2009 Navy Midshipmen Additional Information
Coaching Staff
Head Coach:
Official School Bio - Ken Niumatalolo
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Chris Culton - Assistant Coach / Offensive Line
Justin Davis - Assistant Coach/Defensive Line
Joe DuPaix - Assistant Coach/Slot Backs
Tony Grantham - Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers
Buddy Green - Assistant Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Ashley Ingram - Assistant Coach/Offensive Line
Ivin Jasper - Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Steve Johns - Assistant Coach/Inside Linebackers/Special Teams
Keith Jones - Assistant Coach / Outside Linebackers
Mike Judge - Fullbacks
Danny O'Rourke - Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers
Dale Pehrson - Recruiting Coordinator / Def. Line
Joe Speed - Assistant Coach / Secondary
RecruitingAssistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Chris Culton - Assistant Coach / Offensive Line
Justin Davis - Assistant Coach/Defensive Line
Joe DuPaix - Assistant Coach/Slot Backs
Tony Grantham - Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers
Buddy Green - Assistant Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Ashley Ingram - Assistant Coach/Offensive Line
Ivin Jasper - Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Steve Johns - Assistant Coach/Inside Linebackers/Special Teams
Keith Jones - Assistant Coach / Outside Linebackers
Mike Judge - Fullbacks
Danny O'Rourke - Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers
Dale Pehrson - Recruiting Coordinator / Def. Line
Joe Speed - Assistant Coach / Secondary
Starters Returning: 12 (Offense 4, Defense 7, Special Teams 1)
Notable Returnees:
LT Jeff Battipaglia, RG Curtis Bass, RT Matt Molloy, OL Austin Milke
LE Michael Walsh, RE Matt Nechak, OLB Clint Sovie, ILB Ross Pospisil, ILB Tony Haberer, OLB Ram Vela, LCB Blake Carter, Rover Wyatt Middleton
P Kyle Delahooke
Starters Departing: 12 (Offense 7, Defense 4, Special Teams 1)
Notable Losses:
QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, SB Greg Shinego, SB Shun White, FB Eric Kettani, WR Tyree Barnes, LG Anthony Gaskins, OC Ricky Moore
NG Nate Frazier, LCB Rashawn King, Rover Jeff Deliz, RCB Ketric Buffin
PK Matt Harmon
Incoming Recruits:
2010 Verbals:
Thomas Stone - OG - 6'3", 285 - Melbourne Central Catholic HS - Melbourne, FL
Previous Classes:
2009 Class:
Scott Blasinsky - K - 5'11", 175 - Padua Franciscan HS - Cleveland, OH
Tra'ves Bush - S - 5'10", 185 - Strom Thurmond HS - Johnston, SC
Josh Cabral - OG - 6'4", 305 - Tesoro HS - Las Flores, CA
Matt Couch - OC - 6'3", 275 - East Pennsboro Area SHS - Enola, PA
Jordan Fraser - S - 6'1", 196 - Basha HS - Chandler, AZ
Jonathan Gazaille - WR - 6'1", 195 - Bowie HS - Arlington, TX
Alexander Greene - RB - 5'8", 180 - Richland Northeast HS - Columbia, SC
Beau Haworth - OT - 6'6.5", 275 - Archbishop Spaulding HS - Severn, MD
Wes Henderson - DE - 6'2", 230 - North Alleghany HS - Wexford, PA
John Howell - RB - 5'9", 170 - Lansdale Catholic HS - Lansdale, PA
Conor Hozey - MLB - 6'0", 225 - AC Flora HS - Columbia, SC
Adam Johnson - MLB - 6'2", 207 - Riverwood HS - Atlanta, GA
Josh Jones - DE - 6'2", 245 - Dudley HS - Greensboro, NC
Jake Juriga - MLB - 6'3", 235 - St. Charles North HS - St. Charles, IL
Travis Keating - S - 6'1", 200 - The Woodlands College Park - The Woodlands, TX
Gordy Law - QB - 6'0", 183 - Berwick HS - Berwick, PA
Caleb Lucas - CB - 6'0", 180 - South Johnston HS - Four Oaks, NC
Tyler Lynch - QB - 6'3", 205 - Ranchview HS - Irving, TX
Jarred Mack - RB - 5'10", 205 - Clear Lake HS - Houston, TX
Cameron Mason - TE - 6'4", 225 - Brentwood HS - Brentwood, TN
John Michael Nurthen - OLB - 6'2", 205 - Great Valley HS - Phoenixville, PA
John O'Boyle - SB - 6'0", 185 - Charlotte Catholic HS - Charlotte, NC
Corey Oberst - OT - 6'4", 282 - Winter Springs HS - Winter Springs, FL
Cyril Ontai - RB - 5'11", 210 - Kapolei HS - Kapolei, HI
Josh Patton - MLB - 6'2", 210 - Blackman HS - Murfreesboro, TN
Ryan Paulsen - DE - 6'4", 228 - Legacy HS - Broomfield, CO
Bo Snelson - RB - 5'9", 180 - Pasadena Memorial HS - Pasadena, TX
David Sperry - CB - 5'11", 165 - Faith Lutheran SHS - Las Vegas, NV
Andrew Stellato - DE - 6'4", 230 - Duncan U. Fletcher HS - Neptune Beach, FL
Craig Veech - MLB - 6'3", 230 - Lake Brantley HS - Alamonta Springs, FL
Matt Warrick, RB - 6'2", 215 - Marquette SHS - Chesterfield, MO
Keegan Wetzel - MLB - 6'3", 190 - St. Laurence HS, Burbank, IL
2008 Class:
Matthew Adams - DE - 6'3", 235 - Hargrave Military Academy - Chatham, VA
Bryant Alsup - DB - 5'10", 175 - Friendship Christian School - Lebanon, TN
Bruce Andrews - CB - 5'10", 174 - Kalaheo HS - Kailua, HI
Thomas Batchelder - LB - 6'2", 240 - Hargrave Military Academy - Chatham, VA
Austin Beaty - RB - 6'2", 215 - Friendswood HS - Friendswood, TX
Jarren Brown - RB - 5'8", 186 - Charles Herbert Flowers HS - Springdale, MD
Hal Bowron - WR - 6'1", 196 - Mt. Brook HS - Mountain Brook, AL
Kevin Eckel - DB - 6'2", 200 - Archbishop John Carroll HS - Radon, PA
Brye French - MLB - 6'1", 210 - Stanhope Elmore HS - Millbrook, AL
Demetrous Garrett - WR - 5'8", 160 - Hillsboro HS - Nashville, TN
Terna Ityokumbul - RB - 6'0", 210 - State College Area HS - State College, PA
Chris Hill - RB - 5'11", 205 - Lansing HS - Lansing, KS
Jonathan Hill - OLB - 6'1", 230 - River Hill HS - Clarksville, MD
Ricky Kyles - WR - 6'3", 190 - Stonewall Jackson HS - Manassas, VA
Mookie Lewis - CB - 5'10", 175 - Conroe HS - Conroe, TX
Adrian Marcus - RB - 5'9", 202 - Thompson HS - Alabaster, AL
Mike McCarthey - DT - 6'3", 270 - Strongsville HS - Strongsville, OH
Aaron McCauley - LB - 5'10", 182 - New Smyrna Beach HS - New Smyrna Beach, FL
David Mills - OG - 6'3", 257 - Westminster Christian Academy - Opelousas, LS
Taylor Newton - OL - 6'3", 280 - McNeil HS - Round Rock, TX
Kahikolu Pescaia - OC - 5'11", 231 - Kamehameha Secondary - Honolulu, HI
Kriss Proctor - WR - 6'1", 180 - Big Bear HS - Big Bear Lake, CA
De'Von Richardson - CB - 6'0", 188 - Bowie HS - Bowie, MD
Steve Spada - OC - 6'2.5", 260 - Bergen Catholic HS - Oradell, NJ
Andrew Sharp - OLB - 6'1", 195 - State College Area HS - State College, PA
Garrett Sherwood - OLB - 6'1", 198 - Faith Lutheran HS - Las Vegas, NV
Matt Shibata - WR - 5'11", 180 - Pac-Five - Honolulu, HI
Eric Stein - S - 6'1", 200 - Carpintera SHS - Carpintera, CA
Collin Sturdivant - DE - 6'2", 230 - Carver HS - Winston Salem, NC
David Sumrall - OL - 6'5", 260 - Riverdale HS - Murfreesboro, TN
Jon Teague - PK - 6'2", 195 - Fred T. Foard HS - Newton, NC
Jabaree Tuani-McKissack - DE - 6'1", 265 - Brentwood Acadamy - Brentwood, TN
Brandon Turner - S - 6'3", 197 - Kentridge HS - Kent, WA
David Zapata - RB - 5'7", 177 - Hornell SHS - Hornell, NY
2007 Class:
Andrew Barker - OG - 6'4", 275 - Southwest Guilford HS - High Point, NC
Jeff Battipaglia - OT - 6'5", 265 - St. Joseph's Prep School - Philadelphia, PA
Max Blue - OLB - 6'0", 205 - Hebron HS - Lewisville, TX
John Cabbage - DE - 6'2", 225 - Astronaut HS - Titusville, FL
Robby Davis - QB - 6'0", 289 - Starrs Mill HS - Fayetteville, GA
Kyle Delahooke - PK - 6'2", 195 - Maranatha HS - Sierra Madre, CA
Jordan Delk - WR - 6'1", 160 - Robert Toombs Christian Academy - Lyons, GA
Brady DeMell - DT - 6'3", 295 - Mentor HS - Mentor, OH
Neil Doogan - DE - 6'4", 235 - St. Joseph's Prep School - Philadelphia, PA
Zachary Dryden - OG - 6'4", 260 - Lake Brantley HS - Alamonte Springs, FL
Doug Furman - LB - 6'2", 187 - Twinsburg HS - Twinsburg, OH
Greg Harrell - WB - 6'4", 202 - Plano SHS - Plano, TX
Wes Holland - RB - 5'11", 197 - Pelham HS - Pelham, HS
John McCauley - LB - 6'2", 225 - Springdale HS - Springdale, PA
Jake Proctor - OLB - 6'2", 215 - Arlington Heights HS - Fort Worth, TX
James Simien - MLB - 6'0.5", 206 - Norcorss HS - Norcross, GA
Jarrell Smith - DB - 5'10", 178 - Mandarin HS - Jacksonville, FL
Mario Washington - WR - 5'11", 175 - Crest HS - Shelby, NC
Sean Williams - TE - 6'2", 213 - Jesuit HS - Portland, OR
2006 Class:
Luke Addicks - LB - 6'0?", 210 - Brenham HS - Brenham, TX
Jacob Biddle - LB - 6'2", 235 - Wimberly HS - Wimberly, TX
Shane Bothel - DE - 6'3", 220 - Cherokee HS - Marlton, NJ
David Brown - OL - 6'2", 270 - Klein Collins HS - Klein, TX
Andrew Burger - DE - 6'3", 230 - Birdville HS - Haltom City, TX
Ryan Burke - OL - 6'3", 280 - McKinney North HS - McKinney, TX
Kevin Campbell - CB - 5'8", 174 - Robinson Secondary - Fairfax, VA
Ryan Campbell - LB - 6'3", 225 - Hun School - Middletown, NJ
Alex Cole - OL - 6'3", 275 - Highland Park HS - Dallas, TX
Jake Cross - DT - 6'1", 285 - Armwood HS - Seffner, FL
Kori Cumberland - DE - 6'3", 234 - Southwest HS - Jacksonville, NC
Ross Cumming - LB - 6'1", 200 - Santa Margarita Catholic HS - Santa Margarita, CA
Matthew Davidson - RB - 5'10.5", 205 - Labelle HS - La Belle, FL
Ricky Dobbs - QB - 6'0", 178 - Douglas County HS - Douglasville, GA
Bobby Doyle - RB - 5'11", 190 - Chardon HS - Chardon, OH
Kevin Edwards - S - 6'2", 180 - Zebulon B. Vance HS - Charlotte, NC
Jared Fleming - QB - 5'11", 178 - South Sumter HS - Bushnell, FL
Brad Francus - WR - 6'0", 175 - Keystone Oaks HS - Pittsburgh, PA
Greg Garden - RB - 6'0", 190 - Ryan HS - Denton,TX
Peter Guidera - OL - 6'2", 247 - Rancho Buena Vista HS - Vista, CA
Jack Hatcher - RB - 5'9", 190 - Shades Valley HS - Irondale, AL
Nick Henderson - WR - 6'4", 196 - North Alleghany SHS - Wexford, PA
Greg Jones - WR - 6'0", 160 - Ronald Reagan HS - San Antonio, TX
Luke Lagera - RB - 5'9", 170 - Lake Travis HS - Austin, TX
Andy Lark - DT - 6'0", 300 - Oviedo HS - Oviedo, FL
Ryan Leonard - OL - 6'0", 280 - Hebron HS - Lewisville, TX
Curtis Marsh - RB - 6'1", 185 - Royal HS - Simi Valley, CA
Bruce McCurdy - RB - 6'1", 205 - Brentwood HS - Brentwood, TN
Mike McClarin - DE - 6'3", 230 - Liberty HS - Bethlehem, PA
Emmett Merchant - CB - 5'10", 170 - Riverdale HS - Riverdale, GA
Ian Meredith - LB - 6'2", 225 - Notre Dame HS - Chattanooga, TN
Wyatt Middleton - LB - 6'2", 202 - Marist School - Atlanta, GA
Zachary Middleton - DE - 6'3", 250 - Wilkinson SHS - Orangeburg, SC
Ross Pospisil - LB - 6'0", 204 - Temple HS - Temple, TX
Bayard Roberts - DE - 6'4", 215 - St. Pius X - Albuquerque, NM
Scott Simpson - CB - 5'9", 166 - Caroll HS - Southlake, TX
John Sniezak - LB - 6'3", 190 - Valley Forge Military Academy - Wayne, PA
Michael Speciale - WB - 6'1", 214 - Pearland HS - Pearland, TX
Travis Sudderth - S - 6'0", 190 - Parkview HS - Lilburn, GA
Ben Swank - QB - - General Mclane HS - Edinboro, PA
Zach Weatherington - LB - 6'3.5", 235 - Woodbridge, HS - Woodbridge, VA
Billy Yarborough - DE - 6'4", 220 - Ridge View HS - Columbia, SC
Greg Zingler - WB - 6'0", 183 - Severna Park SHS - Severna Park, MD
2005 Class:
Kyle Bookhout - DE - 6'3", 240 - Lincoln-Way East HS - Frankfort, IL
Bryce Brigham - QB - 6'3", 175 - Interlake SHS - Bellevue, WA
Jake Brownell - PK - 5'10", 190 - West Deptford HS - Westville, NJ
Jarod Bryant - RB - 5'11", 185 - Hoover HS - Hoover, AL
Brad Gooch - DB - 6'3", 190 - Lake Brantley HS - Alamonte Springs, FL
Jesse Iwuji - DB - 6'0", 180 - Hebron HS - Lewisville, TX
Eric Kettani - RB - 6'2", 215 - Lake Catholic HS - Mentor, OH
Andrew Lair - QB - 6'3", 200 - Brother Martin HS - New Orleans, LA
Andrew McGinn - TE - 6'2", 222 - Walton HS - Marietta, GA
Kurt Schneider - DE - 6'6", 225 - Central Bucks HS East - Doylestown, PA
Craig Shaefer - TE - 6'2", 200 - Robinson Secondary - Fairfax, VA
Mike Shaub - DE - 6'0", 229 - Lockport Township HS - Lockport, IL
Reinhard Weiss - RB - 5'10", 180 - Garland HS - Garland, TX
Brendan Wright - WB - 6'0", 181- Deland HS - Deland, FL
Player no longer listed on roster
Due to a large number of recruits who attend the Naval Prep Academy or another pre-college institution, numerous players will have eligibility that varies from the recruiting class in which they were included. As well, numerous players currently on the roster were not included in the database of recruits for the last five years.
ROSTER MEMBERS NOT LISTED IN RECRUITING DATABASES:
Brian Ackerman - SO - LS - 5'11", 188 - Clearwater Central Catholic - Oldsmar, FL
John Angelo - JR - CB - 5'9", 174 - Santa Margarita HS - Newport Beach, CA
Cory Archibald - SO - NG - 6'2", 270 - Rye HS - Rye, NY
Osei Asante - SR - OG - 6'1", 265 - Cypress Ridge HS - Houston, TX
Ryan Basford - SO - OG - 6'5", 265 - Bishop Kenny HS - Jacksonville, FL
Curtis Bass - SR - OC - 6'1", 265 - Pearland HS - Pearland, TX
Brian Blick - SO - S - 5'10", 184 - J.H. Rose HS - Greenville, NC
Alec Boddiford - SO - OG - 6'5", 270 - Loyola Blakefield - Forest Hill, MD
Donnie Bowers - JR - OT - 6'6", 243 - St. Xavier HS - Louisville, KY
Matt Brewer - FR - LB - 6'0", 212 - Lafayette HS - Wildwood, MO
Joe Buckley - JR - PK - 5'9", 176 - Malvern Prep - Downington, PA
Chase Burge - JR - NG - 6'4", 270 - Fairfield Union HS - Rushville, OH
Andre Byrd - JR - SB - 5'7", 160 - The Bolles School - Jacksonville, FL
Dallas Butts - FR - OT - 6'3", 250 - Salado HS - Dallas, TX
Lee Calloway - JR - DE - 5'11", 265 - Dunbar HS - Ft. Myers, FL
Evan Campbell - FR - OT - 6'4", 250 - Chesapeake HS - Pasadena, MD
William Coats - FR - LS - 6'4", 225 - R.L. Stevenson HS - Minden, NV
J. J. Cosh - SR - SB - 5'9", 183 - Riley County HS - Manhattan, KS
John Corby - FR - OG - 6'1", 285 - James Madison HS - San Antonio, TX
Prentice Christian - SB - 5'11", 204 - Dematha Catholic HS - Bowie, MD
Marcus Curry - SO - SB - 5'11", 200 - Hebron HS - Carrollton, TX
David Dawson - SR - S - 5'9", 172 - Mansfield Summit HS - Arlington, TX
Kenson Dera - FR - LB - 5'11", 223 - Lely HS - Naples, FL
Delvin Diggs - SO - FB - 5'11", 208 - Claxton HS - Claxton, GA
Eric Douglass - SO - OC - 6'2", 273 - Owasso HS - Owasso, OK
John Dowd - SO - OT - 6'4", 260 - St. Peter's Boys School - Staten Island, NY
Josh Dowling-Fitzpatrick - FR - OLB - 6'2", 225 - St. Francis De Sales - Westerville, OH
Jordan Eddington - SR - FB - 6'0", 225 - William H. Taft HS - San Antonio, TX
Jerad Fehr - FR - K/S - 6'0", 185 - Alta HS - Draper, UT
Cory Finnerty - SR - SB - 5'10", 185 - Saint Bonaventure HS - Ventura, CA
Warner Fischer - SO - OT - 6'5", 257 - West Brunswick HS - Shalotte, NC
Mason Graham - SO - OLB - 6'0", 207 - Brentwood Academy - Brentwood, TN
Ryan Green - FR - CB - 5'9", 180 - Milton HS - Atlanta, GA
Trey Grissom - Jr - LB - 6'3", 225 - Garner Magnet HS - Garner, NC
Justin Haan - FR - PK - 6'2", 205 - South Christian HS - Byron Center, MI
Tony Haberer - SR - LB - 6'1", 217 - Liberty Hill HS - Liberty Hill, TX
Jerry Hauberger - JR - OLB - 6'0", 214 - Eastern Technical HS - Baltimore, MD
Darin Hess - FR - WR - 6'3", 215 - St. Petersburg Catholic HS - Largo, FL
Austin Hill - SO - LS - 6'0", 157 - Mahopac HS - Mahopac, NY
Jack Hilt - FR - OLB - 6'0", 205 - St. Xavier HS - Louisville, KY
David Hong - SO - OG - 6'3", 278 - Allen HS - Allen, TX
Hal Hunter - SO - OLB - 6'1", 215 - Cathedral Catholic - San Diego, CA
Corey James - SO - SB - 5'8", 160 - University Christian HS - Jacksonville, FL
Matthew Kelley - FR - DE - 6'1", 225 - St. Francis De Sales - Westerville, OH
Caleb King - SO - LB - 6'0", 223 - Warner Christian - Port Orange, FL
Conor Krebs - SO - OT - 6'1", 230 - Chaminde HS - Williston Park, NY
Jeff Lenar - SR - OG - 6'6", 266 - Walton HS - Marietta, GA
Clayton Lydick - JR - DE - 6'4", 253 - Lake Highlands HS - Dallas, TX
Jared Marks - SO - NG - 6'5", 301 - Pine Forest HS - Fayetteville, NC
Cameron Marshall - SR - DE - 6'6", 233 - Broomfield HS - Broomfield, CO
Mike Mathews - SR - WR - 6'1", 201 - Mt. Lebanon HS - Pittsburgh, PA
Austin Milke - SR - OT - 6'3", 256 - St. Thomas More HS - Lafayette, LA
Kwesi Mitchell - SO - CB - 5'10", 189 - Hoover HS - Hoover, AL
Matt Molloy - JR - OT - 6'3", 260 - Stephen Decatur HS - Berlin, MD
Kevin Moore - FR - OLB - 5'9", 205 - West Memphis HS - West Memphis, AR
Vince Murray - JR - FB - 6'1", 217 - Ryle HS - Union, KY
Gary Myers - SO - WR - 6'1", 194 - William H. Taft HS - San Antonio, TX
Matt Nechak - SR - DE - 6'4", 252 - Malibu HS - Canoga Park, CA
Dylon Porlas - FR - S - 5'10", 185 - Cathedral Catholic - San Diego, CA
Trey Reed - FR - SB - 5'8", 195 - Pleasant Grove HS - Texarkana, TX
Aaron Santiago - SO - SB - 5'8", 167 - Kapolei HS - Kapolei, HI
Mike Schupp - JR - WR - 5'10", 176 - Cathedral Prep - Erie, PA
Jarred Shannon - SO - S - 6'0", 208 - P.K. Yonge HS - Gainesville, FL
Tyler Simmons - JR - LB - 6'3", 228 - Washington HS - Goldsby, OK
Brian Smith - SR - OLB - 6'1", 220 - Jacobs HS - Algonquin, IL
Kameron Smith - SO - QB - 6'1", 187 - Garner HS - Garner, NC
Garrett Snoeyenbos - SO - OG - 6'4", 266 - Brentwood Academy - Brentwood, TN
Clint Sovie - SR - OLB - 5'11", 200 - The Bolles School - Jacksonville, FL
Jordan Stephens - SR - DE - 6'4", 265 - North Hall HS - Gainesville, GA
Mike Stuckel - SO - QB/SB - 5'11", 195 - Bishop Kenny HS - Fleming Island, FL
Mike Sweeney - JR - OLB - 6'3", 234 - Kellenberg HS - Floral Park, NY
Alexander Teich - SO - FB - 6'0", 212 - Carney Creek HS - Conroe, TX
Darius Terry - SR - DB - 5'7", 172 - Westside HS - Houston, TX
Thanassi Varvoutis - JR - LS - 6'0", 205 - Pasadena HS - Houston, TX
Ram Vela - SR - OLB - 5'9", 197 - William H. Taft HS - San Antonio, TX
Michael Walsh - SR - DE - 6'2", 251 - Notre Dame HS - Newtown, PA
John Charles White - JR - P - 6'2", 196 - St. Pius X - Atlanta, GA
Kyle Widhalm - FR - OT - 6'2", 240 - American Heritage Academy - Fairview, TX
Glen Woods - SR - FB - 5'11", 228 - La Jolla Country Day - San Diego, CA
David Wright - SO - CB - 6'2", 188 - Englewood HS - Jacksonville, FL
Jason Wright - JR - S - 6'1", 200 - Penn HS - Granger, IN
Behind the NumbersNotable Returnees:
LT Jeff Battipaglia, RG Curtis Bass, RT Matt Molloy, OL Austin Milke
LE Michael Walsh, RE Matt Nechak, OLB Clint Sovie, ILB Ross Pospisil, ILB Tony Haberer, OLB Ram Vela, LCB Blake Carter, Rover Wyatt Middleton
P Kyle Delahooke
Starters Departing: 12 (Offense 7, Defense 4, Special Teams 1)
Notable Losses:
QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, SB Greg Shinego, SB Shun White, FB Eric Kettani, WR Tyree Barnes, LG Anthony Gaskins, OC Ricky Moore
NG Nate Frazier, LCB Rashawn King, Rover Jeff Deliz, RCB Ketric Buffin
PK Matt Harmon
Incoming Recruits:
2010 Verbals:
Thomas Stone - OG - 6'3", 285 - Melbourne Central Catholic HS - Melbourne, FL
Previous Classes:
2009 Class:
Scott Blasinsky - K - 5'11", 175 - Padua Franciscan HS - Cleveland, OH
Tra'ves Bush - S - 5'10", 185 - Strom Thurmond HS - Johnston, SC
Josh Cabral - OG - 6'4", 305 - Tesoro HS - Las Flores, CA
Matt Couch - OC - 6'3", 275 - East Pennsboro Area SHS - Enola, PA
Jordan Fraser - S - 6'1", 196 - Basha HS - Chandler, AZ
Jonathan Gazaille - WR - 6'1", 195 - Bowie HS - Arlington, TX
Alexander Greene - RB - 5'8", 180 - Richland Northeast HS - Columbia, SC
Beau Haworth - OT - 6'6.5", 275 - Archbishop Spaulding HS - Severn, MD
Wes Henderson - DE - 6'2", 230 - North Alleghany HS - Wexford, PA
John Howell - RB - 5'9", 170 - Lansdale Catholic HS - Lansdale, PA
Conor Hozey - MLB - 6'0", 225 - AC Flora HS - Columbia, SC
Adam Johnson - MLB - 6'2", 207 - Riverwood HS - Atlanta, GA
Josh Jones - DE - 6'2", 245 - Dudley HS - Greensboro, NC
Jake Juriga - MLB - 6'3", 235 - St. Charles North HS - St. Charles, IL
Travis Keating - S - 6'1", 200 - The Woodlands College Park - The Woodlands, TX
Gordy Law - QB - 6'0", 183 - Berwick HS - Berwick, PA
Caleb Lucas - CB - 6'0", 180 - South Johnston HS - Four Oaks, NC
Tyler Lynch - QB - 6'3", 205 - Ranchview HS - Irving, TX
Jarred Mack - RB - 5'10", 205 - Clear Lake HS - Houston, TX
Cameron Mason - TE - 6'4", 225 - Brentwood HS - Brentwood, TN
John Michael Nurthen - OLB - 6'2", 205 - Great Valley HS - Phoenixville, PA
John O'Boyle - SB - 6'0", 185 - Charlotte Catholic HS - Charlotte, NC
Corey Oberst - OT - 6'4", 282 - Winter Springs HS - Winter Springs, FL
Cyril Ontai - RB - 5'11", 210 - Kapolei HS - Kapolei, HI
Josh Patton - MLB - 6'2", 210 - Blackman HS - Murfreesboro, TN
Ryan Paulsen - DE - 6'4", 228 - Legacy HS - Broomfield, CO
Bo Snelson - RB - 5'9", 180 - Pasadena Memorial HS - Pasadena, TX
David Sperry - CB - 5'11", 165 - Faith Lutheran SHS - Las Vegas, NV
Andrew Stellato - DE - 6'4", 230 - Duncan U. Fletcher HS - Neptune Beach, FL
Craig Veech - MLB - 6'3", 230 - Lake Brantley HS - Alamonta Springs, FL
Matt Warrick, RB - 6'2", 215 - Marquette SHS - Chesterfield, MO
Keegan Wetzel - MLB - 6'3", 190 - St. Laurence HS, Burbank, IL
2008 Class:
Matthew Adams - DE - 6'3", 235 - Hargrave Military Academy - Chatham, VA
Bryant Alsup - DB - 5'10", 175 - Friendship Christian School - Lebanon, TN
Bruce Andrews - CB - 5'10", 174 - Kalaheo HS - Kailua, HI
Thomas Batchelder - LB - 6'2", 240 - Hargrave Military Academy - Chatham, VA
Austin Beaty - RB - 6'2", 215 - Friendswood HS - Friendswood, TX
Jarren Brown - RB - 5'8", 186 - Charles Herbert Flowers HS - Springdale, MD
Hal Bowron - WR - 6'1", 196 - Mt. Brook HS - Mountain Brook, AL
Kevin Eckel - DB - 6'2", 200 - Archbishop John Carroll HS - Radon, PA
Brye French - MLB - 6'1", 210 - Stanhope Elmore HS - Millbrook, AL
Demetrous Garrett - WR - 5'8", 160 - Hillsboro HS - Nashville, TN
Terna Ityokumbul - RB - 6'0", 210 - State College Area HS - State College, PA
Chris Hill - RB - 5'11", 205 - Lansing HS - Lansing, KS
Jonathan Hill - OLB - 6'1", 230 - River Hill HS - Clarksville, MD
Ricky Kyles - WR - 6'3", 190 - Stonewall Jackson HS - Manassas, VA
Mookie Lewis - CB - 5'10", 175 - Conroe HS - Conroe, TX
Adrian Marcus - RB - 5'9", 202 - Thompson HS - Alabaster, AL
Mike McCarthey - DT - 6'3", 270 - Strongsville HS - Strongsville, OH
Aaron McCauley - LB - 5'10", 182 - New Smyrna Beach HS - New Smyrna Beach, FL
David Mills - OG - 6'3", 257 - Westminster Christian Academy - Opelousas, LS
Taylor Newton - OL - 6'3", 280 - McNeil HS - Round Rock, TX
Kahikolu Pescaia - OC - 5'11", 231 - Kamehameha Secondary - Honolulu, HI
Kriss Proctor - WR - 6'1", 180 - Big Bear HS - Big Bear Lake, CA
De'Von Richardson - CB - 6'0", 188 - Bowie HS - Bowie, MD
Steve Spada - OC - 6'2.5", 260 - Bergen Catholic HS - Oradell, NJ
Andrew Sharp - OLB - 6'1", 195 - State College Area HS - State College, PA
Garrett Sherwood - OLB - 6'1", 198 - Faith Lutheran HS - Las Vegas, NV
Matt Shibata - WR - 5'11", 180 - Pac-Five - Honolulu, HI
Eric Stein - S - 6'1", 200 - Carpintera SHS - Carpintera, CA
Collin Sturdivant - DE - 6'2", 230 - Carver HS - Winston Salem, NC
David Sumrall - OL - 6'5", 260 - Riverdale HS - Murfreesboro, TN
Jon Teague - PK - 6'2", 195 - Fred T. Foard HS - Newton, NC
Jabaree Tuani-McKissack - DE - 6'1", 265 - Brentwood Acadamy - Brentwood, TN
Brandon Turner - S - 6'3", 197 - Kentridge HS - Kent, WA
David Zapata - RB - 5'7", 177 - Hornell SHS - Hornell, NY
2007 Class:
Andrew Barker - OG - 6'4", 275 - Southwest Guilford HS - High Point, NC
Jeff Battipaglia - OT - 6'5", 265 - St. Joseph's Prep School - Philadelphia, PA
Max Blue - OLB - 6'0", 205 - Hebron HS - Lewisville, TX
John Cabbage - DE - 6'2", 225 - Astronaut HS - Titusville, FL
Robby Davis - QB - 6'0", 289 - Starrs Mill HS - Fayetteville, GA
Kyle Delahooke - PK - 6'2", 195 - Maranatha HS - Sierra Madre, CA
Jordan Delk - WR - 6'1", 160 - Robert Toombs Christian Academy - Lyons, GA
Brady DeMell - DT - 6'3", 295 - Mentor HS - Mentor, OH
Neil Doogan - DE - 6'4", 235 - St. Joseph's Prep School - Philadelphia, PA
Zachary Dryden - OG - 6'4", 260 - Lake Brantley HS - Alamonte Springs, FL
Doug Furman - LB - 6'2", 187 - Twinsburg HS - Twinsburg, OH
Greg Harrell - WB - 6'4", 202 - Plano SHS - Plano, TX
Wes Holland - RB - 5'11", 197 - Pelham HS - Pelham, HS
John McCauley - LB - 6'2", 225 - Springdale HS - Springdale, PA
Jake Proctor - OLB - 6'2", 215 - Arlington Heights HS - Fort Worth, TX
James Simien - MLB - 6'0.5", 206 - Norcorss HS - Norcross, GA
Jarrell Smith - DB - 5'10", 178 - Mandarin HS - Jacksonville, FL
Mario Washington - WR - 5'11", 175 - Crest HS - Shelby, NC
Sean Williams - TE - 6'2", 213 - Jesuit HS - Portland, OR
2006 Class:
Luke Addicks - LB - 6'0?", 210 - Brenham HS - Brenham, TX
Jacob Biddle - LB - 6'2", 235 - Wimberly HS - Wimberly, TX
Shane Bothel - DE - 6'3", 220 - Cherokee HS - Marlton, NJ
David Brown - OL - 6'2", 270 - Klein Collins HS - Klein, TX
Andrew Burger - DE - 6'3", 230 - Birdville HS - Haltom City, TX
Ryan Burke - OL - 6'3", 280 - McKinney North HS - McKinney, TX
Kevin Campbell - CB - 5'8", 174 - Robinson Secondary - Fairfax, VA
Ryan Campbell - LB - 6'3", 225 - Hun School - Middletown, NJ
Alex Cole - OL - 6'3", 275 - Highland Park HS - Dallas, TX
Jake Cross - DT - 6'1", 285 - Armwood HS - Seffner, FL
Kori Cumberland - DE - 6'3", 234 - Southwest HS - Jacksonville, NC
Ross Cumming - LB - 6'1", 200 - Santa Margarita Catholic HS - Santa Margarita, CA
Matthew Davidson - RB - 5'10.5", 205 - Labelle HS - La Belle, FL
Ricky Dobbs - QB - 6'0", 178 - Douglas County HS - Douglasville, GA
Bobby Doyle - RB - 5'11", 190 - Chardon HS - Chardon, OH
Kevin Edwards - S - 6'2", 180 - Zebulon B. Vance HS - Charlotte, NC
Jared Fleming - QB - 5'11", 178 - South Sumter HS - Bushnell, FL
Brad Francus - WR - 6'0", 175 - Keystone Oaks HS - Pittsburgh, PA
Greg Garden - RB - 6'0", 190 - Ryan HS - Denton,TX
Peter Guidera - OL - 6'2", 247 - Rancho Buena Vista HS - Vista, CA
Jack Hatcher - RB - 5'9", 190 - Shades Valley HS - Irondale, AL
Nick Henderson - WR - 6'4", 196 - North Alleghany SHS - Wexford, PA
Greg Jones - WR - 6'0", 160 - Ronald Reagan HS - San Antonio, TX
Luke Lagera - RB - 5'9", 170 - Lake Travis HS - Austin, TX
Andy Lark - DT - 6'0", 300 - Oviedo HS - Oviedo, FL
Ryan Leonard - OL - 6'0", 280 - Hebron HS - Lewisville, TX
Curtis Marsh - RB - 6'1", 185 - Royal HS - Simi Valley, CA
Bruce McCurdy - RB - 6'1", 205 - Brentwood HS - Brentwood, TN
Mike McClarin - DE - 6'3", 230 - Liberty HS - Bethlehem, PA
Emmett Merchant - CB - 5'10", 170 - Riverdale HS - Riverdale, GA
Ian Meredith - LB - 6'2", 225 - Notre Dame HS - Chattanooga, TN
Wyatt Middleton - LB - 6'2", 202 - Marist School - Atlanta, GA
Zachary Middleton - DE - 6'3", 250 - Wilkinson SHS - Orangeburg, SC
Ross Pospisil - LB - 6'0", 204 - Temple HS - Temple, TX
Bayard Roberts - DE - 6'4", 215 - St. Pius X - Albuquerque, NM
Scott Simpson - CB - 5'9", 166 - Caroll HS - Southlake, TX
John Sniezak - LB - 6'3", 190 - Valley Forge Military Academy - Wayne, PA
Michael Speciale - WB - 6'1", 214 - Pearland HS - Pearland, TX
Travis Sudderth - S - 6'0", 190 - Parkview HS - Lilburn, GA
Ben Swank - QB - - General Mclane HS - Edinboro, PA
Zach Weatherington - LB - 6'3.5", 235 - Woodbridge, HS - Woodbridge, VA
Billy Yarborough - DE - 6'4", 220 - Ridge View HS - Columbia, SC
Greg Zingler - WB - 6'0", 183 - Severna Park SHS - Severna Park, MD
2005 Class:
Kyle Bookhout - DE - 6'3", 240 - Lincoln-Way East HS - Frankfort, IL
Bryce Brigham - QB - 6'3", 175 - Interlake SHS - Bellevue, WA
Jake Brownell - PK - 5'10", 190 - West Deptford HS - Westville, NJ
Jarod Bryant - RB - 5'11", 185 - Hoover HS - Hoover, AL
Brad Gooch - DB - 6'3", 190 - Lake Brantley HS - Alamonte Springs, FL
Jesse Iwuji - DB - 6'0", 180 - Hebron HS - Lewisville, TX
Eric Kettani - RB - 6'2", 215 - Lake Catholic HS - Mentor, OH
Andrew Lair - QB - 6'3", 200 - Brother Martin HS - New Orleans, LA
Andrew McGinn - TE - 6'2", 222 - Walton HS - Marietta, GA
Kurt Schneider - DE - 6'6", 225 - Central Bucks HS East - Doylestown, PA
Craig Shaefer - TE - 6'2", 200 - Robinson Secondary - Fairfax, VA
Mike Shaub - DE - 6'0", 229 - Lockport Township HS - Lockport, IL
Reinhard Weiss - RB - 5'10", 180 - Garland HS - Garland, TX
Brendan Wright - WB - 6'0", 181- Deland HS - Deland, FL
Player no longer listed on roster
Due to a large number of recruits who attend the Naval Prep Academy or another pre-college institution, numerous players will have eligibility that varies from the recruiting class in which they were included. As well, numerous players currently on the roster were not included in the database of recruits for the last five years.
ROSTER MEMBERS NOT LISTED IN RECRUITING DATABASES:
Brian Ackerman - SO - LS - 5'11", 188 - Clearwater Central Catholic - Oldsmar, FL
John Angelo - JR - CB - 5'9", 174 - Santa Margarita HS - Newport Beach, CA
Cory Archibald - SO - NG - 6'2", 270 - Rye HS - Rye, NY
Osei Asante - SR - OG - 6'1", 265 - Cypress Ridge HS - Houston, TX
Ryan Basford - SO - OG - 6'5", 265 - Bishop Kenny HS - Jacksonville, FL
Curtis Bass - SR - OC - 6'1", 265 - Pearland HS - Pearland, TX
Brian Blick - SO - S - 5'10", 184 - J.H. Rose HS - Greenville, NC
Alec Boddiford - SO - OG - 6'5", 270 - Loyola Blakefield - Forest Hill, MD
Donnie Bowers - JR - OT - 6'6", 243 - St. Xavier HS - Louisville, KY
Matt Brewer - FR - LB - 6'0", 212 - Lafayette HS - Wildwood, MO
Joe Buckley - JR - PK - 5'9", 176 - Malvern Prep - Downington, PA
Chase Burge - JR - NG - 6'4", 270 - Fairfield Union HS - Rushville, OH
Andre Byrd - JR - SB - 5'7", 160 - The Bolles School - Jacksonville, FL
Dallas Butts - FR - OT - 6'3", 250 - Salado HS - Dallas, TX
Lee Calloway - JR - DE - 5'11", 265 - Dunbar HS - Ft. Myers, FL
Evan Campbell - FR - OT - 6'4", 250 - Chesapeake HS - Pasadena, MD
William Coats - FR - LS - 6'4", 225 - R.L. Stevenson HS - Minden, NV
J. J. Cosh - SR - SB - 5'9", 183 - Riley County HS - Manhattan, KS
John Corby - FR - OG - 6'1", 285 - James Madison HS - San Antonio, TX
Prentice Christian - SB - 5'11", 204 - Dematha Catholic HS - Bowie, MD
Marcus Curry - SO - SB - 5'11", 200 - Hebron HS - Carrollton, TX
David Dawson - SR - S - 5'9", 172 - Mansfield Summit HS - Arlington, TX
Kenson Dera - FR - LB - 5'11", 223 - Lely HS - Naples, FL
Delvin Diggs - SO - FB - 5'11", 208 - Claxton HS - Claxton, GA
Eric Douglass - SO - OC - 6'2", 273 - Owasso HS - Owasso, OK
John Dowd - SO - OT - 6'4", 260 - St. Peter's Boys School - Staten Island, NY
Josh Dowling-Fitzpatrick - FR - OLB - 6'2", 225 - St. Francis De Sales - Westerville, OH
Jordan Eddington - SR - FB - 6'0", 225 - William H. Taft HS - San Antonio, TX
Jerad Fehr - FR - K/S - 6'0", 185 - Alta HS - Draper, UT
Cory Finnerty - SR - SB - 5'10", 185 - Saint Bonaventure HS - Ventura, CA
Warner Fischer - SO - OT - 6'5", 257 - West Brunswick HS - Shalotte, NC
Mason Graham - SO - OLB - 6'0", 207 - Brentwood Academy - Brentwood, TN
Ryan Green - FR - CB - 5'9", 180 - Milton HS - Atlanta, GA
Trey Grissom - Jr - LB - 6'3", 225 - Garner Magnet HS - Garner, NC
Justin Haan - FR - PK - 6'2", 205 - South Christian HS - Byron Center, MI
Tony Haberer - SR - LB - 6'1", 217 - Liberty Hill HS - Liberty Hill, TX
Jerry Hauberger - JR - OLB - 6'0", 214 - Eastern Technical HS - Baltimore, MD
Darin Hess - FR - WR - 6'3", 215 - St. Petersburg Catholic HS - Largo, FL
Austin Hill - SO - LS - 6'0", 157 - Mahopac HS - Mahopac, NY
Jack Hilt - FR - OLB - 6'0", 205 - St. Xavier HS - Louisville, KY
David Hong - SO - OG - 6'3", 278 - Allen HS - Allen, TX
Hal Hunter - SO - OLB - 6'1", 215 - Cathedral Catholic - San Diego, CA
Corey James - SO - SB - 5'8", 160 - University Christian HS - Jacksonville, FL
Matthew Kelley - FR - DE - 6'1", 225 - St. Francis De Sales - Westerville, OH
Caleb King - SO - LB - 6'0", 223 - Warner Christian - Port Orange, FL
Conor Krebs - SO - OT - 6'1", 230 - Chaminde HS - Williston Park, NY
Jeff Lenar - SR - OG - 6'6", 266 - Walton HS - Marietta, GA
Clayton Lydick - JR - DE - 6'4", 253 - Lake Highlands HS - Dallas, TX
Jared Marks - SO - NG - 6'5", 301 - Pine Forest HS - Fayetteville, NC
Cameron Marshall - SR - DE - 6'6", 233 - Broomfield HS - Broomfield, CO
Mike Mathews - SR - WR - 6'1", 201 - Mt. Lebanon HS - Pittsburgh, PA
Austin Milke - SR - OT - 6'3", 256 - St. Thomas More HS - Lafayette, LA
Kwesi Mitchell - SO - CB - 5'10", 189 - Hoover HS - Hoover, AL
Matt Molloy - JR - OT - 6'3", 260 - Stephen Decatur HS - Berlin, MD
Kevin Moore - FR - OLB - 5'9", 205 - West Memphis HS - West Memphis, AR
Vince Murray - JR - FB - 6'1", 217 - Ryle HS - Union, KY
Gary Myers - SO - WR - 6'1", 194 - William H. Taft HS - San Antonio, TX
Matt Nechak - SR - DE - 6'4", 252 - Malibu HS - Canoga Park, CA
Dylon Porlas - FR - S - 5'10", 185 - Cathedral Catholic - San Diego, CA
Trey Reed - FR - SB - 5'8", 195 - Pleasant Grove HS - Texarkana, TX
Aaron Santiago - SO - SB - 5'8", 167 - Kapolei HS - Kapolei, HI
Mike Schupp - JR - WR - 5'10", 176 - Cathedral Prep - Erie, PA
Jarred Shannon - SO - S - 6'0", 208 - P.K. Yonge HS - Gainesville, FL
Tyler Simmons - JR - LB - 6'3", 228 - Washington HS - Goldsby, OK
Brian Smith - SR - OLB - 6'1", 220 - Jacobs HS - Algonquin, IL
Kameron Smith - SO - QB - 6'1", 187 - Garner HS - Garner, NC
Garrett Snoeyenbos - SO - OG - 6'4", 266 - Brentwood Academy - Brentwood, TN
Clint Sovie - SR - OLB - 5'11", 200 - The Bolles School - Jacksonville, FL
Jordan Stephens - SR - DE - 6'4", 265 - North Hall HS - Gainesville, GA
Mike Stuckel - SO - QB/SB - 5'11", 195 - Bishop Kenny HS - Fleming Island, FL
Mike Sweeney - JR - OLB - 6'3", 234 - Kellenberg HS - Floral Park, NY
Alexander Teich - SO - FB - 6'0", 212 - Carney Creek HS - Conroe, TX
Darius Terry - SR - DB - 5'7", 172 - Westside HS - Houston, TX
Thanassi Varvoutis - JR - LS - 6'0", 205 - Pasadena HS - Houston, TX
Ram Vela - SR - OLB - 5'9", 197 - William H. Taft HS - San Antonio, TX
Michael Walsh - SR - DE - 6'2", 251 - Notre Dame HS - Newtown, PA
John Charles White - JR - P - 6'2", 196 - St. Pius X - Atlanta, GA
Kyle Widhalm - FR - OT - 6'2", 240 - American Heritage Academy - Fairview, TX
Glen Woods - SR - FB - 5'11", 228 - La Jolla Country Day - San Diego, CA
David Wright - SO - CB - 6'2", 188 - Englewood HS - Jacksonville, FL
Jason Wright - JR - S - 6'1", 200 - Penn HS - Granger, IN
Note: As with previous seasons, all numbers shown (both traditional and DSATM) ignore all games against lower division teams. For that reason, some rankings may differ from the official NCAA rankings for traditional statistics.
Both The Ohio State University and The United States Naval Academy are enjoying periods of relative prosperity. Both teams were performing to less than their potential before a new coach took the helm and righted the ship. For Ohio State, it was Jim Tressel in 2001. For the USNA, it was Paul Johnson in 2002. Though coach Johnson moved on to Georgia Tech, the Midshipmen kept the winning momentum going last year. As Navy's turnaround started in 2002, let's compare both teams starting with that year.
Offensive Comparison
Buckeye fans frustrated with the lackluster performance of the Ohio State offense will find a comparison to the Midshipmen offensive indeed. A strong case could be made that the Navy offense has been statistically superior since Paul Johnson arrived "where the Severn meets the tide."
For most of the last 7 years, Navy has outperformed Ohio State in 3 or more key "tradtional" statistical categories. The following is a list of the key stats and the years in which they beat the Buckeyes in those metrics.
The Lighter SideOffensive Comparison
Buckeye fans frustrated with the lackluster performance of the Ohio State offense will find a comparison to the Midshipmen offensive indeed. A strong case could be made that the Navy offense has been statistically superior since Paul Johnson arrived "where the Severn meets the tide."
For most of the last 7 years, Navy has outperformed Ohio State in 3 or more key "tradtional" statistical categories. The following is a list of the key stats and the years in which they beat the Buckeyes in those metrics.
- Scoring Offense: 2003-2005 and 2007 (4 of the last 6 years)
- Total Offense: 2002-2008 (ALL of the last 7 years)
- Rushing Offense: 2002-2008 (ALL of the last 7 years)
- Passing Efficiency: 2004
Behind the Numbers (BtN) veterans will recall that Differential Statistical AnalysisTM (DSA) does more than the traditional stats just listed. Instead of just counting yards or points, it compares a team's output to the average output against their opponent. For example: Differential Scoring Offense (DSO) compares how much a team scored compared to how much everybody else scored against their opponents. If they score twice as many points as their opponents usually give up, their DSO is 2. Differential Total Offense (DTO), Differential Rushing Offense (DRO) and Differential Passing Offense (DPO) all work the same way. Differential Defense works the same way too, but a lower number is better. If a team's Differential Scoring Defense (DSD) is 2, they are giving up twice as many points as your opponents usually score.
It doesn't take a Weis-sized brain to realize that DSA accounts for strength of schedule. All of this quickly becomes relevant to Buckeye (and Navy) fans when it is observed that Navy wasn't just better in traditional offensive stats; they were better in several key DSA stats as well:
Defensive Comparison
While the litany of Navy's statistical superiority on the offensive side was long, the accounting on defense is quite simple.
Conclusion
While Navy compares favorably to Ohio State offensively speaking; on the other side of the ball, there is no comparison to speak of. A good but not great offense and a bad defense are typically no match for a team with an average or above offense and a fantastic defense. And now Terrelle Pryor has a year of preparation under his belt. uh-oh
But it is the Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy that enter the Horseshoe on Saturday. They have faced steeper odds and they fear no one. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.
It doesn't take a Weis-sized brain to realize that DSA accounts for strength of schedule. All of this quickly becomes relevant to Buckeye (and Navy) fans when it is observed that Navy wasn't just better in traditional offensive stats; they were better in several key DSA stats as well:
- Differential Scoring Offense: In 2007, Navy was 9th in DSO. OSU was 32nd.
- Differential Total Offense: 4 times in the last 7 years (2002-2004 and 2007), Navy was superior in DTO.
- Average DTO since 2002: Navy 1.03 :: Ohio State 1.01
- Differential Rushing Offense: Navy has been ranked in the top 7 in DRO since 2002. OSU has not been ranked above 10th.
- Average DRO since 2002: Navy 1.93 :: Ohio State 1.25
- Differential Yards per Carry: Navy beat OSU in offensive DYPC in 5 times in the last 7 years (2002-2005 and 2007)
- Differential Yards per Attempt: In offensive DYPA, Navy was superior in 3 of the last 5 years, including both of the last two.
- Differential Pass Efficiency: Navy beat OSU in offensive DPE in 2004 and 2007.
Defensive Comparison
While the litany of Navy's statistical superiority on the offensive side was long, the accounting on defense is quite simple.
- Navy ranked higher in Pass Defense (yards) in 2002-2004.
- Navy ranked higher in Differential Pass Defense (DPD) in 2003.
- The End - Ohio State ranked higher in every defensive category in every year, usually by a large margin
Conclusion
While Navy compares favorably to Ohio State offensively speaking; on the other side of the ball, there is no comparison to speak of. A good but not great offense and a bad defense are typically no match for a team with an average or above offense and a fantastic defense. And now Terrelle Pryor has a year of preparation under his belt. uh-oh
But it is the Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy that enter the Horseshoe on Saturday. They have faced steeper odds and they fear no one. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.
The 2009 college football season is finally upon us! In a typical year, the Buckeyes' opening day opponent is either a mid level FBS team, like Northern Illinois (2006), with a fan base who's excitement for the season provokes overstatements about "shocking the world," or a FCS team like Youngstown State (2007 - 08) who is looking for a paycheck. Thus, in most cases the Lighter Side has plenty of material to write about. This season, however, is not typical. As you know, Ohio State opens the year with the United States Naval Academy and, like most Buckeye fans, the Lighter Side isn't quite sure how to handle it.
Here's what I mean. If Ohio State were opening the season against, say, Duke there would not be any discussion about whether or not fans going to the game should boo or otherwise jeer the Blue Devils as they take the field. Even if there was such a discussion, the issue would be whether or not booing an opponent is appropriate as a general matter, and not if booing or jeering the opponent aligns the boo-bird with terrorists. Amplifying the point, if the Buckeyes were getting ready to play Miami of Ohio, for example, no Buckeye fan in their right mind would ever consider actually cheering or giving any ovation for the Redhawk players as they take the field. That would be ridiculous, right? But, because Ohio State is opening with a service academy, fans are actually considering cheering the opponent. Make no mistake, Navy isn't coming to Ohio Stadium for a ticker tape parade. They are coming to the Shoe for the same reason as any other football team - to beat your Buckeyes. But, still, fans are perplexed. Jeering the Navy seems in poor taste, and cheering an opponent seems equally absurd. What to do?
So it is with the Lighter Side. In a typical year, the Lighter Side can try and get under the skin of MAC fans by suggesting their team is a pre-pubescent girl. But, the Lighter Side would never try and call the United States Navy a bunch of girls. If Ohio State were playing BYU, the Lighter Side would not hesitate to take pot shots at the outsized opponent. But with Navy - taking pot shots seems politically incorrect, no? As a consequence, the Lighter Side's hands are virtually tied here.
So, rather than attack Navy or its fans, let's do the next best thing - rip on Notre Dame and Lou Holtz. The fact that Dr. Lou still has a job at ESPN is astonishing. As you are probably aware, hurricane mouth has predicted that Notre Dame will play Florida for the BCS Championship. He reasons that Notre Dame won't be the number 2 team in the country, but that they'll be the best team in the stadium for each of 12 weeks and will end up being 12-0 or maybe 11-1 should they lose to USC (apparently the only team Lou things might match up favorably against the Domers). In other words, Notre Dame has an easy schedule and, like Ohio State 2007, will get there by default.
Lou's right about one thing - Notre Dame's schedule sure does look easy:
09/05 Nevada
09/12 @ Michigan
09/19 Michigan State
09/26 @ Purdue
10/03 Washington
10/17 No. 4 USC
10/24 Boston College
10/31 Washington State
11/07 Navy
11/14 @ Pittsburgh
11/21 Connecticut
11/28 @ Stanford
Last season, ND did not play Nevada, Washington State, or UConn. Against the other 9 teams, ND was 5-4. The wins came against a dreadful Michigan team (35-17), a middling lame duck coached Purdue (38-21), a worse than Michigan, Washington (33-7), Navy (27-21) in a revenge for 2007 game, and 5-7 Stanford (28-21). Losses came from Mark Dantonio's Michigan State (27-3), USC 38-3, Boston College 17-0, and Pitt (36-33). The '08 Domers barely beat San Diego State 21-13 after the Sandy Ego's folded in the 4th Q, lost to an 8-5 North Carolina 29-24 and lost to 3-9 Syracuse 24-23. Now, if you look closely, you'll find that Notre Dame's 2009 schedule is essentially the same as their 2008 slate. Nevada and Sandy Ego State are comparables, Syracuse and Washington State are both pathetic, though UConn is not as good as UNC. But, again, more or less the same. How did ND fare last season? 6-6, though they did go on to beat Hawaii, winning a bowl game for the first time in over a decade.
Lou wants me to believe Notre Dame is 5 games better this year? I'm supposed to take Lou seriously when last year he predicted ND to be a 10 win team and they lost to friggin' Syracuse? The same Lou Holtz that thought LSU was outmatch in the 2007 Sugar Bowl? (LSU 41 ND 14). No thanks. All things being equal, the 2009 Domers should be happy to go 8-4. On the other hand, it might be kind of fun watching Urban Meyer's Gators dismantle the Domers.
Before closing, I think it's appropriate for the Lighter Side to give a tip of the cap to our newest "MAC minded" fan group - the fans of the Michigan Wolverines. You're all in! Keep shaking those keys. I'm sorry if this version of the Lighter Side sucked, but, Clarity punishes me by making me put in 14 hour days on Sundays - it's not technically mandatory that I do so, but every one knows that it really isn't voluntary. Grad21 and Bucknutty are always jotting down who's there and who's not, if you know what I mean. Anyway... point is, it makes a man tired and isn't fair.
Traditions & Opponent PerspectiveSo it is with the Lighter Side. In a typical year, the Lighter Side can try and get under the skin of MAC fans by suggesting their team is a pre-pubescent girl. But, the Lighter Side would never try and call the United States Navy a bunch of girls. If Ohio State were playing BYU, the Lighter Side would not hesitate to take pot shots at the outsized opponent. But with Navy - taking pot shots seems politically incorrect, no? As a consequence, the Lighter Side's hands are virtually tied here.
So, rather than attack Navy or its fans, let's do the next best thing - rip on Notre Dame and Lou Holtz. The fact that Dr. Lou still has a job at ESPN is astonishing. As you are probably aware, hurricane mouth has predicted that Notre Dame will play Florida for the BCS Championship. He reasons that Notre Dame won't be the number 2 team in the country, but that they'll be the best team in the stadium for each of 12 weeks and will end up being 12-0 or maybe 11-1 should they lose to USC (apparently the only team Lou things might match up favorably against the Domers). In other words, Notre Dame has an easy schedule and, like Ohio State 2007, will get there by default.
Lou's right about one thing - Notre Dame's schedule sure does look easy:
09/05 Nevada
09/12 @ Michigan
09/19 Michigan State
09/26 @ Purdue
10/03 Washington
10/17 No. 4 USC
10/24 Boston College
10/31 Washington State
11/07 Navy
11/14 @ Pittsburgh
11/21 Connecticut
11/28 @ Stanford
Last season, ND did not play Nevada, Washington State, or UConn. Against the other 9 teams, ND was 5-4. The wins came against a dreadful Michigan team (35-17), a middling lame duck coached Purdue (38-21), a worse than Michigan, Washington (33-7), Navy (27-21) in a revenge for 2007 game, and 5-7 Stanford (28-21). Losses came from Mark Dantonio's Michigan State (27-3), USC 38-3, Boston College 17-0, and Pitt (36-33). The '08 Domers barely beat San Diego State 21-13 after the Sandy Ego's folded in the 4th Q, lost to an 8-5 North Carolina 29-24 and lost to 3-9 Syracuse 24-23. Now, if you look closely, you'll find that Notre Dame's 2009 schedule is essentially the same as their 2008 slate. Nevada and Sandy Ego State are comparables, Syracuse and Washington State are both pathetic, though UConn is not as good as UNC. But, again, more or less the same. How did ND fare last season? 6-6, though they did go on to beat Hawaii, winning a bowl game for the first time in over a decade.
Lou wants me to believe Notre Dame is 5 games better this year? I'm supposed to take Lou seriously when last year he predicted ND to be a 10 win team and they lost to friggin' Syracuse? The same Lou Holtz that thought LSU was outmatch in the 2007 Sugar Bowl? (LSU 41 ND 14). No thanks. All things being equal, the 2009 Domers should be happy to go 8-4. On the other hand, it might be kind of fun watching Urban Meyer's Gators dismantle the Domers.
Before closing, I think it's appropriate for the Lighter Side to give a tip of the cap to our newest "MAC minded" fan group - the fans of the Michigan Wolverines. You're all in! Keep shaking those keys. I'm sorry if this version of the Lighter Side sucked, but, Clarity punishes me by making me put in 14 hour days on Sundays - it's not technically mandatory that I do so, but every one knows that it really isn't voluntary. Grad21 and Bucknutty are always jotting down who's there and who's not, if you know what I mean. Anyway... point is, it makes a man tired and isn't fair.
Ex Scientia Tridens
From Knowledge, Seapower
PREEMINENT TRADITION
Those who care enough about Ohio State football to read this far into the preview will have known for some time that Ohio State opens the 2009 football season against the United States Naval Academy. But only now, as we approach the game does it occur to us just how much respect and, yes, even reverence this opponent deserves. Only now does it occur to us how few opponents can match the tradition of the United States Naval Academy. Only now do we realize that our Buckeyes have faced an opponent with tradition to match on but three other occassions - the three times that they have played Navy.
This is not to disparage our rival. There will be plenty of time for that in November. This opponent's tradition is matched only by their rival, whom the Buckeyes have never played.
This opponent's traditions are not just about how many wins their football program has. They are not just about championships or major individual awards. Their traditions are not just important to them, but to every American. Their traditions are not just about football, and those traditions do more than serve as a touchstone for players, fans and their families.
Their traditions form a part of the culture that binds together the leaders of the U.S. Navy. Their traditions protect the leaders of the U.S. Navy from the lowering of standards that has plagued the rest of our society. Their traditions provide those leaders with a bond to the history of the Navy and give them a sense of being a part of something monumental. Insofar as their traditions do all of these things, they are a small albeit intrinsic component of the USA's mastery of the seas. They have traditions that are more important to this nation than all of college football and it's traditions combined.
But like so many other schools, their non-football traditions cannot be neatly extricated from those that pertain only to the gridiron. It simply isn't possible to expound upon their football traditions without touching on the others.
Books have been written about these traditions, so any attempt to cover them all here must be prefaced with a disclaimer and an apology. As for the disclaimer: This is but a cursory glance at Naval Academy traditions. The reader is encouraged to pursue the subject further. The apology goes out to all of the Midshipmen and Alumni of the Naval Academy. It is certain that what follows will not do justice to your experience in Annapolis. You have our most heartfelt apologies, as well as our sincerest gratitude for your service.
NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI
This section comprises but a partial list of notable alumni of the United States Naval Academy. Few schools with ten times their enrollment can match this list of distinguished graduates.
Albert Michelson: Among physicists, Michelson is generally regarded as one of the greatest experimentalists who ever lived. Famous for the Michelson-Morely Experiment, for which he won the 1907 Nobel Prize in Physics (the first American to do so), it is seldom remembered that it was necessary to give birth to the science of interferometry to perform that experiment.
Hyman G. Rickover: Father of the nuclear navy
William Wohlsen Behrens, Jr.: Vice Admiral; oceanographer of the Navy who helped establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Alan Hale: Discoverer of the Hale-Bopp Comet
Richard E. Byrd: Arctic and Antarctic explorer
Jim Lovell: Among many other accomplishments, commanded Apollo 13; His coolness under extreme circumstances ("Houston, we have a problem...") is considered largely responsible for the successful return of the crippled spacecraft to Earth.
Alan Shepard: The only member of the Original Seven astronauts to have walked on the moon, which he did as commander of Apollo 14
Ken Bowersox: Pilot and commander of several Shuttle missions
Charles F. Bolden, Jr.: Pilot and commander of several Shuttle missions, and current NASA Administrator
Wendy B. Lawrence: Mission Specialist for several Shuttle missions
Ross Perot: President of his class and Battalion Commander; self-made billionaire in the computer industry; candidate for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996.
Richard Armitage: President of Armitage International; ambassador to the newly independent states that were formerly republics of the Soviet Union (1992-1993).
Jimmy Carter: 39th President of the United States
James H. Webb, Jr.: Marine Corps officer and Vietnam veteran; Secretary of the Navy (1987-1988); noted novelist (Fields of Fire et. al.); currently a US Senator from Virginia
Charles Wilson: As a member of the House of Representatives, convinced Congress to support the largest ever CIA covert operation to supply the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War; portrayed in the eponymously titled movie Charlie Wilson's War by Tom Hanks (who also portrayed Jim Lovell in Apollo 13 - please turn in your unused y-chromosome if you did not already know that (obviously excepting the 4 women who read this far into the preview))
John McCain: U.S. Senator; Vietnam Veteran and POW. His father and grand-father are the only father-son pair of 4-star Admirals in naval history.
Robert McFarlane: Former National Security Advisor
John Poindexter: Former National Security Advisor
Robert A. Heinlein: Considered by many to be the greatest ever author of science fiction
Chester Nimitz: The man in charge of the war in the Pacific during WWII.
William "Bull" Halsey, Jr.: Admiral of the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific during WWII.
Thomas C. Kinkaid: Admiral of the 7th Fleet in the Pacific during WWII.
Roger Staubach: NFL QB
David Robinson: NBA Player
Oliver North: Vietnam veteran; TV and Radio personality
Montel Williams: TV personality
Other notable alumni of the U.S. Naval Academy include:Alan Hale: Discoverer of the Hale-Bopp Comet
Richard E. Byrd: Arctic and Antarctic explorer
Jim Lovell: Among many other accomplishments, commanded Apollo 13; His coolness under extreme circumstances ("Houston, we have a problem...") is considered largely responsible for the successful return of the crippled spacecraft to Earth.
Alan Shepard: The only member of the Original Seven astronauts to have walked on the moon, which he did as commander of Apollo 14
Ken Bowersox: Pilot and commander of several Shuttle missions
Charles F. Bolden, Jr.: Pilot and commander of several Shuttle missions, and current NASA Administrator
Wendy B. Lawrence: Mission Specialist for several Shuttle missions
Ross Perot: President of his class and Battalion Commander; self-made billionaire in the computer industry; candidate for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996.
Richard Armitage: President of Armitage International; ambassador to the newly independent states that were formerly republics of the Soviet Union (1992-1993).
Jimmy Carter: 39th President of the United States
James H. Webb, Jr.: Marine Corps officer and Vietnam veteran; Secretary of the Navy (1987-1988); noted novelist (Fields of Fire et. al.); currently a US Senator from Virginia
Charles Wilson: As a member of the House of Representatives, convinced Congress to support the largest ever CIA covert operation to supply the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War; portrayed in the eponymously titled movie Charlie Wilson's War by Tom Hanks (who also portrayed Jim Lovell in Apollo 13 - please turn in your unused y-chromosome if you did not already know that (obviously excepting the 4 women who read this far into the preview))
John McCain: U.S. Senator; Vietnam Veteran and POW. His father and grand-father are the only father-son pair of 4-star Admirals in naval history.
Robert McFarlane: Former National Security Advisor
John Poindexter: Former National Security Advisor
Robert A. Heinlein: Considered by many to be the greatest ever author of science fiction
Chester Nimitz: The man in charge of the war in the Pacific during WWII.
William "Bull" Halsey, Jr.: Admiral of the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific during WWII.
Thomas C. Kinkaid: Admiral of the 7th Fleet in the Pacific during WWII.
Roger Staubach: NFL QB
David Robinson: NBA Player
Oliver North: Vietnam veteran; TV and Radio personality
Montel Williams: TV personality
- 73 Congressional Medal of Honor winners
- 50 Astronauts, more than any other institution
- 45 Rhodes Scholars
- 20 Olympic Gold Medal Winners
- Numerous Congressmen and Senators
- 6 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs
- 4 Secretaries of the Navy
- 8 Ambassadors
- 9 Governors
- 5 Chiefs of Naval Operations
- 9 Commandants of the Marine Corps
- Many other luminaries of Science, Literatures, Business and Sports
THE NAVAL ACADEMY EXPERIENCE
It is widely, though not universally known that a Plebe is to a Midshipman what a freshman is to most University students. Less well known is the fact that the classes at the naval academy are also referred to by their ordinal number, but that the numbers are given by rank. So the Plebe class is also known as "Fourth Class" while what the rest of us would call the Seniors are called "Firsties".
Some Naval Academy traditions are the same for everyone. For example, there is a large Academy Seal embedded in the ground in front of the main dormitory, Bancroft Hall: This seal is not to be stepped on under any circumstances by members of any class.
Other Naval Academy traditions however, are experienced differently by each of the classes. What follows touches on the highlights of only some of the traditions experienced by each class.
Many Midshipmen and Alumni say that their time at the Academy can be divided into equal thirds; Plebe Summer, Plebe Year, and the rest of their time by the Bay.
Fight Song
Verse 1
Stand Navy down the field
Sails set to the sky
We'll never change our course
So Army you steer shy-y-y-y
Roll up the score, Navy
Anchors Aweigh
Sail Navy down the field
And sink the Army, sink the Army grey!
Verse 2
Get under way, Navy
Decks cleared for the fray
We'll hoist true Navy Blue
So Army down your grey-y-y-y
Full speed ahead, Navy
Army heave to
Furl Black and Grey and Gold
And hoist the Navy, hoist the Navy Blue!
Verse 3
Blue of the Seven Seas
Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be
Till all of time be done-n-n-ne
By Severn shore we learn
Navy's stern call
Faith, courage, service true
With honor over, honor over all.
Anchors Aweigh - Current Lyrics
Verse 1
Stand Navy out to sea,
Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course,
So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT,
Anchors Aweigh.
Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!
Verse 2
Anchors Aweigh, my boys,
Anchors Aweigh.
Farwell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore,
Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
Verse 3
Blue of the mighty deep:
Gold of God's great sun.
Let these our colors be
Till all of time be done, done, done, done.
On seven seas we learn
Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true,
With honor, over honor, over all.
Alma Mater
Now college men from sea to sea may sing of colors true,
But who has better right than we, to hoist a symbol true?
For sailor men in battle fair, since fighting days of old,
Have proved the sailor's right to wear, the Navy Blue and Gold!
"Beat Army!"
Adding to the solemnity of the graduation and commissioning ceremony, the last verse of Navy Blue and Gold is sung there. Apart from occassional performances by Glee Clubs, it is seldom sung elsewhere.
Navy Blue and Gold - Current Version
Now colleges from sea to sea
May sing of colors true,
But who has better right than we
To hoist a symbol hue?
For sailors brave in battle fair
Since fighting days of old,
Have proved a sailor's right to wear
The Navy Blue and Gold.
So hoist our colors, hoist them high,
And vow allegiance true,
So long as sunset gilds the sky
Above the ocean blue,
Unlowered shall those colors be
Whatever fate they meet,
So glorious in victory,
Triumphant in defeat.
Four years together by the Bay
Where Severn joins the tide,
Then by the Service called away,
We're scattered far and wide;
But still when two or three shall meet,
And old tales be retold,
From low to highest in the Fleet
Will pledge the Blue and Gold.
Navy Hymn
Eternal Father, Strong to Save - Original Lyrics
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 1
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Eternal Father strong to save [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Whose arm hath bound the restless wave [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Its own appointed limits keep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those in peril on the sea! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 2 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And hushed their raging at Thy word [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who walked'st on the foaming deep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And calm amidst its rage didst sleep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oh hear us when we cry to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those in peril on the sea! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 3 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most Holy Spirit Who didst brood [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Upon the chaos dark and rude [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And bid its angry tumult cease [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And give for wild confusion peace [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oh hear us when we cry to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those in peril on the sea! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 4 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]O Trinity of love and power [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Our brethren shield in danger's hour [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]From rock and tempest, fire and foe [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Protect them wheresoe'er they go [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thus evermore shall rise to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Glad hymns of praise from land and sea [/FONT]
Navy Athletics
Mascot
Rivalry with Army
Some Naval Academy traditions are the same for everyone. For example, there is a large Academy Seal embedded in the ground in front of the main dormitory, Bancroft Hall: This seal is not to be stepped on under any circumstances by members of any class.
Other Naval Academy traditions however, are experienced differently by each of the classes. What follows touches on the highlights of only some of the traditions experienced by each class.
Many Midshipmen and Alumni say that their time at the Academy can be divided into equal thirds; Plebe Summer, Plebe Year, and the rest of their time by the Bay.
Plebe Summer
The Plebes report to the Academy long before the school year begins for what is known as Plebe Summer. A web-site devoted to parents of Plebes describes the six weeks of Plebe Summer as, "...a demanding, fast paced boot camp style orientation that begins four years of preparation of Midshipmen for commissioning as naval officers." In addition to the grueling physical demands of Plebe Summer there is intense training in sailing, signaling, navigation, firearms (9mm, M16) and infantry drill (marching).
Buckeye fans enamored of Ohio State's focus on the whole person will be interested to know that Plebe's also receive instruction and indoctrination in the Brigade of Midshipman's Honor Concept. The goal of this character development program is to ensure that each individual has the moral courage and the desire to do the right thing because it is right, not from fear of punishment.
Plebe Year
After the 6 weeks of Plebe Summer there is Plebes' Parents' Weekend. Following the shortest weekend of their young lives comes the arrival of the upperclassmen, more than 3,000 of them.
Very quickly the Plebes learn that life at the Academy is completely communal. Every Midshipman lives in Bancroft Hall (a.k.a. Mother B), the largest dormitory in the world by some accounts. Every Midshipman eats every meal at King Hall. Every facet of life is experienced with and amongst the other members of this entirely insular community.
All of this togetherness creates tension which must be relieved. The tradition that provides a continual outlet for the tension is the humiliation (training) of the Plebes by the upperclassmen.
Unfortunately for this year's Plebes, one of the exigencies of being at the bottom of the Academy's social food chain is the requirement to bet on Navy to win outright in every game in every sport. This means that the Buckeyes are likely to be indirectly responsible for this year's Plebes losing privileges (the punishment for losing a bet). For example, they can lose their left turn which can require making three right turns to get around a corner. Another common cost of losing a bet is the loss of their "butts" for the week. When this happens they must suffer the humiliation of requesting temporary access to their butts (always at the top of their lungs) to make head calls or to sit down for dinner.
Even more amusing is the tradition of losing a bet and being required to do a "chow call" in an upperclassmens' room at 0300 hours (3 AM for the military-time-challenged). This prank consists of entering the room unannounced and uninvited and shouting the following at the top of their lungs:
This is only one example of the little known fact that hazing can take its toll on the upperclassmen as well as the Plebes. Others include "land mines" and "assassinations" .
Land mine operations involve placing wind-up alarm clocks strategically in the ceiling tiles of an upperclassman's room, set to go off at 15 or 20 minute intervals all night. While this has not yet resulted in any murders, the Preview Team at Buckeye Planet believe it to be only a matter of time.
Unlike a land mine operation, an assasination, of course, requires a conspiracy. An upperclassman is distracted by one conspirator while a Plebe is required to crawl under a table and spray a mixture of condiments (ketchup, mustard, honey...) on the upperclassman's shoes. Then another conspirator stands on a chair to announce that there has been an assasination in the Hall, at which point everyone jumps up to inspect their shoes.
Another Naval Academy tradition involving a mixture of condiments is called a "Beat Army". Sometimes these mixtures include more than condiments, though to this point in history the ingredients have always been various foods. While a "Beat Army" can be required of a Plebe, reports suggest that Plebes sometimes do them willingly to impress upperclassmen. For those few of you who haven't already figured out the rest of the story; yes, they drink the concoction and then scream the eponymous phrase. It is customary to applaud a successful "Beat Army".
Pulling off pranks and paying off bets has become significantly more difficult for Plebes since September 11, 2001. The changes in defense posture that were precipitated by the events of that day led to the closing of what Midshipmen referred to as the Ho Chi Minh trail. This is a series of Steam Tunnels, used for heating Bancroft Hall among other places, that was often used to travel long distances underground, surreptitiously.
These traditional experiences are endured by each Plebe throughout their first year at the Academy. These ministrations are endured either in solitude or in small groups during what will always be remembered as the longest year of their lives. The year ends however, with a tradition that they share.
During Commissioning Week for the Firsties, the Plebes work together to climb a 21-foot gray obelisk, the Herndon Monument. This event is known simply as "Herndon", though some spectators have referred to it as "Plebe Recognition Ceremony". Named for a Captain who sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save his ship and crew during a hurricane; Herndon is made all the more difficult by upperclassmen who will have smeared the entire obelisk with several hundred pounds of lard. No information is available on PETA's stance on this tradition.
Before applying the lard, the upperclassmen place a dixie cup (which must be retrieved) on the top of the monument . The lard is then applied and taunts and epithets directed at the Plebes are written into it by sticky-fingered upperclassmen. As with many other such traditions, the pranksters do not go entirely unscathed. The event ends when an upperclassman's cover (hat) replaces the dixie cup.
Although the tradition looks (and smells) odd (see picture below), it is taken very seriously by the Plebes. After the sounding of the horn at exactly 1400 hours (2 PM), the time it takes to replace the dixie cup is recorded to the second. The fastest class to perform the feat was the class of 1972, who as Plebes in 1969 reached the top of the monument in just 90 seconds. The longest it has ever taken was an agonizing 4 hours, 5 minutes and 17 seconds in 1995.
Post Plebe-Year
Third Class
In keeping with the counter-intuitive numbering of the classes at the Academy, those in their second year are called the 3rd class. Another common name for them is "Youngsters"; but they are not officially Youngsters until they have sighted the Naval Academy chapel dome upon completion of their Third Year summer cruise aboard a Yard Patrol (YP) craft.
As Youngsters the Midshipmen find that they have new privileges. They are now allowed in the Ward Room, which means that they can now watch television. They are also permitted to have cell phones as 3rd years. At Ohio State, when they take away cell phones and television, they call it Hell Week. At the U.S. Naval Academy, that's just a part of the Plebe Year experience.
Of course, the biggest benefit of being a Youngster is that one is no longer a Plebe. According to most sources, the Youngsters take it easier on the Plebes than 2nd Class and Firsties. This ends during Commissioning Week however, as it is the job of 3rd Class to lard-up the obelisk for the Plebes.
Another activity for the Youngsters during Commissioning Week is the Luau. While it seems convenient that both a Luau for 1000 people and the lard used on the obelisk imply dire consequences for a number of pigs; it has not been confirmed that the Naval Academy employs the same unfortunate swine for both events.
Second Class
While the Youngster get new privileges such as cell phone and television access; 2nd Class are now allowed to have a car. Conveniently, they are also given leave on most weekends and are allowed to wear civilian clothes when they leave Academy grounds.
This last point is important to note for Buckeye fans going to the game. It is possible some of the people you see cheering for Navy while wearing civilian clothes are 2nd Years or Firsties. They should be treated with the same respect that you would afford a Midshipman in uniform.
One of the biggest responsibilities for 2nd Years is the training of the new Plebes. This means that they are now the beneficiaries of the pranks and bets in some cases; but it often means they are the new victims of "assassinations" or "land mines".
While the Plebes clearly get the brunt of the torment at the academy, there is something that occurs to 2nd Classmen called "Goat Court". It is not at all clear what it is, as the descriptions of it that are available are all intentionally vague.
The event takes place in a location also known as the Goat Court, which is either of two completely enclosed square sections inside the third and fourth wings of Bancroft Hall, walled in by five stories of room windows. The rooms are commonly assigned to Plebes or short-straw drawing Youngsters, since they lack the otherwise lovely view that many other rooms have. The bottom of the courts are composed of the roof of the basement level. The air is stagnant, and the large HVAC units on the basement roof enhance the ambiance.
As previously described, there is very little information available for what Goat Court, the event, is. There is even a YouTube video of the event, but even from this it is very difficult to discern what, exactly, is taking place.
While the Plebes have Herndon and the Youngsters have the Luau, 2nd Class traverses a rite of passage that is second only to Commissioning: Ring Dance.
The Class Ring means far more to Midshipmen and graduates of the Naval Academy than it means to alumni of just about any other school you can name. The class designs their own ring and takes great pride in them. At the Ring Dance, after a formal dinner, there is a solemn ceremony during which Navy Chaplains dip the rings in a bowl that has been filled with water from all seven seas (literally). At this juncture, the Midshipmen are now considered "wedded" to the Navy.
The Ring Dance dates to 1925, and is one of very few examples of a change to Naval Academy tradition. Before then, there was a less formal and far rowdier tradition of dunking both the rings and the 2nd Years in the nearby Severn river. This tradition ended abruptly when it resulted in a fatality in 1924.
Firsties
First Year, which in the counter-intuitive numbering at the Naval Academy means their last year, is considered by many to be the easiest for Midshipmen. They are allowed to have refrigerators, they are allowed to drive on the yard and park for free, they get more leave and can wear civilian clothes more often. Many of them have much lighter load of classes than they did during 2nd Year.
The one exception to the ease of First Class Year is 100s night. One hundred days from graduation, for several hours, the Firsties trade places with the Plebes. What, exactly, happens beyond this is yet another aspect of Academy life about which the eye-witnesses are intentionally vague.
In keeping with the progression from the messy and raucous Herndon for the Plebes to the casual Luau of the Youngsters to the formal Ring Dance of the 2nd Years; the Commissioning Week activities of the Firsties are unmatched for solemnity and importance. Commissioning Week is so-called because it is when the receive their commissions as officers in the United States Navy.
It was not always so. Before 1912, it was required that Midshipmen serve in the Navy for two years before receiving their commissions. The class of 1912 was the first to be commissioned upon graduation. As they no longer needed their Midshipman hats they spontaneously threw them in the air upon receiving their officer's hats. This has become the final tradition that Midshipmen take part in as Midshipmen.
The "Cover Toss" or "Hat Toss" has become iconic and is copied at graduations all over the U.S. every June. The difference between the copy-cats and the original is that the graduates of civilian schools are seen scurrying around looking for their own mortar board after their own half-hearted throw.
Midshipman covers are tossed higher and farther than mortar boards, because the men and women throwing them are "Middies" no longer. They will now wear the hat of an officer in the United States Navy. Not only do they not retrieve their covers; they leave a little something in them for the people who do.
While there are reports that at one time Middies put their address into the cover so as to later receive a letter and a cake from the person who retrieved it, the custom now and for most of the last 97 years has been to leave a small amount of money in the hat.
Naval Academy SongsBuckeye fans enamored of Ohio State's focus on the whole person will be interested to know that Plebe's also receive instruction and indoctrination in the Brigade of Midshipman's Honor Concept. The goal of this character development program is to ensure that each individual has the moral courage and the desire to do the right thing because it is right, not from fear of punishment.
Plebe Year
After the 6 weeks of Plebe Summer there is Plebes' Parents' Weekend. Following the shortest weekend of their young lives comes the arrival of the upperclassmen, more than 3,000 of them.
Very quickly the Plebes learn that life at the Academy is completely communal. Every Midshipman lives in Bancroft Hall (a.k.a. Mother B), the largest dormitory in the world by some accounts. Every Midshipman eats every meal at King Hall. Every facet of life is experienced with and amongst the other members of this entirely insular community.
All of this togetherness creates tension which must be relieved. The tradition that provides a continual outlet for the tension is the humiliation (training) of the Plebes by the upperclassmen.
Unfortunately for this year's Plebes, one of the exigencies of being at the bottom of the Academy's social food chain is the requirement to bet on Navy to win outright in every game in every sport. This means that the Buckeyes are likely to be indirectly responsible for this year's Plebes losing privileges (the punishment for losing a bet). For example, they can lose their left turn which can require making three right turns to get around a corner. Another common cost of losing a bet is the loss of their "butts" for the week. When this happens they must suffer the humiliation of requesting temporary access to their butts (always at the top of their lungs) to make head calls or to sit down for dinner.
Even more amusing is the tradition of losing a bet and being required to do a "chow call" in an upperclassmens' room at 0300 hours (3 AM for the military-time-challenged). This prank consists of entering the room unannounced and uninvited and shouting the following at the top of their lungs:
"SIR, you now have 4 hours till morning quarters formation. Formation goes inside. The uniform for formation is Summer Working Blues. The menu for morning meal is: apple juice, grape juice, assorted cereals, broiled bacon, pancakes, maple syrup, wheat toast, margarine, fresh fruit, reduced fat milk and coffee. The Officers Of the Watch are: the Officer Of the Watch is Lt (name), company officer (or whoever is the OOW that day), the Midshipman Officer Of the Watch is, Midn CDR (name), Vice Honor Chair. The major events of the yard are...NONE, the professional topic for the week is: Submarine warfare. You now have 4 hours SIR!"
"SIR! Request permission to start over!"
They are, of course, required to start over regardless of the response (or absence thereof), repeating the above script at full volume.
This is only one example of the little known fact that hazing can take its toll on the upperclassmen as well as the Plebes. Others include "land mines" and "assassinations" .
Land mine operations involve placing wind-up alarm clocks strategically in the ceiling tiles of an upperclassman's room, set to go off at 15 or 20 minute intervals all night. While this has not yet resulted in any murders, the Preview Team at Buckeye Planet believe it to be only a matter of time.
Unlike a land mine operation, an assasination, of course, requires a conspiracy. An upperclassman is distracted by one conspirator while a Plebe is required to crawl under a table and spray a mixture of condiments (ketchup, mustard, honey...) on the upperclassman's shoes. Then another conspirator stands on a chair to announce that there has been an assasination in the Hall, at which point everyone jumps up to inspect their shoes.
Another Naval Academy tradition involving a mixture of condiments is called a "Beat Army". Sometimes these mixtures include more than condiments, though to this point in history the ingredients have always been various foods. While a "Beat Army" can be required of a Plebe, reports suggest that Plebes sometimes do them willingly to impress upperclassmen. For those few of you who haven't already figured out the rest of the story; yes, they drink the concoction and then scream the eponymous phrase. It is customary to applaud a successful "Beat Army".
Pulling off pranks and paying off bets has become significantly more difficult for Plebes since September 11, 2001. The changes in defense posture that were precipitated by the events of that day led to the closing of what Midshipmen referred to as the Ho Chi Minh trail. This is a series of Steam Tunnels, used for heating Bancroft Hall among other places, that was often used to travel long distances underground, surreptitiously.
These traditional experiences are endured by each Plebe throughout their first year at the Academy. These ministrations are endured either in solitude or in small groups during what will always be remembered as the longest year of their lives. The year ends however, with a tradition that they share.
During Commissioning Week for the Firsties, the Plebes work together to climb a 21-foot gray obelisk, the Herndon Monument. This event is known simply as "Herndon", though some spectators have referred to it as "Plebe Recognition Ceremony". Named for a Captain who sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save his ship and crew during a hurricane; Herndon is made all the more difficult by upperclassmen who will have smeared the entire obelisk with several hundred pounds of lard. No information is available on PETA's stance on this tradition.
Before applying the lard, the upperclassmen place a dixie cup (which must be retrieved) on the top of the monument . The lard is then applied and taunts and epithets directed at the Plebes are written into it by sticky-fingered upperclassmen. As with many other such traditions, the pranksters do not go entirely unscathed. The event ends when an upperclassman's cover (hat) replaces the dixie cup.
Although the tradition looks (and smells) odd (see picture below), it is taken very seriously by the Plebes. After the sounding of the horn at exactly 1400 hours (2 PM), the time it takes to replace the dixie cup is recorded to the second. The fastest class to perform the feat was the class of 1972, who as Plebes in 1969 reached the top of the monument in just 90 seconds. The longest it has ever taken was an agonizing 4 hours, 5 minutes and 17 seconds in 1995.
Post Plebe-Year
Third Class
In keeping with the counter-intuitive numbering of the classes at the Academy, those in their second year are called the 3rd class. Another common name for them is "Youngsters"; but they are not officially Youngsters until they have sighted the Naval Academy chapel dome upon completion of their Third Year summer cruise aboard a Yard Patrol (YP) craft.
As Youngsters the Midshipmen find that they have new privileges. They are now allowed in the Ward Room, which means that they can now watch television. They are also permitted to have cell phones as 3rd years. At Ohio State, when they take away cell phones and television, they call it Hell Week. At the U.S. Naval Academy, that's just a part of the Plebe Year experience.
Of course, the biggest benefit of being a Youngster is that one is no longer a Plebe. According to most sources, the Youngsters take it easier on the Plebes than 2nd Class and Firsties. This ends during Commissioning Week however, as it is the job of 3rd Class to lard-up the obelisk for the Plebes.
Another activity for the Youngsters during Commissioning Week is the Luau. While it seems convenient that both a Luau for 1000 people and the lard used on the obelisk imply dire consequences for a number of pigs; it has not been confirmed that the Naval Academy employs the same unfortunate swine for both events.
Second Class
While the Youngster get new privileges such as cell phone and television access; 2nd Class are now allowed to have a car. Conveniently, they are also given leave on most weekends and are allowed to wear civilian clothes when they leave Academy grounds.
This last point is important to note for Buckeye fans going to the game. It is possible some of the people you see cheering for Navy while wearing civilian clothes are 2nd Years or Firsties. They should be treated with the same respect that you would afford a Midshipman in uniform.
One of the biggest responsibilities for 2nd Years is the training of the new Plebes. This means that they are now the beneficiaries of the pranks and bets in some cases; but it often means they are the new victims of "assassinations" or "land mines".
While the Plebes clearly get the brunt of the torment at the academy, there is something that occurs to 2nd Classmen called "Goat Court". It is not at all clear what it is, as the descriptions of it that are available are all intentionally vague.
The event takes place in a location also known as the Goat Court, which is either of two completely enclosed square sections inside the third and fourth wings of Bancroft Hall, walled in by five stories of room windows. The rooms are commonly assigned to Plebes or short-straw drawing Youngsters, since they lack the otherwise lovely view that many other rooms have. The bottom of the courts are composed of the roof of the basement level. The air is stagnant, and the large HVAC units on the basement roof enhance the ambiance.
As previously described, there is very little information available for what Goat Court, the event, is. There is even a YouTube video of the event, but even from this it is very difficult to discern what, exactly, is taking place.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xDrZ7x5abM"]YouTube - Goat Court[/ame]
While the Plebes have Herndon and the Youngsters have the Luau, 2nd Class traverses a rite of passage that is second only to Commissioning: Ring Dance.
The Class Ring means far more to Midshipmen and graduates of the Naval Academy than it means to alumni of just about any other school you can name. The class designs their own ring and takes great pride in them. At the Ring Dance, after a formal dinner, there is a solemn ceremony during which Navy Chaplains dip the rings in a bowl that has been filled with water from all seven seas (literally). At this juncture, the Midshipmen are now considered "wedded" to the Navy.
The Ring Dance dates to 1925, and is one of very few examples of a change to Naval Academy tradition. Before then, there was a less formal and far rowdier tradition of dunking both the rings and the 2nd Years in the nearby Severn river. This tradition ended abruptly when it resulted in a fatality in 1924.
Firsties
First Year, which in the counter-intuitive numbering at the Naval Academy means their last year, is considered by many to be the easiest for Midshipmen. They are allowed to have refrigerators, they are allowed to drive on the yard and park for free, they get more leave and can wear civilian clothes more often. Many of them have much lighter load of classes than they did during 2nd Year.
The one exception to the ease of First Class Year is 100s night. One hundred days from graduation, for several hours, the Firsties trade places with the Plebes. What, exactly, happens beyond this is yet another aspect of Academy life about which the eye-witnesses are intentionally vague.
In keeping with the progression from the messy and raucous Herndon for the Plebes to the casual Luau of the Youngsters to the formal Ring Dance of the 2nd Years; the Commissioning Week activities of the Firsties are unmatched for solemnity and importance. Commissioning Week is so-called because it is when the receive their commissions as officers in the United States Navy.
It was not always so. Before 1912, it was required that Midshipmen serve in the Navy for two years before receiving their commissions. The class of 1912 was the first to be commissioned upon graduation. As they no longer needed their Midshipman hats they spontaneously threw them in the air upon receiving their officer's hats. This has become the final tradition that Midshipmen take part in as Midshipmen.
The "Cover Toss" or "Hat Toss" has become iconic and is copied at graduations all over the U.S. every June. The difference between the copy-cats and the original is that the graduates of civilian schools are seen scurrying around looking for their own mortar board after their own half-hearted throw.
Midshipman covers are tossed higher and farther than mortar boards, because the men and women throwing them are "Middies" no longer. They will now wear the hat of an officer in the United States Navy. Not only do they not retrieve their covers; they leave a little something in them for the people who do.
While there are reports that at one time Middies put their address into the cover so as to later receive a letter and a cake from the person who retrieved it, the custom now and for most of the last 97 years has been to leave a small amount of money in the hat.
Fight Song
In 1887, Charles Adams Zimmermann became bandmaster of the Naval Academy Band. He wrote a song for every graduating class through 1906, but Midshipman First Class Alfred Hart Miles of the class of 1907 wanted something that would last forever. So with Zimmerman composing the tune and Miles the original lyrics, "Anchors Aweigh" was born.
Anchors Aweigh - Original Lyrics
Verse 1
Stand Navy down the field
Sails set to the sky
We'll never change our course
So Army you steer shy-y-y-y
Roll up the score, Navy
Anchors Aweigh
Sail Navy down the field
And sink the Army, sink the Army grey!
Verse 2
Get under way, Navy
Decks cleared for the fray
We'll hoist true Navy Blue
So Army down your grey-y-y-y
Full speed ahead, Navy
Army heave to
Furl Black and Grey and Gold
And hoist the Navy, hoist the Navy Blue!
Verse 3
Blue of the Seven Seas
Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be
Till all of time be done-n-n-ne
By Severn shore we learn
Navy's stern call
Faith, courage, service true
With honor over, honor over all.
Not only were the lyrics quite different from those sung today, but the arrangement (at least) was quite different. Click on the play button to hear a MP3 from the USNA Band Web-Site, recorded in 1920 by the US Naval Academy Band (and no, it was not originally a MP3). The web-site also has MP3s of the Alma Mater and Hymn and is worth a visit.
The lyrics most commonly sung today comprise the 2nd (and only the 2nd) verse of the version written by Master Chief of the Navy John Hagen in 1997.
Verse 1
Stand Navy out to sea,
Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course,
So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT,
Anchors Aweigh.
Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!
Verse 2
Anchors Aweigh, my boys,
Anchors Aweigh.
Farwell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore,
Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
Verse 3
Blue of the mighty deep:
Gold of God's great sun.
Let these our colors be
Till all of time be done, done, done, done.
On seven seas we learn
Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true,
With honor, over honor, over all.
Alma Mater
The Navy Alma Mater has also changed from the original, but it is still far more important to Navy than most schools' Alma Maters are to their alumni. Navy Blue and Gold is not just sung at sporting events and pep rallies, it is sung at the end of every day by most companies (the USNA is divided into 30 companies) in Annapolis. That sort of repetition creates a bond with the song that few people will ever appreciate.
The traditional first verse is as follows (as printed in the 1985 Lucky Bag ("Lucky Bag" is the name of the USNA Year Book)).
Navy Blue and Gold - Traditional First Verse
Now college men from sea to sea may sing of colors true,
But who has better right than we, to hoist a symbol true?
For sailor men in battle fair, since fighting days of old,
Have proved the sailor's right to wear, the Navy Blue and Gold!
"Beat Army!"
The current version of the 1st verse, as posted on the USNA Band Web-Site, is below, and is followed by the 2nd and last verses of the song.
Adding to the solemnity of the graduation and commissioning ceremony, the last verse of Navy Blue and Gold is sung there. Apart from occassional performances by Glee Clubs, it is seldom sung elsewhere.
Now colleges from sea to sea
May sing of colors true,
But who has better right than we
To hoist a symbol hue?
For sailors brave in battle fair
Since fighting days of old,
Have proved a sailor's right to wear
The Navy Blue and Gold.
So hoist our colors, hoist them high,
And vow allegiance true,
So long as sunset gilds the sky
Above the ocean blue,
Unlowered shall those colors be
Whatever fate they meet,
So glorious in victory,
Triumphant in defeat.
Four years together by the Bay
Where Severn joins the tide,
Then by the Service called away,
We're scattered far and wide;
But still when two or three shall meet,
And old tales be retold,
From low to highest in the Fleet
Will pledge the Blue and Gold.
Navy Hymn
In 1860, a schoolmaster and clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. William Whiting. Rev. Whiting wrote a poem entitled, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"; having been inspired by surviving a storm on the Mediterranean. In the following year the words were adapted to music by another English clergyman, the Rev. John B. Dykes, who had originally written the music as "Melita" (ancient name for the Mediterranean island of Malta). The U.S. Naval Academy has been closing every Sunday service with the first verse of the hymn since 1879. As with the Fight Song and Alma Mater, the words have changed over time. According to the aforementioned band web-site, the following are the original lyrics:
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 1
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Eternal Father strong to save [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Whose arm hath bound the restless wave [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Its own appointed limits keep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those in peril on the sea! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 2 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And hushed their raging at Thy word [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who walked'st on the foaming deep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And calm amidst its rage didst sleep [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oh hear us when we cry to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those in peril on the sea! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 3 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most Holy Spirit Who didst brood [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Upon the chaos dark and rude [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And bid its angry tumult cease [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And give for wild confusion peace [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oh hear us when we cry to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those in peril on the sea! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Verse 4 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]O Trinity of love and power [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Our brethren shield in danger's hour [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]From rock and tempest, fire and foe [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Protect them wheresoe'er they go [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thus evermore shall rise to Thee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Glad hymns of praise from land and sea [/FONT]
Navy Athletics
Sports are an integral part of Navy life. In addition to the grueling physical regimen, most Midshipmen participate in sports at the Varsity or Club level. There are 30 Varsity sports teams; practically unheard of for a school with fewer than 4500 undergraduates.
Mascot
The origin of a goat as Navy's mascot is not entirely clear. What is known is that Navy's used to keep goats on board because of their unique ability to eat garbage and provide milk and butter in return. How this practice made it's way to the football field is shrouded in legends that are apocryphal, or at least wildly inaccurate.
What is known is that Navy had a live goat named El Cid at the fourth Army-Navy game in 1893, and they won. It is also known that there have been other mascots including a gorilla, but that the goat has served without interruption since 1904.
Further, it is known that the current mascot is Bill XXXIII, but that not all of the previous numbered Bills actually served as mascot. The actual number of Bills who have served is posted in several places around the internet, but at this point it is unknown which source is correct.
One of the most well known traditions involving the goat is actually not a Navy tradition: It is Army's tradition of kidnapping the goat. This feat was last performed in 2007, and the culprits were good enough to document the event on YouTube. In that same year, during the Army-Navy game, an army cadet tackled the human mascot (Midshipman in a goat costume) and then ran back into the stands where he was impossible to distinguish from the thousands of other cadets. This brings us, of course, to the Army-Navy Rivalry.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgAcXTzf-8s"]YouTube - Hey Navy... missing anything?[/ame]
Rivalry with Army
It is simply not possible in the time or space allotted to provide a full treatment of this rivalry. Books have been written about just this one aspect of the tradition of both Academies. No pretense at a full treatment of this great rivalry is to be attempted here. What follows are only a few highlights.
First and foremost, it is noteworthy that Navy leads the all time series 53-49-7. Many of the earlier contests had national championship implications, but as football has grown, the natural disadvantages of service academies has prevented them from keeping up with the major programs. Some contend that this has added to the rivalry, as the First Class players (Seniors) on both teams are typically playing their last football game. Navy has ruined this aspect of this rivalry lately, as they have played in a bowl game every year since 2003.
Navy has also won the Commander in Chief's trophy every year since 2003. This is the trophy awarded to each year's winner of the three-way series between the service academies (Army - Navy - Air Force).
This, of course, means that Navy has a longer winning streak against their chief rival than do the Buckeyes. In fact, the Midshipmen have won the last 7 contests (2002-2008). This means that for 7 years in a row, the two teams have sung the Army Alma Mater to the Corps of Cadets before turning to face the Midshipmen for the singing of "Navy Blue and Gold". The video below is from 2007.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLEjAkO37SI"]YouTube - Army vs Navy football 2007 Alma Maters...[/ame]
The Army-Navy game is further notable in that it has been played in no fewer than 9 cities and in multiple stadiums in most of those cities. Most recently however, the game has moved not spatially but with respect to the calendar. It will now be played on the 2nd Saturday of December, starting this year.
Although traditions are slow to change among the service academies, it is generally accepted that this change is for the best. The game will now not compete with conference championship games, allowing more people the opportunity to witness the pageantry of this unique event.
While there is much more to say about this rivalry, one might say that this picture of the USNA weight room (and what is stamped on their plates)... says it all.
PARTING THOUGHTS
Although Ohio State has an order of magnitude more students and an order of magnitude more areas of study in which those students can major; the traditions of the Ohio State University pale to insignificance when compared to those of the United States Naval Academy. It is not that Ohio State does not have a rich tradition; it could be said that no school's tradition is richer.
But when comparing the significance of those traditions; there are Universities and there are Service Academies. There really is no comparison.
For eleven Saturdays this autumn, and for one day in January we will be free to believe that our Buckeye traditions are the most important things in the history of human experience. But on September 5th, as the F/A-18s fly over, take a moment to reflect on what our opponent of that day does to protect those traditions.
[/FONT]
United States Naval Corps (Annapolis, Maryland) Founded in 1845
Football 1st Season: 1879
Stadium: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Constructed: 1959
Seating Capacity: 34,000
Playing Surface: Field Turf
Conference: Independent
Colors: Navy Blue & Gold
Mascot: Bill the Goat
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: Not Applicable
Consensus All-Americans: 34
College Hall-of-Famers: 21
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 1 Roger Staubach
Award Winners: 2 Heisman, 4 Maxwell
National Championships: None recognized, 1 unrecognized in 1926 (William Boand and Deke Houlgate Retroactive polls)
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-12 years,
RecordsConstructed: 1959
Seating Capacity: 34,000
Playing Surface: Field Turf
Conference: Independent
Colors: Navy Blue & Gold
Mascot: Bill the Goat
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: Not Applicable
Consensus All-Americans: 34
College Hall-of-Famers: 21
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 1 Roger Staubach
Award Winners: 2 Heisman, 4 Maxwell
National Championships: None recognized, 1 unrecognized in 1926 (William Boand and Deke Houlgate Retroactive polls)
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-12 years,
All Time: 632-516-57 (.5481)
Bowl Games: 6-8-1 (.433) Most recently a 29-19 loss to Wake Forest in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl - 2008
All Time vs the BigTen: 9-22-1 (.297) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 0-3-0 (.000) Most recently a 31-28 loss to the Buckeyes in 1981 Liberty Bowl in Memphis TN.
Coach's Reord: Ken Niumatalolo 2007-Present 8-6-0 (.571)
2008 Season: 8-5-0 (.615)
Aug 30 Towson W 41-13
Sep 05 at Ball State L 35-23
Sep 13 at Duke L 41-31
Sep 20 Rutgers W 23-21
Sep 27 at No. 16 Wake Forest W 24-17
Oct 04 at Air Force W 33-27
Oct 18 No. 23 Pittsburgh L 42-21
Oct 25 Southern Methodist W 34-7
Nov 01 Temple W 33-27
Nov 15 Notre Dame L 27-21
Nov 25 at Northern Illinois W 16-0
Dec 06 vs. Army W 34-0
Dec 20 vs. Wake Forest L 29-19 (EagleBank Bowl)
2009 Schedule
Sep 05 at Ohio State 12:00 PM
Sep 12 Louisiana Tech 3:30 PM
Sep 19 at Pittsburgh 6:00 PM
Sep 26 Western Kentucky 3:30 PM
Oct 03 Air Force 3:30 PM
Oct 10 at Rice 3:30 PM
Oct 17 at Southern Methodist 8:00 PM
Oct 24 Wake Forest 3:30 PM
Oct 31 Temple 3:30 PM ET
Nov 07 at Notre Dame 2:30 PM
Nov 14 Delaware 3:30 PM
Nov 28 at Hawaii 11:05 PM
Dec 12 vs. Army* 2:30 PM
LinksAll Time vs the BigTen: 9-22-1 (.297) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 0-3-0 (.000) Most recently a 31-28 loss to the Buckeyes in 1981 Liberty Bowl in Memphis TN.
Coach's Reord: Ken Niumatalolo 2007-Present 8-6-0 (.571)
2008 Season: 8-5-0 (.615)
Aug 30 Towson W 41-13
Sep 05 at Ball State L 35-23
Sep 13 at Duke L 41-31
Sep 20 Rutgers W 23-21
Sep 27 at No. 16 Wake Forest W 24-17
Oct 04 at Air Force W 33-27
Oct 18 No. 23 Pittsburgh L 42-21
Oct 25 Southern Methodist W 34-7
Nov 01 Temple W 33-27
Nov 15 Notre Dame L 27-21
Nov 25 at Northern Illinois W 16-0
Dec 06 vs. Army W 34-0
Dec 20 vs. Wake Forest L 29-19 (EagleBank Bowl)
2009 Schedule
Sep 05 at Ohio State 12:00 PM
Sep 12 Louisiana Tech 3:30 PM
Sep 19 at Pittsburgh 6:00 PM
Sep 26 Western Kentucky 3:30 PM
Oct 03 Air Force 3:30 PM
Oct 10 at Rice 3:30 PM
Oct 17 at Southern Methodist 8:00 PM
Oct 24 Wake Forest 3:30 PM
Oct 31 Temple 3:30 PM ET
Nov 07 at Notre Dame 2:30 PM
Nov 14 Delaware 3:30 PM
Nov 28 at Hawaii 11:05 PM
Dec 12 vs. Army* 2:30 PM
Official Sites:
Official School Site- Naval Academy
Student Newspaper - The Trident, USNA Newspaper
Alumni Association - Naval Academy Alumni
Official Athletics Site - NavySports
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Navy Sport Forum (gomidshipmen.com)
Message Boards - Navy Sports (Scout)
Team Page - NCAA
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports (Sporting News)
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - Scout
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - ATSH2H
Team Page - Covers
Blog - The Birddog
Blog - NavyFans
Blog - Hometown Annapolis
Blog - Maryland Gazette
Blog - Star Bulletin
Blog - DoubleA Zone
Blog - Vince Fiduccia's Navy Blog
Local News Sources:
Annapolis Capital - Local News
Inside Annapolis - Local News
Topix - Local News
Washington Post Navy Archives - Local News
Travel:
Home Game
Preseason Rankings & Watch ListsStudent Newspaper - The Trident, USNA Newspaper
Alumni Association - Naval Academy Alumni
Official Athletics Site - NavySports
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Navy Sport Forum (gomidshipmen.com)
Message Boards - Navy Sports (Scout)
Team Page - NCAA
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports (Sporting News)
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - Scout
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - ATSH2H
Team Page - Covers
Blog - The Birddog
Blog - NavyFans
Blog - Hometown Annapolis
Blog - Maryland Gazette
Blog - Star Bulletin
Blog - DoubleA Zone
Blog - Vince Fiduccia's Navy Blog
Local News Sources:
Annapolis Capital - Local News
Inside Annapolis - Local News
Topix - Local News
Washington Post Navy Archives - Local News
Travel:
Home Game
55 - USA Today Poll
Link to 2009 Navy Midshipmen Game Preview
Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data
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