NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Blanket Coverage: Create November Saturday to Rememberhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/blanket-coverage-create-november-saturday-to-remember/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/blanket-coverage-create-november-saturday-to-remember/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/blanket-coverage-create-november-saturday-to-remember/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

BCS logoA playoff? No, thank you.

That said, please do not think for a second that I ravenously slurp the Kool-Aid that the BCS is attempting to serve. I don't want to see a playoff because I love the idea that you have to show up every Saturday, that each week the stakes get higher and the opponent, no matter what their record, gets tougher for an undefeated team. And I hate the idea of neutral-site playoff games in NFL cities in December and January (there's a reason that the SEC and Big 12 title games never have any juice).

It would not be a panacea, but the most effective step toward improving the current system would be to compel teams who are seriously interested in playing for the national championship to play 12 meaningful games. Which brings us to Saturday's slate.

Florida, the No. 1 team in the nation, hosts Florida International (3-7), which boasts the nation's 118th-rated total defense. No. 2 Alabama hosts Chattanooga, an FCS school. I agree that the SEC is the nation's toughest conference. I realize that Florida plays Florida State out-of-conference in two weeks. And I am aware that the Gators and Tide are not the only schools to schedule guaranteed victories in order to garner another home date and the booty that it entails (see, Washington State versus Notre Dame).

Think, however, how much more interesting the season might be if the NCAA were to designate either the second or third Saturday in November as a play-in weekend. Imagine if the FBS agreed that on that date the top eight schools would be required to play one another. On that weekend no intra-conference games would be scheduled (you could move up the beginning of conference play one week earlier in the season). The eight teams that would be dropped (e.g., FIU by Florida) would fall into a pool and play one another.

Home field among the top eight would be determined by higher ranking. Paul Johnson, the coach at No. 7 Georgia Tech, might not relish the idea of traveling to Tuscaloosa but he'd probably prefer that to not having a shot at the national title at all.

Sure, there are wrinkles that would need to be solved. What if the two schools had already met that season (switch the matchups)? Would the picture be any clearer after such a weekend, for instance, would an unbeaten No. 5 Cincinnati, having toppled No. 4 TCU, be any closer to a shot at the national championship game?

Ludicrous? In college football, something can never be done (e.g., games after New Year's Day, African-Americans on SEC rosters, instant replay) until someone decides that it can.

A mid-November winnowing of the contenders? I'd be thankful for that.

Hanging 50 on Troy ... that Was His Deal

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, when USC's Pete Carroll and Stanford's Jim Harbaugh met for the post-game handshake following the Cardinal's 55-21 de-pantsing of the Trojans, the conversation went thusly:

Carroll: "What's your deal? What's your deal?
Harbaugh: "What's your deal?"

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I'll take a wild guess and assume that this was not an impromptu dialogue between the two to compare contracts. What I cannot understand is why anyone who has seen Harbaugh operate the past few seasons is the least bit surprised that he went for the two-point conversion up 48-21.

The Cardinal had just scored and only 6:47 remained in the game. Harbaugh was likely figuring, When's the last time anyone hung 50 points on princely Pete (answer: never)? So he went for the deuce. Guarantee if the score were 47-21 at the time he would not have.

Stanford and USC compete for the same players in the same fertile Golden State breeding grounds. How much farther can Harbaugh puff out his pecs when he struts into a recruit's living room having not only beaten USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum but embarrassed them?

No punking of USC by Stanford could be complete, though, without a cruel and clever halftime performance by the Stanford band. They did not disappoint, performing a tribute to USC alum -- "Girls Gone Wild" creator-tax evader Joe Francis. I can only imagine what they are devising for Charlie Weis when the Irish visit Palo Alto in two weeks.


Records Are Made to Be Broken ... or Digitized and Sold on iTunes

A few weeks ago, when Florida's Tim Tebow was on the verge of breaking the SEC rushing touchdowns record of 49 set by Herschel Walker, fellow FanHouse scribe Clay Travis argued that the standards were unfair. Because the NCAA now includes bowl game statistics in overall stats, something that it did not do in Walker's era, Travis argued that the scales were unbalanced.

Either give Walker (the greatest college football player many of us ever saw) the five touchdowns that he scored in bowl games, making the record 54, or subtract from Tebow's total the two he has scored in January contests. Seems reasonable, which of course is why Clay's proposal was ignored by the SEC.

Now along comes a new stats controversy involving Tebow. Two years ago when he won the Heisman (which, by the way, he will not do this season), the Gator QB rushed for a single-season NCAA-record 23 touchdowns. On Saturday, Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs pulled to within one score of Tebow's mark when he ran it in five times against Delaware in the Mids' 35-18 win against Delaware.

Never mind that Dobbs' five touchdown runs went for a total of 10 yards. That's irrelevant. However, Delaware is an FCS school. If victories against FCS programs do not count toward a team's minimum number of wins required for bowl eligibility, should the statistics accrued in those contests count?

Dobbs is a terrific player, but five of his 22 rushing touchdowns -- nearly 25 percent -- came in what amounts to a glorified scrimmage. When he unseats Tebow, perhaps as early as Navy's next game at Hawaii on November 28, how will the Gainesville groupies react?

Distant Replay

Earlier this season a prominent college football writer on the web (that is no longer an oxymoron) told me that he'd be happy if every play were reviewed in the booth because he was all for getting the call right.

If only it were that simple.

After Pittsburgh beat Notre Dame Saturday night, assisted by an overturned call late in the fourth quarter, Irish coach Charlie Weis said, "It seems like the replay officials recently, every game you watch, they are the stars."

In their brief history, instant replay officials have become the most despised men in a glass booth since the "Deal or No Deal" banker. It need not be that way. A few suggested changes:

1. Unless these men can demonstrate that they understand the concept of "indisputable evidence" before overturning a call, then instant replay itself should cease to exist.

2. Instant replay officials need to get younger and fast. The majority of them are retired or near-retirement officials. We're not looking for Wal-Mart greeters here. We're looking for people who are at the peak of their powers in terms of scrutinizing a play.

3. I've noted this before, but there is absolutely no reason a replay official needs to be in a glass booth watching a second-rate television. When every Hooters' waitress has a better view of the play than you do, something's not right.

That play, by the way, did not doom the Irish. Their feckless first-half performance, a chronic shortcoming all season, did.

From First-Round to Fifth-String

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly reinstated tailback LeGarrette Blount for the Ducks' game with Arizona State. He just failed to play him.

"We didn't get to our fifth running back," Kelly said, referring to Blount with a complete lack of chalant. "Andre (Crenshaw, the third-string tailback) had one or two carries, Remene (Alston, the fourth-stringer) got in for one or two carries."



The Ducks' best player heading into the season, Blount was considered a first-round caliber draft pick before he decked Boise State's Byron Hout following Oregon's 19-8 loss in the season opener. While Kelly has shown compassion and mercy by rescinding the year-long suspension imposed on Blount in the immediate aftermath of the Hout punch, every so often he jerks the leash, as he did on Saturday, as if to test Blount's resolve and contrition.

This is terrific theater out of Eugene. Watching the drama between Kelly and Blount unfold is a little like watching the bathroom scene in Jerry Maguire. It's as if Kelly is Rod Tidwell, and he's telling Blount, "You are hanging on by a very thin thread and I dig that about you!"

All-Name Team

From the same people who introduced you to Central Michigan's Tommy Mama and Marshall's Darius Marshall, meet center T-Bob Hebert. With a name like that, it should take no more than one guess as to the state in which he plays and no more than two guesses (for the benefit of a few Ragin' Cajun reading this) as to the school.

And, yes, the former NFL quarterback is his daddy.

You can call me Al ... Golden ... Tate ... Forcier

Speaking of names, this is my favorite moniker chain of the season. From the up-and-coming thirtysomething head coach at the school located in the town where "Thirtysomething" was set, to the lone player at Notre Dame who each week reinforces the vestigial notion that the Irish really do have Fight, to the freshman quarterback at Michigan, which last beat an FBS opponent in September.

Overheard...

Matt Millen, while doing the broadcast of the Iowa-Ohio State contest, stressed that he "could not underemphasize enough" the importance of Ohio State's dominant defensive linemen. Everyone makes errors on live television (we even do in dead print), but for the future Millen should remember that it's "overemphasize."

The best way to not underemphasize enough a point is to remain silent.

Flighting Irish

In the biggest aviation story related to Notre Dame football since Knute Rockne's plane landed about 1,400 miles short of the runway, the school has found a way to block the university plane's registration number (N42ND) from appearing on the flight-tracking web site flightaware.com.

Shrewd tactic by the Irish. It will compel the legion of scribes covering the program to go Anton Chigurh on athletic director Jack Swarbrick and, like Chigurh, they will track him down. It's the nature of the business.

Alive ... and Kicking

If it feels as if once a year you come across the story of some grizzled Rudy type finding his way onto a Division III roster, that's because you do. This fall's middle-aged Walter Mitty is Austin College kicker Tom Thompson, age 61, who successfully converted the point after in the Kangaroos' 44-10 loss to Trinity (yes, that Trinity). It was Thompson's first kick of his college career.

Thompson is just 35 years older than Ohio State kicker Devin Barclay, 26, the retired pro soccer player whose overtime boot versus Iowa sent the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl.

Blanket Coverage: Create November Saturday to Remember originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>John WaltersMon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST Domer: Corwin Goes Off ... Messagehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/domer-corwin-goes-off-message/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/domer-corwin-goes-off-message/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/domer-corwin-goes-off-message/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

FanHouse writer John Walters is living in South Bend, Ind., during one of the most pivotal seasons in Notre Dame history. Check back daily for his dispatches on the Irish.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame co-defensive coordinator Corwin Brown went Dennis Miller ("I don't mean to get off on a rant, but...") on Wednesday evening, and my question is simply this: Why don't we see this out of the Fighting Irish more often?

If you have yet to see the video, Brown interrupted the first question he was asked during the typically informal gathering and instead called out Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo for nearly two minutes. Brown was most upset by two things:

1) That Niumatalolo would state that "he didn't want something to be misconstrued, then he said it regarding how we prepared and what we prepared to do."

Niumatalolo's actual comment, in response to a question as to what was the key to Navy's hot offensive start, was, "I think the one thing that helped us, and I really hope this doesn't come across wrong, but I think the thing that helped us this year was last year, because we knew that they'd line up the same way."

I remember standing about 10 yards from Niumatalolo when he said that and thinking, "Rancors aweigh!" Niumatalolo was likely being sincere, but he probably could have done without the "I really hope this doesn't come across wrong" clause. A simple, "They lined up exactly the way they did last year and this time we were ready for it" might have stung, but it would have been simple and honest.

For Brown, Niumatalolo's statemement came across the same way as if you were to say, "No disrespect, but --," the three words that are always followed by a disrespectful remark. As if saying that magic phrase absolves you.

2) Malicious downfield blocking. Navy wideout Nick Henderson was called for a personal foul on Irish cornerback Robert Blanton. In this video, you'll see Henderson take a shot at Blanton's knee after the play and far from the play. Brown called it "one of the most malicious plays I've ever seen since I've been playing."
It's one thing to blindside a player. It's another thing to go for the side of his knee when neither one of you are involved in the play. That could have been a career-ending injury.

Brown did more than simply call out Niumatalolo. He called him. The Irish assistant revealed that he placed a phone call earlier this week to Annapolis this week to tell Niumatalolo that he thought it was all "very poor."

Whether you agree with Brown or think he was being a sore loser, such overt emotion from the coaching staff is exactly what this Notre Dame team craves. It's no coincidence that with Charlie Weis upstairs and Brown on the sidelines at the Hawaii Bowl in December that the Irish put a whupping on Hawaii.

Here's the thing about facing Navy. Notre Dame can't win if it loses and it can't win if it wins. When the Irish lose, as they've done two of the past four years, the response -- and rightfully so -- is "How can you lose to Navy?" Yet three years ago, Notre Dame won in Baltimore and a local scribe actually chided Weis for keeping Brady Quinn in too long, indirectly accusing him of running up the score. The final that afternoon? 38-14.

Last season Weis pulled his starters midway through the fourth with a 27-7 lead. Then Navy almost came all the way back and, of course, we excoriated Weis for being so cavalier.

What Navy represents each year, as one Irish official put it last week, "is a pain in the ass."

So if you can't win for losing and you can't win for winning, well, you might as well win. And win big, if you can.
No matter how you feel about whether Weis should be fired, next year's Navy game would be so much more worth watching if he and Brown are still involved.

Making a Point

If you happened to be watching "SportsCenter" just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, you saw them cut away to a routine at West Point performed by cadets that is known as the "accountability formation." I don't think this is exactly what Weis is referring to this week ... then again, it couldn't hurt.




On Tuesday Weis revealed that Jimmy Clausen, alias No. 7, was texting him Sunday at 1 .m.

"Most people after the game were feeling sorry for themselves," Weis said. "He was mad at himself because he felt that he had lost the game. And that's what really good players do. They don't look at any other reason than themselves. I mean the kid's texting me at 1:00 in the morning about fumbling on the 1-yard line. He had just thrown 450 yards, going up and down the field. That meant nothing to him."

A few thoughts on this statement:

1) The Irish might be better off if Weis did a better job of spreading the love, at least publicly, for his players. We knew that Clausen was extraordinarily talented, and on Saturday we were reminded just how tough he is. The young man has the mobility of your great uncle Elmer and his goal-line moxie won't remind anyone of Tebow, but other than that he is pretty flawless. Still, would it hurt to Weis to shower Golden Tate with praise more often for bailing the Irish out on a weekly basis? Or to note that Eric Olsen, in his first season playing center, has yet to allow a sack?

2) Weis' cellphone should have been blowing up with text messages from a lot of players on Saturday night. There's no excuse for how flat the Irish were in the first half, and that's on the coaching staff. On the other hand, it's true, the players have to be accountable for not making plays. A short list of players besides Clausen who might have texted Weis on Saturday evening:

--Nick Tausch, for missing two field goals.

--Michael Floyd, for failing to pick up Clausen's "double cadence", which led to the interception.

-- Robby Parris, for failing to secure the ball and fumbling on the game's third play from scrimmage.

-- Robert Blanton, for failing to cover a slot receiver he thought had lined up on the line of scrimmage.

Regardless of whether Blanton was correct, what team would send only two players wide on the same side of the field and place them both on the line, therefore rendering the inside man ineligible? Why would a DB ever assume that? And Blanton needs to understand how poor it looks for a player to be pleading with a referee as the play is still ongoing.

--Brian Smith, for being mostly responsible for making Vince Murray a household name.. Smith may have led the Irish in tackles on Saturday with ten, but the middle linebacker should have had more. Watch the first play of the fourth quarter. That's the play in which fullback Vince Murray takes a handoff at his own 1 and goes up the gut untouched for 39 yards. Were the Irish "out-schemed" on that play or did Smith simply blow it?

--Harrison Smith, for being in a season-long funk. Watch Murray's 25-yard touchdown run that opens the second quarter(the Mids were accommodating enough to place two of their more remarkable "explosives" in the first play of both the second and fourth quarter; it will save you a lot of time). Brian Smith can be forgiven for that, as Navy's right guard burst out untouched and takes on B. Smith. Why, though, is Harrison Smith drifting toward the right flat?

Yes, there are schematic questions. Why didn't the Irish line someone up on Navy's center? Why, by playing both Sergio Brown and H. Smith simultaneously, did they play a nickel package, in terms of personnel? Is it because they have that little faith in their down linemen?

It's funny. You watch the game again and you see that outside the red zone Clausen completed a ridiculous 82.5 percent of his throws (33 of 40). Inside the red zone, though, he was just 4 of 11 (36.4 percent). Inside the red zone, the Irish rushing attack was not up to the challenge of getting the tough yards, and often could not get out of its own way. Literally.

On consecutive plays in the second quarter, inside the 5-yard line, the Notre Dame rusher ran into tight end Mike Ragone. On second-and-2 from the Navy 4, Theo Riddick, who otherwise had a fantastic game, ran right up into the back of Ragone where he might have scored if he'd cut outside. On the following play Robert Hughes took a toss sweep and, in striving to turn the corner, ran into Ragone. He should have cut up, inside the block.

Domer: Corwin Goes Off ... Message originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>John WaltersThu, 12 Nov 2009 16:55:00 EST In the Navy ... Where Film Study Workshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/in-the-navy-where-film-study-works/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/in-the-navy-where-film-study-works/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/in-the-navy-where-film-study-works/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Have you ever seen the film Patton? There's a terrific moment in which the controversial U.S. World War II general, played by George C. Scott, is surveying a battlefield in north Africa. Patton peers through his field glasses, observes the German tanks getting in formation, and laughs knowingly.

"Rommel, you magnificent bastard," Patton chuckles. "I read your book!"

Patton was U.S. Army. Ken Niumatalolo is U.S. Navy, but he had that same moment of satisfaction Saturday. "I think the one thing that helped us, and I really hope this doesn't come across wrong," Niumatalolo said, "but I think the thing that helped us this year was last year because we knew that they'd line up the same way."

Which they did. Irish defensive tackle Ian Williams talked about getting "out-schemed" in the aftermath of Navy's rushing for 348 yards on 57 carries (6.1 yards per carry). Somebody named Vince Murray, a junior Midshipman who never even had a carry before this season, rushed for 158 yards on 14 carries. That's more than 11 yards per rush for someone who, were he playing for Notre Dame, would not be playing for Notre Dame ... if you know what I mean.

******

They lost to Navy twice at home. That will likely be the epitaph of this era of Notre Dame football. Of the players and of the head coach. What on-field event defines them better or comes more quickly to mind?

Notre Dame has played 155 games since Lou Holtz resigned following the 1996 season. In that time they are 91-64 for a .587 win percentage. Bob Davie was 35-25 (.583), Tyrone Willingham was 21-15 (also .583) and Charlie Weis is 35-24 (.593). You don't need to be Will Hunting to discern that a loss next week will give Weis the same record as Davie, which would give him the same win percentage, in his fifth season, as both Davie and Willingham.

******

If you support the Fighting Irish, you had to be rooting for Navy to some degree. On Saturday the Mids exuded all the traits that one would hope to see in their favorite team: discipline, determination, intelligence and opportunism. This was classic tortoise vs. hare stuff on display, and it undermined every debate as to five-star verbal commitments, etc., you'll ever partake in or be subject to.

Football is the ultimate team sport because it demands synergy more than any other. The Midshipmen never wasted a down. On every play, offensively and defensively, they worked as a cohesive unit. How many times was Golden Tate gang-tackled, like a wildebeest being brought down by hyenas? How many times did quarterback Ricky Dobbs frustrate the Irish defense by making the correct reads?

One classic example: middle linebacker Ram Vela, who had nine tackles, a fumble recovery, and the pressure on Jimmy Clausen on that early 4th-and-goal from the 3 that forced a hurried and incomplete pass, also made that fourth quarter interception. After Vela made the pick, he ran upfield and, as two Irish tacklers were closing in on him, the 5-9, 193-pound Vela wisely slid to the ground. Avoided contact. Did not allow the Irish to cause him to fumble. Navy just refused to beat themselves, and that frustrated the holy hell out of the Irish.

Playing Navy is not as physically taxing -- although the Mids do hit, just ask Clausen or Kyle Rudolph -- as it is mentally taxing. This Irish team, on this day, lacked the maturity to match the Mids on every play. In fact, until the fourth quarter, the Midshipmen won most of the plays. And isn't that what a football game can be distilled into, after all? The sum of its plays?

******

There are quite a few media pundits (I can name names if you like) who owe Lou Holtz an apology. When Holtz, who never lost to Navy (11-0), was the coach in South Bend, he would be ridiculed in print for saying before each meeting with the Midshipmen, "I'm scared to death of Navy." Maybe now the myopic idiots in the media (pardon the redundancy) finally get it.

Holtz was not saying that he was scared to death of Navy because the Midshipmen were better than his team. Holtz was expressing concern as a signal to every one of his players that they needed to take this game seriously. Also, perhaps, Holtz understood what the ramifications of losing to Navy were. His anxiety about Navy had nothing to do with the talent at Annapolis. It has everything to do with what a loss to the Mids would instigate.

For the record, Holtz's teams never beat Navy by fewer than 15 points. The average margin of victory was 27.3 points. Since Holtz the Irish are 11-2 against the Mids and the average margin of victory is 12.4 points.

Finally, Holtz was a master of manipulation and psychology. Among Notre Dame coaches, only Rockne had as deep an appreciation for the role that intensity plays in college football. If you were actually surprised that Stanford beat Oregon on Saturday, for example, then you haven't been following this sport very long.

Same uniforms, different team. Every week. That's college football.

******

On page 170 of the Notre Dame media guide, the final score of last season's game is listed as 27-7. That's somewhat ironic, since that was the score when the Irish stopped playing. The actual final score was 27-21.

******

If you have the Irish finishing 9-3, you are probably in the minority. In fact, 6-6 is more likely. Think of the trio of teams lining up to face the Irish and all the underpinnings of each foe.

Begin with Pitt. This is where it all began for Weis, who made his Irish debut at Heinz Field in 2005 and had his Irish up 35-7 at halftime against Dave Wannstedt, who also made his collegiate coaching debut that night. This will be Notre Dame's first time back. The Irish never looked more indomitable under Weis than at halftime of that opener. Heading into next week, Weis' future never appeared more in doubt.

Will next Saturday be a repeat of last year's Boston College game, in which the Irish showed absolutely no heart? A loss more embarrassing than either defeat to Navy, I'd contend? Or will they finally display a sense of resoluteness? Will they defeat a team ranked among the top 12 for the first time under Weis?

Next up, Connecticut. If you saw the Huskies' primetime game at undefeated Cincinnati, you realize they won't at all be trembling when they arrive in South Bend. UConn always trailed but never surrendered, losing 47-45 to a top-5 foe on the road. Besides, quarterback Zach Fraser has a score to settle with Weis (after being named fourth-string QB during the spring '07 QB derby) and he has an innate knowledge of Notre Dame's offense.

Can't you already see the story lines if UConn wins? Fraser's redemption? That gratifying moment for a Huskies team that has been racked first by tragedy (the murder of Jasper Howard) and then by a skein of tough last-minute losses? This is exactly the type of outfit that undoes the emotionally void Irish during the Weis era.

Finally, Stanford. The Cardinal, minus leading tackler Clinton Snyder, who is lost for the season, still beat top-10 Oregon on Saturday. Will you be at all surprised if they take down USC next weekend?

The Cardinal have only lost one home game since the Irish beat them in Palo Alto at the end of 2007. Andrew Luck is playing as well as any frosh QB in the nation (and you know how Notre Dame's defense fares against freshmen passers) and Toby Gerhart is the best running back Notre Dame will face this season.

Then there's coach Jim Harbaugh, the biggest red-ass in the profession. Nothing would please him more than to apply the coup de grace to the coaching career of Weis. And if the Irish are reeling at 6-5 heading in -- if so, the question of Weis's status will be moot -- well, Harbaugh will smell the blood in the water.

In short, and surely you've read this sentence before, next week is the most important game of Charlie Weis's career. A road win at top-10 Pitt will display character and courage that have heretofore not been witnessed since the 2005 USC loss.

A loss? We are in the minority, but a few of us writers (myself, as well as Pete Fiutak at College Football News) have shown more patience with Weis than our colleagues. After Saturday's loss, it's time to admit that it just isn't working. A loss at Heinz Field will be the final nail in the coffin.

And when the post-mortem is conducted, let it be said that Charlie Weis was a better guy than most in the media ever gave him credit for being. He just never was able to properly inspire a team of young men yearning for leadership.

******

Odd that in consecutive years the losing team attempted two onside kicks in the game's final two minutes. A year ago the Mids recovered both of their attempts, but only scored one touchdown. After they recovered the second the Irish stopped them on downs.

Yesterday the Irish actually attempted both their kicks in the final minute. They recovered the first at 1:00 remaining and scored within 36 seconds. The second attempt, at 0:24 on the clock, was batted out of bounds and Navy was given possession.

******

I love watching how Navy's gameplan exploited Notre Dame's hubris. There was never a play in which the Mids' defensive backs proved that they could cover Michael Floyd (a career-high 10 catches) or Golden Tate (nine catches) on a short route. But that was not their mission. Their mission was to never get beaten deep, and they never were.

The Irish were rarely patient enough, though, to take what was available to them. And it cost them dearly. Take the penultimate offensive series. On first down Clausen throws a deep ball to Floyd, which was well-covered and not caught. On second down Clausen checked off two receivers who were wide open for five-to-10 yard gains, insisting instead to try to thread the needle to a well-covered Floyd on a crossing route 15 yards downfield.

Incomplete.

Suddenly it was 3rd-and-10. Sack. And then a sack for the safety.

They discussed the sacks on SportsCenter. Me, I felt that the Irish squandered that possession on first and second down.

******

Weis's tenure was the subject of the "Final Verdict" segment on ESPN's eminently watchable College Football Final. Holtz, channeling Clarence Darrow, gave an impassioned plea for, if not Weis' job, then at least for the autonomy that Notre Dame's administration and board of trustees have for making this decision (it really is something to see a septuagenarian speak extemporaneously that easily; try it some time ... being a septuagenarian, that is).

Mark May was more succinct and more convincing. He simply noted that the Irish are 3-16 versus teams with winning records under Weis.

Judge Rece Davis had the best line in assessing Holtz's line of reasoning. "When the law is on your side, argue the law," Davis told Holtz. "When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When neither the facts nor the law are on your side, just argue."

By the way, is there any surer bet than as to who Holtz and May (a Panther alum) will take in next Saturday's game?

In the Navy ... Where Film Study Works originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>John WaltersSun, 08 Nov 2009 12:18:00 EST Familiar Sinking Feeling Strikes Irishhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/under-weis-notre-dame-sinks-again/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/under-weis-notre-dame-sinks-again/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/under-weis-notre-dame-sinks-again/#commentsFiled under: , ,


SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- South Bend is suddenly every sailor's favorite port-of-call.

Navy beat Notre Dame for the second time in as many dockings at Notre Dame Stadium, a defeat that left the Fighting Irish (6-3) and their head coach lost at sea with three games remaining. A BCS berth has been torpedoed, as has at least one Heisman candidacy. A second consecutive 7-6 season is not out of the question as inquiries about whether head coach Charlie Weis can properly inspire his team, and whether this team will be his next season, once again arise.

"We kind of felt like we had them in a perfect storm," said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, whose team did everything right in the sense that they did nothing wrong. "Just [Notre Dame] looking to the postseason, very, very good Pitt team coming next week, and it's us coming."

This wasn't McHale's Navy. This was Navy, the program that beat the Irish here two years ago, ending a 43-game/year losing streak to the Irish, and came within a Hail Mary pass of beating the Irish last year.

This 23-21 defeat was inconceivable? Hardly.

The better-coached team won. Navy, a team that plays all-out from snap-to-whistle, defeated Notre Dame, a squad that plays with blithe indifference until the straits are dire. You didn't need to know the difference between John Paul Jones and John Paul, pope, to realize that the Irish were in trouble after just six plays. By then Notre Dame had already lost a fumble and Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs had already gained 24 yards on three carries.

The Irish came out flat. Yet again. And that is on the head coach, Charlie Weis.

"I definitely thought it felt flat, not sure why," said Irish wideout Golden Tate who, like his teammates, played one helluva fourth quarter. Wake up the echoes? Wake up the Irish. It's the same story every Saturday.
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That air of indifference preceded the game. Because it was Navy on the schedule, NBC wanted to air the national anthem, which it never does. To accommodate the Peacock, both teams ran out onto the field and then stood around for two extra minutes staring at their shoelaces while NBC sold you soap. The Notre Dame marching band stood on the field in silence, the William Tell Overture playing in their heads twice.

That sense of "What are we waiting for?" permeated the Irish the entire first half. Navy, a team of consummate discipline and effort, paid the delay no attention.

You heard it all week around here, from every player or coach who spoke: Navy never takes a play off. "Navy is the type of team that is going to come in here and not be intimidated," safety Kyle McCarthy said Wednesday, "and play hard and play for 60 minutes and probably more if it needs to be."

What type of team are the Irish? Notre Dame is the type of team whose offense can go an entire game without punting, whose Heisman candidate quarterback can set new career-highs for both passing yardage (452) and completions (37), whose two future NFL wideouts can each catch at least nine balls and a touchdown ... and still lose.

In fact, the Irish played catch-up all afternoon. Navy pitched a first-half shutout for the first time against the Irish in 35 years and led at intermission 14-0. There were, to quote the title of Weis' tome, no excuses. Navy did everything on offense that the Irish had prepared for. As for talent, there is likely not one player on the Midshipman's two-deep chart whom the Irish would recruit. So how do you explain it?

"It's our mantra," said quarterback Ricky Dobbs. "The three H's: Stay hungry, stay humble and stay healthy."

Notre Dame's three H's might be hospitality, hubris and heart. Hospitality, because the Irish have now allowed the last three service academies who have visited to win here. Hubris, because on too many plays their arrogance outshined their ambition (more on that in a moment). And heart because, say this much for them, they never do give up.

It is the hubris, though, that could be both their downfall and their coach's. It was apparent before kickoff that Notre Dame's passing attack, with Floyd returning from his broken collarbone hiatus, was unstoppable. It was also apparent, as Weis had said during the week, that the Irish would have to "maximize possessions."

What happened? Clausen connected on his first 10 passes. Still, with Notre Dame in this wonderful groove, Weis inserted a Wildcat play on the first possession and ran a toss sweep to slow-footed Robert Hughes on first-and-goal at the 2 on the second possession. Both plays lost yardage. The Irish scored not a point on either possession.

In fact, Notre Dame advanced into the red zone six times on Saturday and came away empty four times. Twice, freshman kicker Nick Tausch, who entered the game having converted 14 field goals in a row, missed. And twice Clausen turned the ball over, each time on bizarre plays.

The Irish committed just enough errors to throw the game-and their season-away. Clausen's fumble at the one-yard-line when he was knocked senseless at the end of a nifty 8-yard scamper ("I'm not going to get into the details," he said, "just that he made a good play, caused a fumble") was the first. The second involved the QB who completed 73% of his passes hitting favorite target Michael Floyd in the numbers -- except that it was the number on his back.

That errant pass bounced off Floyd's spine and into the arms of Navy's Ram Vela, the same player whose superman leap at Evan Sharpley led to a sack on the infamous 4th-and-8 here two years ago. At the end of the play Clausen, the same guy who'd been knocked silly just minutes earlier, was called for a late hit.

Another mistake. The kind that Navy does not make.

Less forgivable than any of that was the Irish defense. Navy junior fullback Vince Murray, who looks like an extra from "Pleasantville," steamrolled the Irish for 158 yards on just 14 carries. The fullback. Running up the gut.

"When you're playing against Navy ... everyone has to do their jobs," said Weis. "And I think that it starts inside out. And inside out means the first thing you'd better do is take care of that fullback and not let him get some easy yards."

Which is exactly what Murray did. If Vince Murray can gallop for 158 yards against Notre Dame, what will Pitt's Dion Lewis and Stanford's Toby Gerhart (223 yards on Saturday) do? And if the Irish cannot beat at least one of those opponents -- and why even assume Connecticut is a lock? -- where might a 7-5 Irish squad be spending the holidays?

Weis is nothing less than advertised: A brilliant offensive strategist whose passing attack hums. There was never a doubt that the Irish would devour yards against the Midshipmen this afternoon -- they never punted in 2007, either. But when the yards got tough, Navy's "want to" was simply more apparent.

As Weis left the field, the Notre Dame band struck up the "1812 Overture," the tune that has come to be associated with the Irish head coach dating back to the days of Lou Holtz. The boos from the student section were audible and afterward Weis was asked about his future.

"That comes with the territory," he replied. "It comes with the territory. You know, the sad thing about it is that that's this job every week. It's a week-to-week deal."

As Weis said that, a man seated in the back of the room with a bottle of Gatorade tried to suppress a cough. Probably the beverage had just gone down the wrong pipe. Still ... it was athletic director Jack Swarbrick.

Familiar Sinking Feeling Strikes Irish originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>charlie weisjimmy clausenram velaJohn WaltersSat, 07 Nov 2009 21:17:00 EST Ohio State Sinks Navy's Upset Bidhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/navy-nearly-upsets-ohio-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/navy-nearly-upsets-ohio-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/navy-nearly-upsets-ohio-state/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It was a scary Saturday afternoon in Columbus for Ohio State, which barely avoided another home embarrassment the week before playing USC when a late effort by Navy nearly tied the game. Last year the Buckeyes struggled at home against the Ohio Bobcats but could at least blame an injury to star back Beanie Wells and the general whatever-ness of quarterback Todd Boeckman.

The Buckeyes needed a late return of a Navy two-point try to swing a 29-27 lead into a 31-27 victory. Navy surged offensively in the second half behind a grinding 99-yard touchdown drive and a broken coverage 85-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor then threw an interception deep in his own zone and the Middies once again capitalized with a third down touchdown run right up the gut.

Ohio State actually looked cool and in control early in the game, with Pryor building a 20-7 halftime lead. Almost every stat went Ohio State's way including a +2 turnover margin, but things broke down after halftime. Pryor's fourth quarter interception darn near cost them control of the game.

In whats becoming pattern, the Buckeyes will now take a national paddling of shame, built upon memories of games like last year's snoozer against Ohio and woodsheddings against USC, LSU and Florida. The only cure? Beating USC next week which despite the Trojans' starting a true freshman quarterback with interception woes, looks suddenly out of reach.

Will they surprise us next week? Maybe. But for this week its back to the doghouse despite the all-important 'W'. Such is life on the pedestal.

Ohio State Sinks Navy's Upset Bid originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Beanie WellsTerrelle PryorBrian GrummellSat, 05 Sep 2009 15:22:00 EST Ohio State Urges Fans to Show Some Respect for Navyhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/26/ohio-state-urges-fans-to-show-some-respect-for-navy/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/26/ohio-state-urges-fans-to-show-some-respect-for-navy/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/26/ohio-state-urges-fans-to-show-some-respect-for-navy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

US Naval Academy graduatesIn ten days (I'd say ten short days, but this time of year the days are never short enough), Ohio State will open its 2009 season with a home game against the United States Naval Academy. It will mark the first time these two teams have faced each other since the 1981 Liberty Bowl, which the Buckeyes won, 31-28. Prior to that, Ohio State and Navy hadn't played since 1931.

Ohio State University wants its fans to know that this isn't exactly the Kentucky School of Turfgrass Management that's coming to town. The Midshipmen are giving up a minimum of four years of their postgraduate life serving this country in harm's way and face a brutal class load off the field. Consequently, they deserve a better treatment than hearing "YOU SUCK, 23" from five directions at once. OSU has a YouTube video saying as much (video after the jump).



No argument here, except for the fact that some schools already do this, so it can't start at Ohio State. Nebraska fans even go so far as to applaud every opponent who comes to Lincoln.

But yes, there is something different about the service academies. Perhaps the most memorable afternoon I've ever had watching college football was the 1995 Navy-Air Force game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The weather that day was pretty wretched, but the whole experience of watching the cadets march in, experiencing all the formality and regalia involved, and the F-14 Tomcats which flew over the stadium precisely as the Air Force team was being introduced, made it the most special game I've ever seen in person.

So we might goof on Army's perennial lack of success or how Navy and Air Force both run basic high school offenses, but you know those players on the field aren't dreaming of big Sunday paychecks and aren't putting all their eggs in the football basket. In a sport where purity has all but vanished, the service academies are still doing it right, and they deserve all the respect we fans can give them.

But would it kill us all to show our appreciation for all the opposing teams, even if they've just ended our quest for a conference championship? No, it would not. And that goes double for the teams playing the money games. You're having a blast, but they're not having very much fun. Let them know you appreciate them.

(Hat tip: Midwest Sports Fans)

Ohio State Urges Fans to Show Some Respect for Navy originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Mark HastyWed, 26 Aug 2009 21:20:00 EST No Minor Bowls for Those Who Play Themhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/no-minor-bowls-for-those-who-play-them/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/no-minor-bowls-for-those-who-play-them/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/no-minor-bowls-for-those-who-play-them/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WASHINGTON -- You laugh. Kevin Harris will smile.

Go ahead, chuckle at the notion of a 34th bowl game, the EagleBank Bowl in Washington. Joke that college football needs another bowl like Joe Paterno needs another candle on his birthday cake, like Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa needs another syllable, or anybody needs another appearance by David Hasselhoff

Go ahead, indulge your cynicism. It's easy. It's like picking on Matt Millen or the French. No one is going to disagree with you. Even NPR got into the act on the opening day of bowls, mocking the EagleBank Bowl in its own cranky "Get off my lawn, kids" way, should you put any stock in the opinions of an outlet with a higher percentage of 60-pluses in its audience than Oklahoma.

But just for a moment, take your cynicism and bury it deep enough that Indiana Jones couldn't find it.

This isn't the NFL, where cynicism is bred on a Terrell Owens' locker room stool, wearing a blinking red nose or Plaxico Burress turning his sweat pants into the Harper's Ferry arsenal.

This is college football, where teams like Wake Forest and Navy are each alloted 85 scholarships, of which the number that will ever make enough to afford one of Terrell Owens' earrings could comfortably fit in a Volkswagen Beetle with room left over for a Owens and Owens' ego.

So go ahead and make your jokes. But all Wake Forest's Kevin Harris can do is smile.

"It's been an unbelievable experience," said Harris, who started the year off the depth chart only to have his nationally televised moment in whatever sun peaked through the clouds at the EagleBank Bowl. "To see the Capitol and all the monuments was great. We were all excited. To have the chance to hang out together for a few more weeks ... we're a tight-knit group and that was great. But most of all, to be able to help give these seniors a win, because they bailed us out so many times, that was the best part."

Harris couldn't stop smiling. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, a granite-jawed man who might make the Washington Monument look like it was made out of Jell-O by comparison, had a hard time stopping his tears.

Why? Because whether you can admit it or not, these minor bowls aren't a blight on college football. They're the best part.


"It's hard to explain," Niumatalolo said as tears welled up. "Unless you worked with these guys, and know that it's so much more than football game... These tears -- I could care less if we lost or won by 70 -- is for seeing these guys take off pads for the last time, not knowing where they'lll be. These are young men who joined the armed services to defend us. I have the utmost respect."

Go ahead, complain that the current bowl system rewards mediocrity. With 68 teams invited, more than half of the Football Bowl Subdivision earns a bid. But after a season where student athletes gave us 12 to 13 games and passed up the easy life of college with the only cost to us the time we spent on the couch watching or the few dollars we tossed for the right to watch in person, is it really so hard to allow them one moment in the spotlight, even if it has to be subject to silly sponsor names like former galleryfurniture.com Bowl or the ev1.net fest? Make fun of the sponsors or the International Bowl which plays on a retro-fitted Canadian football field that leaves slabs of concrete exposed and looks a little like John Daly trying to fit into Paris Hilton's t-shirt. The set-up deserves it and every now and again the marketing behind the games deserve it too.

But don't for a moment take away from the athletes.

You don't have to look any further than the newest bowl, the EagleBank Bowl to see just how much it means to play in a minor bowl, even if you'd rather turn it into a Leno monologue.

Without this game, you'd never see a school like Wake Forest, which has an enrollment roughly the size of Owens' entourage or Travis Henry's illegitimate brood, put an exclamation point on its third straight eight-win season. Without this game, you'd never see Riley Skinner make amends for an awful performance that cost his team dearly earlier in the season and put another chapter in what is a golden age for the tiny Winston-Salem program that was once the kind of punchline even the Lions couldn't imagine being.

Without this game, you'd never see Harris finally have a moment that was all his, after suffering every injury in the medical handbook and seemingly inventing a few of his own, after converting from fullback to tailback and grinding out a win for the players he practiced with every day, but could never quite help on the field.

Without this game, you'd never have Navy senior Rashawn King telling everyone within smiling distance how it felt to score his first touchdown, while, like all Navy players wearing an emblem for various units around the world. ("I felt like Shun White," King joked of his high-scoring teammate for four years at the Academy and another year in prep school, seated next to him). Without this game you'd never have King leaving the locker room with his teammates once again after missing his final Army-Navy game following the sudden death of his father two days before the rivalry. Without this game, King would never have had the chance to repay his coach's kindness with the Midshipmen's biggest play of the game.

"You could see it in coach's eyes, in everybody's eyes," said King, who made it back home for his father's funeral with help from Navy's coaches. "Everybody wanted to send the seniors out with a win and we gave a solid effort.

"Getting that fumble, being able to contribute, that was huge."

Go ahead, tell us the last time an NFL player got weepy after scoring a touchdown in a losing effort. We'll wait.

Without this game, 68 teams would never have one last chance to make a stand together before spreading out into the world like the black-and-gold confetti that floated in the breeze at RFK Stadium after Wake Forest's 29-19 win.

"Just being back with the guys, coming out of the locker room for the last time, that was exciting," King said. "It was a heart-felt moment. "

So go ahead and complain about the bowl system and how it inconveniences you with television you don't have to watch or somehow cheapens your sports landscape. Just forgive us if we have an easier time mustering sympathy for the Big Three CEOs or an IRS auditor than we do for your inconvenience.

You laugh. Niumatololo will still shed a few tears, Rashawn King will never forget his only touchdown and Kevin Harris will smile for the rest of his life.

No amount of cynicism will ever be able to take that away.

No Minor Bowls for Those Who Play Them originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ray HollomanSat, 20 Dec 2008 20:15:00 EST Wake Forest's Capital Statementhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/wake-forests-capital-statement/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/wake-forests-capital-statement/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/wake-forests-capital-statement/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WASHINGTON -- Jim Grobe was always certain he could turn Wake Forest, a program that was barely a speed bump on Tobacco Road and little more than road kill on the national scene, into an ACC champion and an elite football program. So, as the coach sat next to the monument-sized trophy for winning the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in Washington, a grin began to form underneath his baseball cap as he admitted something he thought even he'd never thought he'd see.

"I never thought an eight-win season would be a disappointment at Wake Forest," Grobe said.

Congratulations coach, that's the price of building a program. And of being as good as the Demon Deacons were over the final three quarters in the come-from-behind 29-19 win over Navy.

If you needed a sign of just how far Wake Forest football has come under Grobe, who wrapped up his eighth season in Winston-Salem with his third consecutive bowl appearance and second straight bowl win, Saturday's win was the kind of blinking, neon announcement that might've fit in on the Las Vegas Strip.

Despite temperatures that seemed to rival the number of letters in Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada's last name and an early 13-0 deficit, the Deacons won their eighth game for a third straight season, exactly three times as many eight-win seasons as the school had in the pre-Jim Grobe era.

And they did it in what is unmistakeably the Wake Forest way under Grobe.
There was a defense that racks up turnovers with a sense of timing Rolex might envy, an offense that wants nothing more than to methodically grind the opposition into Gatorade powder, and, when all else fails, a little luck.

The Demon Deacons had all three Saturday. Quarterback Riley Skinner was perfect. The defense and surprise star Kevin Harris weren't far behind.

"Give a lot of credit to those guys," Navy running back Shun White said, "They made all the plays they had to to win."

It was Skinner that won game MVP honors, but had it gone to Harris or Alphonso Smith, who made the game's biggest play with his ACC record-setting 21st interception, no one would've demanded a recount.

The Deacons fell behind 13-0 early in the second quarter, allowing two field goals and a touchdown by Rashawn King after the rare Deacon fumble, an echo of the six turnovers Wake Forest uncharacteristically coughed up in their previous loss to Navy this season. But from then on the Wake Forest ran over the Midshipmen, checked the rear view mirror, and ran over them again, finishing the game on a 29-6 blitz.

Smith's interception on the Wake 2-yard line kept the Deacons out of an even bigger disadvantage, then the Deacons methodically marched 98 yards down the field, the football equivalent of a baseball bat to the mouth of the Midshipmen.

"Whenever someone makes a play like that it's going to change the morale of the players," White said. "When we got back on offense, their defense was flying around."

Even when the Deacons fell behind again, trailing 19-14 early in the fourth quarter after Navy's only offensive touchdown, there was no discomfort on the sideline, other than the lack of portable heaters that left Harris high stepping on the sideline to stay loose and linebacker Dominique Midgett dancing during a television timeout.

"We didn't say anything," Grobe said of the surprise deficit. "You could tell our players weren't panicked."

Credit that to the metronome consistency of the Wake Forest backfield.

Skinner didn't miss, connecting on all 11 of his attempts, but if he had Harris could've found plenty of seating on his broad shoulders for the team. The converted fullback who's managed to find most every injury in the medical dictionary in his four years at Wake Forest didn't know he was starting until three minutes before the game. He responded with 24 carries and 136 yards, both easily career highs.

"I'd like to tell you we're smart coaches and figured out Kevin was the guy," Grobe said. "But we didn't. He played well against Vanderbilt and we though he deserved the opportunity to start. So we figured we'd hang our hat on Harris unless he proved us wrong."

He didn't. Harris tore through the Midshipmen defense like a bowling ball through Navy's white-jerseyed pins, if only bowling alleys were sloped 45 degrees downhill. Harris even managed to surprise himself.

Asked if he was ready for a 24-carry afternoon, Harris' response was as brusque as his running style.

"Absolutely not," said Harris, whose only other 20-plus carry game two seasons ago. "I told them to watch me when I tap my helmet [to come out of the game]. ... Every time I tapped, we were in the red zone."

So Josh Adams took over, punching in two scores and helping Wake Forest to another bowl victory in the best series in school history.

"The thing I want to stress is that we had a heck of a season," Grobe said. "It wasn't as good as we wanted, but eight wins isn't too bad against the teams we were playing.

"I'm proud of the way we hung in there."

That too caused a grin under Jim Grobe's baseball cap.

But this time it was because that's exactly what Grobe always expected. Winning the Wake Forest way.

Wake Forest's Capital Statement originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jim grobeJimGroberiley skinnerRileySkinnerRay HollomanSat, 20 Dec 2008 16:51:00 EST Bowl Season '08: Wake Beats Navy Behind Riley Skinner's Perfect Dayhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-wake-beats-navy-behind-riley-skinners-perfect/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-wake-beats-navy-behind-riley-skinners-perfect/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-wake-beats-navy-behind-riley-skinners-perfect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

Wake Forest headed into the 2008 Eagle Bank Bowl -- the first and obviously most prestigious of all postseason college events -- heavily disappointed with their season. A late loss to N.C. State sealed their fate as a lower tier bowl team, but it was an earlier home loss to Navy that had really derailed their season.

Well, that and the fact that offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke convinced Jim Grobe that running the ball 55 times against Miami would guarantee Wake a win. Fortunately, the EBB gave the Demon Deacons redemption on both counts as Wake downed the Midshipmen 29-19 in the first game of the bowl season.

Oddly enough, the score doesn't indicate two things very well: 1) Riley Skinner was perfect passing, going 11-11 for 166 yards passing and 2) the Deacs had to come back. Navy scored the first 13 points of the game and Wake looked horrible on both sides of the ball and, well, it looked like a repeat of earlier this year.

Skinner and Wake woke up at the end of the second half and with the help of Josh Adams' pair of short yardage touchdowns, came away with a fairly decisive victory.

The biggest story though isn't Skinner being perfect in his passing attempts -- it's that he's been the key reason why this Wake Forest senior class is the winningest in school history, heading to three bowls and locking up an ACC championship. All three bowls, of course, have been with Skinner under center.

Whether he'll end up actually end up as a successful pro is probably debatable, but one thing is for sure -- Orange or Eagle Bank, he took Wake bowling again this year, and despite a shoddy season for the Deacs, they at least got the last laugh on Navy.

Bowl Season '08: Wake Beats Navy Behind Riley Skinner's Perfect Day originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bowlseason08Eagle Bank BowlEagleBankBowljim grobeJimGroberiley skinnerRileySkinnersteed lobotzkeSteedLobotzkeWill BrinsonSat, 20 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST Notes From an EagleBank Bowlhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/eagle-bank-bowl-first-quarter/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/eagle-bank-bowl-first-quarter/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/eagle-bank-bowl-first-quarter/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The palm trees and Hawaiian shirts will have to wait. And the number of syllables in Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada's last name is undoubtedly higher than the temperature at RFK Stadium.

But football is here.

FanHouse is live at the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in Washington, the opening bowl game of the season. Check back as we update every quarter with analysis from the unfortunately outdoor press box.

Of course, with Navy blasting a cannon for every score, that and the temperature offer up a fairly good illusion of what it might be like to go ice-fishing with Plaxico Burress.

Fourth Quarter

The Midshipmen played a heck of a game. But Riley Skinner was perfect. Kevin Harris wasn't far behind.

Skinner didn't miss a pass in the fourth quarter or the game, finishing 11-of-11 and four-of-four in the final quarter, connecting with Chip Brinkman for a 44-yard pass on the Deacons' game-winning 80-yard drive and Ben Wooster for the game-winning touchdown.Harris, who unofficially finished with 122 yards, Rich Belton, who scampered for the final touchdown, a 35-yard bolt, and the Wake defense salted away the rest of the game.

Navy's offense ran like a well-oiled machine on the Midshipmen's first drive of the quarter, possibly having been slipped the motor oil in the coffe pot in the press box.

Navy's cut-and-paste quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada ripped off a 35-yard run on a keeper down the sideline, thanks to a huge block from senior wide receiver Curtis Sharp. He then slammed into the end zone from two yards out despite eight Deacons lined up in the box.

But the Midshipmen were forced to punt on their second possession with 5:40 left and fumbled it away one yard away from a first down on 4th-and-10 deep in their own zone. Wake's Belton carried the ball into the end zone two plays later.

Nearly 29,000 were on hand for the inaugural bowl, marking the largest selection of the cryogenically frozen this side of Joe Paterno's rolodex.

Wake Forest wins 29-19

Third Quarter

If you watched the second quarter, feel free to skip over the third and watch something claymation based instead of the second. Anything involving Joe Paterno will suffice. On the field, it was a carbon copy of the second quarter, Wake Forest slugging its way downfield in a game that has by and large only flirted with the forward pass.

The Demon Deacons marched the ball downfield 73 yards over 5:13 seconds before Josh Adams slammed up the middle for a five-yard touchdown.

There have been only 13 passes thrown thus far in the game, which pales in comparison to the way players on the sideline are handling the cold. Wake linebacker Dominique Midgett tried dancing; Kevin Harris tried high-stepping on the sideline.

But it was a quarter of dominance for Wake. Chip Vaughn got his payback on Shun Whit, dropping the back for no gain on third down, forcing a Navy punt, then letting him know who exactly was responsible for him ending up on his back

And fittingly, a fullback is making his case for MVP. Harris has 114 yards unofficially, the first 100 yard game of his career. Those numbers are my back of the envelope adding though, and be advised I once added five and six and got purple.

Wake leads 14-13

Second Quarter

Hello, Wake Forest. Welcome to Washington.

It took the Deacons a quarter, but somebody finally put a litlte chicken soup in their offense.

Wake Forest put a decent drive together on its first possession, keyed off a 29-yard run up the middle by Kevin Harris, but Sam Swank's 49-yard field goal clanked off the left upright. But Jim Grobe's decision to kick the 49-yarder instead of go for it on fourth-and-three at the 32-yard line seems destined for second guessing.

The Deacons' second drive went from their own 2-yard line, following Alphonso Smith's interception, to the end zone as the offensive line knocked the Midshipmen off the ball and let Harris gouge his way downfield. Quarterback Riley Skinner finally found the distance, completing three passes for 58 yards on the drive. Wake's touchdown with 36 seconds left snapped Navy's 160-minute shutout streak, dating back to the Notre Dame game.

Credit D.J. Boldin for being wide open enough that the uncle from Napolean Dynamite could've hit him.

The Midshipmen finished a drive from the first quarter to put another field goal on the board and marched downfield again in the second before cut-and-paste mandatory quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada lofted a can of corn interception to Smith, the 21st of Smith's career, marking a new ACC record.

A Wake Forest fumble in the midst of their 98-yard scoring drive initially resulted in a Navy touchdown but was correctly overturned. Harris fumbled again on the same drive, but it bounced out of bounds. The cold weather is certainly playing a factor. But at least they don't have to type Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada.

Navy leads 13-7

First Quarter

All it needed was a host of those Saved by Zero commercials to make it a near TiVo replay of the first matchup between these two teams, which Navy won 24-17 in Winston-Salem.

For the 12th time in 13 games this season, Navy marched down the field to score on its opening possession, a 40-yard field goal by David Harmon, set up by a 39-yard blast by Shun White.

Navy later scored on a 50-yard fumble return by Rashawn King, the seventh turnover the Midshipmen have forced against Wake Forest this season.

Credit Navy for doing it exactly in midshipmen style, mixing blockers and running backs in combination like they're trying to break a safe before slamming the whole mess downfield. Defensively, they've more or less formed a blockade, keeping Wake Forest's offense entirely in front of them with the exception of back-to-back 14 and 10-yard runs.

As for Wake Forest, it's cold and the Deacons are colder.

Navy's White is making the early case for MVP and already has one heck of a signature moment when crushed Wake Forest cornerback Chip Vaughn like a batting practice fastball and spent time standing over the cornerback so there would be no doubt exactly as the license plate of the truck that hit him.

Navy leads 10-0

Notes From an EagleBank Bowl originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>riley skinnerRileySkinnerRay HollomanSat, 20 Dec 2008 11:25:00 EST Turkey Legs to Go: Eagle Bank Bowl Travel Guide, Wake Forest vs. Navyhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/turkey-legs-to-go-eagle-bank-bowl-travel-guide-wake-forest-v-n/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/turkey-legs-to-go-eagle-bank-bowl-travel-guide-wake-forest-v-n/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/turkey-legs-to-go-eagle-bank-bowl-travel-guide-wake-forest-v-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Eagle Bank Bowl (Washington), which pits Wake Forest against Navy.

Overview / Matchup: The Navy Midshipmen are locked into what could be one of the more controversial bowl games of the 2008 season. Why, you ask? Well, because the ACC takes up the other slot in this game. Only one problem -- Maryland, who appeared to be the most obvious choice, has said they won't play in D.C. because of an exam conflict. Wake Forest, the next choice, accepted an offer to rematch against Navy, who shocked the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem earlier this year.

Hotels:For luxury accommodation we recommend the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown because it's in a great location for going out. There are lots of young people, which means a strong focus on college sports (area newspapers have actually run stories about the large number of Carolina graduates that populate Georgetown). But there are probably a dozen world-class hotels in DC, and plenty more luxury options. None of the hotels listed are close to the stadium, because South East DC is too jangly for most tourists. The Capital Hilton is a great midrange option and probably offers the best all-around value for bowl travelers. The National Mall and two different metro stops are within easy walking distance. Recently refurbished and just three blocks from the Capitol, the Best Western Capitol Skyline Hotel is the best bet for the budget-minded traveler.

Restaurants: As for dining, Equinox is a classic Washington hob knob spot so expect to see reporters and political playmakers enjoying a steak. 2 Amys pizzas have been certified by the Italian government (it's in Northwest, off Wisconsin Ave). If you like pastries (and who doesn't?) their sfogliatelle is to die for. The Diner is cheap, delicious, and in the center of Adams Morgan, which is the undisputed after-hours circus of D.C.

Nightlife: If you want to sample a wide variety of beers try the Brickskeller. The DuPont Circle institution offers more than 1,000 bottles. The 9:30 Club is one of the nation's best small clubs to see live music, with bands like Kings of Leon and Wilco routinely showing up. And, if you're feeling particularly bourgeois, you can try and roll to Smith Point (where the Bush girls like to hang), but be warned -- it's an exclusive list they're holding at the door.

Turkey Legs to Go: Eagle Bank Bowl Travel Guide, Wake Forest vs. Navy originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>eagle bank bowlEagleBankBowlturkeylegsbowlguideturkeylegstogoWill BrinsonMon, 08 Dec 2008 09:10:00 EST Army-Navy Game a Snoozer, But New Uniforms Are Triple-Distilled Awesomehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/06/army-navy-game-a-snoozer-but-new-uniforms-are-triple-distilled/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/06/army-navy-game-a-snoozer-but-new-uniforms-are-triple-distilled/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/06/army-navy-game-a-snoozer-but-new-uniforms-are-triple-distilled/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Promise me this: Once in your life, please try to make it to a football game at one of our service academies. I can't promise you a great game, but I can promise a great experience. Yes, even if Army football is involved.

Army-Navy is one of the sport's oldest rivalries. It hasn't been much of a rivalry lately, though. Navy has had Army's number, winning nine of the last 10 games, including today's contest, which Navy won 34-0. The Black Knights of the Hudson have really hit the skids. The last time they won more than four games in a season was in 1996, when they went 10-2.

Navy dominated today's game, which was basically over after Navy's first possession. The Midshipmen controlled the line-play on both sides of the ball. Paul Johnson may have taken his system to Georgia Tech, but he left behind his top assistant, Ken Niumatalolo, who hasn't missed a beat. Navy's triple-option offense still works beautifully, with both Shun White and Eric Kettani going for well over 100 yards of rushing. The real story is the dominance of Navy's defense, which held Army to seven first downs and 150 yards.

Okay, that's not the real story.

The real story is the new 'Enforcer' uniforms both teams debuted for this game. Nike, perhaps atoning for all the eyeball arson they've committed in the name of the University of Oregon, came up with a couple winners here. Navy's unis incorporate symbols associated with the Marine Corps for the first time ever, while also including the blue and gold always associated with the Naval Academy.

Army's new uniforms, though, have officially become the Baddest Uniforms in All Sport. There's not an ounce of glimmer or shine in them anywhere, while the Army's new digital print camouflage is everywhere, on the helmets, on the pants, and even on the jersey numbers. You would not need to be told that these are Army's uniforms; they almost look like they could be worn into battle.

The unflashy new uniforms didn't prevent the first shutout in the last 30 years of this series, however. Army has something football-related they can be proud of, however, as running back Collin Mooney became Army's all-time leading rusher, by a single yard, on the last play of the game.

This game, of course, is not about the football. It's about what Army has printed on the back of its jerseys, in the place usually reserved for player names: "Duty. Honor. Country." Their sacrifice in school and on the battlefield helps make it possible for people like us to be free to complain about college football as much as we do, and for that we should all be grateful.

Army-Navy Game a Snoozer, But New Uniforms Are Triple-Distilled Awesome originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>army footballarmy navy gameArmyFootballArmyNavyGamecollin mooneyCollinMooneyeric kettaniEricKettaniken niumataloloKenNiumatalolonavy footballNavyFootballshun whiteShunWhitetraditionMark HastySat, 06 Dec 2008 15:21:00 EST Notre Dame's Death by Onside Kickhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/15/notre-dames-death-by-onside-kick/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/15/notre-dames-death-by-onside-kick/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/15/notre-dames-death-by-onside-kick/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Alright so the Irish didn't lose today, but they tried their darnedest to do so after leading Navy 27-7 late in the fourth quarter. How did they get from there, to here (27-21 victory with Navy stopped near the Irish end zone)? Lets take a walk on the wild side.

First of all, Notre Dame's "decided schematic advantage" didn't materialize until the second half when they realized Jimmy Clausen would remain an interception machine and it might be better to run the ball against an opponent line on average 40 pounds lighter than the Irish line. Clausen contributed to this decision with a pair of first-half picks and a boneheaded head-first scramble that knocked him out for one play near the end of the first half.

Once Notre Dame acknowledged force = mass x acceleration and accelerated its mass into the Navy defense, they pushed their 10-7 halftime lead to 27-7. Look no further than the 51-19 final rush/pass ratio. Easy breezy, right? Not so much.


With just 2:30 left in the game, Navy went on a swift 57-yard scoring drive to make it a respectable 27-14, but they weren't done. From there the Middies attempted an onside kick ... and succeeded. Notre Dame's players looked to be simply standing around, and one of them was bulldozed by a Navy player, the same one who would otherwise have recovered that kick.

With 1:39 left Navy took the ball near midfield and did the obvious, a play-action bomb that landed at the Irish one yard line. Notre Dame should have been prepared for it, but it was one mistake, right? No big deal, its just one more score, right? So its 27-21 at this point with 1:21 left.

Lightning almost never strikes twice is what I'm sure the Notre Dame coaches and players were saying.

So there Navy found itself with another onside kick opportunity. This one failed, sort of. A Notre Dame player then batted the kick out of bounds, which solicited a flag and a penalty I've never heard of before: "illegal batting". Navy took the yards and a second shot at survival.

Fittingly, this second effort made good, a near mirror-image of the first onside recovery with yet another Notre Dame player plowed under by a much smaller Navy opponent. Once again it was the specific Irish player who otherwise would have recovered the kick.

Clearly Charlie Weis' arrogance seemed to have carried itself onto the football field. Seriously, a pair of onside kicks, back-to-back? Who lets that happen?

Navy's unlikely salvage-job fell just a bit short though, turning the ball over on downs after a bizarre series of plays where they might have gone Chris Webber on us and called a timeout they didn't have. Whatever, ballgame, Notre Dame 27 Navy 21. The Irish won, but probably deserved to lose the way they ended the game.

Given the circumstances that's probably the last time we'll see Notre Dame in Baltimore, these gimmes against Navy are becoming more than a little hairy.

Notre Dame's Death by Onside Kick originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Charlie WeisCharlieWeisBrian GrummellSat, 15 Nov 2008 16:26:00 EST Saturday Live Blog: Weekend Lullhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/15/saturday-liveblog-weekend-lull/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/15/saturday-liveblog-weekend-lull/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/15/saturday-liveblog-weekend-lull/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


You know this is a weak weekend for big games when the discussion centers around revenge -- USC planning to take things out on Stanford for last year, media generated pressure on Charlie Weis and Notre Dame to not lose to Navy, the fighting Neuheisals of UCLA going to Washington so everyone can rehash the mess he left the Huskies, and of course Steve Spurrier bringing his Gamecocks to the Swamp.

Look, here's how you know how weak the slate is. If you watched the ESPN promos for college football this week, they went with the generic -- simply promoting college football and excitement. There was no plugging the actual games, other than at the very end when they disclosed the primetime choice of BC-FSU or Oklahoma St.-Colorado. Wheeeeee.

Still there are some good potential games out there; BYU-Air Force, Cal-Oregon St., UNC-Maryland and Arizona-Oregon seem like the best of the crop today.

So, despite the poor sales job, stop by and chat. We'll be live-blogging around 12 PM EST.

Saturday Live Blog: Weekend Lull originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichSat, 15 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST Ryan Perilloux's Not in Baton Rouge Anymorehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/08/29/ryan-perillouxs-not-in-baton-rouge-anymore/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/08/29/ryan-perillouxs-not-in-baton-rouge-anymore/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/08/29/ryan-perillouxs-not-in-baton-rouge-anymore/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


He can't click his ruby red slippers together three times and wish himself back at LSU. However, after a trio of disciplinary incidents, he finds himself wearing a ruby red Jacksonville State uniform. Just our luck, his Gamecocks were on Thursday night's undercard against Georgia Tech.

Perilloux started but didn't achieve much against Tech, tossing two interceptions as his team was routed 41-14. For the night he did throw a pair of garbage time touchdowns, but averaged a mere 3.7 yards/attempt in going 22/37 for 136 yards. He also led the Gamecocks in rushing, reaching 67 yards on 18 carries (3.7 average). Ho hum.

On the opposite side of the field, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson late of Navy made his debut, taking his crazy run attack with him to Atlanta. The Yellowjackets were impressive against the lower division defense in totaling 349 rush yards and 7.6 yards/attempt. Not bad, now let's see you try that against a D-I defense fellas.

Ryan Perilloux's Not in Baton Rouge Anymore originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brian GrummellFri, 29 Aug 2008 01:44:00 EST Costs Will Keep the Army-Navy Game on the East Coasthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/08/08/costs-will-keep-the-army-navy-game-on-the-east-coast/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/08/08/costs-will-keep-the-army-navy-game-on-the-east-coast/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/08/08/costs-will-keep-the-army-navy-game-on-the-east-coast/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When Army and Navy decided they should look to see what other cities and stadiums were interested in hosting the Army-Navy game, there was a good amount of interest Especially in Texas. The sticking point, though, was likely to be that the host city and stadium would also have to pay transportation costs for up to 8000 students from both schools. A prohibitive cost the further you get from an Atlantic or Mid-Atlantic state without some serious subsidies.

Sure enough, the Cotton Bowl has realized the folly of trying to bid for the game.
[State Fair of Texas president Errol] McKoy said the major hang-up was that the winning bidder had to pay for transporting the entire Naval Academy and West Point student bodies - about 8,000 students - to the game each year. McKoy estimated that cost at around $5 million and added that there was nothing in place to help offset those costs.

"It was a little bit too rich for us," McKoy said.
Cowboy Stadium in Arlington and the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio are still considering making bids. Unless the respective cities chip in to pay for transportation, reality should slap those organizations soon.

Philadelphia, East Rutherford, Baltimore and maybe Boston and Charlotte seem to make the most sense in keeping transportation costs within reason.

Costs Will Keep the Army-Navy Game on the East Coast originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichFri, 08 Aug 2008 00:24:00 EST Army And Navy as Semi-Big East Membershttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/28/army-and-navy-as-semi-big-east-members/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/28/army-and-navy-as-semi-big-east-members/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/28/army-and-navy-as-semi-big-east-members/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's been hashed and rehashed once more this summer, about how the Big East needs at least one more team on the football side of things to allow teams to have an eight game conference slate -- and save some effort and money by trying to schedule four non-conference games rather than five.

The problem is that the Big East doesn't want to go down the football-only membership path in which Temple existed, and the basketball schools sure don't want any more members on that side.

So, how about a couple independents just associate with the Big East to provide some scheduling stability for all?
The [New York] Post has learned that the Big East has explored deals with Army and Navy in football. The concept is for each of the service academies to play four Big East opponents each season on a rotating basis.

For example, in a given year, Army would play Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburgh. Navy would face Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse and West Virginia.
Don't get too excited yet, since it seems both Army and Navy said no to the basic plan.

This one, though, may not go away. There is significant benefit to the service academies to at least continue negotiations. The arrangement would only tie each to four games, leaving each to schedule eight other games with whom they wish. It preserves their athletic independence. Ongoing negotiations would also be very likely to add some tie-ins to the bowls the Big East is affiliated.

Army And Navy as Semi-Big East Members originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichMon, 28 Jul 2008 09:54:00 EST Army-Navy Game Goes Commercialhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/16/army-navy-game-goes-commercial/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/16/army-navy-game-goes-commercial/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/16/army-navy-game-goes-commercial/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bowing to modern times and economic realities, the Army-Navy game is looking at changes. That is just one of the things that look to be changing. The game may also gain a corporate sponsor. How does the "Lockheed-Martin Army-Navy Game" grab you?

The Naval Academy AD Chet Gladchuk has said that there will be open bidding for future games.
"I have no doubt there will 15, 16, 17 cities that will put their oar in the water and actually bid for the game," Gladchuck said. "It could be San Diego, it could be Seattle, it could be the Meadowlands [in East Rutherford, N.J.]. Baltimore has shown interest; it could be Philadelphia or Dallas."

West Point officials did not return calls requesting comment.

Gladchuck did not say what specific criteria officials would use in selecting a city, but he said cities must agree to pay for transporting the entire Naval Academy and West Point student bodies -- some 8,000 students -- to the game.
Hence why in the game's 118-year history, the bulk of the games have been played in Philly. It's a lot cheaper to transport 8,000 students by buses to a point somewhere in between Annapolis and West Point.

Both the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington and the refurbished Cotton Bowl are interested in hosting the game, but transportation costs of the students could make this a losing deal. Especially for cities on the west coast or in Texas.

It is estimated that transportation costs could run around $4 million. I'm sure, though, in the other cities that do bid on the game there will arguments for additional public subsidies of the cost. That it will be a loss leader and the influx of visitors and publicity would justify the costs -- and public support from the quasi-public convention and visitors authorities that typically operate the stadium.

Army-Navy Game Goes Commercial originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichWed, 16 Jul 2008 11:52:00 EST Old School: Army-Navy 1962http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/14/old-school-army-navy-1962/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/14/old-school-army-navy-1962/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/07/14/old-school-army-navy-1962/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"Old School" is the College Football FanHouse's irregular look back at the rich history of college football, usually through the medium of embeddable flash video. Check out the Old School archive for more famous plays and infamous hair.

With the news that future Army vs. Navy games might take place in different cities around the country, it's probably a good time to look back at this historic rivalry in all it's glory. I'm big on tradition in college football. Some things are so big that they should be set in stone and never changed. But the Army-Navy game transcends college football , especially in times of war. While this game doesn't have the influence it used to have on the national championship, it still deserves to be played in front of 100,000 screaming fans. If that means moving the game around the country every year, then so be it. Everyone should have a chance to see this game in person at least once before they die. And it should look just like this, but with newer uniforms and in color.

Old School: Army-Navy 1962 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>john f. kennedyJohnF.KennedyOld SchoolOldSchoolroger staubachRogerStaubachJohn RadcliffMon, 14 Jul 2008 20:55:00 EST