Navy slotback Reggie Campbell and linebacker Irv Spencer were Naval Academy Preparatory School students watching from the stands when Navy snapped a six-game losing streak against Air Force with a 28-25 victory at FedEx Field in Landover in 2003.
That win set the tone for Navy?s run of winning the Commander-in-Chief?s Trophy for four straight years ? a streak the Midshipmen (7-4) will extend Saturday when they play Army (3-8) at M&T Bank Stadium. But Navy?s victory over Air Force also confirmed Campbell and Spencer?s decisions to enroll at Navy to help continue the revival of Midshipmen football under Coach Paul Johnson, who was hired in 2002.
“Watching the way they played that game [against Air Force] and being around those guys was the reason I decided to go to Navy,” Spencer said. “I wanted to be like [linebacker] Eddie Carthan from that team, especially the way he just went about his business on that field and was a laid back guy who concentrated on his studies off the field like I do now.”
Four years later, Campbell and Spencer and the other 22 members of the Class of 2008 have the chance to solidify their legacy at the Academy. With wins against Army and in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 20, Navy?s senior class will have won 36 games, tying it with the Class of 1909 as the winningest class in school history.
Among the accomplishments of senior class include posting four straight winning seasons, going to four straight bowl games and being part of the first team to beat Notre Dame since 1963.
Spencer said members of his class are just trying to build upon the lofty accomplishments set by last year?s seniors, which won 35 games, never lost to a service academy and played in four bowl games, winning two of them. A win in the Poinsettia Bowl would give the Class of 2008 three bowl wins, a first by any class at Navy. Navy defeated New Mexico in the Emerald Bowl in 2004 and Colorado State in the Poinsettia Bowl in 2005 before losing to Boston College in Meineke Car Care Bowl last year.
“Thankfully, I?ve never been here when we?ve lost to another service academy team,” Spencer said. “Tradition doesn?t graduate, it just gets passed down from class to class.”
Campbell said he knows how fortunate he is to be part of Navy?s recent success ? and hopes the Midshipmen maintain it after he goes to flight school this spring.
“We?ve been the dominant service academy the last couple of years, but with that comes great responsibility,” Campbell said. “One thing that has been instilled from year to year is the place you came to hasn?t come easy. It?s all about working hard and persevering that?s the main drive of us moving forward.”
