A homecoming in the heart of Texas?
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
10/15/09 10:21 PM EDT
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Traveling to Texas for two straight weeks has given several Navy Midshipmen a chance to play in front of family and friends. In all, 28 Midshipmen hail from Texas, more than any other state.
With a win Saturday night at SMU (3-2), Navy (4-2) can take a giant step toward securing a seventh straight bowl appearance. This year, the trip will be to Houston's Reliant Stadium for the Texas Bowl.
"When I found that out, I was grinning from ear to ear," said Navy guard and co-captain Osei Asanti, who played at Houston's Cypress Ridge High. "When I go home, it will be a true honor to bring my collegiate career to an end in Houston, Texas, at home."
Three of the Mids' four starting linebackers, as well as wingback Marcus Curry, are from Texas. So is, no surprise, freshman tackle Dallas Butts, named for his hometown.
Getting bowl eligible won't be as easy as in past years for Navy. Their annual clash with Army will come a week later than in past years, after bowl bids have been decided. With 13 games on the schedule, Navy needs to have a 7-5 record headed into the Army game to ensure it is bowl eligible.
Other games on the schedule are at home against Wake Forest (4-2), Temple (3-2), and Delaware (4-2), and on the road at Notre Dame (4-1) and Hawaii (2-3). Thus the importance of Saturday's game at SMU against the run-and-shoot offense of coach June Jones.
Something else is at stake Saturday. The winner will receive the Frank Gansz Trophy, named for the SMU special teams coach who died in April. Gansz played and coached at the Naval Academy.
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