<p>Salt</a> Lake Tribune - Monson: Diving into the mysteries of Midshipmen</p>
<p>
[quote]
Since nobody around here knows jack about Navy football, here's a tray full of snacks and facts to help everyone get a clue before the Poinsettia Bowl about the Midshipmen, which, by the way, is a term meaning, appropriately enough, "students training to become naval officers." ...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Harper keeping Navy on course
By Michael A. Lough - <a href="mailto:mlough@macon.com">mlough@macon.com</a>
To play the position is to define toughness.</p>
<p>Antron Harper is a center. He is tough.</p>
<p>To attend a military institution for college indicates strength and intelligence.</p>
<p>Harper is a senior cadet at the Naval Academy. He is strong and smart.</p>
<p>To call Harper a tough, strong, smart football player is accurate, and quite incomplete.</p>
<p>He's 23, from a town of 5,500, the only child of a single mother and a graduate of a school with about 800 students. And he shatters the stereotype of a small-town, one-parent athlete whose mother had him at age 14.</p>
<p>The Eastman native and Dodge County standout will graduate this May from the Naval Academy with a 2.7 grade point average.</p>
<p>"I'm happy with it," he said with a chuckle. "As long as it's a 2.0 and I can graduate."</p>
<p>That late-May ceremony will conclude an impressive and inspiring ride for a fatherless youngster who refused what has derailed many other athletes.</p>
<p>Navy was his only Football Bowl Subdivision offer, and he took it. All Harper has done is be a huge part of the remarkable resurgence of the Midshipmen from homecoming fodder to regular bowl invitee, including Thursday's Poinsettia Bowl against Utah.</p>
<p>In the middle of it, at guard for two seasons and center for one, has been Harper, a 5-foot-11, 272-pounder with 37 starts over three years.</p>
<p>He was on the Outland Trophy watch list this season for the award that goes to the best interior linemen, as well as the Rimington Trophy list for the top center. Harper also made ESPN.com's All-Bowl team two years in a row.</p>
<p>He did all this while anchoring an offense that is a lineman's dream: run, run and run some more.</p>
<p>"It was exciting to come to this type of offense," Harper says of Navy's spread triple option. "In high school, we ran a true wishbone. That definitely helped me a lot."</p>
<p>Football didn't define Harper at Dodge County. Around his freshman and sophomore years, he discovered another outlet for his emotions.</p>
<p>Poetry.</p>
<p>I am 17 on a mission I wonder why things happen the way they do I hear too much negativity I see myself in the future I want to be happy I am not to be underestimatedHarper has a football pedigree. His uncle, Jimmy Harper, was a high school star who went to Georgia and blocked for Herschel Walker. He wears a shirt with his uncle's No. 75 on the sleeve under his jersey in memory of the father figure who passed away during Harper's sophomore year.</p>
<p>Harper was good enough at Dodge County to earn All-Middle Georgia honors as a senior. That helped get him on the radar of some colleges, and it looked like he may take a familiar route. The three schools he mentioned as having recruited him were Georgia Southern, Valdosta State and Appalachian State.</p>
<p>Had he picked VSU or ASU, he might be wearing a national championship ring today since Valdosta State took the NCAA Division II title on Saturday and Appalachian State, which started the season stunning Michigan, won the Football Championship Division trophy Friday night.</p>
<p>"Navy was the only Division I (formerly I-A) school that offered me," Harper says. "I liked everything it had to offer: the education, which is top-notch. You know what you're going to be doing after graduation. The job opportunities are going to be there after you're done with the service."</p>
<p>Harper was attracted to the organization, to the lack of suspense about his future. Of course, those first days at an academy are eye-openers.</p>
<p>"I was like, 'Oh my God,' " he said with a laugh. "It's a different animal. It's so structured, you have to be ready."</p>
<p>And there's a little stronger connection than just wearing the same uniforms.</p>
<p>"It's a team mentality with football, but it's a team mentality in school with the military as a whole," Harper says. "That was something that was hard for me to get my head wrapped around. What we call the 'brotherhood' we have here is something I wasn't really ready for."</p>
<p>He was ready soon enough.</p>
<p>"Here, you train with people that, at a point in time, may have to give their life for you, and you may have to give your life for them," he says. "That's something you have to be ready for mentally."</p>
<p>I pretend to be on top of the world I feel confused I tough the edge of insanity I worry about too much I cry more than you think I am not as tough as I seemHarper plays a position where intelligence can compensate for size. He writes poetry. Conversations are almost free of any verbal ticks common among athletes.</p>
<p>But Harper isn't quite a 45-year-old in a 23-year-old's body.</p>
<p>"He's a cool guy to hang out with," said teammate Anthony Gaskins, a junior guard from New Jersey who has been Harper's roommate on the road for three years. "We hang out outside of the academy and to stuff. He's kind of quiet unless he gets to know you. It just depends on who the person is."</p>
<p>If it's Gaskins, all bets are off, especially when a different kind of football beckons.</p>
<p>"We get into some heated battles in PSP (Play Station Portable) and Madden," Gaskins said. "We played before the last home game."</p>
<p>Who won?</p>
<p>"He won one, I won one," Gaskins said.</p>
<p>Who's better?</p>
<p>"Oh, I am," Gaskins said with a laugh. "He thinks he is, but I am."</p>
<p>Head coach Ken Niumatalolo has said that Harper is as at home with adults as kids and is the prototype of the balanced student-athlete.</p>
<p>"He's very unique," said Niumatalolo, the Midshipmen's offensive line coach appointed to succeed Paul Johnson when Johnson recently took the Georgia Tech position. "He's very smart. He's a very smart football player."</p>
<p>But who was Niumatalolo's last poet in uniform?</p>
<p>"To my knowledge, I've never had one," he said. "But offensive linemen are smart, the kind of analytical type, always trying to analyze things. I don't think I've coached too many guys that write poetry."</p>
<p>I understand what I need to do I say what needs to be said I dream of being number one I try to be the best I hope my life will influence someone I am Antron HarperHarper began reading poetry sporadically early in his high school career and soon started writing as therapy.</p>
<p>"I didn't really get a spark until my junior year," he said. "Once I started writing, I realized you could use it </p>
<p>Groups fight for colleges to hire minorities
Some call for guidelines in football
By Michael RothsteinThe Journal GazetteAdvertisement </p>
<p>Chet Gladchuk sat back and observed Navy offensive coordinator Ken Niumatalolo for a year. He saw everything Niumatalolo did, from how he handled himself to how he learned from former Navy coach Paul Johnson.</p>
<p>So when Johnson departed for Georgia Tech, Gladchuk was prepared to fill the vacant coaching spot.</p>
<p>Johnson resigned on a Friday morning at 11. By Friday evening, Niumatalolo became Navys coach.</p>
<p>We were not going to nationally search it, said Gladchuk, the Naval Academys athletic director. I was not going to open it up and waste peoples time by going through motions because I knew I had the right guy at the Academy, and it was nothing more than a promotion and a vote of confidence in his abilities to do the job.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo is the first Polynesian head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He also became another minority among college footballs head coaches a group of people still small in number but fighting to become more prominent.</p>
<p>In 2007, college football had seven minority head coaches.</p>
<p>After the regular season ended, one (UCLAs Karl Dorrell) was fired, and so far, two (Niumatalolo and Houstons Kevin Sumlin) were hired.</p>
<p>And some groups are working toward increasing the number of minority hires.</p>
<p>Floyd Keith, the executive director of the Black Coaches and Administrators, and John Wooten, the chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, have met with the NCAA and the Division IA Athletic Directors Association at least twice in 2007.</p>
<p>Keith and the BCA have been active in the NCAA for years, publishing a minority hiring report card for the past five years. Wootens group, which helped institute the Rooney Rule in the NFL mandating every team interview at least one minority candidate for vacant head coaching positions, joined in this year.</p>
<p>What our idea was that what we felt you needed to do is stay right on course and have the schools commit that when there is an opening, that they would have a diverse slate, Wooten said. That was the big idea, the major idea.</p>
<p>Wooten established a list of 36 minority NFL assistant coaches and coordinators who would be interested in college head coaching jobs.</p>
<p>Keith makes a similar list, but there is no rule in place that colleges use these lists or interview a minority candidate.</p>
<p>The Division IA Athletic Directors Association executive director, Dutch Baughman, said his group wants to make people aware of viable minority candidates and establish coaching search guidelines, but the group doesnt want to make minority interviews mandatory for college programs.</p>
<p>But Baughmans group has yet to establish hiring guidelines.</p>
<p>We have not set a timetable nor do we intend to, Baughman said. We have to be absolutely certain to make sure we do the best job we can in creating those guidelines.</p>
<p>Baughman consistently referred to institutional prerogative when asked why a mandate would be impossible to impose.</p>
<p>Each school has its own criteria for coaching candidates. Plus, there are myriad people making the decision when a college coach is hired, unlike in the NFL where it is usually just the general manager and team owner.</p>
<p>On the college level there is the athletic director, the president, the board of trustees and others who need to green light any candidate.</p>
<p>Its one of those situations, Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier said, where Im not sure if its enforceable.</p>
<p>Still, Keith wants to see progress. With jobs still open, minorities currently occupy 6.7 percent of the head coaching positions in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In the 2005 season, 54.1 percent of FBS players were minorities.</p>
<p>In basketball, as of 2005-06, minorities occupied 19.4 percent of the head coaching positions. The number of minority athletes playing Division I mens college basketball in 2005-06 was 70 percent.</p>
<p>Keith said the main issue in college football is the low percentage of minority coaches. Keith said his group wants to see 18 percent to 19 percent of the coaches in the FBS be from minorities.</p>
<p>This is not subjective opinion, Keith said. Its objective. We have dispelled every issue. There should never be a question about the knowledge (of candidates).</p>
<p>Now, its a matter of hiring them.</p>
<p>In almost every search this season save for Mississippi and Texas A&M there have been reports of minority candidates interviewed for positions.</p>
<p>Keith has no issue with the number of minorities on staffs, which is usually between two or three a school. This season, Miami (Fla.) had seven minority coaches, including head coach Randy Shannon, and Minnesota, under first-year coach Tim Brewster, had six. Most involved say they want more diversity in the hiring pools. Frazier said he would like at least one minority candidate to be in the pool per job vacancy.</p>
<p>Gladchuk said the best person should always be hired, and he wants to see more opportunities for minorities to move up the coaching ladders through experience, like Niumatalolo.</p>
<p>The Navy athletic director has hired minorities. At Tulane and Boston College, he hired the first minority coaches in both schools history in basketball coaches Perry Clark and Al Skinner.</p>
<p>Some wish it could go faster, some wish it can go slower, Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke said. I just acknowledge the fact that it needs to move. You have to keep pressuring the system.</p>
<p>Which is what Keith and Wooten are trying to do with their candidate lists and pushing for hiring guidelines.</p>
<p>It is hard to talk about this in a real definitive manner because its not evolved yet, Baughman said. Were real dedicated in this. Were hoping to evolve.</p>
<p>SignOnSanDiego.com</a> > Sports -- Middies lining up future bowl dates</p>
<p>
[quote]
The rest of America normally doesn't know the final answer to this question more than a month in advance: Which college football bowl game is my team going to next? </p>
<p>Navy, on the other hand, has become a master planner. The Midshipmen are starting to make tentative arrangements several months or years in advance. </p>
<p>Next December, there's a fair chance its team will play in the inaugural Congressional Bowl in Washington at either the new Nationals baseball stadium or at RFK Stadium. </p>
<p>In December 2010, Navy will be in line to return to San Diego to play in its third Poinsettia Bowl since 2005....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>For all those concerned with the latest line out there:</p>
<p>The over and under for the game is 65 points.
The line is Utah (-8.5) over Navy</p>
<p>If I were a betting man, I'd take Navy with the points, and definitely WAY over the 65, but we'll see as the game kickes off about 21 and a half hours from now.</p>
<p>Utes are wise to not take Navy for granted
By Brad Rock
Deseret Morning News</p>
<p>SAN DIEGO ? Playing football against service academies isn't unlike getting a scratch. It might seem small and unintimidating at first, but if you don't take care of things, it could turn into an inflammation, then an infection and pretty soon you're down for the count.
When the Utes meet Navy in tonight's Poinsettia Bowl, they'll be facing a longtime opponent. Sort of. The Utes and Midshipmen have never met. But the opponent is all too familiar: the option attack.</p>
<p>Just what the Utes need ? a date with a recurring problem.</p>
<p>For some reason, Utah has always had trouble with service academies and/or option offenses. The Utes are 0-3 against Army, 10-14 against Air Force. The only sustained success Utah has had against military teams is its 1-0 record against something called the 12th Infantry (1903), its 2-0 mark against the 9th Cavalry (1899) and its 8-0 record against Fort Douglas (early 1900s).</p>
<p>Otherwise, it's been a problem.</p>
<p>Which brings them to tonight's game.</p>
<p>"What you've got to do is match their discipline, match their toughness and try to hang with them," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.</p>
<p>Put the Utes against Texas A&M, Louisville, Pittsburgh or UCLA, and they're not terribly worried. But show them a service academy with an option attack, and they start getting the yips.</p>
<p>"They're the best of the best," said Whittingham.
By standard measures, Utah shouldn't have to worry about Navy.</p>
<p>Though both teams are 8-4, the Utes are bigger, stronger and faster. They outweigh their counterparts by 40 pounds in some cases. Yet that doesn't always translate into victory.</p>
<p>Something about meeting guys who have more serious things on their minds than football.</p>
<p>"I have such respect for these kids and all they do for the</p>
<p>country," said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo.</p>
<p>While both Navy and Air Force use the option in some form, they also have similar personnel.</p>
<p>"They're very similar ? hard-nosed, disciplined, great work ethic," said Whittingham. "They're at the service academies for a reason. There's no secret about that. They're the cream of the crop."</p>
<p>If you want a hint at how seriously the Utes should take Navy, just look at their history against Air Force. Though Utah won four in a row (2003-2006), even then it wasn't easy. In 2004, the Utes' best season ever, they fell behind 14-0 before defeating the Falcons 49-35. It was Utah's toughest game of the year.</p>
<p>The other three wins in Utah's streak were by a combined total of eight points.</p>
<p>Before that, Air Force won eight of 11 games.</p>
<p>Using a combination triple option/spread/West Coast attack this year, Air Force beat the Utes 20-12. Meanwhile, Navy beat Air Force 31-20.</p>
<p>"They're very similar people at Air Force and the Naval Academy," added Whittingham.</p>
<p>While it's true Navy and Air Force's offenses aren't exactly the same, they're close enough to cause consternation.</p>
<p>"No question about it, the option attack is very similar to what Air Force used a lot over the years," said Whittingham.</p>
<p>Tonight's game is at Qualcomm Stadium, where Navy enjoys a sort of hometown advantage. When the teams were introduced at Wednesday's invitation-only luncheon on the aircraft carrier Midway, polite applause accompanied the Utes; Navy was met with loud applause.</p>
<p>So that's the Utes' conundrum. They're not just playing a regular opponent, they're facing an attack that has traditionally given them hives. In addition, they're going up against the USS Midway, the Navy SEALs and the entire cast and crew of "Anchors Aweigh."</p>
<p>In fact, they're playing against what long-ago radio star Walter Winchell referred to as " ... Mr. and Mrs. America, and all the ships at sea."</p>
<p>That's a lot to be worried about.</p>
<p>Johnson key to success in Utes' versatile offense</p>
<p>By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007 </p>
<p>SAN DIEGO - Several college football analysts have remarked that Oregon's offense is not nearly as potent without the dynamic Dennis Dixon at the controls. The Ducks just have not been able to run their offense the same ever since Dixon suffered a season-ending knee injury.</p>
<p>Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green thinks the same can be said about Utah and Brian Johnson.</p>
<p>Johnson missed two complete games and half of two others due to a shoulder injury early in the season. Utah compiled a 1-3 record during that stretch. Johnson returned to the lineup on Sept. 29 and the Utes boast a stellar 7-1 mark with him as the starter.</p>
<p>"Earlier in the year, when Johnson was out, they struggled on offense. Ever since he's come back and gotten healthy, they've gone on a run," Green said."There's no doubt in my mind that Johnson is the guy that makes that offense go. There's no question it's a different offense when he's back there. Utah can utilize everything in its package."</p>
<p>Utah still runs a version of the spread option implemented by former head coach Urban Meyer. It's a diverse attack that features a wide range of wrinkles and requires the quarterback to be both a ball-handler and player-maker.</p>
<p>Tommy Grady, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound senior is a classic drop-back quarterback. He's not much of a running threat and is not real effective running option plays to the perimeter.</p>
<p>Johnson is a dual threat with the ability to put pressure on the defense with either the run or pass. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior burst onto the scene with a monster season in 2005, leading the Mountain West Conference and ranking fourth nationally in total offense with 337 yards per game. The Texas native piled up 2,892 yards passing and 478 yards rushing while accounting for 26 touchdowns. He was named second team all-conference despite suffering a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 12 and missing the final two games.</p>
<p>Johnson, out of Robert E. Lee High in Baytown, Texas, sat out the entire 2006 season and his return in 2007 was welcomed by head coach Kyle Whittingham.</p>
<p>"Brian adds a dynamic to our offense that only a quarterback with his athleticism can bring," Whittingham said in preseason. "His ability to run and throw the ball equally well is a defensive coordinator's nightmare. The threat of the option is back in our offense again."</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Utah, Johnson sustained a shoulder injury early in the season opener against Oregon State and was unable to play the next two games. He returned as starter against Utah State and the Utah offense immediately began humming again.</p>
<p>Johnson hasn't put up quite the numbers he did as a sophomore, in part because the coaching staff has been reluctant to have him run too much for fear of aggravating the shoulder injury. He has been effective throwing the ball - completing 65 percent of passes (161-for-247) for 1,621 yards and 10 touchdowns.</p>
<p>"Johnson is a great athlete with good size, good speed and good moves," Green said. "He can throw the deep ball and the sideline route and he's very dangerous when scrambling. He'll pull the ball down and run in a heartbeat."</p>
<p>Green has reviewed tape from 2005 when Johnson was utilized more as a runner. He knows the quarterback is completely healed now and expects Johnson to test the Navy defense with his feet.</p>
<p>"He can run the option, the quarterback sweep, the quarterback draw we have to account for him on every play," Green said. "Watching on tape, I'm very impressed with how well he moves in the pocket, how well he throws the football and how well he runs it as well. He's very dangerous and has great presence."</p>
<p>Green has watched tape of every Utah game and agrees that offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig eliminated a large portion of the playbook while Grady was the quarterback. The Utes may not be quite as wide-open and explosive as when Meyer was head coach, but Green said the opposing defense still has to plenty to prepare for.</p>
<p>"They'll spread you out and make you cover the whole field. They'll give you a lot of formations, a lot of misdirection, a lot of motion and a lot of reverses," Green said. "A lot of players are going to get a chance to touch the football, but Johnson is the one who starts it all."</p>
<p>By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007
SAN DIEGO - Dale Pehrson is a Utah boy, born and bred.</p>
<p>Pehrson grew up in Salt Lake City, was a two-way football standout at Murray High and earned a scholarship to the University of Utah. He later served as head coach of Murray High and spent five years as defensive coordinator at Southern Utah before coming to the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>Needless to say, Pehrson was pleasantly surprised when Utah was announced as Navy's opponent in the Poinsettia Bowl.</p>
<p>"I was excited about it because I knew I'd have a chance to see a lot of old friends, folks from high school and college I haven't seen in a long time," said Pehrson, Navy's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator since 1996. "On the other hand, Utah is a darn good football team. I wasn't excited about that."</p>
<p>Pehrson was an all-state running back and defensive back at Murray High and had scholarship offers from the two biggest programs in the state - Utah and Brigham Young University. He admits not putting a whole lot of thought into the decision.</p>
<p>"My family had always been Utah fans, so I felt more of a pull in that direction. I really can't remember why I picked Utah over BYU. I guess I just liked red more than blue."</p>
<p>Pehrson played at Utah from 1972-75 for two different head coaches - Bill Meek and Tom Lovat. The Utes posted winning seasons his freshman and sophomore years, but went 2-20 when he was a junior and senior. Quarterback Don Van Galder and all-purpose back Steve Odom were among the team's top players during Pehrson's career.</p>
<p>Pehrson graduated Utah with an English degree and was a teacher in Saudi Arabia for three years. He returned home to work as a teacher and assistant football coach at Murray High under Gene McKeehan, who would later help him get into college coaching.</p>
<p>Pehrson has fond memories of his four years as head coach of his alma mater. It was during that period that he and Marty started a family.</p>
<p>"Utah is home, it always will be," Pehrson said. "There really is nothing to not like about Salt Lake. There are mountains, there are lakes, there's fishing, there's hunting. It's beautiful place to live."</p>
<p>It was McKeehan, who served as offensive line coach at Navy from 1995-2000, who brought Pehrson to Annapolis. He's been at the Naval Academy for 12 years and grown to love the place. His two children attended Broadneck High with son Preston becoming an All-County football and baseball player for the Bruins.</p>
<p>However, Utah has never been far from his mind, especially since his parents still lived in Salt Lake City up until a year ago. The 54-year-old, whose parents are both recently deceased, last returned home in 2002 just prior to when Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics.</p>
<p>"I couldn't believe how much the city has grown and changed. Out in the country where I used to go hunt pheasants there are now houses," Pehrson told a pair of reporters from Utah after Navy's practice yesterday. "I still stay in touch with a lot of people from there, former teammates from high school and college as well as family friends."</p>
<p>As an alumnus, Utah will always be in his heart and tomorrow night will mark the first time he hasn't rooted for the Utes to win a football game.</p>
<p>"The loyalty resides with whichever school is paying you," said Pehrson, who has been led to believe he will be retained by newly named head coach Ken Niumatalolo.</p>
<p>by Dave Carey, The Examiner
SAN DIEGO (Map, News) - Antron Harper loves elephants.</p>
<p>?I always wanted to ride an elephant,? Harper said with a laugh after practice at University of California, San Diego. ?I?m not sure if they would let that slide or not, but I wouldn?t mind doing it.?</p>
<p>Navy?s senior center was just one of the players excited about the football team?s visit to the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday. Senior slot back Reggie Campbell said he was excited to see the Lions at the 90-year-old zoo that is regarded as one of America?s best.</p>
<p>Freshman Lee Calloway, Clayton Lydick and Shane Bothel walked around the zoo in their blue Poinsettia Bowl warm-up suits, snapping pictures of the animals and debating what to see next before settling for the polar bears. </p>
<p>The polar bear exhibit featured a huge tank of water and a waterfall. Despite the 65 degree weather, Calloway was a bit envious of the polar bears.</p>
<p>?If I jump in that water,? Calloway said, ?I?m never coming out.?</p>
<p>SANTA CAME EARLY: Each member of the football team received a gift bag from Poinsettia Bowl officials that included a hooded sweatshirt, a Sony PSP, Madden NFL 2008 PSP game, a PSP case and a backpack. </p>
<p>?We get [the PSPs] out whenever we go anywhere and link up and play,? Campbell said. </p>
<p>At the Motor City Bowl in Charlotte, N.C, last year, players received a Sony digital mini camcorder, a Fossil watch, an embroidered gym bag and a personalized football. When the Midshipmen played in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl in 2005, their gifts included an iPod Mini, a $15 music gift certificate, a Fossil watch, a commemorative sweatshirt, T-shirt and hat.</p>
<p>ON THE COURT: Navy?s men?s basketball also made the trip out west this week, taking on San Diego State (9-2) Monday night at Cox Arena. The Midshipmen fell, 86-76, after the Aztecs pulled away late, but it wasn?t for lack of support. The football team and coaching staff attended the game and watched the squad fall to 3-8.</p>
<p>DAY AT THE RACES: After practice on Monday, the team got to ?strap it up? in a different way. Both Navy and Utah were each given two hours of race time at the Miramar Speed Circuit to hold their own team ?Poinsettia Bowl Grand Prix.? </p>
<p>Junior Guard Anthony Gaskins, who has a drag racing license, did his best Jimmy Johnson impression, coming away with bragging rights after beating quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada in the final.</p>
<p><a href="mailto:dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com">dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com</a></p>
<p>Ballard</a>, Navy preparing for Utah in San Diego - Examiner.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
Most players dread going to practice. But Navy senior fullback Adam Ballard couldn?t be happier preparing to play Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday night at Qualcomm Stadium. </p>
<p>The 6-foot-1, 236-pound starting fullback?s 2006 season came to an abrupt end against Army ? the game before Navy was to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl ? when he broke his right leg in the first quarter. Ballard accompanied the team to Charlotte, N.C., for its bowl game against Boston College, but as a spectator.</p>
<p>?It was frustrating watching those guys practice last year and lose the way we did against Boston College,? Ballard said. ?Things are different this time around. Coming from Annapolis where it was cold and rainy, we really hit the ground running and had some good practices.? ...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>For</a> Navy, change is in name only - - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper</p>
<p>
[quote]
For Navy's players, tonight's game is a bonus, a reward for another successful season. But for coach Ken Niumatalolo, the Poinsettia Bowl is a chance to show he is prepared to run a college football team.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo took the coaching job Dec. 8, a day after Paul Johnson left for Georgia Tech. The Midshipmen have had a little more than a week of practice with their new coach, who will make his debut on national television tonight....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Singleton's</a> story just getting started -- baltimoresun.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
"Zerbin is always looking to improve himself," said Campbell. "And the guy has his phone number posted in the locker room. Anybody on the team can call him at any time if they need anything ... He has a big heart . He's a genuine person. You don't see that too often."</p>
<p>Slotback coach Jeff Monken said, "Zerbin is just wired differently from anybody I've ever been around. Our whole team feeds off his energy. Not just the offense, the whole team ... He is great for all of us."...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Then-Hawaii football coach Bob Wagner was speaking at a Rotary Club meeting in the late 1980s when he was asked who would be his starting quarterback. Wagner named six of the seven quarterbacks on the roster and said all six were good and had a chance at playing time. </p>
<p>After the meeting, the mother of the seventh quarterback approached him. She told Wagner he had forgotten to mention her son, sophomore Ken Niumatalolo....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Navy</a> benefits from fullbacks' healthy rivalry -- baltimoresun.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy's fullbacks Adam Ballard and Eric Kettani are laughing, keeping Thursday night's Poinsettia Bowl in perspective.</p>
<p>"He's the Rain Man," said Ballard, referring to the Oscar-winning film. "Dustin Hoffman. That's him. I'm like his guardian. I take care of him, like Tom Cruise. I keep him pointed in the right direction."</p>
<p>"He's old," countered Kettani. "He's a senior and all broken-down."...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>By
Bill Wagner
Annapolis Capital Blog</p>
<p>Here are a few little tidbits related to tonight's third annual Poinsettia Bowl that didn't make it into the paper this week.</p>
<ul>
<li>Well the ticket count is complete and it's a landslide victory for the Naval Academy. </li>
</ul>
<p>Poinsettia Bowl media director Mark Neville said 46,000 tickets have been sold and organizers are hoping to have 40,000 come through the gate at Qualcomm Stadium.</p>
<p>The Naval Academy Athletic Association sold 18,000 tickets. Poinsettia Bowl officials are crediting another 7,000 tickets to Navy since they were clearly sold to Naval personnel around the greater San Diego region. </p>
<p>Both schools were allotted 10,000 tickets and had to sell them or eat them. Utah only sold 4,000 tickets and turned back 6,000 to bowl organizers. The Utes will receive a lower payout as a result. </p>
<p>In an interesting twist, Utah athletic officials asked Bruce Binkowski, the executive director of the bowl, to not sell the 6,000 tickets that were turned back to military personnel since Navy already had a major home field advantage. Hopefully, Binkowski told Utah athletic director Chris Hill the bowl would sell the tickets to whomever would take them.</p>
<p>"We know it's going to be a Navy crowd. We are prepared for a hostile environment," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said.</p>
<p>Whittingham seemed miffed that Utah had not sold more tickets and was hopeful some of the general sales around the San Diego area had gone to Utah fans. The Utes have 32 players on the roster who hail from California, including 24 from southern California. </p>
<p>Players from the San Diego area included Darrell Mack (Monte Vista High, Spring Valley), David Cravens (La Jolla) and Chris Jones (La Jolla).
"We've always had a strong group of Utah fans whenever we have played San Diego State here," Whittingham said.</p>
<ul>
<li>Newly-named Naval Academy head coach Ken Niumatalolo gave a very thoughtful and eloquent introductory speech at Wednesday's official Poinsettia Bowl press conference. </li>
</ul>
<p>Niumatalolo spoke from the heart when he talked about what an honor it is to serve as head coach of the Naval Academy and become emotional as he explained that he thinks every day about the fact the football players he works with will soon be serving a nation at war and may have to pay the ultimate sacrifice. </p>
<p>"My respect for these kids and what they volunteer to do for their country is enormous," Niumatalolo said.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo wore an impeccably tailored and extremely sharp suit with a gold tie to the event. Other than his introductory press conference with local media, Niumatalolo had not made a public appearance as Navy head coach. He represented the academy very well before a large contingent of media that included television, radio and print reporters from Maryland-D.C., Utah and California.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo opened his remarks by joking that Navy was going to scrap the triple-option and surprise Utah with another unique offense.</p>
<p>"As you know, I played at Hawaii. Well I've been talking to June Jones and we're going to go to the run-and-shoot tomorrow night," Niumatalolo joked.</p>
<ul>
<li>Navy's seniors can tie the all-time program record for victories by a single class with an upset tonight.</li>
</ul>
<p>Reggie Campbell, Irv Spencer and the other members of the Class of 2008 have been part of 35 wins during their careers. The Class of 1919 holds the record with 36 wins.</p>
<p>"I think the seniors understand the significance of that achievement and would like very much to go down in the record books as the winningest class in Naval Academy history," Niumatalolo said.</p>
<ul>
<li>Whittingham brought the entire Utah team to Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday to see the San Diego Chargers rout the Detroit Lions. The Utes were hard to miss as they sat together wearing their red sweatsuits that were issued by the Poinsettia Bowl.</li>
</ul>
<p>Of course, the purpose of the trip was to see former Utah All-American Eric Weddle, a rookie defensive back for the Chargers. Weddle was without question one of the finest players in Utah football history, a hard-hitting safety who finished with 277 tackles, 18 interceptions and 10 sacks in his career.</p>
<p>Weddle, a two-time Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was widely considered the most versatile player in the country last year as he also had a significant role on offense. Weddle would line up as a receiver and would run the ball on direct handoffs or pitchouts. He scored five rushing touchdowns as a senior and was named Most Valuable Player of the Armed Forces Bowl after totaling six tackles, an interception, sack and fumble recovery on defense along with 56 yards rushing and a touchdown on offense.</p>
<p>Navy</a> football support bowls over San Diego - Top Stories - (HometownAnnapolis.com)</p>
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[quote]
It was a scene reminiscent of another era, with hundreds of people gathered on a dock below the imposing hull of an aircraft carrier.</p>
<p>In years gone by, they would have been the friends and family of sailors headed overseas....
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</p>
<p>Mids</a> try to keep points flowing with new skipper - Navy Sports - (HometownAnnapolis.com)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Ken Niumatalolo has the misfortune of facing an extremely tough opponent in his debut as Naval Academy head coach tonight in the Poinsettia Bowl.</p>
<p>Utah is a rock-solid program that has posted five straight winning seasons, all of which were capped by bowl game victories.</p>
<p>Utah boasts a high-powered spread offense that scored 50 points in a shutout of Wyoming and 44 in an upset of Louisville this season. Defensively, the Utes rank among the national leaders in almost every major category.</p>
<p>"Utah is a very formidable opponent. We're going to have our hands full and it will take a great effort to beat them," Niumatalolo said yesterday at the official Poinsettia Bowl press conference at the Omni Hotel....
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</p>
<p>Utah</a>, Navy coaches familiar foes - Examiner.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo still remembers chatting with Utah coach Kyle Whittingham before games as coordinators on opposing teams in the Mountain West Conference more than six years ago. But tonight at 9 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, they will meet under completely different circumstances as head coaches in the Poinsettia Bowl in front of a national television audience on ESPN.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo and Whittingham each replaced highly successful coaches who turned struggling teams into formidable ones. ...
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<p>Roundup of Navy-Utah predictions
Selected Poinsettia Bowl picks from college football pundits
Baltimoresun.com staff </p>
<p>Without Georgia Tech-bound Paul Johnson, Navy will bring its top-ranked rushing attack to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego tonight for a Poinsettia Bowl date with the Utah Utes.</p>
<p>Former Mids assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo has been elevated to the head position following Johnson's decision to take over the Yellow Jackets.</p>
<p>The majority of national college football pundits are predicting a tough game for Niumatalolo's squad, which faces a Utah program that has won six straight bowl games.</p>
<p>Here's a roundup of the Poinsettia Bowl picks by selected college football writers and media outlets:</p>
<p> ESPN.com's Pat Forde predicts a 38-28 victory for Utah, noting that Navy's strength (offense) will go against Utah's strength (defense).</p>
<p>Utes allowed only 9.5 points per game the last half of the season. Middies led the nation in rushing offense and averaged 40 points per game, but were just 1-3 against bowl teams this season. And their coach is leaving for Georgia Tech. </p>
<p> SI.com's Stewart Mandel likes Utah as well, picking a 34-24 Utes victory.</p>
<p>It's been a historic season for Navy, which exorcised its 43-year demon against Notre Dame and recently introduced the first Polynesian head coach in Division I-A history, Ken Niumatalolo. A win here would be the ultimate capper, but the much-improved Utes have won seven of their last eight.</p>
<p> MSNBC.com likes Utah in a 28-27 squeaker, but notes that the Mids have a chance if they can diversify their offense and successfully throw the ball.</p>
<p>The Midshipmen are running the most productive offense in school history, having scored 479 points this season to break the previous mark of 442, which stood since 1917. But Navy accomplishes that while ranking last in the country in passing, averaging just 93.1 yards per game through the air.</p>
<p>After throwing only five passes in the 38-3 victory over Army in the regular-season finale, Midshipmen quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada will have to come up with some crucial third-down conversions against Utah's sturdy defense.</p>
<p> Rivals.com's four college football writers all pick Utah. Mike Huguenin foresees a 30-24 Utah win but says Navy could win if ...</p>
<p>The Middies need to control the ball on the ground and avoid mistakes. Kaheaku-Enhada has to be sharp on his option reads and take advantage of a defense that plays aggressively. </p>
<p> The Sports Network predicts a 35-28 Utah win, but notes that the outcome is far from a given.</p>
<p>When the Utes were charged with trying to stop a dominant running game like they were when they faced Air Force, the squad didn't stand up that well. However, that was months ago and the team has since leveled out. However, with some uncertainty at the quarterback position, Utah is not a lock for a victory by any stretch in this game</p>
<p>New</a> Navy coach Niumatalolo is big fan of old one - USATODAY.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
After nearly two decades as an assistant, Ken Niumatalolo should have been ecstatic about being named football coach at Navy on Dec. 8.</p>
<p>But the promotion, he says, feels somewhat bittersweet.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo takes over for Paul Johnson, who jumped to Georgia Tech after stunning success at Navy. The Midshipmen were 45-29 in Johnson's six seasons, including 43-19 the last five years, and recorded six consecutive wins against Army for the first time....
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</p>