Most players dread going to practice. But Navy senior fullback Adam Ballard couldn?t be happier preparing to play Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday night at Qualcomm Stadium.
The 6-foot-1, 236-pound starting fullback?s 2006 season came to an abrupt end against Army ? the game before Navy was to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl ? when he broke his right leg in the first quarter. Ballard accompanied the team to Charlotte, N.C., for its bowl game against Boston College, but as a spectator.
“It was frustrating watching those guys practice last year and lose the way we did against Boston College,” Ballard said. “Things are different this time around. Coming from Annapolis where it was cold and rainy, we really hit the ground running and had some good practices.”
Ballard?s teammates noticed a difference in his play during yesterday?s hour-long practice at the University of California, San Diego.
“Ballard?s happy to be out here, you can really tell, all joyful and stuff,” senior center Antron Harper said. “He?s ready to go out with a bang.”
But Harper and Ballard will both have to play well for Navy (8-4) to beat Utah (8-4) in front of a national television audience on ESPN at 9 p.m. Many teams install trick plays during bowl preparation to keep players focused. Navy,however, will rely on what has powered it to a fifth straight bowl game: a relentless, a ground-oriented, triple-option attack that averages 444.6 yards and 39.9 points per game.
“The option itself is exciting,” said senior slot back Reggie Campbell, who scored an NCAA-bowl record tying five touchdowns in a 51-30 win over Colorado State in the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl. “Whenever you are running it and running it well you never know where the ball is going to go and who is going to make a play.”
And Ballard is looking forward to his chance to make those plays this year. If Navy wins, the Class of 2008 will leave the Academy with 36 wins ? tying a school record for victories with the Class of 1909.
“It feels great to be here coming off last year,” said Ballard, who has rushed for 644 yards and 5 touchdowns on 135 carries. “I was worried about staying healthy all year and I?ve been able to keep my body ready and healthy. It?s nice to be here as a senior. It?s just kind of a reward for us.”
POINSETTIA BOWL: MIDSHIPMEN (8-4) VS. UTAH UTES (8-4)
» Kickoff: Thursday, 9 p.m.
» Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
» TV/Radio: ESPN, 1090 AM, 1430 AM
