Mids relish the chance to face Buckeyes
Any notion that the Navy football team might have had about easing into the 2009 season was dispelled when the Midshipmen discovered their opening-game opponent — Ohio State.
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“September fifth, 12 p.m., Eastern time,” says Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs, the date firmly imprinted in his memory.
That’s when the Midshipmen will make the long walk down the tunnel in Columbus and emerge in front of 100,000 mostly red-clad fans at the Buckeyes’ monstrous stadium, a.k.a. “The Horseshoe.”
It’s an atmosphere the Midshipmen have never experienced. But don’t expect them to feel like the Christians being led into the Coliseum in Rome.
“Walking into that stadium in front of 100,000 fans, it’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait to experience that,” said senior guard and co-captain Osei Asante. “I think it will be a life-changing experience.”
For some it’s been an underwear-changing experience. But for the Mids, coming off an 8-4 season and their sixth straight bowl appearance, it’s an opportunity to showcase their discipline, their propensity to overachieve, and their confounding option offense, which has led the nation in rushing four straight seasons.
“We have a system. I think it’s going to be hard for them to stay disciplined,” said Dobbs. “They’re gonna want to be too aggressive.”
Monday, when the Mids opened the preseason with their annual Fan Fest/Media Day, they were peppered with questions about their rigorous schedule, which includes road games at Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Hawaii, in addition to one at home against Wake Forest.
“It’s my most challenging schedule in the 12 years I’ve been here,” said second-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo. “But all of our kids, when they came here, wanted a chance to play against the best and challenge their skill against the Big Ten, ACC, SEC, whoever.”
Niumatalolo returns his entire front seven on defense, a strong offensive line, and Dobbs, a dangerous runner and thrower. Replacements must be found, however, at the other backfield spots as Navy graduated its top two rushers, Shun White and Eric Kettani.
And Niumataolo has to find them in a hurry as Ohio State beckons in 32 days.
“Knowing that I’m going up against an NFL prospect is awesome,” said Asante. “It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to — going up against the biggest and the best.”
