8/28/2001 - Football
Mids Set To Take On Temple

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The Navy Midshipmen travel to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls in

the season opener for both teams, Thursday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at

Franklin Field (52,593).

Season Openers

Navy is 2-4 in season openers under Weatherbie and has lost four

straight. The last time Navy won the opener was in 1996 when the Midshipmen

won at Rutgers, 10-6. The '96 team went on to post a 9-3 record, including

a 42-38 victory over California in the Aloha Bowl. Navy is 2-2 under

Weatherbie when opening up on the road, winning at SMU (33-2) and Rutgers,

while losing at San Diego State (45-31) and Wake Forest (26-14). Last year,

Navy lost at home to Temple in the opener, 17-6.

Franklin Field

This will be Navy's first trip to Franklin Field since Oct. 17, 1987,

when Navy defeated Penn, 38-28. The Mids are 27-25-4 all-time at the

historic stadium, which has hosted the best in collegiate and professional

competition for more than 100 years. Originally opened in 1895 for the first

running of the Penn Relays, the stadium was rebuilt 72 years ago. The Field,

deemed by the NCAA as the oldest stadium still operating for football games,

has been the site of the nation's first scoreboard (1895), the nation's

first two-tiered stadium (1922), the first football radio broadcast (WIP,

1922), the first football telecast (PhilCo, 1939) and Vince Lombardi's only

NFL playoff loss (1960).

Sixteen Army-Navy games were played in Franklin Field from 1899-1935 and

in 1925, Red Grange set an NCAA record with 331 rushing yards as Illinois

defeated Penn. During the 1930s and 1940s, Penn led the nation in attendance

for several years as crowds packed in as many as 80,000. Today, the

newly-refurbished stadium seats 52,593.

AstroTurf (the fifth carpet installed in 1993) has covered the playing

surface since 1970 and a Rekortan track was installed in 1988. The 60-foot

scoreboard with its large message center at the base of the horseshoe keeps

fans well informed. Franklin Field has also been the home of the

Philadelphia Eagles and has hosted the Historic Penn Relays for over 100

years.

Series History

Temple leads the all-time series, 3-1, including a 17-6 Owl victory last

year at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy's only victory over the

Owls came in 1997, 49-17.

Navy Against The Big East

The Mids are 58-72-4 (.448) all-time against the Big East, including a

6-9 mark (.400) under head coach Charlie Weatherbie. The Mids were 0-3

against the Big East last year, losing to Temple, Boston College and

Rutgers.

Scouting Temple

The Owls return 19 starters (9 on offense, 10 on defense) and 58

lettermen (27 offense, 25 defense, 6 special teams) off of last year's 4-7

squad-the most successful campaign in the last 10 years at Temple. Three of

Temple's seven losses came by a touchdown or less. Temple only lost two

seniors off of last year's team, which is the fewest in Division I-A

football.

The offense, which averaged 20.4 points and 310.2 yards per game in

2000, is led by running back Tanardo Sharps. Sharps burst upon the scene

last year, becoming the first Owl since 1987 to surpass the 1,000-yard

rushing mark. Sharps proved to be explosive as he had four runs of 64 yards

or more en route to 1,038 rushing yards on 201 carries and 10 touchdowns.

The defense, which was ranked 33rd in the nation a year ago (28th

against the pass and 43rd against the run) should be tough with 10 starters

back. The defense is led by its veteran line-returning senior starters

Russell Newman, Raheem Brock, Akeiff Staples and junior Dan Klecko.

Sophomore QB

Craig Candeto (So./Orange City, Fla.) is expected to get the start on

Thursday night, making it the first time a sophomore has been the starter in

the opening game since 1995 when an unknown quarterback named Chris McCoy

led the Mids to a shocking 33-2 victory over SMU. McCoy rushed for 273

yards (an NCAA record for rushing yards by a player in his first NCAA game)

and a touchdown and threw for 125 yards and a touchdown in Navy's convincing

win over the Mustangs.

Injuries

The Mids are healthy heading into the Temple game. The only player on

the three-deep that is questionable is third-string wide receiver Mark

Tedrow (Jr./Charleroi, Pa.) who has an inujured left hand.

Mids To Play Tough Schedule

Navy's 2001 opponents posted a combined 69-57 (.548) record last year,

while five teams earned bowl bids (Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Boston

College, Air Force and Notre Dame). Subtract Army, Rice and Rutgers from

the equation and the remaining eight opponents compiled a record of 62-31

(.667). Five Navy opponents are either ranked or receiving votes in the

ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll-#13 Georgia Tech, #16 Notre Dame, #20

Northwestern, #47 Toledo, #55 Air Force).

The Coach

Charlie Weatherbie enters his seventh season as head football coach at

the Naval Academy with a record of 30-38 (.441) and a 1-0 (1.000) mark in

bowl games. Weatherbie's 30 wins in six seasons is the fifth most in Naval

Academy history. He needs two wins to tie Bill Ingram for fourth place on

Navy's all-time win list. His seven seasons as head coach of the Midshipmen

is the third-longest tenure in school history. Only George Welsh and Eddie

Erdelatz (nine years apiece) have been head coaches longer than Weatherbie

at Navy.

Weatherbie is in his ninth year as a collegiate head coach and has a

career record of 45-57 (.441) and a 2-0 record in bowl games (1.000). In

1996, Weatherbie led the Midshipmen to a 9-3 mark and a victory over

California in the Aloha Bowl.

Weatherbie was appointed Navy's 34th head football coach on December 30,

1994. He came to the Naval Academy after three years as head coach at Utah

State, where he took the Aggies to their first Big West Conference

Championship in 15 years in 1993 and a win over Ball State in the Las Vegas

Bowl. He was an assistant coach at Air Force for six years and was also an

assistant at Wyoming and Arkansas.

Television Appearances

Navy will appear on television a minimum of four times during the 2001

football season, including twice on national television. Navy's Nov. 17 game

at Notre Dame will air on NBC at 2:30 p.m., while the Dec. 1 tilt against

Army at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia will air live on CBS at 12 noon.

Navy will appear twice on regional televison. The Sept. 8 game home

opener against Georgia Tech will be carried by Fox Sports South and Comcast

SportsNet (12 noon), while the Oct. 20 game at Rutgers will be televised by

ESPN Regional (3:30 p.m.).

Navy In The 2000 National Rankings-114 Teams in Division IA

Rushing Offense 33rd (166.0, 1st Nebraska, 349.3)

Passing Offense 108th (145.5, 1st Florida State, 384)

Pass Efficiency 83rd (109.8, 1st Boise State, 168.9)

Total Offense 98th (310.6, 1st Florida State, 549.0)

Scoring Offense 107th (15.2, 1st Boise State, 44.9)

Rushing Defense 93rd (192.4, 1st Memphis, 72.7)

Pass Defense 94th (238.1, 1st Central Michigan, 149.7)

Pass Efficiency Defense..................114th (163.5, 1st Texas, 88)

Total Defense 101st (430.5, 1st TCU, 245.0)

Scoring Defense 108th (36.3, 1st TCU, 9.6)

Net Punting 71st (34.1, 1st Wisconsin, 42.9)

Punt Return 101st (6.5, 1st Army, 19.4)

Kickoff Return 77th (18.8, 1st TCU, 28.8)

Turnover Margin 95th (-0.80, 1st Toledo, +2.0)

Total Fumble Recoveries 91st (7, 1st Arizona State, 23)

Total Interceptions .......................106th (6, 1st , Louisville, 27)

Fumbles Lost ..105th (16, 1st Army, Boston College, Syracuse, 3)

Passes Had Intercepted 4th (5, 1st, Rice, 3)

Total Takeaways 113th (13, 1st Louisville, 38)

Total Turnovers 43rd (21, 1st Notre Dame, 8)

Individual Interceptions Per Game...Chris Lepore (42nd, 0.40)

Kickoff Returns................................ Justin Takasaki (46th, 21.9)

Four Navy Players Named to the Football News Preseason All-Independent Team

Navy placed four players on the Football News All-Independent Team.

Senior fullback Raheem Lambert (Riverside, Calif.) and senior center Brian

Schulz (Round Rock, Texas) were named on the offensive side of the ball,

while senior linebacker Ryan Hamilton (Havertown, Pa.) and senior corner

Marcus Jackson (Missouri City, Texas) made the team on the defensive side of

the ball.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

This will be the 43rd season the Midshipmen have played at Navy-Marine

Corps Memorial Stadium. The stadium was dedicated Sept. 26, 1959, when Navy

defeated William & Mary, 29-2. In the 164 games played at Navy-Marine Corps

since its dedication, the Midshipmen have attracted 4,015,123 fans-an

average of 24,482 fans. Navy set an attendance record in 1999 for the

second-straight year with an average of 31,996, and it was also the first

time in stadium history the Midshipmen drew over 30,000 in every game. Navy

averaged 29,329 in 2000, the third best average attendance in stadium

history. The Mids have a record of 99-73-1 (.575) in games played at

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, including a 15-15 (.500) record under

head coach Charlie Weatherbie.

Madden and Wagoner Suspended

Naval Academy head football coach Charlie Weatherbie announced August 2

senior quarterback Brian Madden (Lawton, Okla.) and senior defensive end

Michael Wagoner (Wichita Falls, Texas) have been suspended for violating

Academy rules. Madden has been suspended for the first two games, while

Wagoner's suspension is for an undetermined number of games. Weatherbie also

announced Madden voluntarily resigned his captaincy and that senior Ed

Malinowski (Canonsburg, Pa.) is now the offensive team captain.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Renovation Project

The Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, Vice Admiral John Ryan,

has approved a plan to raise $40 million dollars in private funds to

renovate Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The current Navy-Narine Corps

Memorial Stadium was a model of the modern all-purpose outdoor stadium when

it was planned and constructed in 1957. The stadium held its first game on

September 26, 1959, with the Mids defeating William & Mary, 29-2.

CDFM2, an archiectural firm located in Kansas City, Mo., has been hired

to begin the conceptual design process. Hoffman Management Partners has

been hired as the project manager while, Whiting Turner has been selected as

the construction manager.

The project goals are to make the stadium accessible for disabled

veterans and fans, improve scholar-athlete recruiting, preserve and update

the memorial aspects of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, improve

midshipmen, alumni and fans' enjoyment of the game, atmosphere and

experience, and improve the home-field advantage for the Navy football

teams.

No Upset

Navy has lost 30-straight games to ranked opponents. The last time the

Mids pulled an upset was Sept. 20, 1985, when Navy went into Charlottesville

and stunned 20th-ranked Virginia, 17-13. Since that time, Navy has lost to

Air Force, Notre Dame and South Carolina in 1985, Notre Dame in 1986, Notre

Dame and Syracuse in 1987, Notre Dame and Syracuse in 1988, Air Force,

Pittsburgh and Notre Dame in 1989, Virginia and Notre Dame in 1990, Notre

Dame in 1991, Virginia and Notre Dame in 1992, Notre Dame and Louisville in

1993, Virginia, Notre Dame and Duke in 1994, Notre Dame in 1995, Notre Dame

in 1996, Notre Dame and Air Force in 1997, West Virginia and Notre Dame in

1998, Georgia Tech in 1999 and TCU and Notre Dame in 2000.

Season Tickets Top 10,000

Navy's football season ticket total eclipsed the 10,000 barrier for just

the second time in school history earlier this week. To date, 10,250 season

tickets have been purchased for the five-game home schedule, which kicks off

September 8 against Georgia Tech and includes an October 6 trip to nearby

FedExField to face Air Force. Season tickets remain on sale and can be

purchased by stopping by the Ricketts Hall Box Office or by calling

1-800-US4-NAVY.

Weekly Press Conference

Navy head football coach Charlie Weatherbie will hold a weekly press

conference Tuesdays at 12 noon at the Boathouse. Three Navy players will be

available to the media from 12-12:20 p.m., the opposing coach from

12:20-12:30 p.m. and then Coach Weatherbie from 12:30-1 p.m. Lunch will be

served immediately following Coach Weatherbie's remarks.

The first press conference will take place Tuesday, Aug. 28 and will run

every Tuesday except for Nov. 20, which is the date of the annual Army-Navy

press conference at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Any player requests

must be made by 12 noon on Sunday.

Weatherbie's Weekly Radio Show

Charlie Weatherbie will join host Bob Socci for a weekly coaches show

every Thursday night from 7-7:30 p.m. live from O'Brien's Oyster Bar and

Grill in historic downtown Annapolis. You can hear the show on 1430 WNAV or

at www.wnav.com(.) The first show will take place Thursday, Sept. 6.

Weatherbie will also join Stan Charles every Thursday night, starting Aug.

9, from 10:15-10:30 p.m. on Navy's flagship station, WJFK in Baltimore (1300 AM).

Quarterback Club on Friday's

Charlie Weatherbie will meet with Navy fans for breakfeast and discuss

the upcoming game every Friday of a home game (including the Air Force game)

at 7 a.m. at the Boathouse. For more information, call the Navy Sports

Promotions office at (410) 293-4517 x171

Web Site

The Navy football team, as well as Navy's other 29 sports can be

followed on the internet at http://www.navysports.com. Updated releases,

bios and information will be continually updated on the Navy home page.

Broadcast.Com

The Navy football team can be heard on broadcast.com at

http://www.broadcast.com/schools/navy(.)

Giants Stadium to Host 2002 Army-Navy Game

One of the most revered rivalries in all of sports returns to the

New York metropolitan area when the Army-Navy game is played at Giants

Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., in 2002.

It will mark the fourth time that the Army-Navy Classic will be held at

Giants Stadium and the first time the battle has been played at the

Meadowlands since 1997. The three previous Giants Stadium matchups were held

in 1989, 1993 and 1997 with Navy prevailing in two of those three affairs.

While Navy won in 1989 and 1997 by the counts of 19-17 and 39-7,

respectively, Army registered a 16-14 triumph in 1993.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to play the 2002 Army-Navy game

at the Meadowlands," Lengyel said. "We have played this game at Giants

Stadium on three previous occasions and the administration and staff have

always been wonderful hosts."

The 103rd edition of the storied Army-Navy series was originally

scheduled for Dec. 7, 2002 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pa. When a

scheduling conflict with the city of Philadelphia recently arose, the

academies were forced to move the contest to an alternate site.

"We are pleased that the Meadowlands stepped forward in an expeditious

manner to assist us in overcoming a difficult situation," added Greenspan.

"Giants Stadium is one of the finest football facilities in the country, and

we are very excited about having the opportunity to return this great game

to the New York metropolitan area."

The Army-Navy game has been held in nine different cities and 14

different venues since the arch rivals first collided in 1890. The city of

Philadelphia has served as site of the contest on a record 75 occasions. New

York City has hosted the event 11 times, the second-highest total among U.S.

cities, followed by East Rutherford, N.J., Baltimore, Md., West Point, N.Y.

and Annapolis, Md., all of which have hosted the classic three times.

"On behalf of the nation's greatest sports venue, Giants Stadium, and

the country's best football fans, the Sports and Exposition Authority is

proud and grateful that the Army-Navy Classic will return to New Jersey in

2002," said New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority President James A.

DiEleuterio Jr.

The Army-Navy football series has attracted nearly seven million fans

in its previous 101 editions, more than any other collegiate rivalry in the

nation. Army holds a slim 48-46-7 lead in the fabled pairing. This year's

Army-Navy game will be played on Dec. 1 at Veterans Stadium, the final time

the service-academy clash will be played at Veterans Stadium.

Lengyel To Retire As Naval Academy Director Of Athletics

Jack Lengyel announced July 16 that he will retire from his position as

Director of Athletics at the Naval Academy effective Oct. 1.

"I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to represent

the United States Naval Academy as Director of Athletics," said Lengyel.

"I've had the privilege to serve the finest coaches and athletic staff in

the country. Together, we've made major facility improvements that will

provide our varsity athletic teams a competitive edge in the future. After

13 years as Director of Athletics it is time for me to turn over the

leadership of the athletic department. I'm looking forward to spending more

time with my family and doing the things that I've never had the time to do

as a coach or Director of Athletics. Retiring Oct. 1 will allow the Naval

Academy sufficient time for their search and will allow a smooth transition

to have a Director of Athletics on board for the second semester.

"All of us at the United States Naval Academy are very appreciative of

Jack Lengyel's 13 years of dedicated service at the helm of the Naval

Academy Athletic Association," said Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm.

John R. Ryan, USN. "Jack Lengyel's broad experience, national reputation,

strong work ethic and love of this institution have been key to our raising

the bar of excellence throughout his tenure under five Superintendent's.

Jack leaves behind a solid organization filled with many talented coaches

and staff that will continue to help us mold scholar-athletes of great

character and competence. Thanks to a heads up from Jack, we have already

taken the first steps in forming a search committee and establishing the

process that will help us select his successor in a timely manner. Jack and

his wife, Sandy, have been and will continue to be mainstays in our Naval

Academy family. We will always be grateful for their many significant

contributions to this institution."

Since his arrival at Navy in August 1988 as the school's 27th Director

of Athletics, Lengyel has worked constantly to market Navy athletics,

acquiring the necessary funds for a 30-sport program, one of the largest in

the country. Group ticket sales have been stimulated through the creation of

NAVYFEST, which highlights the festive atmosphere of Navy football games.

Also implemented were the Billy the Kid family ticket plan for football

games, the Admirals Fleet, which provides tickets to Navy football games to

the underprivileged youth of Annapolis, new concession areas at the stadium

and a weekly quarterback club luncheon. The Navy Football Radio Network has

been expanded to include WMAL Radio in Washington, D.C. and WJFK in

Baltimore, Md.

Navy has won nearly 60 percent of its contests every year in Lengyel's

tenure and the Mids have won the season series against Army in 11 of those

13 years. One reason for Navy's success is Lengyel's hiring of outstanding

coaches in football, men's and women's basketball, golf, women's soccer,

women's track, lacrosse, baseball, women's volleyball and men's gymnastics.

To compete successfully at the Division I level, Lengyel realized that

not only do you need tremendous coaches, but outstanding facilities, as

well. He has worked tirelessly to make the Naval Academy facilities some of

the best in the country.

The litany of facility improvements is extensive. The $30 million

Alumni Hall was completed in 1991 and is the venue for the Midshipmen men's

and women's basketball games. Five years ago, the Rear Admiral Thomas

Hamilton Locker Room complex was constructed at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial

Stadium, with a Football Walk of Fame. In that same time period, the Zachary

Fisher Rowing Center was finished as part of a $850,000 renovation to

Hubbard Hall, home of Navy's three intercollegiate crew squads, the Naval

Academy Golf Course got a $250,000 clubhouse and a $500,000 watering system

was installed. The spring of 1995 saw the

completion of the $8 million Armel-Leftwich Visitors Center on the side of

Halsey Field House, the opening of the $850,000 Admiral Fitzgerald Baseball

Clubhouse at Bishop Stadium and the $9 million renovation and addition to

Ricketts Hall. Recently the Naval Academy Athletic Association completed

renovations of the varsity tennis center through private donations and the

4.2 million dollar Glenn Warner Soccer Facility will be completed this fall.

Facility improvements in progress include a $40 million expansion and

renovation of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, a new indoor track

facility and a major renovation of Halsey Field House.

Prior to his arrival in Annapolis, Lengyel gained recognition as

Director of Athletics at Missouri, Fresno State and Louisville, and by his

stature in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. He

is a past president of the latter organization and a past president of the

Division I-A Athletic Directors. He is a member of the NACDA Division I-A

Executive Committee and chairman of the NACDA Preseason Football Games

Committee, which sponsors the Kickoff Classic and the Disney Pigskin

Classic.

In 1990, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National

Football Foundation and Hall of Fame and to the Board of Directors of the

United States Sports Academy. In 1991, he moved the Midshipmen from the

Colonial Athletic Association to the Patriot League and elevated the women's

intercollegiate program to Division I status. He was voted into the Summit

County (Ohio) Sports Hall of Fame and was the 1991 Achievement Award winner

from the Akron's Varsity "A" Association. In 1996, he was named to the Board

of Directors of the College Football Association and chairman of the CFA's

Athletic Directors Committee, and in 1997, he was enshrined into the

National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for his outstanding

contributions to amateur football. Lengyel was a driving force behind the

foundation's new program to include players and coaches from all divisions

for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Also in 1997, he had

an alley off historic Main Street in downtown Annapolis named after him by

Mayor Al Hopkins for his contributions to the city of Annapolis.

The 1998-99 season was a memorable one for Lengyel on a personal level,

as he was named the National Association of Collegiate Athletic

Directors/National Invitation Tournament Athletic Director of the Year,

received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Akron and was given an honorary

doctorate by the United States Sports Academy.

In the spring of 2001, Lengyel received the highest honor awarded to an

athletic director when he was named the winner of the James J. Corbett

Award. The award is presented annually to the collegiate athletics

administrator who "through the years has most typified Corbett's devotion to

intercollegiate athletics and worked unceasingly for its betterment."

Corbett, athletics director at Louisiana State, was NACDA's first president

in 1965. Additionally, Lengyel received an honorary degree from the Sports

Management Institute (SMI), an educational institute sponsored by the

universities of Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina,

Southern California and Texas, and NACDA. This award marks Lengyel's second

enshrinement into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Lengyel's efforts to promote the Naval Academy's varsity athletic

program included overseeing the production and national airing (CBS) of a

one-hour documentary on the history of Navy football. "Anchors Aweigh for

Honor and Glory," produced by NFL Films, was deemed a success by both

critics and fans alike.

Lengyel headed Missouri's athletic program from 1986-88, aggressively

marketing the Tiger football and basketball programs. As Athletics Director

at Fresno State from 1983-86, he revived a program that was on probation,

improved old facilities and added new ones. Eight Bulldog teams achieved

Division 1-A top 20 ranking during his final 18 months there. The Bulldogs

also won two California Bowl games and a NIT Championship in basketball.

Lengyel, a native of Akron, Ohio, won letters in football, lacrosse,

swimming and track at Akron. He received his bachelor's degree in physical

education from Akron in 1957 and earned a master's degree in education from

Kent in 1960. He received a commission in the U.S. Army after completing the

ROTC program at Akron, where he was the Distinguished Military Graduate. He

later spent 12 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, achieving the rank of

Captain.

His coaching career spanned a total of 18 years at all three NCAA

levels, and he has been a head coach in football, lacrosse, baseball,

wrestling and swimming on the collegiate level. He served on the staffs at

Akron, Heidelberg, Cornell, Wooster, Marshall and Louisville.

In 1971, he went to Marshall to rebuild the football program there

after a tragic plane crash wiped out the team and its coaches in 1970.

Lengyel and his wife, Sandra, have three children: David, a 1980

graduate of the Naval Academy and now a Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps

Reserve, who is currently the Executive Director of the Aerospace Safety

Advisory Panel at NASA Headquarters; Peter, a Commander in the Navy and a

1984 graduate of the Academy, is currently attending the Naval War College

in Newport, R.I.; and Julie, a graduate of Kentucky. They also have six

grandchildren.

Eastman & Beaudine To Head Search For Naval Academy Director Of Athletics

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. John Ryan, USN, announced July

26 that the executive search firm of Eastman & Beaudine, Inc. has been

selected to conduct a national search for a new Director of Athletics. Jack

Lengyel is retiring Oct. 1 after thirteen years of service as Director of

Athletics at Navy.

"We are looking for a qualified individual who can build on Jack

Lengyel's excellent legacy, someone who really understands intercollegiate

athletics and one who can enthusiastically embrace the Academy's unique

mission," said Ryan. "We are very pleased to have Eastman and Beaudine on

our team as we begin this important work," he added. "We fully expect to

have a new director selected and in place in October."

Eastman & Beaudine, Inc. is recognized as one of the pioneer firms in

executive recruitment, particularly within the sports industry. Based out of

Plano, Texas, the search firm has headed up Director of Athletics searches

at Duke, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Texas Christian, Army, Vanderbilt,

Houston, SMU, Miami and Oklahoma.

"Our goal at Eastman & Beaudine has always been to keep quality of

performance as the key focal point in successfully handling assignments,"

said Bob Beaudine, President and CEO of the firm. "Our objective is to fill

positions in such a way that the results exceed our clients' expectations."

Beaudine will personally spearhead the assignment for the Naval Academy.

Inquiries should be directed to Eastman & Beaudine at (972) 267-8891 or

info@eastman-beaudine.com.

Navy's Radio Team

Bob Socci returns for his fifth season on the Navy football broadcasts

and is entering his fourth year as the full-time play-by-play announcer for

the Navy Football Radio Network.

He has also been the voice of Navy basketball the past five seasons. In

addition to football, Socci serves as the voice of the Baltimore Orioles

Class "A" affiliate Frederick Keys. The Dayton graduate has had stints with

the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Peoria Chiefs and served as the director of

communications for the Rochester Red Wings. Socci also worked in the sports

information office at North Carolina as a student and worked in the

publicity department of the Cincinnati Reds. Socci, a native of Auburn,

N.Y., is single and lives in Annapolis.

John Feinstein (above right) enters his fifth season behind the

microphone as a color analyst, but has been close to the program for years.

He covered the Midshipmen for the Washington Post, and recently has authored

two highly-acclaimed books that have featured the Naval Academy, Army vs.

Navy, A Civil War (about the Army-Navy football rivalry) and The Last

Amateurs (a basketball book about student-athletes in the Patriot League, of

which Navy is a member). He has also written best-sellers, The Majors, A

March to Madness, A Good Walk Spoiled, A Season on the Brink, Play Ball, and

Hard Courts and two mystery novels, Running Mates and Winter Games.

Feinstein writes regular columns for AOL and Golf Magazine and is a weekly

guest on National Public Radio. F

Ron Wolf, widely regarded as one of the best general managers in the

history of the National Football League, has joined the Navy Football Radio

Network for two games this fall. Wolf will handle the color commentary for

the Toledo and Notre Dame games, filling in for John Feinstein, who had

previous commitments.

"I am honored to be a part of such a storied tradition as Naval Academy

Football," said Wolf. "I have been a long-time fan of Service Academy

football and I am a great admirer of the student-athletes at the academies.

This is a wonderful opportunity and I am looking forward to it."

Wolf retired as General Manager of the Packers after last season and

left behind a legacy of greatness. He built the Packers into perennial NFL

contenders during his nine-year tenure, punctuated by their first Super Bowl

victory in three decades and back-to-back appearances in professional

football's ultimate game.

The 62-year-old New Freedom, Pa., native was enshrined in the Packer

Hall of Fame in July of 2000 for converting the Green and Gold from

perennial also-rans into consistent winners and the standard of the pro

football world.

A major ingredient in the Packers' revival was Wolf's superior talent

for selecting players in the annual NFL draft. A contribution underscored by

the fact that a remarkable 57.8 percent of those he has drafted during his

tenure were still playing in the league at the end of the 2000 regular

season at a time when the average career length for an NFL player is closer

to four years.

The list of accomplishments during Wolf's aggressive stewardship,

launched with the hiring of 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren as

head coach and the acquisition of Favre as a franchise quarterback in 1992,

is both long and lustrous. It includes:

"I can't imagine another school in the country having an announce team

as good as Bob Socci, John Feinstein and Ron Wolf," said Naval Academy

Director of Athletics Jack Lengyel. "Socci is one of the best young

announcers in the country and I would put the combination of Feinstein and

Wolf up against any color commentator in the country."