2007 Navy vs. Temple

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>For a start, Owls' lineup is unsettled</p>

<p>Battles continue at most positions going into Temple's last scrimmage.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20070821_For_a_start__Owls_lineup_is_unsettled.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20070821_For_a_start__Owls_lineup_is_unsettled.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Adam DiMichele started nine games at quarterback for Temple in 2006, but like most of his teammates, the native of McKees Rocks, Pa., will go into the Owls' last preseason scrimmage today still looking to nail down a spot on the first team.</p>

<p>"Competition brings out the best in everyone, and the best players are going to play," said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound DiMichele. "Whatever the coach's decision is, is what's going to happen. I feel real good - not real comfortable - about where I'm at right now. "...

[/quote]
</p>

2

<p><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/20070823_Goldens_standard_is_all_over_Temple.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/20070823_Goldens_standard_is_all_over_Temple.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Most college football programs have offseason programs that consist of weight training, conditioning and mental preparation for the upcoming season. Temple is no different, but that stuff was the easy part of this past offseason.</p>

<p>In an effort to develop a more player-driven team, second-year coach Al Golden added a new curriculum to the workouts: the Team Power Week. Players were mandated to arrive at a specific location in the city by a certain time - most often 5 a.m. - with just a few hours' notice....

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</p>

3

<p>Owls to open inaugural MAC season in good shape.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/temple/20070823_Keeping_the_doctor_away.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/temple/20070823_Keeping_the_doctor_away.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
The Temple football team had just finished posing for team pictures on media day yesterday at Lincoln Financial Field when head trainer Dwight Stansbury made an observation.</p>

<p>"I like these days," he said, meaning it was the kind when no one could get hurt....

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4

<p><a href="http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708230401%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708230401&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
To put things in perspective: Temple University's football team has gone 4-42 over the last four seasons.</p>

<p>The last time the Owls had a winning season was in 1990 when they went 7-4.</p>

<p>They've had 13 seasons since 1989 when they've won two or less games....

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5

<p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/independents/2007-08-22-harper-indy_N.htm?csp=34%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/independents/2007-08-22-harper-indy_N.htm?csp=34&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Antron Harper was the top gun on a Navy offensive line that helped the Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing the last two seasons, including a school-record 327 yards in a game in 2006.</p>

<p>So what do his coaches have in mind for senior Harper, who started 25 games as right guard?</p>

<p>They're turning him into a center....

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</p>

6

<p>Following Practice On Wednesday, August 22 </p>

<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital), Ron Snyder (Baltimore Examiner), Pete Medhurst (CSTV/WNAV) </p>

<p>Wagner: I saw the Commandant (Commandant of Midshipmen) talk to the team after practice. What did she say without getting into specifics? </p>

<p>Johnson: Oh, she was just talking about how proud the men and women in the fleet are of them and that they (the Navy football team) are the face of the Naval Academy. This week we've had Master Chief Banks, Admiral Fowler and Captain Klein all come out and speak to the team so we've had someone out here every day. </p>

<p>Wagner: What do you think about all this furor going on with the changes at the Academy? Some people are acting like the Navy football team isn't going to get the support it used to get because of the Superintendent's edicts. What's your take on it? </p>

<p>Johnson: I will wait and see what happens. You don't know what's going to happen until you go through it. I'm expecting from what I've been told that we are going to have full support from the administration and that's what I'm expecting. My take has always been to let's wait and see what happens. </p>

<p>Wagner: It seems to really affect how many Mids can be at away games and I don't know if you are as concerned about that as you are home games and they are going to be at home games. </p>

<p>Johnson: I think that any time we can have Midshipmen at a game it's a plus because they are loud and spirited and they drive the team. We have worked really long and hard to try and bridge the gap as much as we could between varsity athletics and the Brigade and any time we have a number of Midshipmen at a game it's a positive. I also understand that the Superintendent has a job to do. I will let him do his job and I will do my job. </p>

<p>Wagner: One of my sources told me you had another retirement today. Anybody notable? </p>

<p>Johnson: Ryan Burke. </p>

<p>Wagner: The center? Is that a disappointment? He was running number three. </p>

<p>Johnson: Any time someone leaves it's a disappointment. He was actually running number four and we had four centers so there you go. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is he leaving the Academy? </p>

<p>Johnson: No, he is going to stay in school. We have very few guys that quit the team that leave the Academy. Most of them stay in school. </p>

<p>Wagner: You don't try and talk them into staying on the team? </p>

<p>Johnson: I talk to them and try to find out why they are leaving and as long as they have a good rational reason for why they are leaving and they don't want to play I wish them luck and tell them if there's anything I can do to help them to let me know. It's not for everybody and I understand that. </p>

<p>Medhurst: You talked so much last year about the change in the clock rules and now that they are changing the rules back and then the change this year from where the ball is kicked off from how do you see those two things affecting you guys in particular? </p>

<p>Johnson: The kick-off from the 30 is going to affect everybody. There are going to be a lot more returns and field position is going to change greatly. Even if you get the same type of returns you are going to be getting the ball at the 35 or 40-yard line a lot. The clock change, going back to the way it was, is going to give the offense more plays. </p>

<p>Medhurst: Going back to the kick-off rule. Does it make you examine your coverage a little more? </p>

<p>Johnson: You have to do what you do. We have always tried to put our best people out there. We haven't put any more emphasis on it this year than we ever did. We have always tried to emphasize it. Last year our kick coverage might have been the best special team we had. Hopefully they can continue to do that and Matt (Harmon) can kick the ball well. It's going to be a big part of the game. Every time you kick it you're going to hold your breath, because when you watch the tape every kickoff is this close to having someone bust it. </p>

<p>Medhurst: At the same time it should be a plus for guys like Reggie (Campbell). </p>

<p>Johnson: Both teams have to kick, but I hope we have to kickoff more than the other team does. That would be a good problem. </p>

<p>Wagner: It seems like you guys are ratcheting up the intensity a little bit. Is that by design? </p>

<p>Johnson: No, we usually try to close practice with a different drill and today we were having the offense trying to get off their own goal line and had the defense trying to stop the offense with their back to the goal line to emphasize how important that is. Offensively you have to be ready for people trying to rip the ball out of your hands and defensively you can't let the ball get thrown over your head. We try to go over every situation possible. Practice is going OK and as you get closer and closer you are ready to play somebody. We have tomorrow and Friday we will do a game type scrimmage and then I'm probably going to give them the weekend off and we will come back in pads maybe one more day and then polish up and get ready to play. I am ready to find out what we have. </p>

<p>Snyder: Do you think the team is ready for game day? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't know if they are mentally ready yet, but physically they are ready to play. If you aren't excited about the opening game you probably ought to hang it up. </p>

<p>Wagner: What's your assessment of the team's conditioning level overall? Is it where it needs to be? </p>

<p>Johnson: I think we are in decent shape. It's hard to get into game shape until you play. When you have some long drives you are going to have people dying, that's just the way it is early in the year when it's hot. We are in pretty good shape I think. Guys have worked hard and we run every day after practice. We condition pretty hard. We practice hard. That helps conditioning.</p>

7

<p>Mahoney, Tidwell are hard to replace</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_23-15/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_23-15/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Navy graduated a pair of outstanding outside linebackers in David Mahoney and Tyler Tidwell.</p>

<p>Mahoney was a four-year starter and finished his career ranked second all-time at Navy in tackles for losses (42) and sacks (21). He piled up 298 career tackles.</p>

<p>Tidwell finished with 142 tackles, including 30 for losses. He ranks third all-time at Navy with 16 career sacks....

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</p>

8

<p>Temple Football Forever
By Mike Gibson </p>

<p>The crowd estimate appearing in the Philadelphia Inquirer for yesterday's Fan Fest was 3,000 people.</p>

<p>That's 3,000 people in on a dreary, cold day, the third of three of the three straight coldest August days in Philadelphia since 1942.</p>

<p>If true, that's 1,000 more than appeared at last year's event _ a day much more conducive to a big crowd.</p>

<p>Forget those 3,000, though, because Golden reached 100,000 more viewers with this 6 minute, 20-second, appearance on Comcast TV.</p>

<p>He said plenty of interesting things, perhaps the most was that "we've got to overcome 36 points in the next eight days" but he seemed confident his Temple Owls would do just that.</p>

<p>Another thing was "the first game is really the only time you want to play Navy; either the first game or after a bye week."</p>

<p>A little birdie (actually, a big Owl) told me they Owls' defense are so well versed in Navy's pitch tendencies that the chances are very good several Owls will be spending more time with the rock in the Navy backfield that even the Navy backs.</p>

9

<p>Be a part of exciting college football action in the City of Brotherly Love on Friday, August 31 at 7:30 PM at Lincoln Financial Field! That's right, your Navy Midshipmen will be playing the Temple Owls in Philadelphia - and you can join in all the festivities!</p>

<p>Enjoy live music, face painters, and more before the game in the Head House Plaza. During the game, one lucky fan will win a one-year lease on a new Chevrolet or Nissan, while another lucky fan will win a two-year lease on a new Subaru! Plus, Roger Staubach '65 will be taking part in the opening coin toss!</p>

<p>The Temple-Navy game in Philadelphia is the perfect family event! Let's have a strong showing of Navy alums at the game on August 31! To purchase tickets to the game, click</a> here.</p>

10

<p>Now if there were only some Midshipmen in the stands. Two hundred...wow. If the upperclass didn't have to go to evening meal formation Friday night, some might have been able to make the trip to the city of Brotherly love. </p>

<p>Say what you want about the new policies...3,800 Mids won't be distracted by Navy's first game of the season. They'll be enjoying dinner while the Command Leadership Team is enjoying the game. </p>

<p>Beat Temple! </p>

<p>I wonder if Navy wins if the Plebes still get carry-on for the weekend.</p>

11

<p>There may be fewer than 100.
Only upper-class D&B are scheduled to be in attendance at the game. That's somewhere around 50.</p>

<p>The "Face of the Navy" makes an appearance!</p>

12

<p>Following Practice On Thursday, August 23 </p>

<p>In Attendance: Christian Swezey (Washington Post) </p>

<p>Swezey: How did it go today? </p>

<p>Johnson: It went OK. </p>

<p>Swezey: I thought you went pretty hard today considering tomorrow is a situational scrimmage.</p>

<p>Johnson: It was just a normal practice day for us. </p>

<p>Swezey: Can I ask about Mario Washington? </p>

<p>Johnson: He's gone. </p>

<p>Swezey: Where did he go? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't know yet. He's going to leave the Academy. </p>

<p>Swezey: How many do you plan on dressing at Temple? </p>

<p>Johnson: 72 </p>

<p>Swezey: How many will be plebes? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't have any idea. We will have to see. There will be a few, less than 10. </p>

<p>Swezey: At media day you talked about the offensive line and how you would like to get a rotation of eight or nine guys, how is that coming? </p>

<p>Johnson: We are still working on it. It's a work in progress.</p>

13

<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082401909.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082401909.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Joseph B. Taylor is a 6-foot, 196-pound junior on the Navy football team; he plays safety.</p>

<p>Joseph A. Taylor is a 5-11, 194-pound junior on the team. Until a few days ago, he also played safety.</p>

<p>Joseph A. Taylor -- a.k.a. Joe Taylor -- moved to outside linebacker last week. He has further distinguished himself by rising to a possible No. 2 spot on the depth chart....

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</p>

14

<p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-899394%7ECan_Navy_give_Johnson_No__100_.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.examiner.com/a-899394~Can_Navy_give_Johnson_No__100_.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Navy expects to open its football season by beating Temple and handing coach Paul Johnson his 100th career victory on Friday. </p>

<p>In the context of all Johnson has done since taking over the Academy’s once-moribund program six years ago, reaching the century mark constitutes a mere footnote. Since 2003, the Midshipmen have gone 35-15, played in four straight bowl games, won a combined eight straight over Air Force and Army-both school records-and are 2-2 in postseason play. </p>

<p>Johnson just turned 50, and is enjoying the fruits of his success. With him around, Navy repeatedly has set attendance and season ticket records. His contract, a six-year deal that includes an annual rollover clause, pays him more than $1 million in guaranteed salary, about $1.5 million if he achieves certain incentives, and up to $1.8 million if he hits them all....

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15

<p><a href="http://navy.scout.com/2/671779.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://navy.scout.com/2/671779.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Navy football has received an unexpected, albeit indirect, show of support from an often outspoken critic. Naval Academy English Professor Bruce Fleming has never been one to shy away from voicing his displeasure with the special treatment he believes football players and varsity athletes in general receive from the Naval Academy hierarchy....

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16

<p>Transcript of Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson's Press Briefing Following Practice On Friday, August 24</p>

<p>In Attendance: Bill Wagner (Annapolis Capital) and Sandy McKee (Baltimore Sun) </p>

<p>Wagner: You should be ready to play Temple after that performance. </p>

<p>Johnson: Oh yeah, I thought we looked sharp. </p>

<p>Wagner: Did you think so? </p>

<p>Johnson: No. </p>

<p>Wagner: Why not? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't know. When you are doing the type of stuff we were doing today you are just trying to get all the different situations in. If we hadn't changed the way the game was going it might have been 122-0 (against the scout team). The scouts weren't putting up much of a fight. </p>

<p>Wagner: What are some of the important situations that you wanted to look at today? </p>

<p>Johnson: There was a lot of stuff. I wanted to see how we would react to a sudden change, kicks after safety, on-side kicks, the hands team, we wanted to do all the stuff that could happen in a game so that at least they've done it before. Fake field goals, fake punts, I had Troy throw an interception to the scout team so I could see how we would react to a sudden change against us. </p>

<p>Wagner: Did you feel like the team reacted well and handled those situations? </p>

<p>Johnson: I think so. We have a lot of guys that have never played and this is probably good for them. They aren't going to get the idea of the intensity until it happens. When they get hit in the mouth a few times they will figure it out. </p>

<p>Wagner: That's always what you worry about. In a game situation they might forget what they are supposed to do. </p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah and it's hard to tell out here because you have guys running plays off cards and there isn't very many people getting blocked so until you look at the film and look at the gap integrity and some of that it's hard to tell. I know we had a hard time containing the quarterback at times. We have to get that fixed, although that quarterback (Dobbs) is pretty hard to contain. </p>

<p>Wagner: That kickoff return by Zerb at the beginning was pretty nice. </p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah, that's a good way to open when you return the opening kickoff for a touchdown. </p>

<p>Wagner: That hasn't happened at Navy in a long time. Maybe we can get the scouts out there as an opponent in the regular season. </p>

<p>Johnson: That would be good if we could return kicks against that kickoff team. It would be outstanding. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is Zerb going to return kicks? </p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah, he and Reggie will be back there. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is that a change? Zerb has not done that before, is that correct? </p>

<p>Johnson: I'm sure he's done it, but he might not have done it in a game. Last year we only had one guy back and it was always Reggie. </p>

<p>McKee: So this year you will have two guys back there? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't know. We may put just one back there. I'm not sure yet. </p>

<p>Wagner: Have you decided on a punter yet? </p>

<p>Johnson: No. </p>

<p>Wagner: It's going to go right up until the end isn't it? </p>

<p>Johnson: Oh, we will pick one out next week sometime. </p>

<p>Wagner: You don't want my opinion do you? </p>

<p>Johnson: Not really. </p>

<p>Wagner: That was a nice kick that Delahooke hit to the five-yard line. </p>

<p>Johnson: That was a nice kick. Very nice. He hit a good one earlier in practice too. </p>

<p>Wagner: Bullen had a nice coffin corner kick. </p>

<p>Johnson: He sure did. </p>

<p>McKee: You had three guys limp off. Are they all OK? </p>

<p>Johnson: I think so. </p>

<p>Wagner: How about Walsh? </p>

<p>Johnson: He got hit in the back. He's OK. I don't think anybody got hurt seriously, but I won't know for sure until Monday. </p>

<p>Strasemeier: Peau just told me he would be back Monday. </p>

<p>Johnson: My man Peau is a little dramatic. </p>

<p>Wagner: That was a nice blocked extra-point he had. </p>

<p>Johnson: Yeah. </p>

<p>Wagner: You didn't do that on purpose did you? </p>

<p>Johnson: No. </p>

<p>Wagner: So that's not good. </p>

<p>Johnson: No, that wasn't good. That was Bullen. He probably won't be kicking anyway. </p>

<p>McKee: The freshman, Andre Byrd, how is he looking? </p>

<p>Johnson: He had a nice run. He's hard to tackle. </p>

<p>McKee: Is he likely to see playing time? </p>

<p>Johnson: I don't know about that. There are a lot of slot backs in front of him. He's just trying to get on the bus right now. </p>

<p>Wagner: Speaking of that, I saw yesterday where you said that 10 or less plebes would probably travel. </p>

<p>Johnson: I think 10 is a safe number. I don't think there will be more than that. </p>

<p>Wagner: Guys like Emmett Merchant, Wyatt Middleton, who else? </p>

<p>Johnson: Figure it out. Go home and get the roster and play around with it and see who you come up with. </p>

<p>Wagner: Is Corey Johnson going to play special teams? </p>

<p>Johnson: Yep. </p>

<p>Wagner: That's good. </p>

<p>Johnson: I'm glad you approve. </p>

<p>Wagner: It's a nice success story. Are there freshmen on the special teams that aren't on the three-deep? </p>

<p>Johnson: There might be one after today. We will see. One guy kind of caught my eye today. </p>

<p>Wagner: Do you care to name him to us? </p>

<p>Johnson: No. </p>

<p>McKee: Will you before the first game? </p>

<p>Johnson: We will let him know if he's on the trip. We will give him plenty of warning. </p>

<p>Wagner: This has gone about as far as it's going to go.</p>

17

<p>For: Immediate Release
Sent: August 25, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775</p>

<p>Harper On Watch List For The Lombardi Award</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy senior center Antron Harper (Eastman, Ga.) is on the initial watch list for the 38th annual Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia, honoring the top lineman in college football and benefiting the American Cancer Society. The award will be presented in Houston, Texas on December 5 at the Hilton Americas Hotel.</p>

<p>Harper enters the 2007 campaign as Navy's starting center after starting the last 25 games at right guard. He has been the top offensive lineman on a team that has led the nation in rushing in each of the last two seasons, including last year when the Mids averaged a school record 327.0 yards per contest. He has been named to the ESPN.Com All-Bowl team in each of the last two seasons and he is also on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Award, which is given to the nation's top center, and the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually by the Football Writers Association of America to be best interior offensive lineman in college football.</p>

<p>The Rotary Lombardi Award was founded in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi from cancer in 1970. When Marie Lombardi granted the use of her husband¹s name to the Rotary Club of Houston, her only stipulation was that all net proceeds from the event be donated to the American Cancer Society.</p>

18

<p>Situational scrimmage helps prepare Navy players for unexpected</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_25-43/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_25-43/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Zerbin Singleton did something yesterday that hasn't happened at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in a long time. The senior slot back returned a kickoff for a touchdown.</p>

<p>Now, if only Singleton could play against the Navy scout team during the regular season....

[/quote]
</p>

19

<p><a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/66-08252007-1397723.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/66-08252007-1397723.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Temple cannot contain its excitement at joining the Mid-American Conference.</p>

<p>“Joining the MAC means everything for us,” Owls head coach Al Golden said at the team's media day.</p>

<p>“Now we have something to play for,” Temple co-captain Alex Derenethal said. “Who doesn't want to play for a championship? We'll be a lot more focused this year with a division title to play for.”...

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20

<p>Navy raises stakes with gridiron glory</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_26-88/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_26-88/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Sustained success!
That is the best way to describe what the Navy football program has accomplished since Paul Johnson took over as head coach in 2002.</p>

<p>After enduring an embarrassing 2-10 campaign his first season at the helm, Johnson has led the Midshipmen to four straight winning seasons and four consecutive bowl berths. During that time, Navy owns an 8-0 record against service academy rivals Army and Air Force and has captured the coveted Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy four years in a row....

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