Quarterback Brian Hampton spent three years watching three predecessors run Navy’s offense. Now the footwork, arm strength and leadership by past passers may come together when Hampton becomes the Midshipmen’s latest sign-caller.
“I try to take something from each of them,” Hampton said. “I’m not Lamar [Owens]. I’m not Aaron [Polanco] and I’m not Craig [Candeto]. I’m a different quarterback. That’s what I plan on being — something different.
“You won’t put me in the same mold as Aaron, Craig and Lamar. They all have something I’ve taken from them. Craig, I’ve tried to take his feet. Aaron, I’ve tried to take his arm. Lamar, I’ve tried to take his wisdom.”
Navy is getting someone a little different than the average Mid. A cousin of Charles Barkley is barking signals to Navy’s offense. Even worse, his father is in … the Air Force.
“You don’t know how much [grief] I took from that,” Hampton said.
Probably no more than the Barkley connection.
“I didn’t fall from his tree,” Hampton said. “We’retwo different people. I’ll tell you how it is to your face, but I’m not cocky about it. [Barkley] sometimes comes out a little strong.”
Hampton is a more mild-mannered. That’s probably not a bad thing in the wake of the offseason trial of Owens, who was exonerated of rape charges. It was still a major P.R. hit on the academy, much less a Navy football team coming off its three best seasons in 25 years.
“When I meet somebody new and they just get to know me, I don’t try to mention I’m the quarterback of the football team,” Hampton said. “I’m not ashamed of it; it’s just I don’t want people to look at me that way. I’m confident, but not cocky. But I do like the feeling of the position.
“Everybody comes up here once in a while and shakes your hand, but I try not to make that the main point. When it comes to football and to the military, they are two separate entities. We try to put them together, but in reality they’re separate.”
Hampton and his fellow seniors seek to continue a three-year run of wins over Army and Air Force while reaching three straight bowls. It is a stark turnaround from previous years and Hampton isn’t letting it end. No sir, not on his watch.
“It is my last go around and we will play to such,” Hampton said. “As a freshman and sophomore you have your next year. This year, I will play every play as if my last. We are looking from the past to the future. As senior year, we will not blow it. We’re starting to move on up. We’re getting that feeling we can’t blow it now.”
Coach Paul Johnson is more concerned over Hampton trying to do too much than not enough.
“[Hampton’s] like everybody else. He plays well in spurts,” Johnson said. “I don’t worry about his ability, we just have to get him focused and be consistent. Sometimes he tries to make too many plays. There are times he looks good throwing and then there are times we have guys running wide open and he doesn’t hit them, but that’s part of experience and playing.”
So what will Hampton leave his successor come season’s end? Hopefully, everything gained from the past four years.
“I’m going to leave him the whole package,” Hampton said.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
