2007 Navy vs. Duke

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>*Blue Devils pull it all together for a victory (Durham Herald-Sun) *</p>

<p>By BRYAN STRICKLAND : The Herald-Sun
<a href="mailto:bstrickland@heraldsun.com">bstrickland@heraldsun.com</a>
Sep 16, 2007 : 9:19 pm ET</p>

<p>EVANSTON, Ill. -- In three particularly painful losses last season that added to a long losing streak, Duke's defense watched from the sidelines as either the offense or special teams couldn't come up with the one play the Blue Devils needed to earn a victory.</p>

<p>But Saturday night at Ryan Field, all eyes were on the defense in the closing seconds, and everyone in Duke blue had to love what they saw.</p>

<p>"The last couple of times the offense was on the field, but this time, the defense was on the field," Duke quarterback Thad Lewis said when asked what set apart Duke's 20-14 victory over Northwestern from narrow losses to Wake Forest, Miami and UNC last season. "Those guys are a big part of the team, and they held it down.</p>

<p>"You practice against those guys and you go hard against those guys, and to win the game both sides of the ball have to play good, and both sides contributed. From the offensive line to the secondary, everybody gave it their all."</p>

<p>So many times during the losing streak, which ended at 22, the defense could have blamed the offense or the offense could have blamed the defense following yet another disappointing outcome. But the Blue Devils never played the blame game, and finally on Saturday they were able to celebrate together.</p>

<p>"When the Blue Devils win, I could care less what unit is on the field," Duke coach Ted Roof said. "It just feels good to win.</p>

<p>"I'm so happy for our fans and so happy for our players and for our staff."
The offense took care of business in the first half, recovering from a turnover on the first snap of the game to produce three consecutive touchdown drives that totaled 236 yards to build a 20-7 lead.</p>

<p>The defense took care of the rest in the second half, enduring immense pressure after the offense cooled off by putting pressure on Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher every time the Wildcats seemed on the verge of taking the lead.</p>

<p>But just as importantly, on the sidelines both units took care of each other throughout the game.</p>

<p>"We were feeding off of them at the beginning, and towards the end of the game they started feeding off us," said rush end Patrick Bailey, who paced the Blue Devils with 12 tackles. "[Offensive linemen] Cameron Goldberg and Matt Rumsey were coming over like, 'Come on! Let's go! Let's go!'</p>

<p>"They got us jacked up. We're a team, and we had to do it for those guys."</p>

<p>The relationship between an offense and a defense is an interesting one. All week in practice, they battle against each other, both units trying to improve their play -- progress that sometimes takes the form of one unit making the other unit look bad.</p>

<p>There is occasional animosity that leads to the occasional skirmish, and come game days there's the potential for infighting. But this week at practice, after the offense felt like it let down the team in a 24-13 loss at Virginia, senior wide receiver Jomar Wright took the lead in proclaiming that the offense -- with all 11 starters back -- needed to take the lead for the team.</p>

<p>"I kind of put pressure on the offense in practice, saying that we had to do better," said Wright, who responded with a touchdown catch for the second straight game. "Thad played an excellent game, and in the first half, the offense was clicking, the offensive line was blocking, the coaches were calling plays and being aggressive, and the receivers were making plays.</p>

<p>"Everybody just did their job, and we showed how good of an offense we are if everybody just executes."</p>

<p>Lewis, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns, said the offense "put that burden on our shoulders," but in the second half the burden shifted. The offense mustered just 94 yards after halftime and didn't score. But in stepped the defense, which allowed 285 yards after halftime but just one score.</p>

<p>But again, the offense played an unofficial role in the effort.</p>

<p>"Your confidence comes from other players," said linebacker Vincent Rey, who had 11 tackles a pair of pivotal tipped passes. "We believed that we could win.</p>

<p>"I could look in people's eyes and know that they believed. That gave me encouragement."</p>

<p>Now, with a victory in hand, that belief -- on offense, on defense and in each other -- can only grow.</p>

<p>"I hope this will be a springboard for us, understanding what a win feels
like and the reward that goes along with hard work," Roof said. "This is one football game, just like when we lost it was one football game, but I hope this puts a little more bounce in our step."</p>

2

<p>*The Navy head coach will talk about last week's game against Ball State and this week's contest against Duke *</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Video of Paul Johnson's Monday 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"&gt;www.navysports.com&lt;/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>

3

<p><a href="http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091707aab.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091707aab.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>Wild night leads to first Duke win in two years
Blue Devils end 22-game losing streak with last-minute stand
By: Ben Cohen</p>

<p>EVANSTON, Ill.-Duke has waited nearly two years to celebrate a victory on the gridiron, but those 728 endless nights came down to 17 gripping seconds.</p>

<p>With the game on the line, Northwestern drove down to Duke's 7-yard line with 17 seconds remaining in Saturday night's game at Ryan Field, ready to steal a lead that the visitors had held since the first quarter. But the Blue Devil defense blitzed four straight downs and halted the Wildcats on four consecutive plays, and when the scoreboard clock ticked down to 0:00, Duke found itself on top with a 20-14 victory.</p>

<p>It is the school's first win since it beat VMI Sept. 17, 2005, its first decision over a D-I opponent since it beat Clemson 16-13 Nov. 13 2004 and its first road triumph since it beat North Carolina 30-22 Nov. 22, 2003.</p>

<p>Sophomore quarterback Thaddeus Lewis finished 19-for-23 with 246 yards and three touchdowns-all in the first half, as the Blue Devils built a 20-7 halftime lead. Lewis threw his first score of the night on a play-action pass to Jomar Wright in the first quarter, his second on a 7-yard lob pass to Brandon King in the second and his third on a slant over the middle to Ronnie Drummer, who raced 56 yards for the score.</p>

<p>But while the offense took control of the game in the first half, the defense sealed the memorable win in the fourth quarter. The defensive unit-paced by Patrick Bailey with 12 tackles and one sack, Vincent Rey with 11 tackles and Glenn Williams with 10 tackles-stopped Northwestern on fourth down in the red zone with 2:20 left in the fourth. It ran back onto the field 1:03 later after Lewis and the offense stalled on three plays and punter Kevin Jones nailed a 45-yard punt, his second longest of the night.</p>

<p>When the Wildcats advanced from its own 35-yard line to Duke's 7-yard line in six plays and 50 seconds, the crowd of 23,716 rose to its feet and the noise grew to a crescendo. But the Blue Devil defense hardly faltered. Instead, it intensified the pressure on Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher, who tossed four straight incompletions under heavy fire in the backfield.</p>

<p>Check back with The Chronicle Monday morning for another game story, game analysis, photographs and further coverage of Duke's historic 20-14 win over Northwestern.</p>

5

<p>Wildcats lay an egg at home
Four shots from Duke 7 in final 0:38 fail as Blue Devils end 22-game skid</p>

<p>September 16, 2007</p>

<p>BY JIM O'DONNELL <a href="mailto:jodonnell@suntimes.com">jodonnell@suntimes.com</a></p>

<p>Duke brought the imagination. Northwestern brought the implosiveness. A whistle-happy officiating crew from the Atlantic Coast Conference brought the yellow-flagged ignition.</p>

<p>The mix was lethal for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats on Saturday night. In a defeat of paw-popping proportions, Duke ended a 22-game losing streak with a 20-14 upset of Northwestern in front of 23,716 fans silenced toward Catatonia Boulevard at Ryan Field.</p>

<p>Two late scoring drives by the Wildcats failed as they fell to 2-1. A final series from the Duke 7-yard line began with 38 seconds left but ended with four consecutive incompletions into the end zone by NU's C.J. Bacher. Northwestern outgained Duke in total offense 506-309 but turned the ball over twice and was penalized 13 times for 125 yards. The Cats trailed 20-7 at the half.</p>

<p>The men of the evening were Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and offensive coordinator Peter Vass. Lewis -- a 6-2, 190-pound sophomore from Opa Locka, Fla. -- completed 15 consecutive passes at one point and directed the Blue Devils (1-2) to three straight touchdown drives in the first half. That provided the visitors with all the points they would need to record one of the roughest early-season defeats in the 125-year history of the Northwestern football program.</p>

<p>''It's an adrenaline rush,'' said Lewis, who was 19-for-23 for 246 yards and three TDs. ''You come out here and play hard and your defense plays hard for four quarters. Then to see the clock go to 0:00 and you are winners, it's a great feeling.''</p>

<p>Vass -- most recently of Charlie Weis' staff at Notre Dame -- outlined a masterful offensive scheme that left the Northwestern defense on its heels and confused, especially in the first half. Said Lewis: ''The game plan was to come out and get the edge, to utilize our speed. Coach stuck to his game plan and called the game accordingly.''</p>

<p>The loss also denied Fitzgerald and Co. the opportunity to become only the third NU team of the last half-century to open 3-0. The previous two were coached by Ara Parseghian in 1963 and the late Randy Walker in 2001.</p>

<p>Said Fitzgerald: ''We had so many self-inflicted wounds. You can't win a football game when you lose 125 yards in penalties. It doesn't matter how much you move the football. It squashes the momentum and plays such a negative toward you as far as your mind-set.''</p>

<p>Northwestern also played without star running back Tyrell Sutton, who is still healing from an ankle sprain suffered during a 36-31 victory over Nevada eight days ago. Backup Brandon Roberson -- who had 128 yards on 13 carries last weekend -- netted 80 yards in 21 carries vs. Duke.</p>

<p>Bacher finished 30-for-50 for 368 yards. But he failed to generate the same sort of electric close that he did against Nevada. That afternoon, he drove the Cats 80 yards in six plays inside the final 1:36 for the winning touchdown. Saturday night, he had Northwestern inside the Duke 10-yard line twice in the final three minutes but came away without any points both times.</p>

<p>''There's no particular reason why,'' Bacher said. ''We run the same offense that we've been running and whatever receiver is open is who I'm trying to get the ball to.''</p>

<p>With 1:17 remaining and Northwestern trailing 20-14, the Wildcats zipped from their own 35 to a first-and-goal at the Duke 7, in large part because of Bacher's 35-yard scramble. But four straight incompletions into the end zone ended the game.</p>

6

<p>Johnson: Quarterback should be back for Duke
By
Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital Blog</p>

<p>I just got off the phone with Navy head coach Paul Johnson. Needless to say, he was't in a great mood.</p>

<p>First and foremost, Johnson said starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada is expected to practice on Monday and should be able to start next Saturday's game against Duke at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.</p>

<p>Kaheaku-Enhada sprained both ankles while being sacked by Ball State linebacker Kenny Meeks on Navy¹s last possession of the first half. Kaipo was trying to escape the grasp of Meeks and sort of corkscrewed before falling to the ground.</p>

<p>Backup quarterback Jarod Bryant came on and initial reports were that Kaheaku-Enhada could have returned if needed. However, Johnson said today that Kaheaku-Enhada told him at halftime that he couldn't run.</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see whether Kaipo participates in post-practice conditioning (read: lots of wind sprints) on Monday.</p>

<p>Inside linebacker Irv Spencer, who also left the Ball State game with an ankle injury, is also expected to play against Duke.</p>

<p>It was a tough day for Navy's youthful defense, which is suddenly loaded with sophomores and freshmen. There were times on Saturday when six of the 11 defenders on the field for the Midshipmen were either first- or second-year players, most of whom did not play on varsity last season.</p>

<p>Johnson said a review of the tape showed that Navy was routinely mis-aligned against Ball State and that defenders were repeatedly caught out of position.</p>

<p>"We need to simplify some stuff," Johnson said. "We're not getting lined up properly and we don't understand what we're supposed to do."</p>

<p>Johnson said some coach-speak, technical mumbo jumbo about the Navy defense being in a "five technique when we were supposed to be in a down nine technique." I have no idea what that means, other than the fact Navy's defense was not in the formation it should have been based on the way Ball State lined up.</p>

<p>Navy has beaten Duke each of the last three years so some observers might have marked that game down in the win column going into the season. Duke snapped a 22-game losing streak with a 20-14 win at Northwestern on Saturday and suddenly appears more formidable.</p>

<p>Of course, Johnson said the notion Navy should beat any team on its schedule is preposterous.</p>

<p>"Son, Broadneck High School would make us look bad right now. When you can't get lined up right and you don't know where to go, it's hard to stop anybody," he said.</p>

<p>Johnson said the film showed instances on Saturday when Navy left the area within five yards of the line of scrimmage (known as the box) completely wide open due to linemen slanting the wrong way and linebackers either getting blocked or running themselves out of the play.</p>

<p>Of course, Navy's defensive personnel isn't going to change so it's the responsibility of the coaching staff to help the young, inexperienced players get better.</p>

<p>"We can't pick up anbody off waivers. We just need to make things more simple. We need to give them something they can do," Johnson said.</p>

<p>Finally, Johnson reiterated his statement of Saturday that "it's totally ridiculous" for any team to have two field goals blocked in the same game. After carefully evaluating the replays, Johnson said the first block, which came with two seconds remaining in the first half, was because it took holder Jarod Bryant and placekicker Matt Harmon too long to get the kick away. Harmon could have won the game in regulation with a 32-yard field goal, but hit a low liner directly into the out-stretched arms of 6-foot-3 defensive end Brandon Crawford.</p>

<p>"That ball never had a chance. It was about chest-high when it got to the line," said Johnson, who noticed that Harmon's plant foot was six inches in front of the ball at impact - virtually guaranteeing a low kick.</p>

7

<p>Midshipmen looking for answers, healthy players after loss to Ball State (Baltimore Examiner)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-938848%7EMidshipmen_looking_for_answers__healthy_players_after_loss_to_Ball_State.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.examiner.com/a-938848~Midshipmen_looking_for_answers__healthy_players_after_loss_to_Ball_State.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Navy’s players walked off the field Saturday night following their 34-31 overtime loss to Ball State hurting in more ways than one.</p>

<p>First, the Midshipmen left the 32,087 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium stunned after junior kicker Matt Harmon had a potential 32-yard game-winner blocked at the end of regulation. Then, backup quarterback Jarod Bryant turned the ball over by fumbling a pitch on the first play of overtime, which set up Ball State's game-winning 24-yard field goal by Jake Houge....

[/quote]
</p>

8

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/09_17-54/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/09_17-54/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Sunday at Ricketts Hall brought good and bad news for the Navy football program.</p>

<p>First, the good news is that starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and starting inside linebacker Irv Spencer, both of whom left the Ball State game with ankle injuries, should be able to play this Saturday against Duke....

[/quote]
</p>

9

<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701746.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701746.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Navy's injury-depleted defense can be summed up this way: Senior captain Jeff Deliz, a safety, went to midfield for the coin toss for the first two games. After Deliz suffered a season-ending injury against Rutgers on Sept. 7, senior linebacker Irv Spencer went to midfield for the coin toss prior to a 34-31 overtime loss to Ball State last Saturday.</p>

<p>But Spencer left the game for good in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Meaning that when the teams met for the coin toss in overtime, Navy had its third-string defensive captain present -- senior linebacker Matt Wimsatt....

[/quote]
</p>

10

<p>Duke shows will to win
By: Michael Moore
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Column
Last update: 9/18/07 at 7:00 AM EST</p>

<p>"New Winning Streak."</p>

<p>Those words popped up on the screen as the Big Ten Network showed Duke's first win in two years. This was after the broadcast had featured the "Longest Losing Streak" graphic roughly 7,214 times throughout the game.</p>

<p>Winning streak.</p>

<p>Somehow the Blue Devils broke the nation's most disheartening streak by never getting disheartened in a game that gave them every reason to. And they did it with the gripping, almost suffocating, desire to break a slide that seemed to get steeper and faster each week.</p>

<p>If the Duke players acted over the last year as if their string of losses didn't hang over them with the weight of a goal post, they betrayed their true feelings at the end of Saturday's game. There was what could only be described as unbridled joy. Players rushed the field. Sophomore nose guard Kinney Rucker knelt on the turf with his hands clasped, shouting to the heavens in thanks.</p>

<p>And they deserved to celebrate. In my time at Duke, Saturday's game ranks only behind the 2005 UNC basketball home game in terms of standing-on-your-seat, heart-attack-inducing drama. The win wasn't pretty by any means, especially in the second half, but the Blue Devils surpassed any clich</p>

11

<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson's Press Briefing Following Practice On Monday, September 17</p>

<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Christian Swezey (Washington Post), Bob Socci (Navy Radio) </p>

<p>Wagner: We need to get to the bottom of Coach Niumatalolo and his props. He had a yard stick out here one day and today he has a tennis racquet. What exactly is going on? </p>

<p>Johnson: He was using it during our field goal period to make sure the kickers could kick over it. We have used these props in the past. They stand at the line of scrimmage and make sure the kickers can kick it over us. We have used brooms and some different things. </p>

<p>Wagner: Does it work? </p>

<p>Johnson: We will see. We've done it before. It works at the time. It makes them conscious that they have to get the ball up or else they will kick it into the tennis racquet. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is the kicking job open this week or is it always open? </p>

<p>Johnson: I think every job is always open. If he is the best kicker then he will continue to be the kicker. We have to do what gives the team the best chance to win. He's done a really good job to this point. He's done a great job on kickoffs. We just have to evaluate him just like we evaluate the right guard, the defensive tackles and the outside linebackers. The kickers are no different. </p>

<p>Wagner: Do you think people kick differently when it's a pressure situation? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't have any idea. We try to put pressure on them in practice but it's not the same. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is there anybody in particular that is the technique guy on kicking? You mentioned that Harmon's plant foot was six inches in front of the ball. Who is the kicking guru around here that works with the kickers? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't know that we have a kicking guru. Coach Monken is in charge of coaching the kickers. </p>

<p>Swezey: Is Harper going to play on Saturday? </p>

<p>Johnson: Antron Harper? He's supposed too. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is he injured? </p>

<p>Johnson: He turned an ankle but he should be back at practice tomorrow or Wednesday. </p>

<p>Wagner: Did he come out of the game? </p>

<p>Johnson: No, he finished the game. </p>

<p>Wagner: Did Irv practice? </p>

<p>Johnson: No, but he should be back tomorrow or Wednesday. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is Bullen healthy? </p>

<p>Johnson: Yes. </p>

<p>Wagner: He wasn't during most of camp was he? </p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah, I think he was for the most part. We have a lot of kickers. Delahooke has kicked well in the JV games and practice, Joey Bullen can kick, the kid from Philly (Buckley) can kick. </p>

<p>Wagner: Plebe summer sapped some of the strength from Delahooke's leg, is he getting that back? </p>

<p>Johnson: He kicked a 54-yard field goal in the JV game. That's pretty good. He also made one from 47. He might be one of those guys that kick better in the games than in practice. There are guys like that sometimes. </p>

<p>Socci: What do you think about Duke? </p>

<p>Johnson: I think they have good athletes and they are playing hard. It will be a big challenge for us. I will guarantee you that. They are a lot bigger than we are. They will probably be fighting to get on the plane after watching our last two tapes. </p>

<p>Wagner: The quarterback had a hell of a game against Northwestern. </p>

<p>Johnson: He did. I'm sure he can't wait to get here. </p>

<p>Wagner: Can I ask you something without making you mad? </p>

<p>Johnson: Maybe. I don't know. </p>

<p>Wagner: I was talking to a Navy fan and he said he follows the coverage and that he noticed something and I'm just going to put it to you. He says that it seems like when Navy loses you blame the players, ie we can't execute fundamental plays, but that the success of the team the last four years has been attributed to brilliant coaching. How do you respond to that? </p>

<p>Johnson: Whatever he thinks. I don't go down to McDonald's and start second-guessing his job so he ought to leave me alone. </p>

<p>Wagner: But do you feel like it can't be both ways? </p>

<p>Johnson: You know what? I could care less. I'm old enough where I could give a crap what the fans think or what you think to put it in a nutshell. </p>

<p>Wagner: Wins and losses are evenly distributed as far as credit and blame, right? </p>

<p>Johnson: If you could ever find one time that I said we won the game because of brilliant strategy I will kiss your butt at city dock and give you two days to draw a crowd. Find it and bring it to me. Tell that guy that if he wants to talk to me I live at (address given but deleted for the transcript) I will be right there. Come ring my doorbell and I will be glad to talk to him. </p>

<p>Wagner: But the bottom line is the coaches do take as much responsibility as the players when the team loses? </p>

<p>Johnson: We are ultimately responsible. What did I say about eight million times? I did a poor job. We have to get them ready. What else do you want me to say?</p>

12

<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091800835.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091800835.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Pete Medhurst's grandfather hardly could have known that his gift of a Panasonic tape recorder to his first-grader grandson in the mid-1970s eventually would lead to the lad's chosen profession as a multi-tasking broadcaster so many years later.</p>

<p>Oh how young Pete loved that recorder, spending hours talking into the machine trying to do primitive play-by-play of televised sports events. One Thanksgiving Day, he had to be dragged to the table by his grandfather under protest, mostly because the Dallas Cowboys game was still on, and there were still plays to be called, commentary to provide, even if he was only six years old....

[/quote]
</p>

13

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/09_18-25/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/09_18-25/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Navy assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo was spotted yesterday carrying a tennis racquet with a yard stick taped to the handle.</p>

<p>Head coach Paul Johnson said the homemade contraption was used during field goal kicking practice. Niumatalolo stood on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage and held the contraption above his head as a gauge for how high the ball was being kicked....

[/quote]
</p>

14

<p>By
Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital Blog</p>

<p>I hear all the time from Navy football fans, whether by phone, e-mail or in-person. In most cases, they are well-informed folks who attend games and read everything possible about the team.</p>

<p>However, even those fans are curious about matters and have questions that aren't necessarily answered in the various news articles.</p>

<p>Following Saturday's disappointing loss to Ball State, I had an editor at my newspaper and a loyal Navy fan basically tell me the exact same thing. In a nutshell, they felt from reading the comments in the game stories afterward, that head coach Paul Johnson always seemed to put the blame on the players following bad losses. Whether perception or reality, that notion bothered these people, who have been reading and hearing in the media that Navy's recent success is due primarily to great coaching.</p>

<p>Here are a few of Johnson's quotes from Saturday's postgame press conference that could be construed as putting the loss on the players.</p>

<p>"If we don't turn the ball over we have a chance to win the game. Heck, if we can kick a 32-yard field goal right in the middle of the field we do win the game. We didn't make the plays we needed to win the game. We have a chance to make a fundamental play, to kick a 32-yard field goal, and we can't do it. We have the ball to start overtime and we fumble it."</p>

<p>"If we would just hold onto the dang ball. The fumble in the third quarter killed us. It's unforced. It's not doing fundamental football, looking the ball into your hands."</p>

<p>Navy has enjoyed unparalled success under Johnson the last four years, posting four straight winning seasons that were capped by bowl appearances. The Midshipmen have captured the coveted Commander-in-Chief's Trophy four consecutive years.</p>

<p>However, does past success give the coaching staff, particularly the head coach, a free pass moving forward? Elsewhere it doesn't. Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis was hailed as a conquering hero for rejuvenating the program in 2005 and 2006. Now Weis is getting ripped apart by the rabid Fighting Irish faithful due to the team's 0-3 start. Ask the head coaches at any Southeastern Conference school what happens when their teams suffer back-to-back losses or get beaten by an opponent the fan base believes is inferior.</p>

<p>Philip Fulmer has led Tennessee to the national championship game, a pair of SEC championships and a slew of bowl victories during his tenure. Fulmer owns a gaudy record of 138-43 in 15 seasons of leading the Volunteers. However, there is a large and loud contingent of Tennessee fans who have wanted Fulmer fired for years.</p>

<p>There is no doubt in my mind the Baltimore-Annapolis-Washington media market goes easier on college coaches than in other parts of the country where college football is king. Baltimore and D.C. are professional towns so it's Ravens head coach Brian Billick and Redskins' head coach Joe Gibbs who bear the brunt of criticism and second-guessing.</p>

<p>Members of the media have not needed to ask Paul Johnson too many tough questions the past four years because the Navy program has been successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams. However, both fan and media expectations have risen as a result and now losses to teams like Ball State are no longer acceptable.</p>

<p>In my opinion, when a team does not perform up to expectations, the players and coaches should share the blame equally. All of which brings us back to Monday's post-practice press conference. I related to Coach Johnson what several Navy fans have indicated to me. My questions and Johnson's responses are detailed verbatim in the following transcript.</p>

<p>Wagner: I was talking to a Navy fan and he said he follows the coverage and that he noticed something and I'm just going to put it to you. He says that it seems like when Navy loses you blame the players -- ie: "we can't execute fundamental -- plays," but that the success of the team the last four years has been attributed to brilliant coaching. How do you respond to that?</p>

<p>Johnson: Whatever he thinks. I don't go down to McDonald's and start second-guessing his job so he ought to leave me alone.</p>

<p>Wagner: But do you feel like it can't be both ways?</p>

<p>Johnson: You know what? I could care less. I'm old enough where I could give a crap what the fans think or what you think to put it in a nutshell.</p>

<p>Wagner: Wins and losses are evenly distributed as far as credit and blame, right?</p>

<p>Johnson: If you could ever find one time that I said we won the game because of brilliant strategy I will kiss your butt at city dock and give you two days to draw a crowd. Find it and bring it to me. Tell that guy that if he wants to talk to me I live at (address given but deleted for the transcript) I will be right there. Come ring my doorbell and I will be glad to talk to him. </p>

<p>Wagner: But the bottom line is the coaches do take as much responsibility as the players when the team loses?</p>

<p>Johnson: We are ultimately responsible. What did I say about eight million times? I did a poor job. We have to get them ready. What else do you want me to say?</p>

15

<p>By
Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital Blog</p>

<p>Navy placekicker Matt Harmon spoke with the media yesterday for the first time since Saturday's disastrous outing against Ball State. Harmon had two field goals blocked, including a 32-yard as time expired that would have given Navy a 34-31 victory in regulation. Instead, the game went to overtime and the Midshipmen lost 34-31.</p>

<p>Harmon had to know this was coming so he was gracious in answering some tough questions posed by yours truly and Christian Swezey of The Washington Post. However, it was obvious from Harmon's body language that he would rather have been cleaning up the mess hall than talking about his role in a painful loss.</p>

<p>Like most Midshipmen, Harmon was a stand-up guy and took full responsibility. Yes, it took too long to kick the ball on both field goal attempts. Yes, he planted his foot too far in front of the ball and therefore booted the game-winning attempt too low.</p>

<p>Harmon readily accepted that a 32-yard field goal should be a mere formality and that had things been done correctly, Navy would have won the game.</p>

<p>However, Harmon made it clear he has the mental toughness to get past the two blocked kicks and perform the placekicking job better for the rest of the season. There was a steely determination in Harmon's eyes and a conviction in his voice when he made that statement. I don't sense that he's the type of kicker who will allow what happened on Saturday to shake his confidence.</p>

<p>Head coach Paul Johnson is going to give backup kickers Joey Bullen and Kyle Delahooke a long look this week. Harmon welcomed the competition and sounded confident he will remain atop the depth chart.</p>

<p>"I think competition is good for everyone. I'd be surprised if (the coaches) made a change, but you never know," Harmon said.</p>

<p>Reading between the lines, it sounded to me like Harmon is darn sure he's the best (in terms of accuracy and consistency) kicker on the roster and that a change at this point is unwarranted.</p>

16

<p>Video of Paul Johnson's 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"&gt;www.navysports.com&lt;/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>

17

<p><a href="http://video1.washingtontimes.com/d1scourse/2007/09/navy_practice_notes.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://video1.washingtontimes.com/d1scourse/2007/09/navy_practice_notes.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

18

<p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-943050%7ENavy_gets_some_good_news.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.examiner.com/a-943050~Navy_gets_some_good_news.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
After losing two straight games and two defensive starters to season-ending ankle injuries, Navy finally received some good news Tuesday.</p>

<p>Navy coach Paul Johnson said starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and starting linebacker Irv Spencer should be available to play in Saturday’s game against Duke after both left last week’s 34-31 overtime loss to Ball State with sprained ankles....

[/quote]
</p>

19

<p><a href="http://www.heraldsun.com/sports/18-882142.cfm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.heraldsun.com/sports/18-882142.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
The last time I saw Navy's Paul Johnson, he was surrounded by a group of mostly Washington, D.C., and Baltimore reporters wondering if he'd become the next North Carolina coach.</p>

<p>He didn't, Butch Davis did.</p>

<p>It was Nov. 4, 2006, and Johnson's Midshipmen had just cruised by Duke 38-13 at Wallace Wade Stadium. Navy's ground game looked brutal, and the numbers -- 435 rushing yards -- proved it. The Blue Devils had no defense for that option....
[quote]
</p>

20

<p>By BRYAN STRICKLAND : The Herald-Sun
<a href="mailto:bstrickland@heraldsun.com">bstrickland@heraldsun.com</a>
Sep 18, 2007 : 5:43 pm ET</p>

<p>It would be understandable if the Duke Blue Devils wanted to take more than two days to bask in the glow of their first victory in two years.</p>

<p>But from the sound of things Tuesday, three days after Duke broke a 22-game losing streak with a 20-14 victory at Northwestern, they've stopped celebrating and have started concentrating on Saturday's trip to Navy.</p>

<p>In the middle of answering a question about Northwestern's defensive philosophy, Duke quarterback Thad Lewis inadvertently said "Navy" instead of Northwestern. And before answering any questions, Duke coach Ted Roof simply said, "OK, let's talk about Navy."</p>

<p>"We have to keep it in proper perspective," Roof said. "It was a great win but it was one football game, and right now it's the previous football game.</p>

<p>"That has no bearing on the next football game."</p>

<p>The Blue Devils (1-2) certainly won't forget the feeling after the dramatic victory, but they're trying to remember what transpired for reasons that have more to do with Navy (1-2) than Northwestern.</p>

<p>Roof began to bring his team back to Earth on Sunday during film review.</p>

<p>"There were a lot of mistakes," Roof said. "It's not like we played excellent. We played really hard, but we made way too many mistakes.</p>

<p>"We've got to get some of those mistakes ironed out if we're going to have a chance against Navy."</p>

<p>But Roof recognizes that it's important that his Blue Devils never forget the feelings of jubilation tied to the victory, which was the first in a Duke uniform for many players -- including Lewis.</p>

<p>"We're going to try to have that feeling week in and week out," said Lewis, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. "We're more hungry now. We can't be content with that.</p>

<p>"We want to come out and get better every day and push our teammates to get better so we can go out and win again."</p>

<p>Even as the Blue Devils put their triumph in the past, there were telltale signs of the victory around campus. Wallace Wade Stadium still was missing a goal post, ripped from the ground by exuberant students minutes after Duke secured the road victory.</p>

<p>Duke players said they heard about the goal post coming down shortly after the victory, and they saw it -- or rather didn't see it -- when they finally arrived back on campus around 4 a.m. Sunday morning.</p>

<p>"It was nice to see it missing when we came back," left tackle Cameron Goldberg said. "It was cool. I liked that. I hope there's a lot more tearing down of goal posts this year."</p>

<p>Remnants of the victory also were present when students went back to class, decked out in Duke entire more so than usual.</p>

<p>"Everybody is wearing Duke football gear to class now," nose guard Ayanga Okpokowuruk said. " It's a good feeling to walk around campus with people talking about the football team winning games.</p>

<p>"It shows that a lot of students still believe in us. But even before the game, people were coming up to me and saying, 'We still believe in you. We know you can win.' "</p>

<p>Okpokowuruk has a painful reminder of the victory. He got into Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher's face on the final snap of the game and was on the turf when Bacher's pass fell incomplete to secure the victory.</p>

<p>"I was on the ground, so I couldn't see what had happened," Okpokowuruk said. "I looked up and just looked at our sideline, and I saw everybody running onto the field. That's when I knew we had won the game.</p>

<p>"Everybody just jumped on the pile. It was crazy. I felt like I pulled a muscle in my stomach or something, but I'm fine."</p>

<p>Duke's first victory in two years has left a mark in more ways than one, and now the Blue Devils are focused on making it a lasting mark.</p>

<p>"We celebrated on Sunday but knew we had to go back to work Monday," Lewis said. "Today is a new day, and we're getting ready for Navy.</p>

<p>"We want to win more games."</p>

<p>NOTES -- Duke and Navy kick off at 1 p.m., with the game to be televised by CSTV. In addition, Miami has announced a noon start for Duke's visit to the Orange Bowl on Sept. 30. The game won't be televised. ... Roof confirmed Monday that the Blue Devils will be without running back Tielor Robinson for the foreseeable future. Roof said that Robinson had surgery Tuesday to repair a lower-leg injury he suffered in the second quarter of Saturday's victory. "It doesn't sound very encouraging -- I'll put it that way," Roof said. "He was our most productive runner [against Northwestern], and he catches the ball well out of the backfield. Also he played a big role on special teams." ... Roof also said that starting defensive end Ryan Radloff is likely to miss his third consecutive game with a back injury.</p>