Navy linebackers Tyler Tidwell and Rob Caldwell greeted reporters following the Midshipmen?s 42-6 rout of Temple Saturday with a new bald look they received after learning about their Marine Corps service selection.
For Tidwell and Caldwell, along with Navy?s 33 other seniors, they are one step closer toward graduation in May. But before then, they have some unfinished business to take care of on the football field. On Dec. 2, Navy will meet Army at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in the annual clash between the two huge service academy rivals.
The Midshipmen will be attempting to win their fourth straight outright Commander-in-Chief?s Trophy. Currently, Navy?s senior class is 7-0 against service academies and would be the first class in school history to retain the trophy that many years in a row.
Also, Navy?s class of 2007 has won a modern-record 34 games over the last four years. If Navy beats Army and its to-be-determined Atlantic Coast Conference opponent in the Meineke Car Care Bowl Dec. 30 in Charlotte, N.C., Navy?s seniors will have won more games than any Midshipmen class since the advent of the forward pass.
“Hopefully, they go down in the annals as being a special class,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said of his seniors. “They have a chance, if we can somehow find a way to beat Army, [to] at least play for in the bowl game the all-time record for wins, or at least tie it. They?ve already broken the record for wins as a class in the modern era. I couldn?t be more proud of them. They?ve done a lot for Navy football. They?ve certainly helped reestablish the program.”
Tidwell said he is extremely proud of everything he and his fellow seniors have accomplished in their four years at Navy. However, he admitted that every Midshipman has a singular goal in mind for the next week-plus, the same one every Navy class has: Beat Army.
“I think the one thing we want to be remembered for is that we have a chance to be the first Naval Academy class to go undefeated against the service academies,” Tidwell said. “Playing at a service academy, your biggest rival every year is Air Force and Army.”
NAVY SENIOR MOMENTS
» Senior linebacker David Mahoney recorded the 20th sack of his collegiate career Saturday against Temple. He is now just two away from tying Andy Person (1992-95) for tops on Navy?s all-time list.
» Senior linebacker Rob Caldwell led Navy with 11 tackles against Temple, giving him 13 double-figure-tackle games in his career. It?s the fourth time he has accomplished such a feat this season.
» Senior slotback Byron McCoy picked up his first career touchdown Saturday against Temple when he scampered into the end zone from eight yards out just before halftime.
