10/21/2002 - Football
Navy-Tulane Game Notes
Game Data
Navy will travel to New Orleans, La., Saturday to take on the Tulane Green Wave on Homecoming at Tad Gormley Stadium (30,000). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST, 2:30 p.m. in New Orleans.
Navy is coming off a 46-21 loss to Boston College, while Tulane is coming off a 35-14 victory over UAB.
Saturday's game is Tulane's Homecoming game and to help generate excitement it has moved the game out of the Superdome to Tad Gormley Stadium, a facility that was built to host the 1992 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. For more information and directions to Tad Gormley Stadium, log on to http://tulanegreenwave.ocsn.com/tickets/hometail.html(.) The game, which is the first outdoor home game Tulane has played in since Nov. 30, 1974, when they lost to Ole Miss, 26-10, at old Tulane Stadium, is expected to be a sellout.
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the 10-station Navy Radio Network (locally, the game can be heard on 1430 WNAV in Annapolis, 980 WTEM in Washington, D.C. and 1300 WJFK in Baltimore) and worldwide on the internet at www.navysports.com(.) Bob Socci and Ron Wolf will call the action starting at 3 p.m. with the Navy Pregame Show.
Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host the Navy Tailgate Show, starting at 2 p.m., on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com).
Injuries
The following players are out for Saturday's game: junior safety Paul Clarkson (knee), sophomore safety Scooter Ross (knee), senior slot back Donnie Fricks (collarbone), senior defensive tackle Josh Brindel (neck), junior defensive tackle Kevin Schwind (leg), senior fullback Cee Harris (neck).
Rebuilding The Program
Navy head coach Paul Johnson took over a program that had won just one game in the last-two years (1-20)-the worst two-year record in the 122-year history of Navy football. As Johnson likes to say, the program didn't get this way overnight and it's not going to change overnight.
For instance, Navy's all-time winningest coach, George Welsh, who was 55-46-1 (41-44-1 against Division I-A teams, 14-2 against I-AA opponents) from 1973-81 at Navy, took over a program that had won seven games the previous two seasons and didn't have a winning season until his third year (7-4 in 1975) and only had one winning season in his first five years (24-31 in his first five years). It wasn't until year six that Welsh got the program turned around and the Mids posted a 31-15-1 record over his final four years in Annapolis and played in three bowl games, including a win over BYU in the Holiday Bowl, over those final four years.
Since Welsh, Gary Tranquill posted a 17-26-1 (.398) record, Elliott Uzelac was 8-25 (.242), George Chaump won 14 of his 55 games (.255) and Charlie Weatherbie was 30-48 (.385).
Since Roger Staubach won the Heisman Trophy in 1963 (38 seasons), Navy has had eight winning seasons (1967, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1996, 1997) and eight seasons with two wins or less (1968, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001). In the last 20 years, Navy has had three winning seasons (1982, 1996 and 1997) and five seasons with two wins or less (1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001).
Struggling Against Winning Programs
For those fans expecting Navy head coach Paul Johnson to perform a miracle overnight, it should be noted that since 1990 Navy has defeated just four Division IA schools that finished the season with a winning record. In 1990, Navy defeated Toledo (9-2), 14-10; in 1993 Navy defeated Bowling Green (6-3-2), 27-20; in 1996 Navy defeated Air Force (6-5), 20-17; and in 1997 Navy defeated SMU (6-5), 46-16. Navy's other 28 wins against Division IA opponents since 1990 finished with a losing record.
Turnovers Give Mids No Chance In Upsetting Boston College
Navy had to play a near perfect game if it had any chance of upsetting Boston College. Instead, the Mids turned the ball over six timesas Boston College rolled to a 46-21 victory in front of 41,322 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Navy rushed for a season-high 380 yards on 65 carries and rolled up 446 yards of total offense, the second most yards this year by the Navy offense. The Mids, however, fumbled five times and threw an interception which all but killed any chance of a victory, as the Eagles took advantage of those mistakes to jump out to a 36-7 halftime lead. Navy outscored Boston College, 14-10, in the second half.
Craig Candeto (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) rushed for 63 yards on 10 carries, while Aaron Weedo (So./Port Charlotte, Fla.) amassed 61 yards on just two carries. Backup quarterback Aaron Polanco (So./Wimberley, Texas) came off the bench to rush for 50 yards and three touchdowns and completed three of his four passes for 58 yards with one interception.
Josh Smith (So./Attica, Ind.), Lane Jackson (So./Miami, Fla.) and Michawn Yuvienco (Sr./Glen Burnie, Md.) led the Navy defense for the second week in a row. Smith racked up 15 tackles, while five of Jackson's eight tackles were behind the line of scrimmage. He also recovered a fumble. Yuvienco chipped in with eight tackles.
Series History
Tulane leads the all-time series, 9-5-1, including a 42-28 win last year in Annapolis when current Washington Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey riddled the Navy defense for 442 yards and three touchdowns. Ramsey completed 36 of his 49 pass attempts in that game. Navy's last win in the series came at home in 1999, 45-21.
The Mids have won just once in eight meetings in New Orleans, that coming in 1994, 17-15.
Navy-Tulane
1949 Tie 21-21 New Orleans, La.
1950 Tulane 0-27 Annapolis, Md.
1956 Tulane 6-21 New Orleans, La.
1958 Tulane 6-14 Norfolk, Va.
1973 Tulane 15-17 New Orleans, La.
1991 Tulane 7-34 New Orleans, La.
1992 Navy 20-17 Annapolis, Md.
1993 Tulane 25-27 New Orleans, La.
1994 Navy 17-15 New Orleans, La.
1995 Navy 35-7 Annapolis, Md.
1996 Navy 35-21 Annapolis, Md.
1998 Tulane 24-42 New Orleans, La.
1999 Navy 45-21 Annapolis, Md.
2000 Tulane 38-50 New Orleans, La.
2001 Tulane 28-42 Annapolis, Md.
Scouting Tulane
The Green Wave is currently 5-3 and thinking bowl game with Navy, TCU, Army and Souther Miss left on the schedule.
Last week, Tulane jumped out to a 28-14 halftime lead and defeated UAB, 35-14, at the Superdome. Mewelde Moore rushed for 88 yards, while quarterback J.P. Losman completed 15 of his 25 pass attempts for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Lucas scored on a 53-yard interception return.
On the year, Tulane is averaging 121.6 yards per game on the ground and 196.5 through the air.
Defensively, the Green Wave is giving up 169 yards per game on the ground and 203.8 through the air.
The main reason Tulane has been successful is a +11 turnover margin. The Green Wave has forced a remarkable 27 turnovers (16 fumbles, 11 interceptions), while committing 16 (10 fumbles, six interceptions). The 27 forced turnovers is the most in the country. Lynaris Elpheage leads the country in interceptions, averaging 0.88 per game.
Navy-Tulane Connections
Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk was the Director of Athletics at Tulane from 1988-90.
Tulane associate head coach and defensive line coach Giff Smith coached the secondary for Paul Johnsn at Georgia Southern from 1997-98.
Turnover Troubles
Since opening the season with no turnovers in a 38-7 win at SMU, Navy has committed 23 turnovers, 19 of them fumbles. Navy's 19 lost fumbles are the most in the country and four more than any other team (Purdue and Arkansas State have lost 15 fumbles). Navy's 23 turnovers are tied for the fourth most in the country. Only Baylor (26), Troy State (25) and Houston (24) have committed more.
Since forcing five turnovers in the season opener, Navy has forced just six turnovers in the last-six games. Navy's 11 forced turnovers ranks them 91st in the country.
Not So Sweet Home
Navy has lost 13 straight and 18 of the last 19 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Mids last won a game at Navy-Marine Corps on Nov. 13, 1999, when the Mids knocked off Tulane, 45-21. The Mids have been outscored, 497-222 (average loss 38.2-17.1) during the 13-game home losing streak.
In A Rush
Navy is fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging 272.1 yards per game. Last year, the Mids averaged a paltry 181.8 yards per game. Navy has led the nation in rushing just once in school history, that coming in 1999 when the Mids averaged 292.2 yards per game en route to a 5-7 record.
NCAA Leaders In Rushing Offense
1. Air Force 305.57
2. West Virginia 297.57
3. Arkansas 275.50
4. Navy 272.14
5. Minnesota 271.13
6. Nebraska 266.38
7. Virgina Tech 254.57
8. Ohio 253.50
9. Bowling Green 250.17
10. Wake Forest 249.99
Red Zone
Navy has scored on 20 of its 26 trips inside the Red Zone (.769) and has scored touchdowns on 17 of those 26 trips (.654).
The defense has given up points in 32 of the 38 times the opposition has reached the Red Zone (.842). Twenty eight of the 38 trips have resulted in touchdowns (.737).
Navy In The 2002 National Rankings
{117 Teams in Division IA}
Rushing Offense 4th (272.1)
Passing Offense 112th (113.6)
Total Offense 53rd (385.7)
Scoring Offense 92nd (21.7)
Rushing Defense 114th (251.9)
Pass Defense 38th (196.4)
Pass Efficiency Defense 115th (168.3)
Total Defense 105th (448.3)
Scoring Defense 109th (39.3)
Net Punting 78th (33.4)
Punt Return 116th (4.1)
Kickoff Return 69th (19.8)
Turnover Margin 114th (-1.7)
Rushing Craig Candeto (66th, 79.6)
Kickoff Returns Tony Lane (41st, 23.5)
Eric Roberts (75th, 19.9)
Scoring Craig Candeto (66th, 6.9)
All-Purpose Runners Eric Roberts (69th, 114.9)
Skaggs Is Navy's Top All-Time Punter
Navy junior John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) currently ranks as Navy's all-time top punter by average. Skaggs, who set the school record for punting average in a season last year with a 44.8 average, is averaging 43.8 yards for his career
Career Punting Average Average
1. John Skaggs (2001-02) 43.8
2. Tray Calisch (1997-99) 40.7
3. Bill Busik (1940-41) 40.6
4. Dave Church (1965-66) 39.4
5. Brian Schrum (1992-95) 39.3
Long Pass Play
J.P. Blecksmith's (Sr./San Marino, Calif.) 79-yard pass completion to Eric Roberts (So./Miami, Fla.) against Northwestern was the fourth-longest pass play in school history and the longest pass play in school history that did not result in a score.
The longest pass play in school history came in 1995 when Chris McCoy hit Matt Scornavacchi with an 87-yard touchdown pass in Navy's 35-7 victory over Tulane.
Three of the five-longest pass plays in school history have come when Navy was running the current spread offense. The fifth- longest pass play in school history came in 1998 when Brian Broadwater threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Read in Navy's 32-31 upset win at Boston College.
Player-Receiver (Opponent, Year) Yards
1. Chris McCoy-Matt Scornavacchi (Tulane, 1995) 87
2. Rob Klemick-Jim Stewart (Miami, Fla., 1961) 83
3. Brian Broadwater-Dominic Bailey (Tulane, 2000) 81
4. J.P. Blecksmith-Eric Roberts (Northwestern, 2002) 79
5. Brian Broadwater-Ryan Read (Boston College, 1998) 78
Piling Up The Yards
Navy piled up 678 yards of total offense against Northwestern, the third most in school history. The school record for total offense is 724 yards, which ironically enough also came in a loss, was when the Mids lost to Tulane, 50-38, in 2000. The second-biggest output was 680 yards against Colgate in 1998. Four of the six-best total offensive days in school history have come when either Paul Johnson or Ken Niumatalolo have called the plays.
Yds. (R /P) Opponent Date
1. 724 (362/362) Tulane 11/11/00
2. 680 (515/165) Colgate 10/17/98
3. 678 (378/300) Northwestern 9/21/02
4. 653 (358/295) Colgate 9/12/70
5. 646 (251/395) California 12/25/96
6. 635 (563/72) Kent State 11/22/97
Throwing The Ball
Craig Candeto's (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) 212 yards passing against Northwestern were the most by a Navy quarterback since Nov. 11, 2000, when Brian Broadwater threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns in Navy's 50-38 loss to Tulane.
Scoring Outburst
Navy's 40 points against Northwestern were the most points scored by a Navy team since Nov. 20, 1999, when the Mids scored 41 in a 48-41 loss to Hawai'i.
100 Yards Receiving
Eric Roberts' (So./Miami, Fla.) 136 yards receiving against Northwestern marked the first 100-yard receiving day by a Navy player since Nov. 11, 2000, when Dominic Bailey (Sr./Houston, Texas) had three catches for 119 yards and Josh Bock had nine catches for 119 yards and one touchdown in Navy's 50-38 loss at Tulane.
Smart Up Front
Senior left offensive tackle Derek Jaskowiak (Chesterfield, Mo.) sports a 3.74 GPA in systems engineering, while senior left offensive guard Grant Moody (Eureka, Kan.) carries a 3.91 GPA in quantitative economics. Both are Academic All-America candidates.
Brotherly Love
The Mids have a remarkable four sets of brothers on the team. Junior linebacker Ben and freshman slot back Sam Mathews (Pittsburgh, Pa.), junior guard Nate and freshman linebacker Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.), senior guard Grant and freshman guard Evan Moody (Eureka, Kan.) and sophomore quarterback Aaron and freshman wide receiver James Polanco (Wimberley, Texas). Aaron and James, who transferred to Navy from Texas Tech, are identical twins.
No Overtime
Since the NCAA adopted the overtime rule in 1996, Navy is one of just eight schools who have not played an overtime game.
Schools That Have Never Played An Overtime Game
Navy
North Texas
Ohio State
South Carolina
Temple
Tulane
Troy State
Tulsa
