When Kwesi Mitchell first visited the Naval Academy, he said he “fell in love” with the idyllic setting on the Severn River and the football practice field’s prime spot on the waterfront. Four years later, Mitchell, a senior defensive back, tries his best to ignore it, at least when coach Ken Niumatalolo is near.
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“Coach Niumat always says, ‘Don’t let me catch you looking at the sailboats,’?” Mitchell said. “But it’s funny. When you get recruited here, that’s one of the selling points: We practice right here by the water. You can see the boats, the yachts coming in.”
On a clear, cloudless day such as Monday with temperatures in the low 80s, a gentle breeze, little humidity, the water glistening and the Severn full of pleasure craft, it would be easy to miss an assignment from Farragut or Rip Miller Fields.
It’s tougher in the summer, Mitchell said, when there are no cars to block the view of the river.
“You come out here during stretch and you look over there and think, ‘Wow, that looks nice. I wish I wasn’t even at practice,’?” Mitchell said. “You can look before practice or after practice but never during.”
Niumatalolo has an office that overlooks the Severn but said that when he’s outside his thoughts never stray. On Monday, his concern was with the Mids’ lackadaisical performance in Friday’s scrimmage.
Defensive coordinator Buddy Green said the same, though he owned up to the Mids’ home advantage.
“There’s no prettier place to practice anywhere in the country,” Green said. “Can’t be, anywhere.”
– Kevin Dunleavy
