<p>Respect from opponents can often be rare in something as competitive as big-time college football.</p>
<p>No matter where the Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy play, the players see it. </p>
<p>When the team travels to a Stanford, Notre Dame or even Duke, the reaction's the same. There's not the usual amount of anti-Navy behavior from the opposing teams and fans at most college games .</p>
<p>A lot of it may have to do with the U.S. being involved in a war at present. Whatever it is, Navy players like senior Keenan Little and junior Troy Goss have witnessed it.</p>
<p>"It makes you feel good, everyone gives you that respect," said Little, a Crest graduate who is a third-year starter in the Navy secondary heading into Saturday's Meineke Car Care Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. "You know you're lucky to play a sport here and for a uniform that represents our government."</p>
<p>It's the same for Goss, a Burns product, who has worked at both slotback and quarterback in the 2006 season.</p>
<p>"Against everybody we play, it's the same, teams deal with us with a lot of respect. I think that's special," Goss said at a Navy workout at the Charlotte Latin High stadium this week.
Both Cleveland County natives are excited to be playing near home.</p>
<p>"The first thing I thought is 'Oh, Lord, how many tickets will my mom want," Goss said. "It is a thrill. When we're up in Maryland (at Annapolis), people can't always get up there to see you."
Little echoed the notion.</p>
<p>"This is one of the best ways to cap off my career, coming here and having a lot of family getting to see you play," he said. "Some of them have gotten to see me play but there's others who haven't seen me (play in person) since high school. It's also a chance to be at home and relax."</p>
<p>Little has played in Navy's bowl games at such places as Houston, San Francisco and San Diego the past three years.</p>
<p>"When I came (to Navy) I didn't think much about going to bowls, I just wanted to have a winning record," Little said. "It's become a major thing. It (playing in a bowl) really helps the program."</p>
<p>One thing that's hung over the heads of the Navy players recently has been the constant talk involving Coach Paul Johnson's future. The team's success has caused his name to be linked to a number of high-profile teams with vacancies.</p>
<p>"He lets us know what's going on," Goss said of his head coach. "He said it's only rumors, that if he's got something to tell us, he will. Right now we know he's going to be out there every day making us keep on working hard."</p>
<p>KRTBN Knight-Ridder Tribune Business News - The Star
December 29, 2006</p>