Dave Broughton and I sparked some controversy last week with comments we made during our weekly "Sports Chat" about the special uniforms worn during the annual Army-Navy game. Many graduates of both service academies were appalled by the rather gaudy uniforms, especially the Army camouflage pants that looked like pajamas. I'm a traditionalist so I wasn't thrilled to see Army and Navy not wearing their normal uniforms in a game that has so much history and tradition.
Of course, Navy equipment manager Greg Morgenthaler, who worked with Nike to help design the uniforms, was not happy with my comments. I must say that Navy's new uniform was much more classy than the Army version, especially the nod to the Marine Corps through the dark blue pants with blood red stripe. However, I was not as thrilled with the jersey design.
Navy sports information director Scott Strasemeier pointed out that Army and Navy used to alter their uniforms for the annual game all the time. Navy once had "Drive for Five" stitched across the back of the jerseys where a last name normally might be. Former Navy head coach Wayne Hardin loved uniform stunts so much he did something different just about every year, putting a Jolly Roger skull and crossbones insignia on the helmets, having BEAT and ARMY written on the shoulders pads and other outlandish ideas.
None of these arguments make me change my opinion that Army and Navy should wear the same uniforms they don all season during the annual game. However, in an effort to present another opinion, I will publish this letter I received from Naval Academy graduate Eric Veit, who served in the Marine Corps and thus liked the uniform design that was chosen.


Bill,

I've enjoyed your coverage of Navy football all season long. Thanks for your dedicated coverage. I'm prompted to write and disagree, however, with the opinions you and your co-host expressed of the new uniforms each team wore in the Army Navy game.

Army's uniforms were, I thought, a good reminder of their mission - by the inclusion of the Army's new digital camouflage (their fighting uniform), the reference on the pants to "Boots on the Ground" and most importantly, the West Point motto of "Duty, Honor, Country" on the back instead of individual player names. I'm not an Army grad, but I thought they were an exciting development for an otherwise very boring football program.

I am a Navy grad (Class of 1988) and I've felt Navy's uniforms have needed updating, as I've seen no discernible updates to them in 25 or more years of following Navy football. Big letters "Navy" over the chest to me says "1980s" not "tradition."

Most importantly, as a Marine, I was gratified to see some specific respect paid to the Marines in the new uniform, by the inclusion of the Marine "Eagle, Globe, and Anchor" emblem on one shirt sleeve, and by the modeling of the uniform pants on the Marine officers' evening dress trousers.

Marine officers have worn formal uniform trousers like the game uniform pants (though a darker shade of blue) for 100 years or more. So the Navy grads who you cited as saying the Navy uniforms weren't "traditional" were out in left field. I'll also point out I've seen photos of Roger Staubach wearing a Navy helmet with a pirates' flag and Asian characters on the side, and I recall Navy wearing blue helmets with gold lettering "Navy" for one Army-Navy game some 10 to 15 years ago, so there is some tradition for Navy uniforms being altered for the Army-Navy game.

We call them "Navy" for short-hand, but I'm sure you know the "Naval" Academy and "Naval" service include both Navy and the Marines, so it's about time the Academy recognized the Marines more expressly than sewing on a few unit patches for the last game of the year, particularly when it's the Marines who are carrying the ball in our current fight, and so many players will become Marines themselves.

Thanks again for all your great coverage,

Eric

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Jarod Bryant has been practicing at slot back this week and the coaching staff seems committed to getting the senior captain into the EagleBank Bowl against Wake Forest. Fans may recall the original plan during preseason was to use Bryant at slot back since it appeared that fellow senior Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada would be the starting quarterback. Bryant is a dynamic runner and it seemed a waste to have him sit on the bench as the backup QB. Bryant practiced at slot back early in preseason and ascended to No. 1 on the depth chart at one point. However, Kaheaku-Enhada partially tore a hamstring and that put an end to the experiment. Kaheaku-Enhada returned to start versus Duke and play the entire game against Rutgers so the coaching staff felt comfortable enough to have Bryant resume working at slot. However, Kaheaku-Enhada aggravated the injury in the Wake Forest game and Bryant was forced to remain at quarterback the rest of the season. With Kaheaku-Enhada healthy again and sophomore Ricky Dobbs now the clear-cut backup, the staff had the luxury of returning Bryant to slot back. Navy players and those close to the team would love to see Bryant get considerable playing time in the game and do well because he is a first-class individual who represents the program in exemplary fashion and has been a terrific leader as offensive captain.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Navy senior fullback Eric Kettani needs 68 yards against Wake Forest to reach 1,000 for the season. If Kettani accomplishes the feat and joins slot back Shun White in the exclusive club, it would mark only the second time in Navy football history that one backfield has produced two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. White reached the milestone against Army and enters teh EagleBank Bowl with 1,021 yards. In 2003, Navy's second season running the triple-option offense, fullback Kyle Eckel and quarterback Craig Candeto rushed for 1,249 yards and 1,112 yards, respectively. It would also mark just the third time a service academy football program had two players with 1,000 yards rushing. Army accomplished the feat in 1984 when Doug Black and Nate Sassaman gained 1,148 and 1,002 yards, respectively.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Members of the Times-Herald Record sports staff have put together a list of potential candidates to fill the head football coaching vacancy at Army. Athletic director Kevin Anderson said option experience is important and a past association with West Point would be a bonus.
Justin Rodriguez and Sal Interdonato, both of whom covered Army football for The Times-Herald Record, surprisingly did not include Paul Johnson disciples and current Georgia Tech assistants Jeff Monken and Brian Bohannon.
Here is the Times-Herald list, which does include former Army head coach Bob Sutton, who was fired on a street corner in Philadelphia by former athletic director Rick Greenspan.

* Mike Sullivan, Giants receivers coach: A former Army player and assistant
coach.

* Ed Warinner, University of Kansas offensive coordinator: Spent 13 seasons
as an assistant coach at Army, serving as recruiting coordinator,
offensive-line coach and offensive coordinator.

* Steed Lobotzke, Wake Forest offensive coordinator: Air Force graduate and
football player and a popular "up-and-comer" in coaching ranks. Also knows
option football and uses some at Wake.

* Bob Sutton, Jets assistant coach: Last Army coach with winning season,
also ran the option-based offense at West Point. A favorite of many alumni.

* Ivin Jasper, Navy offensive coordinator: In his first year running Navy's
offense, but is a Paul Johnson disciple, who played quarterback and slot
back at the University of Hawaii.

* Greg Gregory, South Florida offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach:
Spent nine seasons as Army's offensive coordinator and 16 years overall at
West Point.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Stan Brock has been fired as head football coach at Army and the West Point leadership announced it will conduct a national search to find a replacement. Don't be surprised if that search leads directly to the door of a former Navy assistant.
Army seems committed to playing option football and it was obvious this season that the missing ingredient is a coach who truly understands option football. You can't just say you are going to run the option. You need to have coaches who understand how to teach it to the players, break it down in the film room, fix it when it breaks and properly call plays on Saturday. Simply put, you need someone who spent time coaching in an option system.
Obviously, any athletic director with any sense would want to hire a coach who learned about option offense from the unquestioned master - former Navy and current Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson.
I highly doubt that Army would humble itself to the point of hiring a coach directly from archrival Navy so that leaves current offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper out of the mix. However, there are two assistant coaches at Georgia Tech who know the system extremely well and would make good head coaches one day. So don't be surprised if Jeff Monken and Brian Bohannon are mentioned as potential candidates for the West Point vacancy.
Both men are young, energetic and knowledgeable. Both have been with Johnson at Georgia Southern, Navy and now Georgia Tech. Both believe firmly in option football and no doubt know the system inside and out at this point.
Monken has already made several attempts to become a head coach, applying for a variety of vacancies including the most recent one at Georgia Southern. He has alway coached the slot backs and served as special teams coordinator under Johnson. Bohannon has clearly seen his role increased at Georgia Tech as he's one of the assistants in the press box relaying information to Johnson for play-calling purposes. I've noticed that Bohannon, who is serving as quarterbacks and fullbacks coach for Johnson, has been quoted quite often, more than any other assistant, in newspaper and internet articles about the Yellow Jackets offense this season.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

We all know the Navy defense has been playing extremely well this season, especially down the stretch. Statistical evidence of just how good the unit has been is pouring in.
Navy has the nation's most improved defense in terms of points allowed. The Midshipmen are giving up an average of 21.4 points per game in 2008 as compared to a whopping 36.4 in 2007. That is a 15 points per game improvement, roughly 2 1/2 better than runner-ups Florida (12.6) and Alabama (12.5).
Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com discovered another interesting note about the Navy defense. The Midshipmen recorded back-to-back shutouts against Northern Illinois (16-0) and Army (34-0). That made Navy one of only three teams in the country to accomplish consecutive shutouts with USC and BYU being the others.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Got word yesterday that Navy fullback Eric Kettani has been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game, one of the most notable of the senior all-star events held each year.
If the climate was different and there was a clear-cut avenue for service academy graduates to get an opportunity in the National Football League, I firmly believe Kettani would be a professional prospect.
Former Navy fullback Kyle Eckel is currently in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and also had stints with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. Eckel is probably a more elusive, dynamic runner than Kettani, but does not possess nearly the speed or size. Kettani, at 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, is more of a prototypical fullback by NFL standards. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds, better than the 4.7 that Eckel routinely clocked. Turth be told, Kettani is quite the physical specimen with the ability to bench pres 395 pounds and vertical leap 32 inches.
Kettani displayed that tremendous overall athleticism during Navy's Pro Day so the NFL scouts know all about him. Yes, if the Navy had some sort of policy, any policy, in place that allowed academy graduates to play full-time in the NFL before completing their five-year service commitment then I am sure Kettani would, at least, be signed as a free agent.
I have written ad nauseam about the Alternative Service Option, a Department of Defense initiative that allows service academy grads with extraordinary skills to serve two years of active duty then double the remaining commitment (six years) in the reserves. However, the Navy is currently not considering Alternative Service Option applications because the nation is at war. If a new Secretary of the Navy takes a different stance and decides to honor the Alternative Service Option, it could open the door for Kettani to get a shot in the NFL.
Here is the complete release about Kettani's selection to the East-West Shrine Game.


For: Immediate Release
Sent: December 9, 2008
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Kettani Selected For East-West Shrine Game

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy senior fullback Eric Kettani (Kirtland, Ohio) has been
selected to the 2009 East-West Shrine All-Star Game, which will be played
Saturday, January 17 at the University of Houston. Game time is 3 p.m. (4
p.m. in Annapolis).

Kettani is the 22nd player in school history to be selected for the game,
including the sixth in the last seven years. Fullback Adam Ballard played
in the contest last year.

Kettani, who is the ninth leading rusher in school history, has rushed for
2,041 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career. His career average of 5.4
yards per carry is the sixth-best rushing average in school history. He
enters next Saturday's EagleBank Bowl just 68 yards shy of 1,000 yards
rushing for the season. If he can eclipse that mark, Kettani will join Shun
White as the first backfield in school history and second in Service Academy
history to have two running backs over 1,000 yards in the same season.

As a twist of fate, Kettani will play for former Army head coach, Bobby
Ross, in the game. Former Alabama coach Gene Stallings will coach the West.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

It's official. Navy will play Wake Forest in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl. It will be a rematch of a regular season meeting between the schools, won by the Midshipmen in Winston Salem.
Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo and Wake Forest counterpart Jim Grobe both expressed excitement about the matchup and the prospect of playing in a first-year bowl. I've heard from many Navy fans that don't seem quite as excited about the rematch and I understand that sentiment to some extent. Bowls are about playing a unique opponent you would not normally meet, as was the case in Navy's previous five bowl appearances. The Midshipmen played, in order, Texas Tech, New Mexico, Colorado State, Boston College and Utah.
Unfortunately, these bowl matchups are often completely out of the control of the schools involved, dictated by a variety of forces. In this case, the Atlantic Coast Conference's pecking order dictated that Wake Forest had to go to the EagleBank Bowl, whether Navy administrators or fans liked it or not.

Navy sent out a press release this evening detailing its tentative bowl itinerary.


Navy will practice in Annapolis from Thursday, Dec. 11 through Thursday,
Dec. 18, except for Sunday, Dec. 14, which will be an off day. Practice
times are to be announced.
The team will stay in the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel (202) 347-2000 in
Washington, D.C. from Tuesday, Dec. 16-Friday, Dec. 19.
The team will have a walk-through on Friday, Dec. 19 at RFK Stadium that
is closed to the media.
Other media events will include a team welcome at the Mayflower Hotel on
Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6:45 p.m., a tour of the United States Capitol Building
(2:00-3:30 p.m.) and a trip to ESPN Zone (7:00-9:15 p.m.) on Wednesday, Dec.
17, a visit to the Bethesda Naval Hospital (10:30 a.m.-12 noon) on Thursday,
Dec. 18 and the EagleBank Bowl luncheon at the JW Marriott (11:45 a.m.-2:30
p.m.) on Friday, Dec. 19.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Linebacker Ram Vela put the finishing touches on a dominating victory by Navy, intercepting a Chip Bowden pass and returning it 68 yards for a touchdown. Navy out-gained Army 373 yards to 118. Nose guard Nate Frazier anchored a powerful defensive effort as the Midshipmen posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the start of the 1978 season.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Navy may have just put this game out of reach with an impressive drive to open the second half. The Midshipmen took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and marched 72 yards in 14 plays, taking nearly eight minutes off the clock.
Fullback Eric Kettani capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run that gave Navy a commanding 24-0 lead with 6:56 remaining in the third period. Navy went for the jugular and extended the drive by converting on fourth-and-two at the Army 19-yard line. Earlier in the drive, slot back Bobby Doyle gained 14 yards on third-and-four.
Army just fumbled at its own 35-yard line and Navy safety Wyatt Middleton has recovered to put the Mids right back in business. Linebacker Ross Pospisil caushed the fumble by fullback Collin Mooney.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Navy has increased its lead with a methodical 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by an 18-yard pass from quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada to slot back Shun White.
White had a 12-yard gain on the second play to jump-start the drive while Kaheaku-Enhada broke an option keeper for 17 yards to bring the Midshipmen into scoring position. The payoff came on a well-executed crossing pattern that saw White come across the middle wide open, catch the short pass from Kaheaku-Enhada and waltz into the end zone untouched to make it 17-0 with 3:18 left in the first half.
White now has 120 yards rushing on just eight carries.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Navy followed Kyle Delahooke's heads-up play with a strong defensive stop, forcing Army to put for the second time in the game. Navy took over at its own 15-yard line and proceeded to drive into field goal range. Matt Harmon booted a 23-yard field goal to put the Midshipmen ahead by 10 with 2:59 left in the first quarter.
Quaterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada completed a 34-yard pass to wide receiver Tyree Barnes to get the ball into Army territory and fullback Eric Kettani broke a 27-yard run off an option wrinkle in which he served as the pitch man.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Navy punter Kyle Delahooke has prevented a disastrous situation by recovering a terrible snap and getting off a good punt that reached midfield. Long snapper launched the ball almost 15 yards over the head of Delahooke, who was positioned around the 28-yard line. The ball rolled all the way into end zone with Delahooke in hot pursuit.
Fortunately, Army was setting up for a return and had virtually no rush so Delahooke had plenty of time and room to recover and get off a punt. Delahooke calmly scooped the ball, took a couple steps and boomed a 50-yard punt.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

It didn't take long for Navy to take the lead. The Midshipmen stopped Army three-and-out on the game's opening possession then needed just three plays to score a touchdown.
Senior Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada started at quarterback and made a great pitch to slot back Shun White, who turned on the afterburners and raced 65 yards to paydirt. Matt Harmon booted the extra point to put Navy ahead 7-0 with less than three minutes elapsed.
Navy's scoring drive lasted just one minute, 11 seconds. It was White's fourth touchdown run of 65 yards or more this season and moved him past former fullback Adam Ballard into seventh place on Navy's all-time rushing chart.
Army drove into Navy territory on its second possession, but was stopped on fourth-and-three from the 33-yard line.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

President George W. Bush is in the house, Army and Navy are wearing brand new uniforms specially designed and created by Nike and the 109th edition of the classic service academy rivalry is underway at Lincoln Financial Field.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Tragedy struck the Navy football team on Thursday night when Maj. Drexel King, the father of senior cornerback Rashawn King, died suddenly at his home in Raleigh, N.C. Maj. King was preparing to make the trip to Philadelphia for the Army-Navy when he was stricken by a heart attack.
Rashawn King, who has started every game at cornerback this season, returned to Raleigh immediately to be with his mother and family. King will not play in today's Army-Navy game. Junior Darius Terry will make his third career start at cornerback in King's place.
Drexel Rashawn King, a career Army officer, recommended that his son and namesake look into attending West Point. The younger King looked into the United States Military Academy, but wound up taking more of a liking to the United States Naval Academy.
Below is a press release issued by the Naval Academy this morning.


For: Immediate Release
Sent: December 6, 2008
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Mids Playing Army-Navy Game With Heavy Heart

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—The Navy football team will be without the services of senior cornerback Rashawn King (Raleigh, N.C.) this afternoon as he is home with his family after the sudden death of his father, Drexel, who suffered a heart attack Thursday night at the family’s home in Raleigh. In memory of Mr. King, the Navy football team will be wearing a sticker on the back of its helmets with the initials DK inside of a black crown.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Ian Eagle will be calling the Army-Navy game for the seventh straigth year. Eagle is a veteran play-by-play broadcaster and does all sorts of major events every year, but holds a special fondness for this historic service academy rivalry.
"The backdrop is football, but this rivalry is really about the special young men participating in the game and their stories. Every year we sit down with the players and I'm always amazed by their commitment and brotherhood, the scope of this matchup goes well beyond the football field. It's an American tradition, and I'm proud to be part of it."

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Starting cornerback Rashawn King and reserve linebacker Alex Horne have been selected for two crucial leadership positions within the Brigade of Midshipmen for the second semester.
This is the type of news that reflects well on the football team, which doesn't always have the best reputation around the yard. King and Horne are following in the footsteps of former Navy slot back Zerbin Singleton, who served as Brigade Commander last spring. That is the highest ranking position in the academy chain of command.
Use this link to read the complete press release about King and Horne.
http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120408aaa.html

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Word is already filtering in that some Navy fans are miffed about the fact Wake Forest will likely be the opponent in the Eagle Bank Bowl. Apparently, a large number of fans are angry about media reports that incorrectly stated that Navy "waived" the clause in its contract that precludes a rematch with a regular season opponent.
That simply is not true. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk has not been asked to do anything by officials with the Eagle Bank Bowl. It has not come to that point, and the fact of the matter is that both Navy and the Eagle Bank Bowl may not have a choice.
As detailed in my previous blog post, the Eagle Bank Bowl receives the ninth and last selection of bowl eligible teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Based on what has happened so far and what will likely happen in the next few days, it is becoming increasingly evident that the only ACC team available to the Eagle Bank Bowl will be Wake Forest.
If the other eight bowls that have contracts with the ACC pick teams other than Wake Forest, than the only team left to play in the Eagle Bank Bowl is Wake Forest. It's not that difficult to understand.
The fact Navy and the Eagle Bank Bowl have a clause in the contract that states there can be no rematches of regular season games becomes completely inconsequential. The Eagle Bank Bowl has a contract to accept the ninth selection from the ACC and cannot just reject whichever team that proves to be.
N.C. State is not an option because NCAA rules stipulate that a team with a 6-6 record cannot be selected for a bowl before a team with a 7-5 mark. Wake is 7-5 and N.C. State is 6-6. Case closed. People who think Navy could force a matchup with N.C. State by holding the Eagle Bank Bowl to the contract clause for no rematches don't understand how the process works.
Sure, Gladchuk could hold firm to the "no rematch" stipulation, but where would that leave Navy? Likely out of the Eagle Bank Bowl altogether with an at-large entry being brought in to play Wake Forest.
So it's really quite simple folks. If the ACC bowl selections shake out as predicted, Navy can either play Wake Forest or stay home. I doubt many fans would want Gladchuk to choose the latter option.
It also should be noted that Wake Forest athletic officials have openly campaigned to get into the Eagle Bank Bowl. Steve Beck, president and executive director of the Eagle Bank Bowl, told The (Baltimore) Sun that Wake "wants to come to D.C."

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

It is becoming more and more likely that Navy's opponent in the Eagle Bank Bowl will be Wake Forest.
Ball State's decision to decline an offer to play Boise State in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl greatly increased that possibility. It now appears the Humanitarian Bowl will select Maryland, and the way the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference is sorting out Wake Forest may be the only team left for the Eagle Bank Bowl.
Both the NCAA and the ACC have reiterated that bowl eligible teams within the conference must be placed in a precise order based on overall record, head-to-head results and other clearly defined criteria. That is how N.C. State (6-6) wound up ranked 10th within the league and therefore is not eligible to play in one of the ACC's nine contracted bowls.
The ACC champion automatically gets the Bowl Championship Series berth in the Orange Bowl, being held Jan. 1 in Miami, Fla. The Chick-fil-A Bowl chooses next followed by the Gator Bowl and so on. The Eagle Bank Bowl gets the ninth and last selection of ACC teams and therefore does not have a whole lot of leeway.
Navy's contract with the Eagle Bank Bowl precludes rematches, but there may be no other option if Wake Forest is the last team standing at the table on Sunday when bowl berths are awarded. The Midshipmen defeated the Demon Deacons 24-17 on Sept. 27.
Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk was not thrilled with the prospect of playing a regular season opponent again, but understood the realities of the situation. Gladchuk said yesterday that he appreciated the fact Eagle Bank Bowl CEO Sean Metcalf and staff have been working overtime to land an opponent other than Wake Forest and admitted Navy (7-4) may have no choice if Wake (7-5) is the only ACC team remaining after everything shakes out.
"Navy will be at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 20 and will play whichever ACC team winds up being selected," Gladchuk said. "The ACC and the Eagle Bank Bowl folks have to follow the rules that are outlined and we have to respect the process."
Georgia Tech has already accepted an invitation to play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta while Clemson has already accepted an offer to appear in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Meanwhile, North Carolina is the top choice of the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Will Webb, executive director of the Meineke Car Care Bowl, told the Charlotte Observer that a formal offer has not been extended, but feels strongly the Tar Heels will wind up in the Dec. 27 game at Bank of America Stadium against either Pittsburgh or West Virginia of the Big East Conference.
"I think the chances are good that it's going to happen," Webb said.
What opened the door for the Meineke Car Care Bowl to get North Carolina was Wednesday's somewhat surprising announcement that Clemson had moved up the ACC pecking order into the Gator Bowl, which gets second choice of conference schools after the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Here is a prediction as to how the ACC will fill its nine postseason slots in order of ranking. Final piece of the puzzle involves whether the Champs Sports Bowl (Orlando, Fla), which gets third pick of ACC schools, selects the conference runner-up or nearby Florida State.
Orange Bowl, Jan. 1, Miami, Fla. - ACC Champion (Boston College or Virginia Tech)
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 31 - Georgia Tech
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1, Jacksonville, Fla. - Clemson
Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 27, Orlando, Fla. - Florida State
Meineke Car Care Bowl, Dec. 27, Charlotte, N.C. - North Carolina
Music City Bowl, Dec. 31, Memphis, Tenn. - ACC runner-up (Boston College or Virginia Tech)
Emerald Bowl, Dec. 27, San Francisco, Cal. - Miami
Humanitarian Bowl, Boise, Idaho - Maryland
Eagle Bank Bowl, Washington, D.C. - Wake Forest

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo will speak briefly at the annual Touchdown Club of Annapolis cocktail party, being hold tonight (6:3-8:30) at the 19th Hole banquet facility at the Naval Academy Golf Course.
Athletic director Chet Gladchuk will also be present and will introduct Niumatalolo, who has led Navy to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Eagle Bank Bowl this year.
The annual cocktail party is free for Touchdown Club members in good standing along with one guest.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

The Times-Herald-Record reported in today's editions that Army starting quarterback Chip Bowden apparently suffered a sprained ankle in practice on Monday and may not play against Navy on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Beat writer Sal Interdonato reported that Bowden was wearing a proctective boot and did not participate in practice on Tuesday. Bowden has started the last eight games and has led Army to all three of its wins. The talented sophomore is the team's second-leading rusher with 566 yards.
If Bowden cannot go, Army would likely start junior Carson Williams, who reportedly took most of the snaps in practice on Tuesday. Williams started the initial three games of the season, but was not real effective running Army's new option offense.
Here is a link to the story: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081202/SPORTS36/81202053/-1/SPORTS

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

I attended the final installment of the Navy Football Luncheon today and once again enjoyed the fellowship and information provided by head coach Ken Niumatalolo. I think the luncheon series has been a wonderful addition to the season, giving diehard fans an opportunity to hear from Coach Niumatalolo in a friendly, intimate environment.
Obviously, a major factor that makes it work is Coach Niumatalolo, who has an engaging personality and seems to truly enjoy interacting with the fans. He has been very open and honest in this setting and has never failed to thoughtfully answer a question from the audience. Also, Navy radio broadcaster Pete Medhurst does a tremendous job as master of ceremonies. Pete's intimate knowledge of the program, developed over years of covering Navy football and from serving as the sideline reporter for the radio broadcast this season, keeps the program running smoothly.
Today's session elicited some interesting thoughts and responses from Coach Niumatalolo.
(on the intensity of the rivalry)
"It's still a football game. We have to make sure the things we did to prepare for the other 11 games are the same for this game. Sometimes, kids get into the Army-Navy game and are so tight they forget basic things they have done all season. We want to make sure our kids don't get too emotional, aren't too overhyped."

(on Army fullback Collin Mooney)
"Unfortunately, I got to see (Mooney) in-person at the luncheon on Monday. I thought he had his shoulder pads on underneath his uniform. Obviously, he spends a lot of time in the weight room. He's physically very strong, he's fast and quick. It's going to be a challenge to get him on the ground."

(on the progress of quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada)
"Kaipo has been running well. This is the fastest he's looked since the start of (August) camp."

(on the defense, which was criticized in 2007, playing so well this season)
"It all starts with Coach (Buddy) Green. Nobody was more maligned than Coach Green. He didn't make excuses, he just found a way for us to get better."

(on wearing a microphone for the Temple game)
"I wasn't worried too much about it because I don't curse. I'm loud and I yell, but I don't use curse words. When I get mad, I start speaking pidgin (a Hawaiian dialect) so I don't think anyone could understand me. I've had a lot of people that have known me for a while, either from my neighborhood or church or whatever, come up and say 'I didn't know you were so animated. I didn't know you were so mean.' It's funny because I've been yelling at people on the sidelines for six years. It's just that the cameras were never on me."

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

A new twist has arisen that could dictate Navy's opponent in the Eagle Bank Bowl.
Officials with the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl are working hard to arrange a matchup of the nation's two non-Bowl Championship Series unbeatens - Boise State and Ball State.
While Ball State officials have expressed some reservations about playing Boise State on its home field, there is no denying that such a matchup would have tremendous intrigue.
The Humanitarian Bowl (I thought it was called the MPC Computer Bowl?) has a contractual agreement to take an Atlantic Coast Conference representative. However, organizers are negotiating with the ACC to work out some sort of deal.
If such a scenario develops, Maryland and Wake Forest would most likely be the schools affected. Both are at the bottom of the ACC pecking order and both have reasons why they cannot play in the Eagle Bank Bowl in Washington, D.C. Maryland will be in final exams the week prior to the Saturday, Dec. 20 contest. Meanwhile, Navy's contract with the bowl precludes any rematches, which would take Wake out of the picture.
Meanwhile, Sean Metcalf, co-CEO of the Eagle Bank Bowl, said organizers would do whatever possible to accomodate Maryland. Such provisions would include altering the schedule of events and allowing the Terps to practice on their own campus. Obviously, a Maryland-Navy matchup at RFK Stadium would be quite attractive to the inaugural bowl as it would almost guarantee a strong turnout.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital

Heather Dinich, who covers Atlantic Coast Conference athletics for ESPN.com, has been carefully evaluating the bowl picture. Dinich talked with ACC assistant commissioner Michael Kelly today and found out that Clemson has beaten out N.C. State for the ninth and final slot in the league's bowl pecking order.
Clemson finished with a 7-5 record with two of the wins over Football Championships Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) schools. Only one of those wins can count toward bowl eligibility so the Tigers are technically 6-5. However, N.C. State finished 6-6 and NCAA rules stipulate that a team with a winning record must rank ahead of a .500 club when it comes to conference pecking order.
As a result, N.C. State (6-6) is not eligible to play in one of the nine bowls the ACC has automatic tie-ins with and will have to find an at-large berth elsewhere or stay home.
Most observers believe Clemson, which has a strong fan base that travels well, will be selected for a bowl higher on the ladder than the Eagle Bank. Maryland and Wake Forest, the other two teams at the bottom of the ACC pecking order, cannot play in the Eagle Bank Bowl.
Maryland has already stated it would decline an invitation since the bowl coincides with the school's exams (yes, they do take final exams at Maryland). A provision in the Navy contract with the Eagle Bank Bowl states that it cannot play a rematch of a regular season opponent, which takes Wake out of the mix.
That leaves the Miami Hurricanes as the only other obvious candidate. That would certainly be an interesting matchup. Perhaps we can coin a catchy slogan such as "Officers versus Convicts." Remember the old Catholics vs. Convicts label that was attached to the 1988 regular season meeting between Notre Dame and Miami? The Fighting Irish won that matchup of undefeated teams 31-30 in one of the greatest college football games in history.

By: Bill Wagner of The Capital