Navy AD says they will join the Big East (sooner or later)
December 14th, 2011 | Football Navy | Posted by Phil Creed
CBSsports.com reported last night that Navy is preparing to join the Big East conference, although it is unlikely to happen any time soon.
Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk told CBS’s Brett McMurphy that “everyone in Navy’s chain of command is comfortable [with the Big East] and the direction it’s going,” although he added that academy superintendent Vice Adm. Michael Miller will ultimately make the final decision.
“We’re bringing some sizzle to the steak,” Gladchuk told CBS. “That’s why we’re excited about the possibility of the Big East and the Big East is excited about us. We [Navy and the Big East] would both like to get to the goal line.”
That’s the strongest statement about moving to the Big East that’s come from Annapolis so far. In the wake of the Big East’s announcement of new members last week, Gladchuk did tell the (Annapolis) Capital that Navy would not be joining the conference until at least 2015.
There are still a lot of details to iron out, such as scheduling issues and TV contracts. And that’s where things could get messy for Navy and the Big East. Navy is locked into a deal with CBS College Sports and CBS Sports through 2018. CBS, of course, broadcasts the annual Army-Navy game. Meanwhile, the Big East is currently under contract with ABC/ESPN until 2013.
Whenever Navy moves to the Big East, Army and Air Force won’t be joining them. Army has shown no public interest in joining, despite rumors earlier this year. Air Force last week committed to staying in the Mountain West Conference.
Navy football will face Penn State in 2012
July 22nd, 2010 | Football Navy | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Penn State coach Joe Paterno will lead his Nittany Lions against the Midshipmen and their option attack in 2012. (AP photo)
Bring on Joe Pa and the Nittany Lions.
Fresh off putting a scare in Ohio State last season, Navy will travel to Happy Valley to face Penn State on Sept. 15, 2012.
“Playing Penn State again will bring back many memories for our alumni and friends of Navy Football,” said Navy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuck. “The opportunity to visit one of the most impressive stadiums in all of college football and take on the challenge of this storied program will be very inspiring to our coaches and student-athletes.”
Navy and Penn State have played 37 times, mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. Penn State holds only a slight edge over the Midshipmen in the all-time series 18-17-2. The last time the two teams played was 1974, when Navy beat the Nittany Lions 7-6.
The real question will be if Penn State’s ageless coach Joe Paterno will still be stalking the sidelines of Happy Valley. At 83, the all-time Div. 1 wins leader among coaches keeps the Nittany Lions in the hunt for the Big Ten title each year. Last year, Penn State beat LSU in the Capital One Bowl.
Navy fans interested in traveling up to Happy Valley for the game would be wise to look into booking a hotel soon. Hotel reservations are treated like gold in the small Pennsylvania college town on a Saturday game day.
Shun White, the Navy and the NFL
March 15th, 2010 | Football Marine Corps Navy | Posted by Phil Creed
Shun White, seen playing for Navy during the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Dec. 2006, is under contract with the New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Trivia question: Which NFL team has three members of the Naval Academy class of 2009 on its roster?
Answer: The New England Patriots.
One of those players is former standout slotback Shun White, whose current situation at the Naval Academy is examined in this week’s edition of Navy Times. White, who signed with the Patriots as a free agent in May 2009, was allowed to reschedule an exam in order to practice with New England last spring, according to one of colleague Phil Ewing’s sources. And close to a year after his classmates received their commissions, White remains at the academy.
Ewing talked with sources in the Navy community who are concerned that allowing White and officers in the fleet to be under contract with NFL teams gives football players an incentive to not fulfill their service commitments.
USNA Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk disagrees, telling Navy Times that letting former Navy players have relationships with an NFL team doesn’t mean that they’ll be allowed out of their service commitment:
“It’s very clear to everyone on the Yard … with those that will ask the question, ‘Is there any chance that the secretary of the Navy might release us to play in the NFL?’ The answer is ‘no’ here,” Gladchuk told Navy Times. “Number one, you’ve got an obligation to go serve; number two, the NFL knows very clearly that as a … sailor or Marine, there’s no chance at all for them to participate.”
Because the article is for subscribers only, I can’t give any more details out here, but I’d recommend logging in or picking up a copy of Navy Times to read the full story.
Oh, and the other two sailors on the Patriots roster? Ensign Eric Kettani, who played fullback for the Mids, and Ensign Tyree Barnes, who played wide receiver.