12/3/2002 - Football
Army-Navy Game Notes
Game Data
Navy will look to snap its 10-game losing streak Dec. 7 when it travels to Giants Stadium (80,242) to take on the Black Knights of Army in the 103rd playing of the Army-Navy game.
A few good seats remain for the contest and can be bought at the Meadowlands Box Office or by calling (202) 307-7171 or (201) 507-8900 or on the internet at www.ticketmaster.com(.)
Festivities get underway with the march-on of the Corps of Cadets at 9:35 a.m. The Brigade of Midshipmen follow with itsmarch-on at 10:05 a.m. The prisoner exchange (transfer of semester exchange students) will take place at 11:51 a.m., while the Leapfrogs and Golden Knights will jump from 11:57-12:04. Army's fly-over (6 AH-64D Apachees from Fort Campbell) will take place at 12:13:45 p.m. as the Black Knights take the field and the Navy fly-over (4 Tomcats from VF-211 out of Oceana, Va.) will follow at 12:15:45 p.m. when the Midshipmen take the field. Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m.
Navy is coming off a heartbreaking 30-27 loss at Wake Forest, while Army is coming off a 38-10 loss at Memphis
The Army-Navy game will be televised nationwide by CBS and worldwide by Armed Forces Television with Ian Eagle and Craig James calling the action. Doug Graber and Andre Ware are the sideline reporters.
The game will be broadcast over the radio nationwide by CBS/Westwood One and worldwide by Armed Forces Radio with Tony Roberts and Rick "Doc" Walker calling the action.
The game will also 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 John Feinstein will call the action starting at 11:30 a.m. with the Navy Pregame Show.
Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host a one-hour preview show on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com) starting at 10:30 a.m.
Injuries
The following players are out for the Army game: junior safety Paul Clarkson (knee), senior slot back Donnie Fricks (collarbone), senior defensive tackle Josh Brindel (neck), senior fullback Cee Harris (neck) and sophomore linebacker Dustin Elliott (foot).
The following players are questionable for the Army game: sophomore fullback Kyle Eckel (knee), safety Lenter Thomas (shoulder)
Patience Is A Virtue
When taking over a struggling football program, history has shown that it takes time to get things going in the right direction.
Bill Snyder at Kansas State is a perfect example. Snyder took over a program that was 6-47-2 (.127) the previous five years and had just one winning season in his first four years going 1-10, 5-6, 7-4, 5-6. Since then, Snyder has had winning seasons in nine of the last 10 years including four-straight 11 win seasons.
At North Carolina, Mack Brown took over a program that was 30-25-2 (.544) the previous five seasons and went 1-10 each of his first two years before winning six games (6-4-1) his third year. Brown went on to have seven more winning seasons, including three 10-win seasons, before leaving to become the head coach at Texas.
Iowa State was 14-38-3 (.282) the previous five seasons before Dan McCarney came on board. McCarney had five straight losing seasons (3-8, 2-9, 1-10, 3-8, 4-7) before finally getting his first winning season in year six (9-3). The Cyclones haven't looked back since as they are having their third-straight winning season.
Frank Beamer actually took over a very succesful program at Virginia Tech (40-16-1 the previous five years), but the program was hit hard by a loss of scholarships due to NCAA violations committed by the previous staff his second year. Beamer only had two winning seasons his first six years (2-9, 3-8, 6-4-1, 6-5, 5-6, 2-8-1) before reeling off 10-straight winning seasons, including four seasons of 10 wins or more.
Kirk Ferentz took over an Iowa program that had gone 32-25-1 (.560) and didn't have a winning season until his third year and went just 4-19 (1-10, 3-9) his first two years. After a 7-5 season last year, Iowa is currently 11-1 heading into their bowl game.
Paul Johnson is taking over a program at Navy that had gone 16-39 (.291) the past five years, including 1-20 the last two years. In his first year the Mids are 1-10, which equals the win total from the last two years combined.
If you ask the people fans at Kansas State, North Carolina, Iowa State and Virginia Tech they will tell you that patience is a virtue.
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 says, "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 in his first year, 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.
Mids Lose Another Heartbreaker
Fabian Davis scored on a reverse from five yards out with 53 seconds remaining to give Wake Forest a 30-27 come-from-behind victory over Navy in front of 22,811 fans at Grove Stadium in Winston-Salem. Navy had taken the lead with 4:11 left in the contest on Craig Candeto's (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) one-yard touchdown run.
Unfortunately for Navy, the game was a microcosm of the Mids' season. Navy fumbled five times, losing two, and threw two interceptions, while the defense was unable to come up with a big stop when it had to as the Mids lost their fourth game decided by 10 points or less.
Navy trailed the Demon Deacons, 17-7, at the half thanks to three turnovers in Wake Forest territory and a defense that allowed points on Wake Forest's first-three possessions. Candeto fumbled a snap and threw two interceptions that thwarted Navy drives, while Wake got a 41-yard field goal by Matt Wisnosky, a 70-yard touchdown pass from James MacPherson to Jason Anderson and a four-yard run by Tarence Williams. The touchdown pass to Anderson was the most painful of all as it happened on the first play after Navy had taken a 7-3 lead on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Candeto to Lionel Wesley (So./Duncanville, Texas).
The Mids came out of the locker room and played some of their best football of the year in the third quarter. After the defense forced Wake Forest to punt, Michael Brimage (So./Birmingham, Ala.), who was making just his third-career appearance in a varsity game, rumbled in from 10 yards out to cut the Wake lead to 17-14.
After the defense held Wake to a 28-yard field goal by Wisnosky, the offense marched down the field and Candeto capped off a seven-play, 79-yard drive with a 53-yard touchdown strike to Chandler Sims (Sr./Oklahoma City, Okla.) to give Navy a 21-20 lead.
One of the key turning points came on the next series of plays as Josh Smith (So./Attica, Ind.) forced a fumble that was recovered by Joey Owmby (Sr./Houston, Texas) at the Wake Forest 46-yard line.
With a chance to go up eight, the Navy offense was unable to get a first down, losing the ball on downs when Brian Yarbrough (So./Rockledge, Fla.) fell down while running a reverse.
The defense, though, hung tough and held Wake to a third field goal, this one from 30 yards, that gave the Demon Deacs a 23-21 lead.
Navy managed just one first down on the next series, while the defense held Wake Forest to three-and-out. The exchange of punts gave the ball to Navy at its own 40 with 8:06 left.
The Mids methodically moved the ball down field, going 60 yards on nine rushing plays, and took the lead on Candeto's touchdown run.
Alas, the defense, which had played so well in the second half, couldn't slow Wake down when the game was on the line. Wake roared down the field with ease, going 62 yards on 10 plays, throwing just one pass and facing only one third down. Davis' five-yard run off the reverse put Wake up 30-27.
Navy still had a chance to tie with 53 seconds and two timeouts left, but Tony Lane (Jr./Wrens, Ga.) fumbled on a kickoff for the second time on the day, this one Navy could not recover, and the Mids lost their seventh straight to an ACC opponent.
The game served as a coming out party for Brimage, who rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Lane rushed for 57 yards on nine carries.
Candeto completed seven of his 11 passes for 127 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Wesley caught four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, while Sims caught three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Smith had his usual ho-hum 14 tackle, one forced fumble and one pass deflection day, while Eddie Carthan (Jr./Donalsonville, Ga.) continued his improved play with 13 tackles and three tackles for a loss. Vaughn Kelley (So./Coconut Creek, Fla.) added eight tackles and Lane Jackson (So./Miami, Fla.) contributed seven.
Who's That?
The only Navy fans who knew about Michael Brimage (So./Birmingham, Ala.) were those who watched the Navy junior varsity beat Lackawanna Junior College, 50-23, on Sept. 13. In that game, Brimage rushed for nearly 100 yards in the first half and showed that, if given a chance, could be productive.
Brimage got his chance when starting fullback Kyle Eckel (So./Haverford, Pa.) went down with a knee injury against Notre Dame. After carrying the ball just six times for 24 yards in the muck against Connecticut, Brimage got a chance to show off his speed and moves against Wake Forest, carrying the ball 21 times for 171 yards and one touchdown.
Brimage's 171 yards rushing are the most yards rushing by a back other than a quarterback since Oct. 4, 1986 (182 games), when Chuck Smith rushed for 182 yards on 26 carries in Navy's 45-0 win over Dartmouth.
The 171 yards rushing were the most by any Navy player since Nov. 10, 2001 (13 games), when Brian Madden rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries in Navy's 42-28 loss to Tulane.
It was the first time a Navy fullback had rushed for over 100 yards since Sept. 16, 2000 (30 games), when Raheem Lambert rushed for 118 yards on 19 carries in Navy's 40-13 loss to Georgia Tech.
Receivers Finally Get In The End Zone
Navy's wide receivers finally hit paydirt on Saturday in Navy's 30-27 victory over Wake Forest. Craig Candeto's (Jr./Orange Park, Fla.) 19-yard touchdown pass to Lionel Wesley (So./Duncanville, Texas) was the first touchdown catch by a Navy wide receiver since Oct. 20, 2001 (15 games), when Jeff Gaddy caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brian Madden in Navy's 23-17 loss at Rutgers. It was also Wesley's first-career touchdown reception. Wesley's four catches are the most by a Navy receiver this year.
Chandler Sims' (Sr./Oklahoma City, Okla.) followed Wesley's touchdown catch with one of his own, this one a 53-yard strike from Candeto. It was not only Sims' first-career touchdown catch, but it was also the longest catch by a wide receiver since Dominic Bailey caught an 81-yard pass thrown by Brian Broadwater in Navy's 50-38 loss at Tulane on Nov. 11, 2000 (23 games.).
Series History
Army leads the all-time series, 49-46-7, including a 26-17 victory at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia last year. Navy's last win in the series was in 2000, a 30-28 triumph over the Black Knights at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore. Navy is 2-1 all-time against Army at Giants Stadium, including a 39-7 whipping in 1997, the last time the game was held at Giants Stadium.
The series has been so close that through 102 games, each school has scored 177 touchdowns and Navy has outscored the Black Knights by 92 points (1,395-1,303).
For a game-by-game recap of the Army-Navy series, turn to page 106 of the 2002 Navy Football Media Guide.
Navy-Army Series
1890 Navy 24-0 West Point, N.Y.
1891 Army 16-32 Annapolis, Md.
1892 Navy 12-4 West Point, N.Y.
1893 Navy 6-4 Annapolis, Md.
1899 Army 5-17 Philadelphia, Pa.
1900 Navy 11-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1901 Army 5-11 Philadelphia, Pa.
1902 Army 8-22 Philadelphia, Pa.
1903 Army 5-40 Philadelphia, Pa.
1904 Army 0-11 Philadelphia, Pa.
1905 Tie 6-6 Princeton, N.J.
1906 Navy 10-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1907 Navy 6-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1908 Army 4-6 Philadelphia, Pa.
1910 Navy 3-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1911 Navy 3-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1912 Navy 6-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1913 Army 9-22 New York, N.Y.
1914 Army 0-20 Philadelphia, Pa.
1915 Army 0-14 New York, N.Y.
1916 Army 7-15 New York, N.Y.
1919 Navy 6-0 New York, N.Y.
1920 Navy 7-0 New York, N.Y.
1921 Navy 7-0 New York, N.Y.
1922 Army 14-17 Philadelphia, Pa.
1923 Tie 0-0 New York, N.Y.
1924 Army 0-12 Baltimore, Md.
1925 Army 3-10 New York, N.Y.
1926 Tie 21-21 Chicago, Ill.
1927 Army 9-14 New York, N.Y.
1930 Army 0-6 New York, N.Y.
1931 Army 7-17 New York, N.Y.
1932 Army 0-20 Philadelphia, Pa.
1933 Army 7-12 Philadelphia, Pa.
1934 Navy 3-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1935 Army 6-28 Philadelphia, Pa.
1936 Navy 7-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1937 Army 0-6 Philadelphia, Pa.
1938 Army 7-14 Philadelphia, Pa.
1939 Navy 10-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1940 Navy 14-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1941 Navy 14-6 Philadelphia, Pa.
1942 Navy 14-0 Annapolis, Md.
1943 Navy 13-0 West Point, N.Y.
1944 Army 7-23 Baltimore, Md.
1945 Army 13-32 Philadelphia, Pa.
1946 Army 18-21 Philadelphia, Pa.
1947 Army 0-21 Philadelphia, Pa.
1948 Tie 21-21 Philadelphia, Pa.
1949 Army 0-38 Philadelphia, Pa.
1950 Navy 14-2 Philadelphia, Pa.
1951 Navy 42-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1952 Navy 7-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1953 Army 7-20 Philadelphia, Pa.
1954 Navy 27-20 Philadelphia, Pa.
1955 Army 6-14 Philadelphia, Pa.
1956 Tie 7-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1957 Navy 14-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1958 Army 6-22 Philadelphia, Pa.
1959 Navy 43-12 Philadelphia, Pa.
1960 Navy 17-12 Philadelphia, Pa.
1961 Navy 13-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1962 Navy 34-14 Philadelphia, Pa.
1963 Navy 21-15 Philadelphia, Pa.
1964 Army 8-11 Philadelphia, Pa.
1965 Tied 7-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1966 Army 7-20 Philadelphia, Pa.
1967 Navy 19-14 Philadelphia, Pa.
1968 Army 14-21 Philadelphia, Pa.
1969 Army 0-27 Philadelphia, Pa.
1970 Navy 11-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1971 Army 23-24 Philadelphia, Pa.
1972 Army 15-23 Philadelphia, Pa.
1973 Navy 51-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1974 Navy 19-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1975 Navy 30-6 Philadelphia, Pa.
1976 Navy 38-10 Philadelphia, Pa.
1977 Army 14-17 Philadelphia, Pa.
1978 Navy 28-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
1979 Navy 31-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1980 Navy 33-6 Philadelphia, Pa.
1981 Tie 3-3 Philadelphia, Pa.
1982 Navy 24-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1983 Navy 42-13 Pasadena, Calif.
1984 Army 11-28 Philadelphia, Pa.
1985 Navy 17-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
1986 Army 7-27 Philadelphia, Pa.
1987 Army 3-17 Philadelphia, Pa.
1988 Army 15-20 Philadelphia, Pa.
1989 Navy 19-17 E. Rutherford, N.J.
1990 Army 20-30 Philadelphia, Pa.
1991 Navy 24-3 Philadelphia, Pa.
1992 Army 24-25 Philadelphia, Pa.
1993 Army 14-16 E. Rutherford, N.J.
1994 Army 20-22 Philadelphia, Pa.
1995 Army 13-14 Philadelphia, Pa.
1996 Army 24-28 Philadelphia, Pa.
1997 Navy 39-7 E. Rutherford, N.J.
1998 Army 30-34 Philadelphia, Pa.
1999 Navy 19-9 Philadelphia, Pa.
2000 Navy 30-28 Baltimore, Md.
2001 Army 17-26 Philadelphia, Pa.
Something To Hang Its Hat On
The senior class has not experienced a lot of success in its four years, compiling a 7-37 (.159) record.
The seniors have one goal left they can still accomplish and that is to beat Army. If the Mids can beat the Black Knights on Dec. 7, the seniors will become just the second class (joining the Class of 2001) to beat Army three times in their careers in the last 16 years.
Tough Schedule
Six of Navy's 11 games this year have been against teams that are bowl eligible, with five of those six definitely going to bowls. Notre Dame (10-1) will most likely be playing in a BCS bowl, while N.C. State (10-3) will likely be playing on New Year's Day, as well. Air Force (8-4), Boston College (7-4) and Tulane (7-5) are also likely headed to bowls.
Wake Forest (6-5) became bowl eligible with its 30-27 win over Navy, but still may be left out as it is the seventh team to qualify from the ACC and the league has just six guaranteed berths. A victory this Saturday by Wake Forest at Maryland would most likely guarantee it a bid somewhere.
Connecticut (6-6) does not qualify for a bid as only teams that are fulfilling a conference obligation can go with a 6-6 record.
Scouting Army
The Black Knights enter the Army-Navy classic with a 1-10 record. Their one win was a 14-10 victory over Tulane, a team that scored 50 against Navy.
Army is averaging 19.5 points per game, while giving up 39.4. The Black Knights are averaging 126.3 yards per game on the ground, 178.5 yards per game through the air and 304.8 yards per game of total offense. Defensively, Army is giving up 190.8 yards per game on the ground, 191.6 through the air and 382.5 yards per game of total offense.
Carlton Jones leads the Army rushing attack with 575 yards and four touchdowns, while Josh Holden has 420 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
If healthy, Reggie Nevels (38-75 for 446 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions) is likely to get the start, though Zac Dahman (87-181 for 1,025 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions) or Matt Silva (32-80 for 402 yards with one touchdown and seven interceptions) could also see playing time.
Aris Comeaux is Army's big-play receiver with 24 catches for 299 yards and four touchdowns. Comeaux has also returned two punts for touchdowns.
Mids Improving
Even though the Mids suffered another defeat, the 30-27 loss to Wake Forest was an indication Navy is improving.
Entering the Wake game Navy had lost the last-six games (dating back to 1999 when the current crop of seniors were freshman) against ACC opponents by an average score of 53-16 (316-96).
The loss was Navy's ninth straight to the ACC. The Mids' last win against an ACC opponent came on Nov. 23, 1996, when the Mids upset Georgia Tech, 36-26, in Atlanta.
Turnover Troubles
Since opening the season with no turnovers in a 38-7 win at SMU, Navy has committed 35 turnovers over the last-10 games, 25 of them fumbles. Three of those turnovers (all fumbles) were returned for touchdowns (N.C. State, Air Force and Tulane). Navy's 25 lost fumbles are the most in the country (Arizona State is second with 19) and its 31 turnovers are tied for the 10th most in the nation (UTEP leads with 36). The 25 lost fumbles is also a school record. The previous record was 24 set in 1947 and 1952.
Since forcing five turnovers in the season opener, Navy has forced just 13 turnovers in the last-10 games, though the Mids have forced six turnovers the last-two weeks (3 against Notre Dame and 3 against UConn). Navy's 18 forced turnovers ranks 89th in the country.
In A Rush
Navy is fifth in the nation in rushing, averaging 257.09 yards per game. Last year, the Mids averaged a paltry 181.8 yards per contest. 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 314.50
2. West Virginia 292.00
3. Nebraska 273.42
4. Kansas State 267.42
5. Navy 257.09
6. Colorado 250.64
7. Rice 247.73
8. Ohio 244.36
9. Wake Forest 243.73
10. Arkansas 243.18
Smith A Tackling Machine
Navy sophomore Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) has recorded 81 tackles over the last-six games, more than any other Navy player has recorded all year (11 games). His 125 total tackles are 51 more than the next-closest teammate (Eddie Carthan with 71). The school record for tackles, which wasn't officially kept until 1970, is 169 by Andy Ponseigo in 1983. Smith has reached double figures in tackles in six of Navy's 11 games including a herculean 21-tackle performance against Connecticut where he also recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass. Smith also had double-digit tackle games against SMU (14), Air Force (10), Rice (18), Boston College (15) and Wake Forest (14).
Smith's season is more impressive if you consider the fact that coming out of spring practice, he wasn't selected to appear in the Navy football media guide and barely made the invite list (105 players) to go through two-a-day practices. Thanks to an injury to last year's leading tackle, Lenter Thomas (Sr./Eagle Lake, Texas), Smith got his chance to show the coaches what he could do during two-a-day practices.
Youth Is Served
Of the 64 players listed on Navy's depth chart, 29 (45 percent) are freshmen or sophomores. There is an equal amount of youth on both sides of the ball as the offense has 15 freshmen and sophomores on the depth chart, while the defense has 14. Eight youngsters started last Saturday's game against Wake Forest: Amir Jenkins (So./WR), Eric Roberts (So./SB), and August Roitsch (So./C) on offense. Pierre Moss (So./DE), Wayne Irons (So./S), Lane Jackson (So./LB), Josh Smith (So./S) and Vaughn Kelley (So./CB) on defense. There are only 20 seniors (31 percent) on the depth chart.
Chase Impressive
Freshman Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.) got his first-career start at Tulane and came through with a game-high tying 10 tackles and deflected a pass. Chase followed that performance up with a seven-tackle day, including a sack, against Notre Dame and had five tackles against Connecticut.
Fourth Down Problems
Navy has had problems on fourth down this year, converting on just 10 of 26 attempts (38 percent), while stopping the other team on fourth down just four times in 17 attempts (24 percent).
Touchdown Navy Quarterback
Navy quarterbacks Craig Candeto (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) and Aaron Polanco (So./Wimberley, Texas) have scored 17 of Navy's 25 rushing touchdowns. Candeto leads the team with 10 rushing touchdowns, while Polanco has seven in just 62 carries (1 touchdown every 8.9 carries).
Red Zone
Navy has scored on 29 of its 37 trips inside the Red Zone (.784) and has scored touchdowns on 25 of those 37 trips (.676).
The defense has given up points in 48 of the 57 times the opposition has reached the Red Zone (.842). Fourty one of the 57 trips have resulted in touchdowns (.719).
Long Return
Aaron Weedo's (So./Port Charlotte, Fla.) 45-yard punt return against Notre Dame was the longest punt return by a Navy player since Oct. 5, 1996, when Ross Scott took a punt back 65 yards for a touchdown in Navy's 64-21 victory over Duke.
Navy In The 2002 National Rankings
{117 Teams in Division IA}
Rushing Offense 5th (257.1)
Passing Offense 114th (99.7)
Total Offense 81st (356.8)
Scoring Offense 95th (21.1)
Rushing Defense 110th (215.8)
Pass Defense 69th (223.5)
Pass Efficiency Defense 116th (173.7)
Total Defense 104th (439.3)
Scoring Defense 110th (38.6)
Net Punting 48th (35.2)
Punt Return 103rd (6.7)
Kickoff Return 77th (19.3)
Turnover Margin 114th (-1.5)
Rushing Craig Candeto (84th, 67.2)
Punting John Skaggs (40th, 41.3)
Kickoff Returns Tony Lane (55th, 22.0)
Scoring Craig Candeto (97th, 6.0)
Skaggs Is Navy's Top All-Time Punter
Navy junior John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) is Navy's all-time top punter by average (43.1). Skaggs set the school record for punting average in a season last year with a 44.8 average and is averaging 41.3 yards per punt this year, which would rank as the fourth best average in school history for a single-season.
Career Punting Average Average
1. John Skaggs (2001-02) 43.1
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
Single-Season Punting Average Average
1. John Skaggs (2001) 44.8
2. Bill Busik (1941) 43.8
3. Tom Moore (1971) 41.9
4. John Skaggs (2002) 41.3
5. Tray Calisch (1999) 40.9
Roberts On Pace To Break Single-Season Yards Per Catch Record
Navy sophomore Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) is on pace to break the Navy single-season record for average yards per catch. Roberts has caught 16 passes for 416 yards (26.0 yards per catch) and two touchdowns on the year
Average Yards Per Catch In A Season Average
1. Eric Roberts (2002) 26.0
2. Ryan Read (1998) 25.5
3. Phil McConkey (1978) 24.2
4. Pat McGrew (1997) 22.6
5. Jim Stewart (1961) 22.1
ARMY-NAVY GAME DRAWS NATIONAL INTEREST
The outcome of the Army-Navy football classic has been wildy unpredictable over the years. One thing is certain: cities from across the country would like an opportunity to host one of college football's true national treasures.
Representatives from 14 cities, stretching from the southern-most regions of the country to the great Northeast, have expressed interest in serving as the long-term host for the Army-Navy classic.
The process for securing a long-term home for future Army-Navy football games officially began in September with the two service academies distributing a formal "Request for Proposal" to agencies representing more than 90 different cities nationally.
An agreement between the city of Philadelphia and the academies to host the Army-Navy game expires following next year's battle.
The deadline for parties to submit official letters of interest was Nov. 15.
The academies received official letters stating an interest in hosting the game from representatives of the following cities: Miami, Fla., Tampa, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla., Pittsburgh, Pa., the New England region (headed by Providence and Warwick, R.I.), Houston, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, East Rutherford, N.J., Chicago, Ill., Philadelphia, Pa., Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., and Buffalo, N.Y.
The academies will accept bids from prospective host cities through the middle of January 2003 with a decision date set for early spring. Any agency wishing to submit a bid for the five-year period of 2004 through 2008 is encouraged to do so. Bidders will not be limited to those submitting official letters of interest.
"It's obvious, based on the expressed interest to date, this big time event will clearly end up in a big time city," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "Each prospective host is in a major market, has a first-class venue and a proven track record of hosting special events. The selection process will be very interesting."
"We are pleased with the significant interest expressed by those wishing to serve as the long-term host for one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports," said Army Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan. "This expression of interest affirms the respect that the nation holds for this great game and the service academies."
Seventy-six of the 102 Army-Navy games have been held within Philadelphia's city limits. Since 1945, the contest has been played in Philadelphia with but five exceptions. While the 1983 game was played at the Rose Bowl, the 1989, 1993 and 1997 confrontations took place at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., while Baltimore, Md. served as host city in 2000, the last time the game was held outside of Philadelphia. This year's classic is once again set for Dec. 7 at Giants Stadium, while next year's Army-Navy game will be held in the Philadelphia Eagles' new home, Lincoln Financial Field, slated for a September 2003 opening.
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
Not So Sweet Home
Navy has lost 14 straight and 19 of the last 20 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, 535-222 (average loss 38.2-15.9) during the 14-game home losing streak. Only five of the 14 games during have been decided by 10 points or less.
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.
