10/18/2004 - Football
Navy Football Release For The Rice Game

Files associated with this release:
Navy Football Release

Game Data
Navy (5-1) will play host to Rice (3-3) Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000). Kickoff is set for 1:36 p.m.

Navy is off to its best start since 1979 when the Mids started 6-0 before losing four-straight games and finished 7-4.

A win would make Navy bowl eligible for the second-consecutive season. Navy, a Houston Bowl participants a year ago, has gone to bowls in back-to-back seasons just once in school history (1980 Garden State Bowl and 1981 Liberty Bowl).

Saturday's game will be televised nationally by HDNet (High Definition Television) with Pete Medhurst and Astor Heaven calling the action. Kandace Krueger, who was named Miss USA in 2001, will serve as the sideline reporter.

HDNet (www.hd.net), the leading all-high-definition network, is available on Adelphia, Charter, Insight, Mediacom and Time Warner cable outlets as well as DIRECTV and DISH Network. A high-definition television set and receiver is required to view HDNet. Viewers should contact their cable and satellite service provider for more information. HDNet programming is also available at participating restaurants and bars and other public viewing
locations throughout the United States. For locations showing HDTV, go to:
www.hd.net/sportsbars.html.

Saturday's game can be heard on the Navy Radio Network, which includes ESPN Radio in Baltimore (1300 AM), Sportstalk 980 in Washington, D.C. (980 AM), WNAV in Annapolis (1430 AM), and ESPN Radio in Cambridge, Md. (1240 AM), ESPN Radio in Norfolk, Va. (1310 AM) and WFWR (91.5 FM) in Attica, Ind. The game can also be heard world wide via the internet at www.navysports.com, www.wnav.com or www.sportstalk980.com. The Navy Football Pregame show will air an hour before kickoff (12:30 p.m.) on those same networks.

Bob Socci is in his eighth season on the Navy football broadcasts and is in his seventh year as the full-time play-by-play announcer. Socci is joined by former Navy fullback Omar Nelson ('97), who is in his third year as a member of the Navy Radio Network and his second as the full-time color analyst. Noted sports author John Feinstein provides a weekly pregame segment.

Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will kick things off with the Navy Tailgate Show on 1430 WNAV and www.wnav.com live from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 11:30 a.m.

Welsh To Be Honored Pregame
Former Navy head coach George Welsh ('56) will be honored in a pregame ceremony for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Responsible for rebuilding two Division I-A programs, Welsh guided Navy and Virginia for a combined 28 years, returning Navy to its past glory and lifting Virgina to a new level of success. Welsh began his head coaching career at Navy, where he led the Midshipmen to three bowl game appearances and their first nine-win season in 16 years. In nine seasons, Welsh won 55 games, the most in Navy history.

Welsh's legacy at Virginia began in 1982 and in 19 years at the helm, he became the all-time winningest coach in school and Atlantic Coast Conference history. Named ACC Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year three times, Welsh guided the Cavaliers to a share of two ACC titles and set a conference record with 13-consecutive seasons of at least seven wins.

In his tenure, Welsh led Virginia to 12 bowl game appearances, including its first, the Peach Bowl, in 1984. Prior to his arrival, Virginia had only two winning seasons in the program's previous 29 years. Welsh guided the Cavaliers to 15 winning seasons in 19 years. In all, his 189 victories ranked 24th in Division I-A history upon the completion of his career.

Team Named Desire To Be Honored At Halftime
At halftime, the 1954 "Team Named Desire" coached by Eddie Erdelatz, captained by Phil Monahan and quarterbacked by George Welsh will be honored on its 50th anniversary.

End Ron Beagle earned All-America honors that season and was the winner of the Maxwell Trophy, which is awarded each year to the most outstanding college football player in the country.

The Mids finished 8-2 that year, which included a 21-0 victory over SEC champion Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl.

Fullback Joe Gattuso was given the Warren Miller Trophy as the game's Most Valuable Player after rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Halfback Jack Weaver rushed for 106 yards and caught a touchdown pass from Welsh.

Injury Report
The Mids are healthy entering the Rice game.

Series History
Rice leads the all-time series, 6-3, and holds a 2-1 mark against the Midshipmen in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Last year, Craig Candeto rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while the Navy defense held an opponent out of the end zone for the first time since 1996 in Navy's 38-6 win.

The Eyes Of Texas
Navy has a whopping 19 players from the state of Texas, many from the Houston area. The members of Navy's football team from Texas include: quarterback Aaron Polanco (Sr./Wimberley), safety Jeremy McGown (So./Houston), wide receiver Lionel Wesley (Sr./Duncanville), safety Clay Carter (So./Sugar Land), corner Greg Thrasher (Fr./Carrollton), safety A.J. Walker (Sr./Houston), safety DuJuan Price (So./Austin), fullback Adam Ballard (Fr./Lewisville, Texas), linebacker Jacob Biles (Jr./Lorena), guard Zach Gallion (So./Rowlett, Texas), tackle Casey Hughes (Sr./Houston), defensive end Jeff Adusei (Sr./Sugar Land), guard Dennis Ray Phillips (Sr./Katy), defensive end Ed Kotulski (Jr./Buda), guard James Rossi (So./Buda), guard Matt McLaughlin (Sr./Houston), center August Roitsch (Sr./Houston), wide receiver Marc Lawson (So./Houston) and wide receiver Jason Tomlinson (So./Arlinglton).

Scouting Rice
The Owls are off to a 3-3 start with victories over Houston (10-7), Hawai'i (41-29) and SMU (44-10).

Rice leads the nation in rushing, averaging 345.7 yards per contest. Running back Ed Bailey is averaging 101.8 yards per game on the ground, while quarterback Greg Henderson is averaging 93 yards per contest.

On defense, the Owls are led by defensive back Chad Price, who has recorded 43 tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack, two interceptions, four pass break ups and has blocked a kick.

Top-Two Rushing Quarterbacks To Battle
Saturday's game will feature the top two rushing quarterbacks in the country in Rice's Greg Henderson and Navy's Aaron Polanco (Sr./Wimberley, Texas).

Top Rushing Quarterbacks In The Country
1. Greg Henderson (Rice) 93.00
2. Aaron Polanco (Navy) 80.50
3. Reggie McNeal (Texas A&M) 75.67
Drew Stanton (Michigan State) 75.67
5. Josh Cribbs (Kent State) 63.17

Mids Fall For First Time, 27-9
Ryan Grant rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns as Notre Dame handed Navy its first loss of the season, 27-9, in front of 76,166 fans at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

The Irish jumped out to a 14-0 lead as Marcus Wilson scored on a 33-yard touchdown jaunt on Notre Dame's first series and then Grant scored from one yard out on the next drive.

Navy got on the board on its first drive of the second half as Geoff Blumenfeld (Sr./Granite Bay, Calif,) drilled a 29-yard field goal that capped off a 15-play, 81-yard drive.

The Irish, however, would dash any hopes of a Navy comeback on the next series as they marched 73 yards on 13 plays with Grant scoring on a one-yard run to make the score 24-3.

Navy would get its only touchdown of the game with 4:19 remaining when Frank Divis (Sr./Avon, Ohio) scored on a five-yard touchdown run.

Kyle Eckel (Sr./Haverford, Pa.) led the Mids with 102 yards rushing on 22 carries. Eric Roberts (Sr./Miami, Fla.) added 51 yards on five carries.

Josh Smith (Sr./Attica, Ind.) led the Navy defense with 11 tackles, while Lane Jackson (Sr./Miami, Fla.) and Bobby McClarin (Sr./Bethlehem, Pa.) were in on 10 stops each.

100 Yards Rushing Against Notre Dame
Kyle Eckel's (Sr./Haverford, Pa.) 102 yards rushing on 22 carries made him just the fourth Navy player to rush for over 100 yards against Notre Dame in the last 29 years. The other three to accomplish this feat: Brian Madden in 1999 (34 carries, 168 yards, 1 touchdown), Chris McCoy in 1997 (23 carries, 143 yards and two touchdowns) and Napoleon McCallum in 1985 (24 carries for 124 yards and one touchdown).

Notes From The Notre Dame Game
*Navy was held scoreless in the first quarter for the third time in six games.

*After totaling just one touchdown in his first three seasons, senior slot
back Frank Divis (Avon, Ohio) has scored three this season.

*The game marked the first time Navy did not score in the first half since
the Texas Tech game in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.

*Navy is now 3-9 all-time in the Meadowlands, including 0-7 against Notre
Dame.

*Notre Dame's 204 yards rushing and 334 yards of total offense were
season highs for a Navy opponent.

*Navy did not record a sack for the first time all season.

Fallen Brothers
The Navy football family has lost two members and a third injured over the past two months in the line of duty.

Lt. Cmdr. Scott Zellem, USN ('91), was killed Aug. 10 when his Navy jet crashed in the Pacific Ocean. Zellem, a linebacker, was a four-year member of the Navy football team and lettered as a senior.

First Lt. Ron Winchester, USMC ('01), was killed Sept. 3 due to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Winchester, who played offensive tackle, was a four-year member of the football team and a two-year starter at tackle.

First Lt. Scott Swantner, USMC ('01), who played next to Winchester on Navy's offensive line, was wounded in Iraq on Oct. 6 when a grenade exploded during a house-to-house search.

The 12th Mid
Navy head coach Paul Johnson has invited one senior midshipman
from each regiment (there are two regiments at the Naval Academy) to play as a member of the varsity football team for one game.

One midshipman will cover Navy's first kickoff in the Delaware game on Oct. 30 and the other will cover the first kickoff in the Rutgers game on Nov. 20.

The idea was put forward by senior Tony DiFranco of the 2nd Company. Each battalion will be able to submit two senior midshipmen to try out for this opportunity. The tryouts will be Monday.

The two midshipmen that are picked will also have the honor of wearing the No. 12, as 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach has given his permission for his number to be "unretired" for those two games for the 12th Mid to wear.

12th Mid Candidates
1st Regiment
MIDN 1/C Matt Bernhardt (5th Company)
MIDN 1/C Tony Difranco (2nd Company)
MIDN 1/C John Hedrick (3rd Company)
MIDN 1/C John McLaughlin (7th Company)
MIDN 1/C Derek Cook (6th Company)
MIDN 1/C Matt Luke (9th Company)
MIDN 1/C David Caruso (11th Company)
MIDN 1/C Andrew Serfass (12th Company)
MIDN 1/C Jarrod Rothman (14th Company)

2nd Regiment
MIDN 1/C Matthew Bates (19th Company)
MIDN 1/C John Reuland (18th Company)
MIDN 1/C Matt Sorace (16th Company)
MIDN 1/C Jeff Drewiske (25th Company)
MIDN 1/C Doug Tomczak (23rd Company)
MIDN 1/C James Colgary (24th Company)
MIDN 1/C Nate Lufkin (27th Company)
MIDN 1/C Christopher Miller (26th Company)
MIDN 1/C Aloysius Boyle (30th Company)

Home Sweet Home
Navy has won five-straight home games dating back to last year, the longest home winning streak since the Mids won eight in a row over three seasons (1995-97). Navy is 7-1 at home over the last two years after losing 14-straight from 2001-03.

Second Half Dominance
Navy has dominated the second half this year, outscoring the opposition,
84-50. Only Notre Dame (10-9) has outscored Navy in the second half.

Tough In The First Quarter
Dating back to the start of last season (19 games, 13-6 over that span),
Navy has outscored the opposition, 137-57, in the first quarter.

The Red Zone
Navy has been tough in the red zone on offense. The Mids have scored
on 17 of their 22 trips (77 percent) inside the red zone with 15 of those
scores going for touchdowns. The offense has scored on 15 of its last 17
trips in the red zone (13 TD's and two field goals).

Go For It
The Navy offense is 10 for 13 (77 percent) on fourth down conversions
this year (0-1 on special teams). The opposition has made just seven of its
13 attempts (54 percent) on fourth down.

Discipline Football
Navy is tied for second in the country for the least amount of penalties
per game, averaging four penalties per contest. The Mids are tied for sixth in
fewest yards penalized per game.

Least Penalized Teams In The Country
(Penalties Per Game)
1. Illinois 3.29
2. Navy 4.00
Minnesota 4.00
Oklahoma State 4.00
Air Force 4.00
6. Colorado State 4.17
7. North Carolina 4.43
8. Ohio State 4.50
9. Michigan State 4.57
10. East Carolina 4.80

Least Penalized Teams In The Country
(Penalty Yards Per Game)
1. Illinois 27.57
2. Minnesota 29.00
3. Colorado State 31.67
4. North Carolina 34.14
5. Oklahoma State 35.33
6. Navy 35.83
Ohio State 35.83
8. Air Force 36.17
9. Michigan State 38.71
10. East Carolina 38.80

Navy Looks To Defend Rushing Crown
The Mids led the nation in rushing in 2003, averaging 323.2 yards per game. It was just the second time in school history that Navy led the country in rushing. The only other time was in 1999 when the Mids averaged 292.2 yards per game.

Navy is ranked sixth in the nation in rushing after six games this year, averaging 258.83 yards per contest. Rice leads the country in rushing, averaging 345.67 yards per game.

Top Rushing Teams In The Country
1. Rice 345.67
2. Texas 293.50
3. Minnesota 272.57
4. Oklahoma State 268.00
5. West Virginia 260.33
6. Navy 258.83
7. California 256.20
8. Air Force 256.00
9. Alabama 243.29
10. Louisville 239.60

Hitting Paydirt
Navy's 18 rushing touchdowns are the eighth most in the country. Navy has scored three rushing touchdowns in three games, four in two games and one in one game. Rice and Virginia lead the country with 21 rushing touchdowns.

Most Rushing Touchdowns In the Country
1. Virginia 21
Rice 21
3. Louisville 20
4. Minnesota 19
Oklahoma State 19
Utah 19
Boise State 19
8. Navy 18
9. Texas 17
Texas A&M 17

Grounded
Navy has failed to rush for 300 or more yards in three-straight games
(190 vs Vanderbilt, 216 vs Air Force and 216 vs Notre Dame) for the first
time since 2002. That year, Navy failed to rush for 300 yards against Duke
(240), Air Force (260) and Rice (111).

In Paul We Trust
Navy football has struggled over the last 20 years, compiling an overall
record of 74-156 (.322).

The Mids, however, have not struggled when Paul Johnson has been
calling the plays. Johnson has been at Navy for five of those 20 years (two
years as a coordinator and this is his third season as a head coach), and in
those five years, the Mids are 29-25 (.537) and have appeared in two bowl
games. The Mids are 13-6 (.684) over the last two years and have won 11 of
their last 15 contests (.733).

In the 15 years that Johnson hasn't been on the sidelines, Navy is 45-
131(.256).

Johnson On Bobby Dodd "Watch List"
The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award Foundation has released a list
of Division I-A college head football coaches that are potential recipients of
the prestigious Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award.

Among the NCAA Division I-A head football coaches on the
Foundation's watch list are: Paul Johnson of Navy, Pete Carroll of USC, Mark
Richt of Georgia, Joe Tiller of Purdue, Larry Coker of Miami, Dan Hawkins of
Boise State and Urban Meyer of Utah.

The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award is presented annually and is
selected by a blue-ribbon panel of college football experts. The award is in
honor of Coach Robert Lee "Bobby" Dodd, one of college football's all-time
coaching greats.

This year's recipient will be announced during halftime of the Chick-Fil-A
Peach Bowl, which will be televised by ESPN on Dec. 31. Oklahoma's Bob
Stoops was the 2003 recipient of the award.

Defense Tightens Up As The Game Goes On
The Navy defense has shown a penchant for tightening up as the game
goes along. Opponents are 15 for 25 (60 percent) on converting third
downs in the first quarter, eight for 26 (31 percent) in the second quarter,
seven for 18 (39 percent) in the third quarter and just six for 21
(29 percent) in the fourth quarter.

QBs Over 100 Yards
Aaron Polanco (Sr./Wimberley, Texas) became the 13th quarterback in Navy history to rush for 100 or more yards in a game when he gashed Duke for 130 yards and a touchdown in Navy's 27-12 victory over the Blue Devils. Polanco became the first quarterback since Brian Madden in 2001 to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games when he rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns against Northeastern. Chris McCoy (1995-97) holds the Navy quarterback record with 15 100-yard games.

Shutout
Navy's 29-0 rout of Tulsa was its first shutout since Oct. 15, 1994,
when the Mids shut out Lafayette, 7-0. Navy last shut out a Division IA
team on Oct. 4, 1980, when it blanked Boston College, 21-0. The last time
Navy recorded a shutout on the road was Sept. 23, 1978, at Connecticut
(30-0), and the last time Navy recorded a shutout on the road against a
Division IA opponent was Sept. 16, 1978, when it shut out Virginia, 32-0.

Eckel, Eckel, Eckel
Senior fullback Kyle Eckel's (Havertown, Pa.) hard-nosed running style has developed a cult following among the Brigade of Midshipmen as the student body chants his name in unison every time he touches the ball.

Eckel, who is an All-America candidate and ranked as the best NFL fullback prospect in the country by draftboardinsider.com, rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in Navy's 27-12 victory over Duke. It was Eckel's eighth-career 100-yard rushing day (seven in 2003 and once this year) and it was the fifth time in his career he has rushed for two touchdowns in a game.

Eckel had his first-career three-touchdown day against Tulsa, as he rushed for 98 yards and three scores on 23 carries in Navy's 29-0 shutout of the Golden Hurricane.

Against Air Force Eckel rumbled for 97 yards and a touchdown in Navy's win in Colorado Springs.

Eckel became just the fourth Navy player in 29 years to rush for over 100 yards against Notre Dame when he rumbled for 102 yards on 22 carries against the Irish.

Eckel was named the Philadelphia Sportswriters Most Valuable Player in 2003 for his 152-yard, two-touchdown performance against Army.

Eckel ran over the Air Force defense for a career-high 176 yards (previous career high was 129 in 2003 against VMI) on a career-high 33 carries (previous career high was 18) and scored one touchdown in Navy's 2003 upset of the No. 25 ranked Falcons

His 176 yards rushing last year against Air Force were the most by a non-quarterback at Navy since Chuck Smith rushed for 182 yards against Dartmouth in 1986.

Last year, he became the first Navy player to rush for over 100 yards in three-straight games since Brian Madden did it in 2001, and became the first non-quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in three-straight games since current Navy radio analyst Omar Nelson did it against SMU, Boston College and Duke in 1996.

Eckel carried the ball 236 times in 2003 and lost yardage on just three of those carries, all of which were one-yard losses. He has not lost any yards in 2004 on his 121 carries.

Most 100-Yard Rushing Games In A Season
1. Napoleon McCalllum (1985) 8
Napoleon McCallum (1983) 8
Eddie Meyers (1981) 8
4. Kyle Eckel (2003) 7
Joe Gattuso Jr. (1977) 7

Most 100-Yard Rushing Games In A Career
1. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 19
2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 15
3. Eddie Meyers (1978-81) 14
4. Cleveland Cooper 91972-74) 12
5. Kyle Eckel (2002-current) 10

Eckel On Career Rushing List
Senior fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.) moved past Alton Grizzard into fifth place on Navy's career rushing list with his 22-carry, 102-yard performance against Notre Dame. Eckel is 334 yards behind Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) for fourth place.

Navy Career Rushing Leaders
1. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 4,179
2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 3,401
3. Eddie Meyers (1978-81) 2,935
4. Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) 2,582
5. Kyle Eckel (2002-03) 2,248
6. Alton Grizzard (1987-90) 2,174
7. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 1,949
8. Joe Gattuso Jr. (1975-77) 1,890
9. Brian Madden (1999, 2001) 1,802
10. Chuck Smith (1984-87) 1,744

Eckel Fifth In School History In Rushing Touchdowns
Senior fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.) has 20-career rushing touchdowns, which is the fifth most in school history. He needs just four more rushing touchdown to tie 1960 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino for fourth on the list.

Navy Career Rushing Touchdowns
1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 43
2. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 33
3. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 31
4. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 24
5. Kyle Eckel (2002-current) 20

Eckel Selected To Play In East-West Shrine Game And The Villages Gridiron Classic
Senior fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.) has been invited to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine All-Star Game, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. (EST) at SBC Park in San Francisco. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

Eckel is the 18th Navy player, and the fourth in four years, to be invited to the game in the 80-year history of the event.

Eckel was also selected to play in the Villages Gridiron Classic All-Star game, which will be played Saturday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. (EST) in The Villages, Fla. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Eckel, however, will not play in the game.

Eckel is the fifth Navy player to be selected in the Gridiron Classic all-star game in its six-year existence and it marks the first time since 1999 that two Navy players have been selected to play in the same all-star game. In 1999, Terrence Anderson and Travis Williams played in both the Blue-Gray Game and the Hula Bowl All-Star Game.

Eckel Named Top NFL Fullback Prospect And Preseason First-Team All-American By Draftboardinsiders.com
Senior fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.) has been named a preseason All-American and the top NFL fullback prospect by draftboardinsiders.com.

First-Team Preseason All-Americans
Offense
QB Jason White, Oklahoma Sr.
RB Darren Sproles, Kansas St. Sr.
FB Kyle Eckel, Navy Sr.
WR Crophonso Thorpe, FSU Sr.
WR Mark Clayton, Oklahoma Sr.
TE Heath Miller, UVA Sr.
OL Eric Winston, Miami Jr.
OL Alex Barron, Florida State Sr.
OL David Baas, Michigan Sr.
OL Jammal Brown, Oklahoma Sr.
C Ben Wilkerson, LSU Sr.

Defense
DE Dan Cody, Oklahoma Sr.
DE David Pollack, UGA Sr.
DT Shaun Cody, USC Sr.
DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon Soph.
LB Derrick Johnson, Texas Jr.
LB Kirk Morrison, SDSU Sr.
LB Ahmad Brooks, UVA Soph.
DB Corey Webster, LSU Sr.
DB Antrell Rolle, Miami Sr.
DB Jamaal Brimmer, UNLV Sr.
DB Donte Nicholson, Oklahoma Sr.

Eckel Nominated For Doak Walker Award
The SMU Athletic Forum announced recently the names of the candidates for the 2004 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top college running back.

The field of candidates includes Navy senior Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.). Other candidates include Kansas State senior Darren Sproles, who was a finalist for the 2003 Doak Walker Award and led the nation in total rushing yards (1,915) last season; Texas senior Cedric Benson, who led the nation in scoring last year with 134 points and has 3,706 career rushing yards, the most of any returning back; Syracuse senior Walter Reyes, who has gained more than 1,100 yards in each of the past two seasons; and Memphis Junior DeAngelo Williams, who led the country in all-purpose yardage and compiled 10 consecutive 100-yard rushing games in 2003.

Also on the list is future Navy opponent Brian Leonard of Rutgers (11/20).

"Each new season of college football brings fans a fresh list of new 'stars' to watch. This year will be no different. As for the running back position...well, simply put this will be one of the more talented groups we've had the pleasure of following. This year's Doak Walker watch list is impressive. This year's winner will again exemplify the characteristics of Doak Walker. A tough and talented runner for sure, but just as important as the yards gained on the field, Doak was a model citizen and leader in the classroom, too. Good luck to the candidates," said Craig James, SMU alumnus and member of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee.

The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on November 15, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will vote on the winner in late November. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2004 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN along with other NCFAA member awards on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 9. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, February 15, 2005.

Former Michigan running back Chris Perry, currently with the Cincinnati Bengals, won the 2003 Doak Walker Award.

The award, which is celebrating its 15th year, is named for SMU's three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification. Sponsors of the Forum include PricewaterhouseCoopers, American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, Guaranty Bank, JPMorgan Chase and State Farm Bank(r).

Roberts First Player In School History To Top The 1,000 Yard Mark For Rushing And Receiving
Senior slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) became the first player in Navy history, the third active player and the 35th player in NCAA history to top the 1,000-yard mark for career rushing and receiving when he caught a 34-yard pass from Aaron Polanco (Sr./Wimberley, Texas) against Vanderbilt.

Roberts has 1,301-career rushing yards and 1,040-career receving yards. Roberts, Texas Tech's Taurean Henderson and Virginia's Alvin Pearman are the only current active players in the club.

Other notable players to achieve 1,000-1,000 include Steve Broussard of Washington State, Quentin Griffin of Oklahoma, Dalton Hilliard of LSU, Vance Johnson of Arizona, Terry Kirby of Virginia, Eric Metcalf of Texas, Glynn Milburn of Oklahoma and Stanford, Darrin Nelson of Stanford, Errict Rhett of Florida and Hines Ward of Georgia.

Eric The Great
Slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) has made big play after big play in his career. Roberts scored five touchdowns in 2003 of 40 yards or more, including two against Central Michigan when he recorded a 45-yard touchdown run and an 86-yard touchdown reception.

His 86-yard touchdown reception off a pass thrown by Craig Candeto was the second-longest pass play in school history and the fifth-longest play from scrimmage in school history. The longest pass play in school history was an 87-yard pass from Chris McCoy to Matt Scornavacchi in 1995 against Tulane. The longest play from scrimmage was a 93-yard run by John Sai against Duke in 1963.

Roberts' 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Rice was the longest by a Navy player since Sept. 25, 1999, when Raheem Lambert had a 79-yard touchdown run against Rice.

Roberts finished 2003 with five touchdown catches on the year, the fifth most in school history. His seven-career touchdown catches are the fifth most in school history.

After not getting the ball much the first two games in 2004, Roberts had a breakout game against Tulsa, rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and catching one pass for 27 yards. His touchdown run was a 37-yard jaunt.

Roberts has had six-career multi-touchdown days, including four in 2003.

Touchdown Catches In A Career
1. Phil McConkey (1975-78) 13
Rob Taylor (1965-67) 13
3. Chris Weiler (1981-84) 8
Ron Beagle (1953-55) 8
5. Eric Roberts (2002-current) 7

Roberts Chasing Former Teammate For Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt Record
Senior slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) is chasing former teammate Tony Lane for the school record for career yards per carry (minimum 100 attempts).

Lane averaged 8.9 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,288 yards on 144 carries.
Roberts is averaging 8.4 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,301 yards on 154 carries.

Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt
(minimum 100 attempts)
1. Tony Lane (2001-03) 8.9
2. Eric Roberts (2002-current) 8.4
3. Bob Craig (1952-54) 5.7
4. Joe Gattuso (1952-54) 5.5
5. Ned Oldham (1955-57) 5.2