This particular post is unique compared to the content regularly produced on the site. For one, it’s a spotlight on Navy who doesn’t formally join the American Athletic Conference in football until 2015. Secondly, its not your typical opinionated article, but more of a debriefing, in a sense, of the current and historic status of Navy football to familiarize AAC football fans with the conference’s next great addition in 2015.
The Navy Report includes:
- Season update
- Historical spotlight
- Intriguing stat
- Player highlight
The Navy Report is posted sporadically during the season, so continue visiting AAC Football Fever to keep tabs on the next edition.
Season Update
The first installment of the Navy Report introduced the Midshipmen after an expected Week 1 loss at Ohio State and Week 2 defeat of Temple (3-1, 1-0 AAC)–a win that looks better by the week.
However, the hull of Navy’s season has sprung a leak, dropping the Middies to 2-3 after back-to-back close defeats at Rutgers and at Western Kentucky. Before losing to the Scarlet Knights and Hilltoppers, Navy defeated feisty Texas State from the Sun Belt who nearly defeated Big Ten foe Illinois and notched a double-overtime victory last Saturday at AAC member Tulsa.
Navy, lead by star quarterback Keenan Reynolds, is second in the nation in rushing offense (358 yards per game), but a contrasting No. 53 nationally in total offense (449 yards per game). Navy’s lack of consistent passing attack due to it running (no pun intended) a triple-option system skews offensive statistics making the offense appear less effective than some other good teams.
The Middies dive in the win-loss column is primarily a consequence of defensive miscues and a lack of consistent play. The Navy D allowed 284 yards rushing against Rutgers. In subsequent game against Western Kentucky, the defense gave up 387 yards through the air and a staggering 551 yards of total offense. Perhaps the outcome of those could have been in Navy’s favor with more consistent play on defense.
Both Rutgers (4-1) and WKU (2-2) should make bowl games in 2014, so don’t sink Navy’s season after its last performances. It’s critical, however, for Navy to right the ship against fellow service academy Air Force on Saturday. With challenging games against Notre Dame and Georgia Southern in November, falling to 2-4 would be cataclysmic for the Midshipmen’s shot at bowl eligibility.
Pride, service academy bragging rights, and possible bowl hopes are on the line for Navy when it faces off against the Falcons.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-KxDKs8DY?list=UUL4uWCx88sOjzXvcZSZuHmQ]Next Game: Saturday at Air Force, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
Historical Spotlight: Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy
Who said a rivalry is just between two teams?
Air Force, Army and Navy play annually in a unique tri-team rivalry where the service academy with the best record against the other two squads wins the coveted Commander-in-Chief’s trophy–first awarded in 1972.
Following the start of Air Force playing Army and Navy on an annual basis in 1972 (Army and Navy have played annually since 1930), Air Force General George B. Simler engineered the creation of the trophy to increase camaraderie between the Division I football teams and boost exposure for the country’s most distinguished service academies.
The trophy weighs 170 pounds and stands at 2-feet 6-inches tall. Three life-size footballs rest on top of the trophy; placed as if each is ready to be kicked-off. Each service academy owns a side of the trophy modeling a silver statue of its mascot (falcon, mule, and goat), and the years it won the trophy. In the event of a tie, the previous years winner retains the trophy.
Air Force commands a slight 18-14 advantage over Navy in the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy rivalry, but the Midshipmen have won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy nine of the last 11 seasons. Navy has also retained the three out of the four ties in the series. The Army Black Knights last won the trophy in 1996 and have won only six times since the trophy-rivalry’s inception.
Read more about the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on Yahoo! Sports.
34-27
Navy has a respectable 34-27 record all-time against current AAC members. Tulane is Navy’s most played AAC opponent having faced off with the Middies 18 times, winning 11 of the match-ups. SMU is second on the list with 16 games played against the Midshipmen. Navy has defeated SMU more than any other AAC member (9 victories) and the teams compete for the Gansz Trophy–named for former Navy player and SMU coach Frank Gansz–in years they meet.
Navy has yet to play Memphis, South Florida and UCF on the gridiron, but that will change when the Middies join the AAC as a football-only member in 2015. Temple is the sole AAC team on Navy’s 2014 schedule.
Player Highlight: Junior cornerback Quincy Adams
Quincy Adams is the future leader of the Navy secondary and currently a tackling machine for the Midshipmen defense.
In his third year, Adams has become a vital part of the Navy D, recording 36 combined tackles (two less than team leader Chris Johnson) four pass breakups and a forced fumble. In a Week 2 win against Temple, Adams bombarded the Owls’ offense with seven solo tackles and three pass breakups.
Adams must continue playing at a high level for the Midshipmen to keep their bowl hopes alive. With Johnson graduating after this season, Adams will garner responsibility in 2015 as the bell-cow for the Navy secondary, and a primary leader on defense.
AAC offensive coordinators will have to game plan around No. 5 in 2015.
Past editions of the Navy Report can be found in the Navy Archives at AAC Football Fever.
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