11/26/2004 - Football
Army-Navy Release

Files associated with this release:
Army-Navy Press Release

Game Data
Emerald Bowl-bound Navy (8-2) and Army (2-8) renew for the 105th time the greatest rivalry in all of sports Saturday, Dec. 4 at Lincoln Financial Field (68,532) in Philadelphia. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. with the game nationally televised by CBS with Ian Eagle and Boomer Esiason calling the action and Dwayne Ballen handling the color commentary. The game will also be broadcast nationally by CBS Radio with Tony Roberts and Sonny Randle calling the action, and around the world on American Forces Radio and Television.

The Army-Navy 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), ESPN Radio in Cambridge, Md. (1240 AM), FOX Sports Radio in Norfolk, Va. (1050 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 or on Sirius satellite radio (for channel number go to www.sirius.com).

The Navy Football Pregame show will air an hour before kickoff (1:30 p.m. EST) 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 12:30 p.m.

If Navy Wins
A win by Navy would give the Midshipmen nine regular-season wins for the first time since 1963 when Navy, behind Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach, went 9-1. It would also mark just the eighth time in school history that Navy has won nine or more regular-season games and the third time in the last 67 years. The Mids also won nine regular-season games in 1960 (9-2), 1926 (9-0-1), 1908 (9-2-1), 1907 (9-2-1) and 1905 (10-1-1).

A victory by Navy would give the Mids the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy outright for the second-consecutive year. It would be just the second time in school history that Navy has won the trophy in back-to-back years (1978-79). The Mids have already clinched at least a share of the trophy by virtue of its 24-21 victory over Air Force and the Falcons' 31-22 victory over Army. If all three Service Academy teams split, the team with possession of the trophy keeps it.

Mids Accept Invitation To Emerald Bowl
Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Monday that the Naval Academy (8-2) has accepted an invitation to play in the Emerald Bowl against either New Mexico (7-4) or Wyoming (6-5) of the Mountain West Conference. The game will be played on Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. EST) at SBC Park in San Francisco and will be televised by ESPN2.

"Bringing our football team to one of the best cities in the world is as good as it gets," said Gladchuk. "I am certain those affiliated with Navy who visit for this prestigious bowl game will be immeasurably impressed with what Gary Cavalli and his bowl committee have created. I expect Navy fans will turn out by the thousands to enjoy the city's enthusiastic hospitality, while cheering on one of the best football teams in school history. The Navy, Marines, our alumni and fans are preparing to "invade" San Francisco with a winning spirit and a sincere sense of appreciation for being selected."

"This is exciting news for our football program. I couldn't be happier for our players and coaching staff in getting this opportunity," said head football coach Paul Johnson. "These young men have earned this through their dedication in the weight room and on the practice field. We still have three major goals left to accomplish. Beat Army, which would give us the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, and win a bowl game."

"We're thrilled that Navy has accepted our invitation," said Gary Cavilli, Executive Director of the Emerald Bowl. "Navy was being courted by a number of other bowl games throughout the country, and we're honored that they have decided to come to San Francisco. They bring the whole package-a quality team, a big crowd, a strong national following and the incredible pageantry of the U.S. Naval Academy. This is a real coup for the Emerald Bowl."

This will be Navy's 11th bowl game appearance overall and the second-straight year the Mids have played in postseason play. It marks just the second time in school history that Navy has gone to back-to-back bowl games (1980 Garden State Bowl and 1981 Liberty Bowl). Last year, Navy brought 25,000 fans to Houston for the Mids' encounter with Texas Tech.

This is the third year for a bowl game in San Francisco. In 2002, Virginia Tech defeated Air Force, 20-13, while last year Boston College defeated Colorado State, 35-21.

SBC Park, the home of the Emerald Bowl, is also the home of Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants.

Tickets are priced at $75 for club level seats, $50 for seats on the sidelines and $40 for seats in the upper deck. For those fans interested in purchasing tickets to donate to Midshipmen or enlisted personnel who plan to attend the game the cost of the $40 seat is $30. The Academy hopes to transport 3,000 midshipmen to San Francisco in support of the team. Supporters of the Naval Academy are asked to "buy a ticket for a Mid" through the Naval Academy Athletic Association ticket office to help address their expenses. Tickets are available at the Naval Academy Box Office in Ricketts Hall, by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or online at www.navysports.com.

Close Calls
Navy is 4-0 this year in games decided by four points or less. Before this year, Navy had lost nine of its last-10 contests decided by four points or less dating back to the 1998 Rutgers game which Navy lost, 36-33. Navy's only "close" win in that span was a 31-28 upset at West Virginia in 1999.

In The Polls
Navy received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll for the eighth time in the last nine weeks, earning one voting point (1 point for 25th, 2 for 24th, etc). The one point is tied with Miami (Ohio), North Texas, Oregon State, Alabama, Cincinnati, Colorado and UAB for the 35th most in the country.

Navy received votes in the Associated Press poll for the seventh time in the last eight weeks, as Navy accumulated two voting points, tied with Texas and Tech and Memphis for 33rd most in the country.

Navy has not been ranked since Oct. 22, 1979, when the 6-0 Midshipmen rose as high as 17th in the polls.

Injury Report
With two weeks to heal, Navy is expected to have its full complement of players for the Army game.

Series History
Army leads the all-time series, 49-48-7, but the Mids are 2-0in the two years that Paul Johnson has been at the helm, winning by a combined score of 92-18, . A victory by Navy would even the series for the first time since 1992 when Army defeated Navy, 25-24, to even the series at 43.

Last year, in the first Army-Navy game played at Lincoln Financial Field, fullback Kyle Eckel rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns as Navy rolled to an easy 34-6 victory over the Black Knights in front of a Lincoln Financial Field record crowd of 70,844.

The victory was the fourth for Navy over Army in the last five meetings and gave the Mids the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.

Slot back Eric Roberts added two rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Craig Candeto rushed for 58 yards and threw for 55. Bobby McClarin led the defense with eight tackles and his first-career interception.

For a complete recap of every Army-Navy game, turn to page 120 in the Navy Football Media Guide.

Scouting Army
Despite its 2-8 record, Army has proven to be vastly improved under the direction of Bobby Ross.

The Black Knights own victories over Cincinnati (48-29) and South Florida (42-35) and have lost close encounters to TCU (21-17), East Carolina (38-28), Air Force (31-22) and UAB (20-14).

Army is led by tailback Carlton Jones, who has rushed for 1,171 yards and 17 touchdowns. Tielo Robinson has rushed for 431 yards and four touchdowns.

Quarterback Zach Dahman has completed 125 of his 226 pass attempts for 1,605 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Dahman's favorite target is Aaron Alexander, who has caught 32 passes for 451 yards and three touchdowns.

Linebacker Greg Washington leads the nation in tackles, averaging 13.4 per contest. He has recorded 20 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass break ups and forced three fumbles. Defensive back Dhyan Tarver is next in line with 78.

Mids Rout Rutgers On Senior Day
Seniors Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.), Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) and Aaron Polanco (Wimberley, Texas) scored two touchdowns apiece as Navy routed Rutgers, 54-21, in front of a Senior Day crowd of 33,615.

Navy, which scored 47-consecutive points in the game, rushed for 476 yards and piled up 613 yards of total offense. The 476 yards rushing are the fifth most in school history, while the 613 yards of total offense are the 10th most.

Eckel rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including an electrifying 78-yard jaunt on the second play of the third quarter that made the score 47-7.

Roberts, who might have played his best game of the year, rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown on five carries and caught two passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Polanco, who spent most of his day pitching the ball to the slot backs or handing off to Eckel, rushed for seven yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. He also completed four of his seven pass attempts for 137 yards and one touchdown.

The Mids also received an outstanding performance from senior slot back Frank Divis (Avon, Ohio), who carried the ball a career-high nine times for a career-high 97 yards and a touchdown and did a great job of blocking on the perimeter.

The Navy defense bounced back from its disappointing performance against Tulane to cause four turnovers, the two biggest by sophomore outside linebacker David Mahoney (Fort Myers, Fla.).

Mahoney caused a fumble on Rutgers' first drive and then intercepted a Ryan Hart pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown on the Scarlet Knights' third drive to put Navy up, 21-7. Mahoney ended the day with 10 tackles, three tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, an interception and a sack.

Senior safety Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) led the defense with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Sophomore safety Dujuan Price (Austin, Texas) intercepted his third pass of the season.

Notes From The Rutgers Game
*Navy's 54 points are the most by the Mids since last year's 63-34 win over
Central Michigan on Nov. 22. The Mids' 40 points in the first half are the
most in a half since scoring 42 against Central Michigan. Navy's 21 points in
the first quarter are the most points by the Mids in a quarter since scoring
28 against Central Michigan in the first quarter.

*Kyle Eckel's (Sr./Haverford, Pa.) 78-yard touchdown run 40 seconds into the second half is the longest rushing touchdown of his career and the longest by a Navy player since Nov. 25, 1999, when Raheem Lambert ran for a 69-yard touchdown against Rice.

*Six of Navy's eight touchdowns were scored in under three minutes, including three which were under a minute.

*The Mids had a season-high 25 first downs.

*Senior safety Josh Smith's (Attica, Ind.) fumble recovery on the opening drive of the game was his third this season and seventh of his career. The turnver was the first caused by the defense since the Air Force game.

*David Mahoney's (So./Fort Myers, Fla.) interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter was the first interception return for a touchdown by a Navy player since Davede Alexander returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown in the infamous Notre Dame game on Oct. 30, 1999. It was the first defensive touchdown by the Mids since Dec. 2, 2000, when Brad Wimsatt returned a fumble three yards for a touchdown against Army.


*Junior defensive end Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.) recorded his first sack of the year and sixth of his career with 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

*Senior defensive end Adam Horne (Lexington, N.C.) collected his first tackle of the season with 7:45 remaining in the second quarter. His tackle forced a fumble that was recovered by Babatunde Akingbemi (Sr./Rialto, Calif.), the first fumble recovery of his career.

*Senior slot back Frank Divis (Avon, Ohio) rushed for a career-high 97 yards and one touchdown.

Offensive Explosion
Navy's 476 rushing yards against Rutgers are the fifth most in school history and the 613 yards of total offense against the Scarlet Knights is the 10th-best total in school history.

Defending The Run
The Navy defense gave up just 33 yards on 21 rush attempts against Rutgers. The 33 yards rushing is the least amount of rushing yards given up by Navy since Sept. 20, 2003, when Eastern Michigan rushed for just 32 yards on 22 carries.

Every Slot Has His Day
Navy's slot backs had a monster day against Rutgers, as the Scarlet Knights never figured out how to play against Navy's triple-option offense. Navy's slots combined to rush for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries (9.3 yards per rush). Senior Frank Divis (Avon, Ohio) rushed for a career-high 97 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, freshman slot Reggie Campbell (Sanford, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 41 yards on two carries and junior slot back Marco Nelson (Scottsdale, Ariz.) rushed for a career-high 33 yards on five carries.

Winning Season
Navy has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1996-97 when it finished 9-3 and 7-4. It is also just the fourth winning season in 20 years for the Midshipmen and 10th in the last 40 years.

Lots Of Wins
The 16 wins over the last two years (8-5 in 2003, 8-2 in 2004) equals the most wins at Navy over a two-year span since the Mids won 18 games in 1907 and 1908 (9-2-1 in 1907 and 9-2-1 in 1908).

The Mids also won a combined 16 games over a two-year span in 1960-61 (9-2 in 1960, 7-3 in 1961), 1978-79 (9-3 in 1978, 7-4 in 1979) and in 1996-97 (9-3 in 1996, 7-4 in 1997).

The school record for combined wins is 18, which has been accomplished twice (1905-06 and 1906-07). The school record for wins is 10, set in 1905.

Fallen Brothers
The Navy football family has lost three members and had a fourth injured over the past three 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.

Second Lt. J.P. Blecksmith, USMC ('03), was killed Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) during a military action in Falluja, Iraq. Blecksmith, who played quarterback and wide receiver, was a four-year member of the footbal team and earned a letter as a senior.

First Lt. Scott Swantner, USMC ('01), who played with Winchester on Navy's offensive line, was wounded in Iraq on Oct. 6 when a grenade exploded during a house-to-house search. Swanter, who played tackle, was a four-year member of the football team and a two-year starter.

Paul Johnson National Coach-of-the-Year Candidate
*Navy is 8-2 and receiving votes in both polls. It's Navy's best start since 1996. The Mids have not been ranked in the top 25 since 1979. A win by Navy over Army would give the Midshipmen nine regular-season wins for the first time since 1963 when Navy, behind Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach, went 9-1. It would also mark just the eight time in school history that Navy has won nine or more regular-season games and just the third time in the last 67 years. The Mids also won nine regular-season games in 1960 (9-2), 1926 (9-0-1), 1908 (9-2-1), 1907 (9-2-1) and 1905 (10-1-1).

*The Mids are going to a bowl game in back-to-back years for just the second time in school history (1980-81). Navy played in the EV1.net Houston Bowl last year.

*Navy's 16 wins over the last two years (8-5 in 2003, 8-2 in 2004) equals the most wins at Navy over a two-year span since the Mids won 18 games in 1907 and 1908 (9-2-1 in 1907 and 9-2-1 in 1908). The Mids also won a combined 16 games over a two-year span in 1960-61 (9-2 in 1960, 7-3 in 1961), 1978-79 (9-3 in 1978, 7-4 in 1979) and in 1996-97 (9-3 in 1996, 7-4 in 1997). The school record for combined wins is 18, which has been accomplished twice (1905-06 and 1906-07). The school record for wins is 10, set in 1905.

*Navy has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1996-97. Last year, the Mids were 8-5. This year marks just the fourth winning season for Navy in the last 20 years and the 10th in the last 40 years.

*Navy has won eight-straight home games and is 10-1 at home over the last two years after losing 14 straight from 2001-03.

*Over the last 20 years, Navy is 45-131 (.256) without Paul Johnson on the sidelines calling the plays and 32-26 (.552) with three bowl appearances in the five-plus years he's been on the sidelines (two years as a coordinator and three years as a head coach).

*Navy is 16-7 (.696) over the last two years.

*Johnson took over a program that was 1-20 the previous two years, the worst two-year stretch in school history.

Home Sweet Home
Navy has won eight-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 10-1 (.909) at home over the last two years after losing 14 straight from 2001-03. The Mids went undefeated at home in 2004, marking the first time they have gone unbeaten at Navy-Marine Corps since 1996.

The Red Zone
The Mids have scored on 29 of their 40 trips (73 percent) inside the red
zone with 26 (65 percent) of those scores going for touchdowns.

Defensing The Red Zone
Navy's defense in the red zone has been a good news-bad news
proposition. The defense has allowed 24 scores in 31 opponent
opportunities (77 percent), but only 16 (52 percent) of those scores have
been touchdowns.

Go For It
Navy is 14 for 23 (61 percent) on fourth down conversions this year.
The opposition has converted 10 of its 20 attempts (50 percent)
on fourth down.

Disciplined Football
Navy is second in the country for the least amount of penalties
per game, averaging 4.1 penalties per contest. The Mids are also sixth
in fewest yards penalized per game.

Least Penalized Teams In The Country
(Penalties Per Game)
1. Illinois 3.82
2. Navy 4.10
3. Missouri 4.20
Oklahoma State 4.20
5. Colorado State 4.36
6. Wisconsin 4.55
7. Michigan 4.82
Vanderbilt 4.82
9. Army 4.90
10. Minnesota 4.91

Least Penalized Teams In The Country
(Penalty Yards Per Game)
1. Missouri 32.40
2. Illinois 32.82
3. Oklahoma State 34.20
4. Minnesota 34.82
5. Colorado State 35.00
6. Navy 35.20
7. Wisconsin 36.18
8. Duke 38.18
9. UCLA 40.20
10. Vanderbilt 40.36

Careful With The Throws
Navy quarterbacks have thrown just four interceptions this year (all by
Polanco), which is tied for the sixth fewest in the country.

Least Amount Of Interceptions In The
Country
1. North Texas 2
Texas A&M 2
3. Louisville 3
Georgia 3
Bowling Green 3
6. Navy 4
Miami (Fla.) 4
Ball State 4
Oklahoma State 4
Oklahoma 4

Navy Trying 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 third in the nation in rushing after 10 games, averaging 290 yards per contest.

Top Rushing Teams In The Country
1. Rice 311.50
2. Texas 305.20
3. Navy 290.00
4. Air Force 277.36
5. West Virginia 258.30
6. Minnesota 255.09
7. California 253.70
8. Oklahoma State 251.90
9. Virginia 246.60
10. Utah 244.91

In Paul We Trust
Navy football has struggled over the last 20 years, compiling an overall
record of 76-157 (.326).

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 32-26 (.552) and have appeared in three bowl
games.

The Mids are 16-7 (.696) over the last two years and have won 14 of
their last 19 contests (.737).

In the 15 years over that 20 year span 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 After The First Quarter
The Navy defense has shown a penchant for tightening up as the game
goes along. Opponents are 23 for 40 (58 percent) in converting third
downs in the first quarter, 14 for 42 (33 percent) in the second quarter,
12 for 29 (41 percent) in the third quarter and just 12 for 35 (34 percent)
in the fourth quarter.

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.

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.

Polanco rushed for a career-high 179 yards on a career-high 33 carries against Rice. The 179 yards rushing were the most by a Navy player since quarterback Brian Madden rushed for 201 yards against Tulane on Nov. 10, 2001. His 33 carries were the most by a Navy player since Craig Candeto carried the ball 36 times for 151 yards last year against Rice.