As the Navy football team finalizes its game plan for facing Boston College Dec. 30 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., the Midshipmen finally can focus all their attention to on-the-field matters.
This is not the case for Boston College, which in the last two weeks dealt with the surprising announcement that now-former coach Tom O?Brien left the school for the same position at N.C. State. On Tuesday, the Eagles named Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski as their new coach.
Navy could have been experiencing the same turmoil right now, but Midshipmen coach Paul Johnson put those concerns to rest earlier this month when he issued a statement reaffirming his desire to remain in Annapolis.
Johnson?s name surfaced as a potential candidate for both the N.C. State and Alabama coaching vacancies. Navy is 37-24 in five seasons under Johnson. The Midshipmen have also qualified for bowl games and captured the Commander-in-Chief?s Trophy each of the last four seasons while never losing to fellow service academies Army and Air Force during that span.
“With all the Internet and media rumors, I felt like it was important to formally address my continued commitment to the Naval Academy,” Johnson said.
“Despite media reports to the contrary, I never talked to officials at any school and I want to reiterate that my family and I are very happy at the Naval Academy and we are looking forward to continued success here at Navy.”
Navy players said it was great to hear Johnson had no plans of leaving Annapolis anytime soon as they continue to revitalize the program since Johnson arrived in 2002.
“It?s good that he decided to stay,” junior slot back Reggie Campbell said. “Especially with us getting ready to play in the bowl game, it was great for Coach Johnson to clear the air because of all of the rumors that were going around.”
Navy sophomore running back Eric Kettani said Johnson?s decision to stay means even more to younger players, like himself, who came to Annapolis in part to play for the team?s current coaching staff.
“It definitely feels a lot better when you have a coach staying instead of looking for a job,” Kettani said.
