Mysterious Mids
Navy football remains a baffling riddle 4 games into season that has been a total roller coaster
To say it’s been a roller-coaster season so far for the Navy football team would be a serious understatement.
Embarrassing blowout losses are followed by gritty, determined wins.
Navy’s patented triple-option offense looks completely inept one week, then operates efficiently the next. This Jekyll and Hyde act has occurred within agame, evidenced by a 31-29 win over Temple on Saturday night one week after a 40-7 blowout loss against Air Force.
At this point, all we really know is that sophomore kicker Bijan Nichols is clutch when called upon to kick field goals in crunch time. He has already booted two game-winners this season, including a career-best 50yarder to beat Temple.
We also know the Midshipmen remain amystery at this point in the season. I’ve been wrong on my prediction for all four games this season, picking Navy to beat BYU and Air Force and lose to Tulane and Temple.
That’s mostly because past performance does not guarantee future results. When it comes to Navy football in 2020, what you saw one week will not be replicated the following week.
Coach Ken Ni um at a lo lo acknowledged that reality Saturday night when asked if the triple-option offense finally hit its stride against Temple. After all, blocking was solid across the board and the fullbacks gouged the Owls inside, opening up the perimeter element of the slotback pitch.
Navy did not dwell on the ugly loss to service academy rival Air Force and will not linger on the hard-fought defeat of a tough Temple team.
“It’s always week to week. Lastweek itwas the end of the world. This week it’s paradise,” he said. “You don’t rest. This game is over. We’ll enjoy this for the weekend, but we have tomove on.”
Here are some observations about Navy football based off what we’ve seen so far.
Governor Larry Hogan deserves partial credit for Saturday night’s victory after approving a special request to allow the Brigade of Midshipmen to attend.
Rear Admiral Sean Buck, the Naval Academy superintendent, appealed to the governor after attending the Air Force game and seeing firsthand howthe Cadet Wing gave the home team a lift.
Having all the midshipmen in the stands on Saturday— wearing masks and socially distanced — was a rousing success and made a big difference for Navy.
Niumatalolo and senior quarterback Dalen Morris both commented afterward about the boost the team received from the brigade, which was spread out by company in the lower bowl of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
There was a college football atmosphere thatwas painfully absent from the season opener against BYU.
Kudos to the superintendent and the governor for recognizing the importance of having the Brigade of Midshipmen support the Navy football team. Their presence was important to the victory.