Antron Harper loves elephants.
“I always wanted to ride an elephant,” Harper said with a laugh after practice at University of California, San Diego. “I?m not sure if they would let that slide or not, but I wouldn?t mind doing it.”
Navy?s senior center was just one of the players excited about the football team?s visit to the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday. Senior slot back Reggie Campbell said he was excited to see the Lions at the 90-year-old zoo that is regarded as one of America?s best.
Freshman Lee Calloway, Clayton Lydick and Shane Bothel walked around the zoo in their blue Poinsettia Bowl warm-up suits, snapping pictures of the animals and debating what to see next before settling for the polar bears.
The polar bear exhibit featured a huge tank of water and a waterfall. Despite the 65 degree weather, Calloway was a bit envious of the polar bears.
“If I jump in that water,” Calloway said, “I?m never coming out.”
SANTA CAME EARLY: Each member of the football team received a gift bag from Poinsettia Bowl officials that included a hooded sweatshirt, a Sony PSP, Madden NFL 2008 PSP game, a PSP case and a backpack.
“We get [the PSPs] out whenever we go anywhere and link up and play,” Campbell said.
At the Motor City Bowl in Charlotte, N.C, last year, players received a Sony digital mini camcorder, a Fossil watch, an embroidered gym bag and a personalized football. When the Midshipmen played in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl in 2005, their gifts included an iPod Mini, a $15 music gift certificate, a Fossil watch, a commemorative sweatshirt, T-shirt and hat.
ON THE COURT: Navy?s men?s basketball also made the trip out west this week, taking on San Diego State (9-2) Monday night at Cox Arena. The Midshipmen fell, 86-76, after the Aztecs pulled away late, but it wasn?t for lack of support. The football team and coaching staff attended the game and watched the squad fall to 3-8.
DAY AT THE RACES: After practice on Monday, the team got to “strap it up” in a different way. Both Navy and Utah were each given two hours of race time at the Miramar Speed Circuit to hold their own team “Poinsettia Bowl Grand Prix.”
Junior Guard Anthony Gaskins, who has a drag racing license, did his best Jimmy Johnson impression, coming away with bragging rights after beating quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada in the final.
