<p>Matchup isn't till Saturday, but the fun has already begun</p>
<p>Published in the Charlotte Observer:</p>
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It's almost time to play.</p>
<p>The Meineke Car Care Bowl, matching Boston College against Navy at Bank of America Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday, comes to life today as football fans from both sides flood into uptown for a late-afternoon pep rally....
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<p>Charlotte visit is 2nd in 3 years for B.C.</p>
<p>Published in today's Charlotte Observer:</p>
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[quote]
This is the second visit in three years for Boston College to the Meineke Car Care Bowl and it's understandable that some of the Eagles would have preferred a different postseason destination.</p>
<p>Once the decision to return to Charlotte became official, however, the Eagles focused on the task at hand -- facing Navy while adjusting to interim head coach Frank Spaziani, who is filling the coaching gap between the departure of Tom O'Brien to N.C. State and the arrival of new coach Jeff Jagodzinski....
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<p>Navy 21 - Boston College 16</p>
<p>:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)</p>
<p>Published in today's BS:</p>
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[quote]
Navy has enjoyed numerous unprecedented achievements in the Paul Johnson era. The Midshipmen have swept Army and Air Force for four straight years and gone to four consecutive bowl games, and their senior class stands one victory shy of tying a record set nearly a century ago.</p>
<p>But a victory today over 23rd-ranked Boston College in the Meineke Car Care Bowl would go down as the crowning feat during Johnson's five years in Annapolis....
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<p>Published in today's BS:</p>
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The Midshipmen have virtually sealed their third NCAA rushing title in the past four years, so it's no secret that Navy needs to run the ball effectively out of its triple option to upset the Eagles. That means sophomore QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada needs to play much better than he did in a 26-14 victory over Army, when he missed numerous option reads and threw the ball poorly in easily his worst performance since taking over for injured Brian Hampton two months ago....
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<p>Navy coach looks to add exclamation point to 9-3 season</p>
<p>Published in the BS:</p>
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[quote]
Navy has enjoyed numerous unprecedented achievements in the Paul Johnson era. The Midshipmen have swept Army and Air Force for four straight years, gone to four consecutive bowl games and their senior class stands one victory shy of tying a record set nearly a century ago.</p>
<p>But a victory Saturday over 23rd-ranked Boston College in the Meineke Car Care Bowl would go down as the crowning feat during Johnson's five years in Annapolis....
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<p>Mids will be crowd favorite vs. Boston College Saturday</p>
<p>Published in the BS:</p>
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[quote]
Navy coach Paul Johnson is concerned about the size of Boston College's linemen. He isn't worried about fan support.</p>
<p>The underdog and undersized Midshipmen will be the crowd favorite when they face the 23rd-ranked Eagles in the Meineke Bowl on Saturday....
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<p>Frack, frack, frack, frack, FRACK! :mad:</p>
<p>^^^^^
Ditto Zaphod's post.</p>
<p>....................wow..................</p>
<p>That game basically ruined my day...it's a shame that most commentators automatically discount service academies, and Navy almost had a chance to turn that perception around today. It infuriates me that for what seemed like the entire game the commentators attitudes were so much more in favor of BC than Navy...</p>
<p>Heartbreaker. The sun will come up though. A fine showing, for sure.</p>
<p>Too bad we had to draw Gottfried. He makes for a long afternoon.</p>
<p>Johnson is a genius on the gridiron.</p>
<p>what a great game- and with navy leading the whole way- and what an ironic twist of fate the final minute- </p>
<p>All things considered, what a great job by the USNA team!</p>
<p>They obviously never heard of Joe Pisarcik.</p>
<p>He began his NFL career with the New York Giants, and is best remembered for his role in a November 19, 1978 game where the Giants, up 17-12 with only seconds to play and the opponent out of time-outs, lost after his ill-advised handoff (a play called by offensive coordinator Bob Gibson over Pisarcik's objections) to Larry Csonka was fumbled and returned for a touchdown by Herman Edwards of the Philadelphia Eagles. The play has ever since been remembered as "The Fumble" by Giants fans and "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" by Eagles fans.</p>
<p>Published in today's BS:</p>
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[quote]
Navy senior cornerback Keenan Little said his heart dropped. Senior linebacker David Mahoney collapsed on the field in stunned disappointment. Senior linebacker Tyler Tidwell's pain extended far deeper than the severe back spasms he fought throughout the second half.</p>
<p>Three seconds. That was all that stood between Navy and the biggest prize of the season and of the five-year Paul Johnson era. And in three seconds, after the Midshipmen had stood tall against No. 23 Boston College by containing the most prolific offense in the Atlantic Coast Conference and hurting the Eagles with passes downfield and runs to the outside, the dream died with one kick....
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<p>Last second field goal sinks Midshipmen</p>
<p>Published in the Annapolis Capital:</p>
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[quote]
Everything about the Meineke Car Care Bowl was positive for the Naval Academy except the ending.</p>
<p>Navy put on a terrific show at the tailgate, in the stands and on the field yet came away disappointed after Boston College stole the victory at the last possible moment....
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<p>Published in today's Washington Compost:</p>
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In a span of 1 minute 40 seconds, Navy went from having possession of the ball and a two-point lead to hoping that a walk-on place kicker from Boston College who did not play high school football would miss a 37-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left.</p>
<p>But as soon as sophomore Steve Aponavicius kicked the ball, he thrust his fist in the air. A few seconds later, his Boston College teammates joined him in celebrating a 25-24 victory in the Meineke Car Care Bowl before 52,303 at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday....
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<p>Published in today's Washington Times:</p>
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[quote]
Navy came within one play of sealing a victory against a ranked team for the first time in 21 years and winning a bowl game for the third straight season yesterday, and coach Paul Johnson thought he had called it. </p>
<p>Faced with a third-and-6 at the Boston College 38 and a fourth-quarter clock dwindling toward two minutes, slotback Shun White took a pitch to the right and appeared to have picked up a potential game-clinching first down....
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<p>Published in the Charlotte Observer:</p>
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[quote]
It's fitting that Boston College's bizarre month would end with an improbable finish that made a hero out of a walk-on kicker. Steve Aponavicius kicked a career-best 37-yard field goal on the final play and the 23rd-ranked Eagles beat the Midshipmen 25-24 in the Meineke Bowl to extend the nation's current longest bowl-winning streak to seven.</p>
<p>"What they had to overcome and all the adversity," interim coach Frank Spaziani said. "No one asked about Navy. Everyone was talking about the situation."...
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