What are his strengths? What are his weaknesses?”

Stann stopped Marshall with a huge left hand at 1:35 of the first round to win the title on the World Extreme Cagefighting card at the Hard Rock Hotel on Wednesday.

Stann improved to 6-0 in his professional career, with all six wins coming by first-round knockout.

The emotion of the situation hit him seconds later, jubilation turning to tears as Stann dropped to one knee and started crying in the center of the cage.

“The biggest thing that came to my mind is I looked up at the sky and remembered all my friends and all my Marines that aren’t here anymore, and that’s with me every day,” Stann said.

“That belt is just leather with some stuff on it. It symbolizes so much more. I have to live my life to the fullest for them, and that’s what this belt symbolizes.”

Las Vegan Steve Cantwell, who lost to Stann in March 2007, was nearly as dominating Wednesday in scoring a first-round submission win over Tim McKenzie.

In a lightweight fight, Marcus Hicks finished Ed Ratcliff with a guillotine in the first round to remain unbeaten in his eight fights.

Chael Sonnen had to prepare for a replacement opponent, but it didn’t keep him from dominating Bryan Baker.

Sonnen, who was supposed to fight for Paulo Filho’s middleweight title, instead took on the young, previously unbeaten Baker.

It was a mismatch from the start.

Sonnen took down Baker with ease and controlled the action on the ground to win all three rounds. Sonnen won two 10-8 rounds on two of the judges’ scorecards and one on the third card to gain a 30-25, 30-25 and 30-26 decision.

Sonnen suffered a controversial loss to Filho in December but insisted he wasn’t trying to send a message to the champion, who was forced out of this fight when he entered rehab for substance abuse two weeks ago.

“My coaches were saying, ‘You have to make a statement to (Filho),’ but I was just trying to work on my techniques,” Sonnen said. “Tonight, it was just about me and Bryan Baker.”

Two Las Vegans on the card suffered defeats.

Blas Avena was knocked out in the first round by Hiromitsu Miura, and John Alessio was disqualified when he kneed a downed Brock Larson.

GreatAmerican · March 27, 2008, 10:11pm

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy senior guard Greg Sprink has been named a Mid-Major All-American by the CollegeHoopsNet.com, the website announced today. Sprink is one of 32 players named on five teams (four teams, plus honorable mention), and is the lone Patriot League representative. Davidson’s Stephen Curry was selected as the Mid-Major Player of the Year.

Sprink, a 6-5, 220-pound senior guard from Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., was the Patriot League’s leading scorer with a 21.8 ppg average in all games played and a 23.5 ppg average in the 14 league games. He became the first Patriot League player to average 20.0 ppg in a season since 1998 and the first Navy player to do so since Erik Harris (20.0 ppg) in 1991. In addition, Sprink was second in rebounding (6.3 rpg), second in free throw percentage (.858) and eighth in assists (2.9 apg) in the Patriot League. He finished fourth on the Navy single-season scoring chart (653 points) behind just David Robinson (1985, 1986 and 1987), and made 199 free throws this year, ranking third on the Navy single-season chart and sixth nationally in that category. Sprink made a habit of posting big games during the year, with four double-doubles and five 30-point performances, including a pair against regular-season champion American. He scored 36 points in Navy’s 77-66 win over the Eagles on Jan!
. !
30, then tallied 34 points with seven assists in a 83-68 win over American on Feb. 27. He scored a career-high 37 points in the Mids’ Patriot League Tournament loss to Bucknell, setting the school record for most points in a Patriot League Tournament game. He scored in double-figures in 28-of-30 games this year, and had 17 20-point games.

Sprink finisher his career third in scoring (1,785 points) and is the school’s all-time leader in three-point field goals (237). From behind the arc, he posted three of the top seven single-season three-pointers made totals, including a career-high 76 this past year to rank second on the list. An outstanding free throw shooter, Sprink had a career percentage of .843, good for second place on the career list and he owns three of the top six single-season free throw percentage marks, including an .858 percentage this past winter. He also ranks 10th in career assists (254) and 11th in career rebounds (592). Sprink is one of three Patriot League players to score 1,500 points, grab 500 rebounds and dish out 200 assists in a career.

Sprink led the Mids to a 16-14 record this past winter and a second-place finish in the Patriot League regular-season standings with a 9-5 mark. The Mids were picked seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll. For his efforts, he was named the Patriot League Player of the Year, Navy’s first in school history, and a first-team All-Patriot League selection, one year after being named to the second team. He led the league in scoring in each of the last two years.

The first team consisted of Davidson’s Stephen Curry, Butler’s Mike Green, Western Kentucky’s Courtney Lee, High Point’s Arizona Reid and Rider’s Jason Thompson.

GreatAmerican · March 27, 2008, 10:15pm

[Doug</a> Marshall vs Brian Stann WEC 33 - AOL Video](<a href=“http://video.aol.com/video-detail/doug-marshall-vs-brian-stann-wec-33/3472136497?icid=acvsv2]Doug”>AOL Video - Serving the best video content from AOL and around the web - AOL.com)

GreatAmerican · March 27, 2008, 10:17pm

[NCAA</a> - National Collegiate Athletic Association](<a href=“http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/newsdetail?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/NCAA/NCAA+News/NCAA+News+Online/2008/Division+I/Name+game+-+03-27-08+NCAA+News]NCAA”>http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/newsdetail?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/NCAA/NCAA+News/NCAA+News+Online/2008/Division+I/Name+game+-+03-27-08+NCAA+News)

GreatAmerican · March 27, 2008, 10:18pm

For Immediate Release
Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Tennis Team to Face Two League Foes

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy tennis team will take to the road for the final time during the regular season this weekend when the Mids play at Colgate Saturday (12 Noon) and at Bucknell Sunday (1 p.m.). Navy enters the weekend having posted a 13-7 record on the year, while Colgate has compiled a 4-7 mark and Bucknell is 7-3 entering a Saturday match against UMBC.

“We have respect for both Colgate and Bucknell,” said Navy head coach John Officer. “We will need to play two solid matches and will need contributions from all of our starters.”

Navy recorded a 4-3 victory over Colgate when the two teams met last year in Annapolis and both teams return five of the seven players from their respective lineups in that match. The Mids won the doubles point with victories at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles, then received singles victories from Nate Nelms (Jr., St. Mary’s, Ga.), 2007 graduate Stanley Kahl and Ramsey Lemaich (So., Danville, Calif.) at the Nos. 1, 4 and 6 flights to post the victory. Back for the Raiders are Martin MacIntyre and John Nogueras, who won singles matches for Colgate at the Nos. 2 and 5 flights, respectively.

The Mids faced, and defeated, Bucknell twice during the 2007 season. Navy first tallied a 7-0 win over the Bison during the regular season, then the Mids went on to record a 4-0 victory during the semifinal round of the Patriot League Tournament. Individually, Nelms, Lemaich and Alex James (Sr., Visalia, Calif.) all recorded a pair of singles victory against Bucknell last year.

Navy has won four of its last six matches, with its only setbacks in this recent stretch coming to No. 10 North Carolina and to back-to-back Ivy League co-champion Penn (by a score of 4-3). Owen Bullard (Fr., Concord, N.C.) and Lemaich both have won their three most recent singles matches, while the doubles team of Nelms and Johnny Waters (Jr., Papillion, Neb.) are riding a six-match winning streak.

GreatAmerican · March 28, 2008, 8:16pm

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) - Ben Carnevale, the longtime Navy basketball coach who later headed the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee, has died. He was 92. The Naval Academy released a statement yesterday from Carnevale’s family, announcing the death Tuesday. No cause of death was released. He had been living in Williamsburg.

Carnevale, born in Raritan, N.J., played for New York University and was a member of the 1935 national championship team. He also played in the first National Invitation Tournament in Madison Square Garden in 1938.

He played professionally with the Jersey Reds of the American Basketball League and served in the Navy during World War II, earning the Purple Heart.

In 1944, he became coach at North Carolina. The Tar Heels went 52-11 in his two seasons with them and played in the NCAA national title game in 1946, losing 43-40 to Oklahoma A&M.

He took over at Navy in 1946 and over the next 20 seasons became the school’s winningest basketball coach. The Midshipmen went 257-160 and made six postseason tournament appearances under Carnevale, despite not allowing players to be taller than 6-foot-5.

He became athletic director for NYU in 1966 and held the job for six years. He was also AD at William & Mary from 1972-82.

He retired from William & Mary, but helped organize the Colonial Athletic Association and served as commissioner for the league.

He was the chairman of the United States Olympic Basketball Committee from 1964-68 and was a committee member for 20 years.

He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.

Carnevale is survived by his wife of 65 years, Agnes Curran Carnevale, a daughter and four sons.

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