8/25/2003 - Football
Navy vs. VMI game Notes
Game Data
Navy kicks off year two of the Paul Johnson Era this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against the VMI Keydets at Jack Stephens Field in the newly-renovated Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000). The march-on of the Brigade of Midshipmen will start at 1:07 p.m.
Navy comes into the game trying to break a three-year losing streak at home. The Mids have lost 14-straight home games with the last win coming on Nov. 13, 1999, when Navy blew out Tulane, 45-21, on Senior Day. The Mids are coming off a 58-12 victory over Army in the 2002 season finale.
The Keydets are coming off their best season since 1981 as VMI posted a 6-6 record last year, including impressive wins over The Citadel (23-21) and Southern Conference Co-Champion Wofford (27-16). VMI is making its first trip to Annapolis since 1997. Navy won that game 42-7.
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day and tickets for the home opener will be available for $8.00 to all active duty, reservist and retired military personnel, department of defense and government workers, as well as firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel. Proper ID must be shown in order to receive the discount. Tickets are available at the Ricketts Hall Box Office and will also be available on the day of the game.
The 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 and 1300 WJFK in Baltimore) and worldwide on the internet at www.navysports.com(.) Bob Socci and Omar Nelson will call the action starting at 12:30 p.m. on the Navy Pregame Show.
Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host th Navy Tailgate Show, starting at 12 noon, on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com).
Injuries
Wide receiver Cory Dryden (Jr./Longwood, Fla.) is out with a left ankle injury and corner Marcus Sanders (Sr./Antioch, Calif.) is out with a left arm injury.
Jack Stephens Field At Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
The playing surface at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is named in honor of Jackson T. Stephens ('47), who generously gave the Naval Academy $10 million dollars as part of the United States Naval Academy campaign: Leaders to Serve the Nation. The field will formerly be dedicated on Homecoming when Navy plays host to Delaware on Oct. 25.
Mr. Stephens is the Chairman of Stephens Group, Inc. and his gift will support the ongoing renovations of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Class of 1947 Legacy project to benefit the Academy's Museum, and other important campaign priorities.
"The Leaders to Serve the Nation Campaign has attracted the involvement of alumni and friends of the Academy who are leading by example, with their time, talent, and resources," said George P. Watt, Jr. President and CEO of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. "Jack Stephens is such a leader. His gift provides an incredible enhancement to the Campaign and for stadium fundraising, but the job is not done. We need others to follow his lead as we press to complete the stadium and other Campaign priorities."
Roger Staubach, Co-Chair of the Campaign and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner from Navy, noted his appreciation for the gift, "Jack Stephens' gift is truly transformational. He has helped make it possible to transform Navy-MarineCorps Memorial Stadium to a state-of-the-art facility. I wish I could play on Jack Stephens Field!"
Mr. Stephens expressed pride in being able to help his alma mater. "It is an honor to be able to support the Campaign and to give back to an institution that has given me and our nation so much. The Naval Academy played an important role in my life. Some of my closest friends and the men I hold in highest esteem are my Naval Academy classmates."
Chet Gladchuk, the Athletic Director at the Naval Academy embodies the newfound optimism surrounding the stadium, "You can feel the excitement among the athletes, coaches, staff, the teams that will play here, and midshipmen in general. This stadium is going to be something really special for the Naval Academy, Annapolis and all our fans within the Division IA football ranks. It will be a great place to play and to watch a game while reflecting on the wonderful traditions and history of the Academy and Naval Service."
Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, Superintendent, expressed the gratitude of the Naval Academy for this gift to the Naval Academy Foundation, "Jack Stephens is honoring in a significant way the men and women who served, and continue serving, our Navy and Marine Corps. Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium embodies the link between those who have sailed in harm's way, and those who will one day be called to do so in defense of our great nation. Midshipmen past, present and future look forward to the dedication of Jack Stephens Field."
The United States Naval Academy Leaders to Serve the Nation Campaign seeks $175 million over a six-year period for strategic priorities in admissions, academics, leadership, character and athletics.
Season Openers
Navy is 1-0 in season openers under Paul Johnson as the Mids defeated SMU last year, 38-7, in Dallas. The victory broke a five-year drought in openers.
This will be the first time that Navy has opened a season at home since 2000 when Navy lost to Temple, 14-6. The last time Navy started the season with a home game and came away with a win was in 1990 when Navy beat Richmond, 28-17.
The Aug. 30 date equals the earliest starting date in school history. The Mids also opened the 2001 season on Aug. 30, losing to Temple, 45-26.
Paul Johnson is 5-1 all-time in season openers (4-1 at Georgia Southern and 1-0 at Navy) and his teams have outscored the opposition by a count of 266-85 (44.3-14.1). Johnson's only loss was a 29-7 decision at Georgia in 2000. Georgia Southern went on to win the National Championship that season.
Series History
Navy leads the all-time series, 7-0, including a 42-7 victory over the Keydets in 1997 when these two schools last met. Navy has outscored VMI, 193-32 (27.6-4.6).
Navy head coach Paul Johnson was 5-0 against VMI in his five seasons at Georgia Southern and his teams outscored the Keydets, 261-24 (52.2-4.8).
Navy-VMI Series History
1898 Navy 21-5 Annapolis, Md.
1904 Navy 12-0 Annapolis, Md.
1905 Navy 34-0 Annapolis, Md.
1938 Navy 26-0 Annapolis, Md.
1963 Navy 21-12 Norfolk, Va.
1973 Navy 37-8 Lexington, Va.
1997 Navy 42-7 Annapolis, Md.
Scouting VMI
VMI returns 36 letterwinners (19 on offense, 16 on defense and one on special teams) and nine starters (four on offense, four on defense and one on special teams) off a team that posted the school's best record since 1981 (6-6).
VMI head coach Cal McCombs is entering his fifth season at VMI and has posted a record of 10-35. McCombs was an assistant at Air Force for 15 years, serving the final nine of those as defensive coordinator. McCombs was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year last year.
The Keydets last played a Divison I-A program in 1997 when it lost to Navy, 42-7. VMI last beat a Divison I-A program in 1981 when it upset Virginia Tech, 6-0. VMI also beat Army that year, 14-7, and lost to Virginia, 13-10. VMI finished 6-3-1 that year, the school's last winning season.
Stadium Renovations
Construction of the second phase of the stadium renovations started at the conclusion of the 2002 football season.
The stadium renovation is projected to be completed over a four-year time period. Funding in hand will dictate the renovation timetable, however, as resources are committed, each phase will be addressed. Phase II consisted of lowering the field eight feet, adding 6,000 permanent seats to the end zone, moving the sidelines 35 feet closer to the field, a memorial plaza, upgrading the concessions, restrooms and stadium grounds, the addition of luxury suites, storm water management, a perimeter walking path, new fencing, lighting and a sound system. The Naval Academy Athletic Association is working closely with the city, county, state and neighborhood associations to ensure proper communication and sensitivity to issues that benefit both the NAAA and community at large. The Naval Academy Foundation has taken the leadership on fundraising in its effort to secure adequate fiscal support for the stadium.
Candeto And Carthan Named Team Captains
Seniors Craig Candeto (Orange City, Fla.) and Eddie Carthan (Donalsonville, Ga.) will serve as co-captains for the 2003 season.
"I can't think of two better young men to represent our football team this year than Craig and Eddie," said Johnson. "They are excellent football players and team leaders on and off the field. They will set an example for the rest of the team to follow."
Candeto started and played in 11 of Navy's 12 games in 2002 and led the team in rushing with 775 yards and 16 touchdowns. He completed 51 of his 103 passes for 843 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. His 16 rushing touchdowns tied for the second most in school history and his 96 points scored went down in the record books as the fifth most in Navy history.
Candeto had arguably the greatest single-game performance in the 123-year history of Navy football when he rushed for 103 yards and six touchdowns and threw for another touchdown in Navy's 58-12 rout of Army. His six touchdowns broke the Army-Navy game record (previous record was four set by Charles Emrich in 1890) and tied the school record for touchdowns in a game (Lou Benoist in 1919 vs. Colby and Harold Martin in 1917 vs. Western Reserve). The six touchdowns were also the most touchdowns scored by any Navy player in their career against Army and it tied an NCAA record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
Candeto also starred on the baseball field for the Midshipmen, starting 37 games in the outfield. He led the team in batting average (.370), hits (51), doubles (14), home runs (6), RBIs (31), total bases (91), slugging percentage (.659) and on-base percentage (.418). He had a monster Patriot League Tournament hitting two singles, a double, two triples and three home runs in four games.
He was named the 2003 winner of the Thompson Trophy which is given to the midshipman, male or female, that has done the most during the year to promote varsity athletics at the Naval Academy and enters this year with the opportunity to become just the fourth athlete in school history to win the Thompson Trophy twice, joining E.W. Miles (football, 1917-18), Roger Staubach (football, basketball and baseball, 1963-64-65 and David Robinson (basketball, 1986-87).
Carthan is considered by Navy's coaches to be one of its best all-around players and Navy's switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment will give him an opportunity to be more of an impact player this fall.
Carthan played and started in 11 of Navy's 12 games last year and finished second on the team with 74 tackles. He led the Mids in tackles for a loss with eight and recorded three sacks and recovered three fumbles. Carthan had the best game of his career against Notre Dame, recording six tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack and recovering a fumble.
Youngest Team In School History
The Naval Academy will put its youngest team in school history on the field this Saturday when the Mids take on VMI. Navy has never had 11 freshmen dress for a season-opener nor have 11 freshmen ever played such a significant role in a season as this freshman class is expected to do.
On offense, Chase Hobby (Clearwater, Fla.) could be the starting kicker in the opener, while Jason Tomlinson (Arlington, Texas), a wide receiver, and Trey Hines (Douglasville, Ga.), a slot back, are listed as second on the depth chart on offense. Slot back Byron McCoy (Liberty, Mo.) could also see playing time.
The defensive side has a whopping eight freshmen on the three-deep. Outside linebackers David Mahoney (Fort Myers, Fla.), Tyler Tidwell (Edmond, Okla.) and Brandon Diggs (Newport News, Va.) are all vying for playing time on defense and on special teams, while the secondary has one freshman at every position. Corners Keenan Little (Boiling Springs, N.C.) and Hunter Reddick (San Diego, Calif.) are both listed on the second team, while free safety Kevin Newsome (Jacksonville, Fla.) is listed second and rover DuJuan Price (Austin, Texas) is listed third.
Though not freshmen, several other players will be seeing extended action for the first time on Saturday including wide receivers Mick Yokitis (So./Pittsburgh, Pa.), Andy Michalowicz (Sr./Pasadena, Md.) and Lloyd Regas (So./Jacksonville, Fla.); offensive tackles Tyson Stahl (Jr./Raleigh, N.C.), Tucker Bennett (Sr./Ojai, Calif.), Casey Hughes (Jr./Houston, Texas) and Sam Brown (Jr./Pickerington, Ohio); offensive guards Dennis Ray Phillips (Jr./Katy, Texas), Brett Nungesser (So./San Marino, Calif.), Matt McLaughlin (Jr./Houston, Texas) and Michael Scott (So./Wilmington, N.C.); slot backs Marco Nelso (So./Scottsdale, Ariz.), Frank Divis (Jr./Avon, Ohio) and Ryan Barry (Jr./Raleigh, N.C.) and fullback Bronston Carroll (Sr./Katy, Texas).
On defense, newcomers include nose guard Josh Pridham (Jr./San Clemente, Calif.); defensive end Adam Horne (Jr./Lexington, N.C.); outside linebackers Jason Monts (So./Midlothian, Va.) and Reggie Sealey (Jr./Upper Marlboro, Md.); inside linebackers T.J. Costello (Jr./Olmsted Township, Ohio) and Evan Beard (So./Boardman, Ohio); corners Jontavius Singleton (Jr./Cordele, Ga.) and Lord Cole (Jr./Northridge, Calif.) and safety Jason Robinson (So./Denver, Col.).
Navy Football Players Receive Accolades
Four Navy football players have been named to the Preseason All-Independent team by Street & Smith's 2003 College Football Preview magazine.
Senior offensive tackle Josh Goodin (Shawnee, Kan.), senior linebacker Eddie Carthan (Donalsonville, Ga.), junior safety Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) and senior punter John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) were all named to the preseason first team. Notre Dame had 11 players selected, while Connecticut had five and Troy State had four.
Smith was also named the best hitter among all the Independent players, while Candeto was named the best option quarterback and the best player under pressure. Incoming recruit Keenan Little (Boiling Springs, N.C.), a defensive back, was named the top impact freshman. Street & Smith's also predicted that Navy would make a run at a .500 season this year.
Among Navy opponents, Notre Dame was ranked 22nd in the country with linebacker Courtney Watson and defensive back Vontez Duff being named First-Team All-Americans. TCU was predicted to win Conference USA, while Air Force was picked second in the Mountain West. Other predictions for Navy opponents included Tulane to finish sixth and Army 11th in Conference USA, Vanderbilt to finish sixth in the SEC East, Rice to finish eighth in the WAC, Rutgers to finish eighth in the Big East, Central Michigan to finish fifth and Eastern Michigan to finish seventh in the MAC West, Delaware to finish third in the Atlantic-10 and VMI to finish second in the Big South.
Skaggs Selected For East-West Shrine Game
Navy punter John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) has been selected to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine All-Star game, to be played Saturday, Jan. 10 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Kickoff is 2 p.m. (EST) with live coverage by ESPN.
Skaggs is the 17th Navy player to be selected for the East-West game and the third in as many years.
Defensive tackle Josh Brindel was picked to play in the game last year, while wide receiver Jeff Gaddy was tabbed in 2001. He is just the second kicker and first punter from Navy to be selected for any all-star game. Kicker Todd Solomon played in the Hula Bowl in 1985.
Skaggs is Navy's all-time punting leader for a single-season and a career. He broke Bill Busik's 60-year old single-season record in 2001 when he averaged 44.8 yards per punt, while his 43.1 yards per game career average is also a school record.
Sporting News Tabs Two Navy Players As The Best At Their Position
Fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.) and safety Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) have been selected by The Sporting News preseason magazine as one of the best players at their respective position.
Eckel, who is a rising junior, is ranked as the 15th best fullback in the country. Eckel rushed for 510 yards and four touchdowns a year ago despite being hampered with injuries. His best game came against Northwestern when he rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries and caught three passes for 44 yards.
Smith, who will also be a junior this fall, is ranked as the 18th- best free safety in the country. Smith played in all 12 games last year, starting eight, and was named First-Team All-East. He led the Mids in tackles with 127, 53 more than the next-closest teammate. He had five different games of recording 14 tackles or more, including a career-high 21 against Connecticut. He also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in that game.
Mids End 2002 With Rout Of Army
Craig Candeto (Orange Park, Fla.) rushed for 103 yards and a school-record six touchdowns to lead Navy to a 58-12 rout over Army in the 103rd playing of the Army-Navy game. Candeto also threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.), accounting for seven of Navy's eight touchdowns.
The 58 points scored by Navy is the most in series history and the 46 point margin of victory is the second largest in series history (Navy won 51-0 in 1973).
Navy played a near perfect game, scoring on its first eight possessions. The Mids did not have a turnover or a penalty and didn't punt until nine minutes left in the game.
The Mids rushed for 421 yards and piled up an Army-Navy game record 508 yards of total offense.
The defense played equally well, allowing a season best 241 yards of total offense, including just 56 yards on the ground.
Fourteen different Navy players carried the ball. Besides Candeto, the Mids got big days from fullback Michael Brimage (Birmingham, Ala.), who had 10 carries for 84 yards; Lane, who carried the ball five times for 65 yards and fullback Bryce McDonald (Springfield, Mo.), who rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Candeto completed four of his five pass attempts for 87 yards and one touchdown as four different receivers caught passes.
Lenter Thomas (Eagle Lake, Texas) led the Navy defense with nine tackles, while Lane Jackson (Miami, Fla.), Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.) and Ben Mathews (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had six tackles apiece. Steve Adair (Dumfries, Va.) and Pete Beuttenmuller (Wellington, Fla.) had two sacks apiece.
Candeto's Historic Day
Craig Candeto's (Orange Park, Fla) six touchdown performance against Army was arguably the greatest single-game performance in the 122-year history of Navy football. Following is a list of records broken or tied by Candeto in Navy's 58-12 win:
*Broke the Army-Navy game record for touchdowns. The previous record was four set by Charles Emrich in 1890 (The first Army-Navy game)
*His six rushing touchdowns is a school record. The previous record was four set by Eddie Meyers against Syracuse (1981) and Gerry Goodwin against Virginia (1975)
*Tied the Navy school record for total touchdowns, also held by Lou Benoist (1919 vs Colby) and Harold Martin (1917 vs Western Reserve)
*Set the Navy CAREER record for most touchdowns against Army and tied the Army CAREER record for most touchdowns in an Army-Navy game with six. Previous Navy record was five set by Joe Bellino (1958-60) and Bob Jackson (1973-75). Candeto tied Doc Blanchard (1944-46) for the Army-Navy career record.
*Tied the Meadowlands college football record for touchdowns. Henry Odom scored six for South Carolina State against Morgan State in 1980.
*36 points (six touchdowns) is an Army-Navy game record. Previous record was 20 set by Charles Emrich in 1890 (touchdowns were worth four points)
*36 points ties the Army-Navy game CAREER record and breaks the Navy Army-Navy game CAREER record for total points. Candeto tied Doc Blanchard (1944-46) and surpassed Navy's Bob Jackson (32 points from 1973-75).
*The 36 points is the second-most points scored by a Navy player in school history. Bill Ingram scored 38 against Villanova in 1917.
*Finishes the year with 16 rushing touchdowns, tied for the second most in school history. Chris McCoy scored 20 in 1997, which is the second most in NCAA history by a quarterback, and 16 in 1996.
*Sixteen touchdowns is the fifth most in school history in a single-season.
*His 96 points this year is the fifth most in school history. The record is held by Bill Ingram, who scored 174 points in 1917.
*His six rushing touchdowns tied an NCAA record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Dee Dowis had six rushing touchdowns for Air Force in 1989 against San Diego State. The NCAA record for touchdowns by any player (rushing or receiving) is eight by Howard Griffith of Illinois in 1990 against Southern Illinois. The record against a Division IA opponent is seven set by Arnold Boykin of Mississippi against Mississippi State in 1951 and by Marshall Faulk against Pacific in 1991.
*His 36 points is tied for the eighth most points in a game in NCAA history. The record is 48 by Howard Griffith of Illinois in 1991 against Southern Illinois.
Candeto Wasn't The Only One To Break A Record
*Kicker Eric Rolfs (Bartlesville, Okla.) set an Army-Navy game record with eight made extra-points. The previous record was six by Navy's Steve Young (1983) and Ned Snyder (1951). The eight extra-points are also tied for the second most in school history. Clyde King made 12 (in 17 attempts) against Colby in 1919 and Todd Solomon made eight against Lafayette in 1985.
*John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) is averaging 41.0 yards per punt for his career in Army-Navy games which is a Navy record. The previous record was 38.7 by Brian Schrum (1992-95).
*The Mids 508 yards rushing is an Army-Navy game record. The previous record was 506 by Army in 1969.
*Navy's 421 yards rushing was a Navy record for an Army-Navy game. The previous record was 380 set in 1997. The overall record is 438 set by Army in 1969.
*The 58 points scored by Navy was an Army-Navy game record. The previous record was 51 set by Navy in 1973.
*The 46-point margin of victory was the second biggest margin of victory in an Army-Navy game. The record is 51 set in 1973 (51-0).
*Navy's eight touchdowns is an Army-Navy game record. The previous record was 7 set in 1973.
*The eight extra-points was an Army-Navy game record. The previous record was six set in 1951 and 1983.
*Navy's 22 rushing first downs tied a Navy record for the Army-Navy game. The Mids also had 22 rushing first downs in 1985 and 1997.
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 10 of the last- 11 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 had their third-straight winning season last fall.
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 . 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 in 2001, Iowa was 11-2 a year ago and played USC in the Orange Bowl.
Paul Johnson took 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 posted a 2-10 record, which is one more win than Navy had the previous two years.
If you ask the people fans at Kansas State, North Carolina, Iowa, 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 nine seasons with two wins or less (1968, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002). In the last 20 years, Navy has had two winning seasons (1996 and 1997) and six seasons with two wins or less (1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002).
Struggling Against Winning Programs
For those that expected 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 29 wins against Division IA opponents since 1990 finished with a losing record.
Who's That?
The only Navy fans who knew about Michael Brimage (Birmingham, Ala.) were those who watched the Navy junior varsity team 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, he could be productive.
Brimage got his chance when starting fullback Kyle Eckel (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.
Brimage proved he wasn't a one-hit wonder against Army, rushing for 84 yards on 10 carries before having to leave with turf toe.
Scoring Outburst
Navy's 58 points scored against Army was the most points scored in an Army-Navy game and the most points scored in any game since 1996 when Navy scored 64 points in a 64-27 victory over Duke. It ranks as the fourth-most points scored since 1929. Navy defeated Princeton, 65-7, in 1953 and defeated Wake Forest, 61-0, in 1929.
Johnson Wins Army-Navy Debut
Navy head coach Paul Johnson became the first coach from either school to win his first Army-Navy game as a head coach since 1982 when Gary Tranquill won his first-ever Army-Navy game, 24-7. Since Tranquill won his debut, Navy's Elliot Uzelac (17-3 in 1987), George Chaump (30-20 in 1990), Charlie Weatherbie (14-13 in 1995) and Rick Lantz (26-17 in 2001) all lost their debuts, as did Army's Jim Young (42-13 in 1983), Bob Sutton (24-3 in 1991) and Todd Berry (30-28 in 2000).
Mids Set Kickoff Record
Navy set the school record for kickoff return yards last year with 1,187 yards on 59 returns. The previous record was 1,133 yards on 55 returns in 1971.
Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.) led the way with 484 yards on 22 returns (22.0 per return).
In A Rush
Navy finished third in the nation in rushing last year, averaging 270.75 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 314.50
2. West Virginia 286.92
3. Navy 270.75
4. Nebraska 268.92
5. Kansas State 267.42
6. Rice 247.73
7. Colorado 241.23
8. Wake Forest 239.92
9. Ohio 239.83
10. Penn State 233.50
Smith A Tackling Machine; Named First-Team All-East
Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) was a tackling machine for the Midshipmen last year, recording 83 tackles over the last-six games, more than any other Navy player recorded all year (12 games). Smith finished with 127 tackles, 53 more than the next-closest teammate (Eddie Carthan with 71). His average of 10.6 tackles per game ranked 34th in the country, fifth among sophomores. He was named First-Team All-East by the ECAC coaches.
His 127 tackles equals the most by a Navy player since 1993 when Javier Zuluaga recorded 144 tackles.
Smith reached double figures in tackles in six of Navy's 12 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 was 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.
