Nov. 25, 2005
Q. Can you tell us your thoughts about the bowl game?
A. Well, I'm excited that the team has achieved one of its goals, to have a chance to play in a bowl game, and I'm excited to be going to San Diego. I was lucky enough when I coached at Hawaii to play there in the Holiday Bowl. It's a great city and I'm sure the kids will have a great time. We're excited about it. We will talk about it today and then put it on the back burner. After today we won't mention it anymore until after the Army-Navy game.
Q. Is it good to get this out of the way before the Army-Navy game?
A. Absolutely. That way there is no talk about it. There is no question where our focus needs to be and will be.
Q. Did the kids seem excited about that announcement?
A. I think so. I think they are excited. They have worked awfully hard to do it. To think that this is the first football team in the history of the Naval Academy to go to three straight bowl games, that's a lot of history and a lot of tradition. It's a special deal for everybody.
Q. Is it more rewarding because you lost so many seniors from last year? This was an unknown team in a lot of ways and they came through for you.
A. They have, they have played hard. I think as a coach any time you have a winning season you are excited about it. Especially here when you look at where the program was when we took over. Sometimes I hear people complain about the last game that we won 38-17 and I'm thinking boy people have a short memory. Temple was 4-1 all-time against Navy. I don't care what their record is. They had some good players. I'm excited for the players, the staff and everyone that is involved.
Q. It sounds as though things have changed and now Colorado State is the most likely opponent instead of New Mexico. Do you like getting to play somebody different?
A. Colorado State has a great tradition and coach Lubick has done a great job. I remember playing them when I was in Hawaii. They are always hard-nosed and tough. Whoever it is it will be a tough challenge. Right now we have Army. That's all I'm worried about. That's the one that matters.
Q. Sudderth had shoulder surgery apparently?
A. Yeah, he struggled all year with it. It was so bad that it got to the point that he couldn't tackle and he was getting some bad habits because he wouldn't use his arm. He had to have it fixed and my take on it was to get it fixed now so he would have a chance to get back in the spring.
Q. So did that happen in the Maryland game when he got drilled?
A. It's been an ongoing problem. It didn't happen then. It happened in high school. It was something we tried to get through and tried to rehab. I wish we had fixed it to begin with.
Q. He had the surgery already?
A. Yep.
