<p>Ball State dominates Eagles on both sides of the ball, wins 38-16</p>
<p>
[quote]
Ball State's message during the nine days leading up to Saturday's football game on the road against Eastern Michigan was simple. The Cardinals vowed they would "compete on every down."</p>
<p>After stubbing their toe by losing their season-opener, the Cardinals bounced back in fine fashion by executing a shut-down type performance against Eastern Michigan....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Ball State's defense is turkey hunting this season. That's a big change from last year when the unit often was thought of as a bunch of turkeys.</p>
<p>The Cardinals were well on their way in the first half of 2006 to being one of the most porous defensive teams in school history. They allowed opponents an average of 482 yards on offense during the first six games....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
So many scoring chances, so many missed opportunities.</p>
<p>That is the best way to summarize Navys 41-24 loss at No. 15 Rutgers on Friday. Three interceptions, including two in the end zone, cost Navy dearly in a game the Midshipmen could have woneven after allowing Rutgers running back Ray Rice to rush for 175 yards on 37 carries.</p>
<p>Between the turnovers against Rutgers and the missed tackles and penalties at Temple the previous week, Navy coach Paul Johnson said he team will have to play significantly better if the Midshipmen (1-1) are to defeat Ball State (1-1) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening at 5.</p>
<p>Ball State (1-1) defeated Eastern Michigan, 38-16, on Saturday....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Ball State is looking for each area of its football team to improve from one week to the next, and running backs coach Eddie Faulkner believes that was the case Saturday for his position.</p>
<p>The Cardinals rushed for 153 yards in a 38-16 victory at Eastern Michigan, a slight improvement from the 140 yards on the ground in the season-opener against Miami. Ball State posted 140 yards or more on the ground in consecutive games for the first time since the 2004 season....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Antron Harper: A Country Boy With A World View
By
Bob Socci</p>
<p>As the architect of an offense that's produced more rushing yards than any other in America the last four years, the coach who was more a basketball player than football standout in his youth is apt to borrow from baseball.</p>
<p>It is essential, he will tell you, to be strong up the middle.</p>
<p>On the diamond, it requires a fleet-footed centerfielder, sure-handed shortstop and rock-solid catcher positioned as a line of demarcation, separating the left side from the right.</p>
<p>But in his world - as the head coach of the Navy Midshipmen - it means the midsection of the offense.</p>
<p>Starting with the center hovering over the line of scrimmage - a powerhouse from which the energy of the unit first flows, the instant he snaps the football.</p>
<p>Continuing with the quarterback who serves as the eyes of the offense - from his pre-snap survey of an opposing defense to the split-second reads he
make once the ball is in his hands, his feet set in motion.</p>
<p>And, finally, reaching the fullback who rests his weight on his fingertips - lifting his body onto the balls of his feet, poised to spring forward as the first of the triple options that make the Mids so difficult to defend.</p>
<p>Which is exactly why Paul Johnson decided the time was right last spring to make a change, shifting senior-to-be Antron Harper from the space he'd occupied at guard to that of the backbone of the Navy line.</p>
<p>Once believed to be the lightest offensive lineman in Division I-A, Harper had started every game of his sophomore and junior seasons off center. Still, it seemed, he was perfectly suited to be the man in the middle.</p>
<p>"Center is his natural position anyway," Johnson says of the 5-foot-11 Harper, who emerged in 2005 weighing roughly 30 pounds less than his current 270-plus. "He just fits what we're looking for. We've had bigger guys in there, but not as explosive."</p>
<p>Harper's explosiveness is generated from leverage incumbent in a low center of gravity and with hips more nimble than Elvis Presley.</p>
<p>"To get power you have to be able to roll your hips and explode off the ball," says Johnson, before invoking yet another analogy from another sport. "It's like throwing a punch in boxing. You don't have to be a large man to put a lot of power into a short punch."</p>
<p>Despite the typical doubts regarding a lineman who falls a few inches short of most others - even those seen as undersized by major college standards - Harper's physical skills were always apparent.</p>
<p>Johnson recalls glowing reports from the coaching staff at the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I., where Harper spent a year before his Annapolis arrival. Offensive line coach Ken Niumatalolo saw signs of Harper's superior quickness while watching his high school highlight video.</p>
<p>But most impressive - and important - is what couldn't be seen or detected on tape. It could only be experienced first hand.</p>
<p>"You never know what someone's football IQ is," Niumatalolo says. "(Antron) has a very high football IQ. He makes adjustments sometimes on his own. Sometimes he sees things before you do.</p>
<p>"His overall knowledge of schemes makes him a very good player. He's got a great grasp of the offense, which makes him play faster."</p>
<p>In many ways, Harper got a head start on learning the nuances of Navy's option attack by lining up in the wishbone at Dodge County High School in Georgia.</p>
<p>"The blocking schemes were similar to here," says Harper. "It was like having extra years of practice."</p>
<p>Repeating each step, so footwork becomes second nature. Understanding that "good pad level" comes from knowing how low you must go to block a defender.</p>
<p>All of it eased Harper's adjustment to life on the front line, performing for coaches he jokingly refers to as "technique geeks." But none of it would matter if not for the most important ingredient to his success.</p>
<p>"Playing harder than the guy in front of me," Harper says.</p>
<p>Intelligent and indefatigable. No wonder it's no problem re-locating a few feet to the left.</p>
<p>"Mostly, it's been a smooth transition, because I've been in this offense three years and I know what every position is supposed to do," says Harper, who last year went so far as to help then sophomore Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada call audibles at the line of scrimmage.</p>
<p>If the defense was positioned to thwart a play delivered from the sideline, it was Harper - a right guard - who served as the occasional eyes of an inexperienced quarterback and made the necessary change.</p>
<p>Whether seeing for others, or simply himself, Harper clearly is the captain of the offensive line.</p>
<p>"He makes line calls like he's played there for three years," says Niumatalolo. "It's been a smooth, seamless transition."</p>
<p>Well, almost. There was a slight ankle sprain that kept him out of practice a few days in August. As well as a few bumps here, bruises there.</p>
<p>"The biggest challenge (at center) is getting into a comfortable stance," he said. "The first couple of times I snapped the ball, my legs were too close together and I bruised my forearm by hitting my knee braces."</p>
<p>Of course, the first true test of Harper's transition - and that of those by his side - occurred two weeks ago in Philadelphia, where the Mids defeated Temple, 30-19, in the season opener.</p>
<p>Though far from flawless, Navy averaged 6.4 yards per carry while rushing for 361 yards. Flanking Harper were first-time starters at guard, Ben Gabbard and Anthony Gaskins.</p>
<p>"Antron's definitely the leader," says Gaskins, who's in his third season as Harper's roommate on the road. "Last year he was vocal, but this year he's definitely stepped up to be more vocal. I'm probably the closest to him of any of the (offensive linemen). I think he knows the offense as well as anyone on the team, so any question you have he'll help you out."</p>
<p>And though Harper considers himself more a leader through deeds than words, a large part of his summer was spent teaching in the film room.</p>
<p>"He's a great kid, a natural leader," says Johnson. "He took it upon himself be the Mother Hen of the offensive linemen."</p>
<p>"He did a phenomenal job (last summer)," added Niumatalolo. "He organized the offensive linemen and looked at video while coaching them. Here I was in Hawaii (on vacation with my family) and there's Antron back in Annapolis coaching the guys. </p>
<p>"Other guys have done similar things. (But) Antron went above and beyond."
As he's done, it seems, all his life.</p>
<p>Home for Harper is Eastman, Ga., the seat of Dodge County, a place once known as "The Paris of the Wiregrass." Today, it's described by Harper as a town of "about three or four stoplights," a place with a population of 5,400, situated halfway between Atlanta and Jacksonville.</p>
<p>Antron grew up there, a baby born in February 1985 to a mere child herself. Stacie Harper was only 14 when her son entered the world.</p>
<p>In his touching portrayal of Harper last December, reporter Gary Lambrecht - then of the Baltimore Sun - wrote about the remarkable family support that would help the small-town boy grow into the man he is today.</p>
<p>While Stacie continued her education, Harper was raised by his late great-grandmother, Opera, and great-aunt, Shirley Brown, who became his sole guardian.</p>
<p>Brown tried to impart lessons for life, like pulling Antron out of football when he slacked off his schoolwork as a seventh-grader.</p>
<p>"Antron was always appreciative of what people did for him. He's never been a complainer," Brown told Lambrecht. "From then on, I never had a problem with him about grades."</p>
<p>Yet life was not without problems or obstacles. Confronting them, Harper was more likely to conceal than reveal his emotions.</p>
<p>Until he discovered a creative outlet, thanks to an honors English teacher. Cathy Murphey, who had Harper as a student for three years, helped him explore the wonder of the written word.</p>
<p>By his junior year, Harper penned "I Am" - a poem so powerful it was published in "A Celebration of Young Poets" in the autumn of 2002.</p>
<p>"I still write from time to time," he said recently. "I try to jot down some things. It gives me a perspective on the things I need to work on. I write love poems for my girlfriend. It's an outlet, a way to express myself."</p>
<p>Harper, who's expressed an interest in coaching while helping others less fortunate in the future, someday hopes to write a book.</p>
<p>Whether probing or professing, given his gift with the language, Harper should find many willing to read what he has to write. Just as they're willing to listen to what he has to say.</p>
<p>"He's a very good person, the kind you love being around, the kind you'd love to introduce to your wife and kids," says Niumatalolo. "I've enjoyed coaching him as much as anybody I've ever coached. And not just because of what he's done on the field."</p>
<p>More so because of the way Harper appears to view the world.</p>
<p>With a sharp focus on what's genuinely meaningful. And, still, with the wide-angled perspective of someone who's seen well beyond the pecan orchards, cotton fields and acres of watermelon that surrounded his youth.</p>
<p>"It's an awesome experience to see how things are different in other parts of the country," Harper says of opportunities he's enjoyed as a midshipman. "You see some stereotypes are true and others are not. You meet new people."</p>
<p>Among the people he encountered last summer were a group of Army Rangers. Harper was on his summer cruise. They were preparing for deployment to the Middle East.</p>
<p>"I actually thought about the Army-Navy game. It's said here all the time, that we're on the same side," he said. "I saw actually in action. They have your back and you have theirs. We're fighting alongside to keep this country the way it is."</p>
<p>And the way it is, despite imperfections, kids from tiny rural towns can fulfill big-time dreams.</p>
<p>Regardless of what anyone else thinks.</p>
<p>Especially if - like an opponent Harper recently recalled - he thinks you're too short to take on a tall order.</p>
<p>"One (defensive) lineman, about 5-6 inches taller than me, just stared at me as if to say, 'What are you doing out here?' I just smiled," he said through a chuckle, in a mischievous tone. "On the next play, I put him on his back. That was cool."</p>
<p>"I have a lot of respect for him," says teammate Nate Frazier. "When I was at NAPS (in 2004) we came down here to play the (Mids junior varsity) and I thought, 'Man, this guy's a lineman?' Then the next three years he's a starter."</p>
<p>More than just a starter, Harper's what Johnson calls "the bell cow" of the offensive line - recognized by various news outlets for his postseason excellence in recent years and regarded as a candidate for several national awards this season.</p>
<p>Not that you'd read or hear such from the source himself, he of the disarming smile and easy laugh.</p>
<p>"He's a fun guy. A lot of people say that Antron is a jokester," Gaskins says. "I think he's a great person."</p>
<p>"I just try to stay who I am," says Harper, "a country boy from South Georgia."</p>
<p>In the center of it all, a country boy with a world view.</p>
<p>For: Immediate Release
Sent: Sept. 10, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775</p>
<p>Video of Paul Johnson's Monday Press Conference Available On Navy All-Access Tonight</p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Video of Paul Johnson's Tuesday afternoon press conference will be available tonight at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Navy All-Access. </p>
<p>To sign in or subscribe to Navy All-Access fans should go to <a href="http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D">www.navysports.com</a> and click on the All-Access button on the right side of the page. </p>
<p>Subscribers to Navy All-Access will have the ability to view numerous events including Paul Johnson press conferences, interviews with selected football players every Wednesday, football postgame press conferences (home and away) and every home basketball game (men's and women's). </p>
<p>The price for Navy All-Access is $6.95 per month, $49.95 for a 12-month package and 99.95 for CSTV All-Access XXL, which will provide you access to every CSTV.com school. For best results you should have broadband and high-speed cable access to the internet. Fans can sign up for the package on the front page of navysports.com by clicking on the Navy All-Access button.</p>
<p>
[quote]
That seems to be the general feeling Ball State coach Brady Hoke has about his football team after the first two football games of the season.</p>
<p>The Cardinals are coming off a victory against Eastern Michigan on Saturday in their first Mid-American Conference West game after opening the season with a loss to Miami in a cross-division contest. </p>
<p>Becoming more consistent on offense and defense is something Hoke wants to see most from his team, starting with Saturday's game at Navy....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Q&A With Football Coach Brad Hoke</p>
<p>Opening Statement</p>
<p>"Obviously it is good to win a football game. We went up there and played pretty good football. There are some things we need to work on as far as consistency goes offensively and defensively. We've got to keep improving on a weekly basis and be consistent with what we are doing. Offensively, we had no turnovers, and the times of possession were both good factors. We rushed the ball well, but I feel there are more yards out there. We need to block a little better. MiQuale played well but I think he could play better. Defensively, we've got to put pressure, and we talked about this from the front forward. I thought we gave up some big plays, and we can't do that. Obviously, it's good to win, and it is good to make corrections after a win. This week we really will have our hands full. Navy has a great football tradition when you look back historically. They have two Heisman Trophy winners and recently played in four bowl games. Coach Johnson has done a great job of implementing his option attack and what they do with it. That will present some challenges that we really need to concentrate on. We started last night with it, and we are hopefully going to learn more Tuesday and Wednesday about it."</p>
<p>Q: What are your consistency issues with your offense and defense?</p>
<p>A: "If I were to be specific, offensively, I think we have to protect the quarterback consistently better. He got hit way too many times for me and for us offensively. That is the number one thing we need to work on offensively. We also need to block better. We need to finish more plays in our running game. MiQuale played well, but I think there are more yards out there for him to get. Defensively, giving up the big play bothers me. Giving up a big play hurts your morale, and that is important to me. I think we are playing tighter coverage defensively, which is a good thing."</p>
<p>Q: How important was it to score the touchdown after Eastern Michigan faked the punt? </p>
<p>A: "There is no question that after Eastern tried to fake the punt early in the game the touchdown really gave us a good feel. I didn't think we were in rhythm as much as we needed to be. We had too many penalties."</p>
<p>Q: It seems as if your defense is better than it has been the last few years. What are you guys doing differently this year?</p>
<p>A: "We started in the spring talking about trying to get some defensive identity. I think things are starting to come together. Bryant Haines being healthy is a big plus. I think Amara Koroma played much better this past weekend. I think Troy Davis and B.J. Hill have both made an impact on our defense. And they probably get tired of hearing that they are not very good."</p>
<p>Q: What is going on with the wide receiver position?</p>
<p>"A lot is going on. I think Joe Everett getting the touchdown pass the other day will make him more of a factor. I know Danny Ifft played a decent amount of snaps the other day, but we have to give him the ball now. Dante is doing a lot, so there are four other guys in the mix, and we are going to expect more from them."</p>
<p>Q: Can you talk about Navy and their option offense?</p>
<p>A: "They are so good at what they do. It will be difficult. They have so many formations. You have to be basic and sound in your game plan, and sometimes that is easier for an offense. The trick is for your guys with two days of preparation to feel comfortable and knowing the offense enough and then also being able to have a change-up that they feel comfortable with."</p>
<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson's Press Briefing Following Practice On Monday, September 10</p>
<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Corey Masisak (Washington Times), Bob Socci (Navy Radio) </p>
<p>Wagner: That was pretty brutal at the end of practice. </p>
<p>Johnson: Brutal? That was just a little conditioning. We don't play very hard and we are going to learn to play hard. </p>
<p>Wagner: Is running them to death going to make them play harder? </p>
<p>Johnson: You know what? When you become the head coach you can run them however much you want. </p>
<p>Socci: The third series of the night for the offense it seems like you picked up the tempo. Is that the kind of tempo this team needs to play? </p>
<p>Johnson: I don't think it was a different tempo. The first two series we started on the four and the seven. That's a tough place to start. We didn't execute. In the second series we made a couple of first downs and should have had another first down but we got a bogus call by the official. I didn't see any difference. These guys need to understand how we win here. We aren't very good right now. We are awful. I've done a horse crap job. I'm going to do a better job. I can make them play faster I think. </p>
<p>Wagner: So two games into the season you don't feel like these guys play as hard as last year's team? </p>
<p>Johnson: I know they don't. </p>
<p>Wagner: What is the quantifiable evidence of that? </p>
<p>Johnson: 62 efforts (lack of effort) in the last game against a team ranked in the Top 20. </p>
<p>Wagner: What should the figure be at? </p>
<p>Johnson: You would like to be in single digits on each side of the ball. That is where we were last year towards the end of the year. 15 or 20 might be acceptable for now. 31 on each side of the ball is not acceptable. </p>
<p>Wagner: It was divided equally? It wasn't one side of the ball or the other? </p>
<p>Johnson: No. It was the same on both sides of the ball. </p>
<p>Masisak: Anybody else besides Deliz and Sovie that might not play this weekend? </p>
<p>Johnson: I don't think so. </p>
<p>Wagner: Kuhar-Pitters OK? He came out of the game. </p>
<p>Johnson: Came out for what? </p>
<p>Wagner: He came out of the game. </p>
<p>Johnson: He's OK. </p>
<p>Wagner: Did you pick offensive, defensive and scout team players of the week? </p>
<p>Johnson: Nope. We didn't have anybody. </p>
<p>Wagner: What do you think about Ball State? </p>
<p>Johnson: I think they are pretty good. They have a good quarterback, a good group of receivers and on defense they haven't given up 300 yards of total offense. They gave up 14 points in one game, seven which came off a punt return, and one touchdown against Eastern Michigan off a blown coverage and that's it. They are pretty good. They have to be licking their chops after watching us on tape. </p>
<p>Wagner: You are favored by nine points. </p>
<p>Johnson: Who cares? </p>
<p>Socci: You mentioned their quarterback. He has five touchdowns and no interceptions this year. What kind of quarterback is he? </p>
<p>Johnson: He has a good arm. I think he's a good athlete. He's mobile, he's not a Michael Vick type guy, but he's mobile and he has a strong arm. He has a good group of receivers and he throws the ball well. </p>
<p>Masisak: What about your quarterback? After watching the tape was it what you expected, worse, better? </p>
<p>Johnson: As far as what? How the quarterback played? </p>
<p>Masisak: Yes. </p>
<p>Johnson: He didn't play great, but neither did anybody else. He made some poor decisions at times and there were other times where he got us in the right play and did some good things. He was like everybody else, no better and no worse. He has to get better and the supporting cast has to get better to help him. </p>
<p>Wagner: Did you counsel him about throwing the ball away if a guy isn't open? </p>
<p>Johnson: No, I just told him to throw it to whoever he wants. </p>
<p>Wagner: Seriously. </p>
<p>Johnson: Well, what do you think I did? </p>
<p>Wagner: Did you have a talk with him? </p>
<p>Johnson: I had a talk with him when he came off on the sidelines. I had a talk with him before he threw the one. We have to keep working with him. He hasn't played a lot. You try to coach all the time. That guy (the quarterback) takes all the blame, but he is also getting knocked on his damn back when he's trying to throw it too. That's not the easiest thing to do. </p>
<p>Wagner: He was under pressure a lot wasn't he? </p>
<p>Johnson: Pretty much. </p>
<p>Wagner: How many hits did they get on the quarterback? </p>
<p>Johnson: I don't know. I don't count them. Unless he has the ball it really doesn't matter. </p>
<p>Wagner: The first two games were within driving distance yet the only Mids at the game were the Drum & Bugle Corps and the cheerleaders. Were you disappointed? You said you were going to wait and see, but the wait and see is over and bottom line is there were no Mids at your first two games. </p>
<p>Johnson: There will be some there this week I hope. We are excited to get back and play in front of the Brigade. I think that's a big help. We will be excited to play in front of them. Hopefully we will play better. </p>
<p>Socci: On the defensive side with Sovie out at linebacker and the young guys that you were playing at inside linebacker do you change the defensive calls? </p>
<p>Johnson: No. You have to play. You have to line up and play. You have to play. You can't change the defense. It would be nice to come up with one where we didn't have to play with linebacker's maybe, I don't know. It was disappointing that we had so many missed assignments last week and we were as simple as we could be. It was ridiculous. </p>
<p>Masisak: Irv said after the game that the other guy, whoever was playing beside him, was making the calls when Sovie went out of the game. Have you guys thought about having Irv make the calls instead of the sophomore? </p>
<p>Johnson: We might have thought about it for about 10 seconds. That hasn't worked very well. </p>
<p>Wagner: Is there a particular reason why that one position makes the calls? </p>
<p>Johnson: Maybe we think they can get our defense lined up better than the other one I guess. </p>
<p>Wagner: But it's not the position, it's the person. </p>
<p>Johnson: Yes, either one could make the call. </p>
<p>Wagner: Is Pospisil the starter this week at linebacker? </p>
<p>Johnson: I don't know who the starter is. Not yet. We will have to see. We will have to wait and watch practice this week. </p>
<p>Socci: How disappointing is it when the defense gives up the big play, something that you really haven't done the last couple of year's? </p>
<p>Johnson: You know what? That stuff isn't as big a concern to me as some other stuff. When I turn on the film I'm embarrassed by the way we played. We can't get lined up, we can't read our keys, it's one thing if you get beat and it's another if you just line up and play street ball. We were out there playing street ball. It's disappointing. </p>
<p>Socci: How about the different schedule this year with playing on Friday nights and not having an open week early in the year like you've had in the past and the challenge of preparing for an opposition with a short week? </p>
<p>Johnson: You know what? I could care less about the opposition right now. I just want us to get better. We need to get back to fundamentals and play hard. If we will play hard the other stuff will take care of itself. You don't have to be right all the time if you play hard. If you aren't right and you aren't playing hard it's a bad combination. </p>
<p>Wagner: You would think that these guys would know that by now. </p>
<p>Johnson: You would think. These guys haven't seen the other end evidently (losing season). If we don't improve pretty quickly they are going to see what it's like.</p>
<p>For: Immediate Release
Sent: Sept. 11, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775</p>
<p>Video of Paul Johnson¹s Tuesday Press Conference Available On Navy All-Access Tonight</p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Video of Paul Johnson¹s Tuesday afternoon press conference will be available tonight at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Navy All-Access.</p>
<p>To sign in or subscribe to Navy All-Access fans should go to <a href="http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D">www.navysports.com</a> and click on the All-Access button on the right side of the page.</p>
<p>Subscribers to Navy All-Access will have the ability to view numerous events including Paul Johnson press conferences, interviews with selected football players every Wednesday, football postgame press conferences (home and away) and every home basketball game (men's and women's).</p>
<p>The price for Navy All-Access is $6.95 per month, $49.95 for a 12-month package and 99.95 for CSTV All-Access XXL, which will provide you access to every CSTV.com school. For best results you should have broadband and high-speed cable access to the internet. Fans can sign up for the package on the front page of navysports.com by clicking on the Navy All-Access button.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Many college football players want to go to the NFL. Others want to use their degrees in the business world.</p>
<p>Zerbin Singleton wants to go to Mars.</p>
<p>The 5-foot-8, 160-pound running back is a senior at the United States Naval Academy. Friday night his Midshipmen went up against a much bigger and much stronger Rutgers team. But for where he has been and where he might possibly go, playing football is exactly what it is: a game.</p>
<p>Singleton majors in Aerospace Engineering Astronautics at Annapolis. Wednesday night he was up studying until 4:30 a.m. Two hours later he was preparing for 7 a.m. formation. After breakfast he was in class from 7:55 a.m. until lunch at 11:45 a.m. A team meeting started at 12:15 p.m., then classes resumed at 1:30....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In foul mood, Johnson drills squad for home opener</p>
<p>
[quote]
Paul Johnson was breathing fire yesterday afternoon. </p>
<p>Navy's head coach was one angry hombre and unleashed his wrath at the end of practice when it came time for the players to run sprints.</p>
<p>It is normal for the Navy players to do "separators" after practice yesterday. What was abnormal yesterday was how long the session lasted. Johnson made the Midshipmen run sideline-to-sideline until they literally dropped and berated them the whole way....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Coach has warning with Ball State next</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy coach Paul Johnson indicated yesterday that he didn't suffer any eye strain reviewing his team's 41-24 loss to No. 15 Rutgers - a performance he considered way, way below par.</p>
<p>"It wasn't that hard to see [the lack of] effort," said Johnson, who, with his assistant coaches, counted 62 offenses, 31 on each side of the ball. "You don't have to look that close. We grade technique, assignment and effort. If they don't play to the whistle, that's a [lack of] effort....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Video of Paul Johnson's Wednesday Press Conference Available On Navy All-Access Tonight</p>
<p>Video of Paul Johnson's Wednesday afternoon press conference will be available tonight at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Navy All-Access. CSTV's Pete Medhurst will be on hand to interview senior center Antron Harper, senior linebacker Irv Spencer and junior slot back Shun White. </p>
<p>To sign in or subscribe to Navy All-Access fans should go to <a href="http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D">www.navysports.com</a> and click on the All-Access button on the right side of the page. </p>
<p>Subscribers to Navy All-Access will have the ability to view numerous events including Paul Johnson press conferences, interviews with selected football players every Wednesday, football postgame press conferences (home and away) and every home basketball game (men's and women's). </p>
<p>The price for Navy All-Access is $6.95 per month, $49.95 for a 12-month package and 99.95 for CSTV All-Access XXL, which will provide you access to every CSTV.com school. For best results you should have broadband and high-speed cable access to the internet. Fans can sign up for the package on the front page of navysports.com by clicking on the Navy All-Access button.</p>
<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson's Press Briefing Following Practice On Tuesday, September 11</p>
<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Christian Swezey (Washington Post), Sandra McKee (Baltimore Sun) </p>
<p>Wagner: What's the scoop? </p>
<p>Johnson: I don't know. You tell me. The scoop on what? </p>
<p>Wagner: The team. Did they get the message yesterday? </p>
<p>Johnson: I don't know. We will find out. </p>
<p>Wagner: Did you have a better practice today? </p>
<p>Johnson: It was OK. Practice was OK last week. </p>
<p>McKee: What did you want to instill in them today? </p>
<p>Johnson: Just to pick up the pace, play faster, pay attention to the little things, get your eyes where they are supposed to go, know your assignments and all the stuff that you should be doing the whole time. </p>
<p>Swezey: What's your take on their 6-7 tight end? </p>
<p>Johnson: He's a pretty good player. I'm sure they are going to try and get him the ball against our smaller DB's. I know I would. </p>
<p>Swezey: Did Wimsatt practice today? </p>
<p>Johnson: No. </p>
<p>Swezey: Is he going to play on Saturday? </p>
<p>Johnson: Yes. </p>
<p>Swezey: Can you tell me a little bit about Popsil, Popsilsil </p>
<p>Wagner: Pospisil </p>
<p>Johnson: You know you're in trouble if Wagner has to help you out. He's a young guy that has some ability. He needs to be more consistent. He has the tools to be a good player. </p>
<p>McKee: How big a burden is it to ask him to step in at that position? </p>
<p>Johnson: No bigger burden than anybody else at any position. He just has to play linebacker. He has to step up. There are going to be several guys playing there. Haberer is going to play too. Alvarado may play some. We may play 3-4 guys there. He just has to go and do what he's coached. He needs to put his eyes where they are supposed to be and read his keys. He doesn't have to be Superman; he just has to do his job. </p>
<p>Wagner: Who is going to call the defensive signals? </p>
<p>Johnson: That linebacker. </p>
<p>Wagner: That's what I was trying to get at yesterday. Does it have to be one of the inside linebackers? </p>
<p>Johnson: It doesn't have to be. You can let the nose guard call it if you want. </p>
<p>Wagner: Why can't an outside linebacker call the signals? </p>
<p>Johnson: They probably could except they are on one side and they don't see the whole formation. </p>
<p>Wagner: And of the two inside linebackers does it have to be the one on the right? </p>
<p>Johnson: It has to be the one that can do it. That's all I'm going to say about it. </p>
<p>Wagner: So what you're saying is that a sophomore can do it better than a senior. </p>
<p>Johnson: You can read into it whatever you like. </p>
<p>McKee: Yesterday you were talking about looking at the film and seeing 64 lack of efforts. When you are watching the film how closely do you have to look to see that and what constitutes a lack of effort? </p>
<p>Johnson: You don't have to look that close. You just grade the film. We grade technique, assignment and effort and if they don't play to the whistle it's an effort. If you are grading a position you can tell fairly easy. Some are easier to see than others. Some are more egregious than others, but they are still efforts. If you don't play to the whistle and you aren't chasing the ball and running to the ball then that's an effort. It means you are not finishing the play. </p>
<p>Wagner: You had mentioned that you thought Kettani had earned some more carries; do you still feel that way? </p>
<p>Johnson: Yeah. I don't know about carries, but more playing time. He needs to play. </p>
<p>Wagner: There is a school of thought that some running backs get better with more work, have you thought about one fullback getting all the carries? </p>
<p>Johnson: I've seen both guys get all the carries. Ballard got almost every carry in the first game, he played 60 some snaps to the other guy's five, and I've seen Kettani play 60 snaps when Ballard was hurt so no, I don't subscribe to that theory for our guys. If I put a guy out there and he's running over everybody, I'm probably not going to take him out. </p>
<p>Wagner: But in this case you feel like splitting the time is better for the team. </p>
<p>Johnson: Right now that's the plan unless one of them steps up and shows that he's clearly dominant over the other guy. </p>
<p>McKee: You talked a lot about what you didn't like about the Rutgers game, but was there anything that you did like? </p>
<p>Johnson: There were a few positives along the way but they were outnumbered by the negatives and I'm not into moral victories. If we had scored 42 and they scored 41 I might have found some positives. There weren't a whole lot of positives. </p>
<p>McKee: Are you sticking with Veteto at punter? </p>
<p>Johnson: For now he's the punter. We may look at that, but it's hard to evaluate him. We've turned a guy loose every time he's punted and he's had to jump three feet off the ground to get the snap so I'm not going to hold him responsible. We've only punted five times in two games so it's hard to evaluate where he's at. </p>
<p>Wagner: Do you remember recruiting Amara Koroma? </p>
<p>Johnson: Sure do. We would love to have him. He's starting on their defensive line instead of ours. </p>
<p>Wagner: Do you think he would be starting here? </p>
<p>Johnson: Do I? Yeah. I don't have any doubt. At last count we have five defensive linemen starting around the country that we had at the prep school.</p>
<p>Ball State (1-1) at Navy (1-1)</p>
<p>The Sports Network </p>
<p>DATE & TIME: Saturday, September 15th, 5:00 p.m. (EDT).</p>
<p>FACTS & STATS: Site: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (30,000) -- Annapolis, Maryland. Television: None. Home Record: Ball State 0-1, Navy 0-0. Away Record: Ball State 1-0, Navy 1-1. Neutral Record: Ball State 0-0, Navy 0-0. Conference Record: Ball State 1-1, Navy 0-0. Series Record: Ball State leads, 1-0.</p>
<p>GAME NOTES: The Ball State Cardinals' road trip stops in Annapolis for a clash with the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Ball State is on the road until the final week of September, a three-game stretch that ends against Nebraska next week. Last weekend, the Cards cruised to a 38-16 win over Eastern Michigan. The team jumped out to an early lead, but coach Brady Hoke said after the game that plenty of work still needs to be done on offense, defense and special teams. After back-to-back road games to start the season, Navy is back in Annapolis to open the home portion of its schedule. Last week, the Midshipmen lost to 13th-ranked Rutgers, 41-24. Heading into this contest, the team has a
couple of injury concerns on the defensive side of the ball. These two teams have met on just one previous occasion, with Ball State cruising to a 33-10 victory back in 1991.</p>
<p>Nate Davis and the Cardinals' passing attack came out firing in the first half against Eastern Michigan, as the sophomore QB tossed three touchdown passes by halftime. He finished the day with 306 passing yards and four scores. His favorite target, Dante Love, tallied seven catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Davis had the deep ball working quite well, as the Cards averaged a healthy 16.1 yards per completion. The team was also 11-of-20 on third downs. The passing attack ranks in the top-third in the nation with an average of 252 ypg. Running back MiQuale
Lewis is averaging 82 ypg on the ground.</p>
<p>Defensively, the Cardinals have played tough through two games, particularly against the pass. The team is giving up just 136.5 passing yards per game, 20th-best in the nation. Ball State has given up just 30 points through two games, and the team ranks 25th in the nation in total defense (279 ypg). Against Eastern Michigan, the Cardinals allowed only 11 first downs and 262 yards of total offense. They were equally stout against both the run (107 yards allowed, 3.8 ypc) and the
pass (155 yards). Additionally, the Cardinals held EMU to 3-of-13 on third downs, and 0-of-2 on fourth downs.</p>
<p>Navy annually boasts one of the nation's premier rushing attacks, an occurrence that has more to do with play selection than playmakers. Everyone from the opposite sideline to the popcorn vendor knows that Navy is keeping it on the ground, but that hasn't stopped coach Paul Johnson from dialing up the run time and again. This year, Navy ranks sixth in the nation with 307.5 rushing yards per game. Conversely, the team ranks last in the FBS with 56.5 passing yards per game. Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, the spark plug of the Navy offense, averaged an uncharacteristic 2.7 ypc in last week's loss to Rutgers. In the passing game, he completed five passes to his own teammates, and three to Scarlet Knight defense. With Navy relying so heavily on ball control, turnovers become ever so deadly.</p>
<p>The Navy defense, through two games, has been exposed in several areas. For one, punter Greg Veteto is averaging just 27 yards per punt, and it has put the defense in some tight spots. Opposing quarterbacks have been able to pick apart the Navy secondary, which is giving up 232.5 passing yards per game and an average pass efficiency rating of 176.15. A lot of that starts up front, as the Midshipmen have struggled to generate much of a pass rush (one sack on the season). To add insult to injury, or vice versa, the team will likely be without two of its top defensive players. Free safety Jeff Deliz (second on the team with 13 tackles) and linebacker Clint Sovie (10 tackles) are both doubtful with sprained ankles.</p>
<p>Ball State is the more well-rounded team here. Look for the Cardinals to attack the spots vacated by Sovie and Deliz on the Navy defense. As long as the Cardinals have done their homework on stopping the triple-option, they should be able to leave Annapolis with a "W".</p>
<p>Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ball State 34, Navy 24</p>
<p>
[quote]
If the fullback dive is Navy's bread-and-butter, then so far that position has been serving up dry toast.</p>
<p>Fullbacks Adam Ballard and Eric Kettani have combined for 183 yards on 44 attempts so far, well below the standard that's been set during the tenure of head coach Paul Johnson....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Pospisil likely to start at inside linebacker</p>
<p>By Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital</p>
<p>Ross Pospisil is a fresh-faced youngster from Temple, Texas. He is the grandson of a Naval Academy graduate - Douglas Barker from the Class of 1957.</p>
<p>Pospisil played on the junior varsity last season and served on the scout team that helps prepare the varsity for games. One year later, Pospisil finds himself the center of attention and a key to Navy's chances of beating Ball State.</p>
<p>Pospisil will likely start at inside linebacker in place of Clint Sovie, who left the Rutgers game with an ankle injury and is doubtful for Saturday's home opener. Sovie was one of only two returning starters on the Navy defense and led the team in tackles in the season opener versus Temple.</p>
<p>Sovie was an integral figure for the unit since he called all the defensive signals. Now the task of recognizing the offensive formation and getting the defense lined up properly falls to Pospisil, a sophomore as green as the artificial surface at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. However, the 6-foot, 223-pounder is anxious and excited about the prospect of starting on Saturday evening.</p>
<p>"I feel more than capable of making the calls. I got an opportunity to get in there a lot during the spring and that gave me a stepping stone. I got a lot of reps during (August) camp. I do feel comfortable and confident in doing it," said Pospisil, who was switched to strong-side or SAM linebacker going into spring drills.</p>
<p>Pospisil was a popular figure among the media after practice on Tuesday. It appears both The (Baltimore) Sun and The (Washington) Post will be writing stories on the youngster. The Capital will have a more in-depth piece on Navy's newest starter in Thursday's edition.</p>
<p>By Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital</p>
<p>Looking at the Ball State depth chart on Monday, I wondered why the name of backup nose tackle Amara Koroma seemed so familiar. I convinced myself the reason was because it was so similar to the name of Temple's standout freshman linebacker Amara Kamara.</p>
<p>It turns out there was another reason why Amara Koroma stood out to me. It's because I once wrote about him committing to play football for the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>Koroma was recruited out of Homewood-Flossmoor High in Homewood, Ill. by Navy assistant Jeff Monken. He attended the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I. for half a semster before bailing out and enrolling at Ball State in January, 2004.</p>
<p>I asked Navy head coach Paul Johnson if he remembers recruiting Koroma. Sure do," Johnson said without hesitation. "We would love to have him.</p>
<p>He's starting on their defensive line instead of ours."</p>
<p>I then asked Johnson if he thought Koroma, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior, could be starting for Navy this season.</p>
<p>"Do I? Yeah. I don't have any doubt," Johnson said. "At last count we have five defensive linemen starting around the country that we had at the prep
school."</p>
<p>Navy has an extremely young defensive line this season. Sophomore Nate Frazier anchors the unit as the starting nose guard. Classmate Andy Lark is the backup at that spot. Two other sophomores - Kyle Bookhout and Jordan Stephens - are the backups at right and left defensive end.</p>
<p>Johnson's statement about other defensive lineman around the country having originally attended the Naval Academy Prep School made me curious. I asked around and found out that one former standout at Navy Prep is now a starting defensive end at Wyoming. I checked the Wyoming website and discovered Mike Neahaus, a 6-foot-3, 256-pound defensive end.</p>
<p>According to Neahaus' biography, he could be helping Navy right now:<br>
Attended the Naval Academy Prep School where he ranked second in defensive points from his outside linebacker position, led the team in sacks, with 15, and was twice named Defensive Player of the Week. He was also elected a team captain, and helped lead Navy Prep to a 7-3 record. He was coached at Naval Academy Prep by Clayton Kendrick-Holmes.</p>
<p>Ball State +7: won't be enough.</p>
<p>Take Navy to cover.</p>