US Naval Academy NCAA News Archives

Bernard Pierce rushed for 267 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown with 2:41 left, and James Nixon returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown as Temple became bowl eligible Saturday with a 27-24 victory over Navy.

A year ago, Temple lost its best shot at a bowl game when it blew a 20-point lead and lost to Navy in overtime.

To get an idea of what Navy senior inside linebacker Ross Pospisil is like, both as a football player and a person, just watch one four-minute snippet from the third quarter of the Midshipmen's 13-10 victory over Wake Forest last Saturday.

On one first-down play, Demon Deacons running back Josh Adams runs left, bumps into one of his teammates, then spins around and cuts back across the field. Pospisil, who was a yard away from Adams when he changed direction, pursues him and runs him down from behind, dragging him down following a 25-yard gain.

Quarterback Ricky Dobbs participated in practice yesterday wearing a green non-contact jersey, throwing passes in a skeleton drill and doing some other light work.

In the process of doing interviews for my feature story on Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor, I came across this interesting fact.

Not surprisingly, fullback Vince Murray was Navy's Most Valuable Player on offense after rushing for a career-high 175 yards.

Stumbling Wake Forest played through a hard rain to an even harder loss in yesterday's 13-10 setback to Navy at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Experience will not be on Navy's side when the Midshipmen host Wake Forest on Saturday.

Navy junior quarterback Ricky Dobbs did not practice on Tuesday after undergoing an MRI exam to determine the severity of an injured right knee. Dobbs, who leads the country in touchdowns scored (16), is considered day-to-day, and his status for Saturday's game against Wake Forest will be determined later this week, according to Coach Ken Niumatalolo.

Dobbs was hurt on the second play of the Midshipmen's 38-35 overtime victory at Southern Methodist on Saturday, Niumatalolo said. But Dobbs didn't miss a snap and rushed for 89 yards on 26 carries, and he participated in Monday's post-practice conditioning session, jogging gingerly.

Navy starting quarterback Ricky Dobbs did not participate in practice yesterday and was wearing a brace that was the length of his entire right leg.

Fans attending tonight's Navy-SMU game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium will be treated to an interesting contrast in offensive styles, and possibly a presidential appearance.

Here are some postgame notes from the Navy sports information department. TEAM NOTES * The Midshipmen were presented the inaugural Gansz Trophy for winning tonight's contest ... Frank Gansz, a 1960 graduate of the Naval Academy, served coaching stints at both Navy and SMU.

SMU has retaken the lead with a 62-yard touchdown drive capped by a 6-yard pass from quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to wide receiver Terrance Wilkerson.

All the rumors turned out to be true as former President George W. Bush did indeed attend last night's Navy-SMU game for the purpose of presenting the newly created Gansz Trophy to the winner afterward.

"These kids are unbelievable. Just when you think they can't one-up themselves, they pull out another big win.

Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper has been delivering the same message to the Midshipmen's fullbacks for years, knowing their opportunities to reach the end zone are limited.

A military judge yesterday sentenced a former Naval Academy football player to two years in prison for stealing teammates' charge cards and buying stereo headphones he said he sold to raise money for his mother.

ANNAPOLIS - A military judge sentenced a former U.S. Naval Academy football player Wednesday to two years in prison with one year suspended for stealing charge cards from teammates' lockers.

You might think that a defensive back would not be too anxious to face a team that employs a high-powered passing attack and throws the ball on almost every down.

As a freshman at Caney Creek High in Conroe, Texas, Alexander Teich attended the 2003 Houston Bowl between Navy and Texas Tech.

WOW!!! Rice is really, really bad!! The Owls faced fourth-and-one from their own 35-yard line and unwisely went for it! Yes, I know the home team trails by three touchdowns, but that type of gamble from that deep in your own territory in the second quarter is no way to come back.

Navy sophomore defensive end Jabaree Tuani ranks ninth on the team in tackles with 15 and has yet to pick up his first tackle for a loss, but the contributions he makes to the Navy defense go beyond just statistics.

'How do you put in the stat sheet that he made the line bubble back and the quarterback couldn't step up? Or the run had to bounce?' Midshipmen Coach Ken Niumatalolo said. 'He's such a force; he's such a strong kid. You can see the line when Jabaree is in there, because he makes everything bubble.'

Navy names Most Valuable Players for all three phases of the game following victories.

At practice on Monday, Navy junior Vince Murray felt a little more tired and sore than usual. But he expected that, after nearly exceeding his career rushing output during the Midshipmen's 16-13 overtime victory against Air Force on Saturday.

Murray filled in for starting fullback Alexander Teich for the entire second half and extra period against the Falcons, after Teich hopped off the field with a sprained left ankle. Teich was wearing a protective boot at practice on Monday, and Coach Ken Niumatalolo said it's doubtful that the sophomore will be able to play at Rice (0-5) on Saturday.

Two of Navy's top three nose guards -- Chase Burge and Shane Bothel -- got banged up against Air Force and are questionable for Satuday's game against Rice.

Here is the list of Navy's Most Valuable Player selections for the overtime victory over Air Force.

Joe Buckley calmly kicked a 38-yard field goal on Navy's possession in overtime.

This game could not have started any better for Navy. Air Force return man Reggie Rembert mishandled the opening kickoff and was gang-tackled at his own 11-yard line.

Roger Staubach is probably the most famous player in Navy football history. The Cincinnati native came to Annapolis in 1961 and left four years later as a Heisman Trophy winner and consensus All-American. Roger Staubach cherishes his days as quarterback at Navy.

Junior quarterback Ricky Dobbs has given the Navy offense a new wrinkle. "We're not afraid to throw the ball," coach Ken Niumatalolo said Tuesday.