ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk is pleased to announce Navy will retire the jerseys of wide receiver Ron Beagle ('56) and tackle Bob Reifsnyder ('59) at halftime of the home football game against Bucknell on August 31.
Beagle and Reifsnyder represent two of the best of the 1950s, a highly successful era of football excellence that saw Navy post winning records in eight of the 10 years, win the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl and post a dominant record against Army.
"As we approach the centennial of Navy's 1926 National Championship, we will use this timely opportunity to reflect on past decades of our storied Navy Football history," said Gladchuk. "Over the next two years, our football community will celebrate and be reminded of the incredible accomplishments of players and teams who have defined our legacy and justified the respect Navy Football has earned over decades. There will be many opportunities to recall memorable match-ups, victories, personal accomplishments, decades of dominance and awards received of historic significance."
Beagle was named a First-Team All-American in 1954 and 1955 (unanimous) and led Navy to a combined 18-7-3 record in his three seasons (1953-55).
As a junior in 1954, he led Navy to an 8-2 record as the Mids defeated a favored Army team that had four All-Americans (27-20) and shut out SEC Champion Ole Miss (21-0) in the Sugar Bowl. It was Navy's first bowl game in 31 years as the Mids, dubbed the Team Named Desire, finished No. 5 in the country in the
Associated Press poll.
At the conclusion of the 1954 season, Beagle was named Navy's first winner of the Maxwell Award, which is awarded to the outstanding college football player in the nation as presented by the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia.
As a senior, Beagle, who wore No. 80, helped lead Navy to a final ranking of No. 18 in
the Associated Press poll. In addition to being selected a unanimous All-American, he finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.
In 1986, Beagle, who ironically played at the same high school as Navy's 1963 Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award winner Roger Staubach (Cincinnati Purcell Marian), was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame by the National Football Foundation.
Reifsnyder, a 1959 graduate of the Naval Academy, led the Mids to a 15-2-3 record in his two seasons of play as Navy finished 6-1-2 in 1956 and 9-1-1 in 1957.
In 1957, Navy won the Lambert Trophy as the best team in the East, knocking off No. 5 Notre Dame (20-6), No. 10 Army (14-0) and handling the Southwest Conference champion, No. 8 Rice, 20-7 in the Cotton Bowl. The Mids finished No. 5 in the country in the
Associated Press poll.
Reifsnyder, who wore No. 58, was named a First-Team All-American after the 1957 season at both center and tackle and was named the College Lineman of the Year by the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association. He was also recognized as the nation's best player by the Maxwell Football Club, joining Beagle, Staubach and 1960 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino as the only four Maxwell Award winners from Navy. Reifsnyder was the first guard or tackle to win the Maxwell Award and one of only four interior linemen to be recognized for this prestigious award.
The 1956 Navy team, led by Reifsnyder who started at both offensive tackle and defensive tackle, finished with a 6-1-2 record which included a 33-7 win over Notre Dame and a final national ranking of No. 16 by the
Associated Press.
Reifsnyer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 by the National Football Foundation.
Although the jerseys of both Beagle and Reifsnyder will be retired, Navy will keep their numbers in circulation.
Co-Captains
Daba Fofana and
Colin Ramos will proudly wear patches on their jerseys in recognition of these two legends of Navy Football.
"The recognition through jersey retirement allows us to expand the dignified recognition of some of our greatest former athletes in past eras who can be tied to the foundation of a Navy Football program that has been nationally recognized for over a century," said Gladchuk. "During their time at the Academy, Bob Reifsnyder and Ron Beagle achieved national recognition for being the best in all of college football. We are honored to share their accomplishments and extend our gratitude for this legacy of excellence and inspiration to us all."
Criteria established to justify consideration to have a former player's jersey retired includes:
*Selection as a Unanimous All-American
*Selection as a distinguished recognized national player of the year
Heisman Trophy Winner
Maxwell Award
Walter Camp Award
Sullivan Award
OR
*Selection to the College Football Foundation Hall of Fame
