Navy?s offensive line knew what to expect from Ken Niumatalolo as soon as he was promoted to head coach on Saturday, fewer than 24 hours after Paul Johnson was hired by Georgia Tech.
Niumatalolo?s message to the undersized unit remained the same as the group?s former position coach for the past six years conducted practice on a chilly autumn afternoon at the school?s practice facility overlooking the Severn River.
“He always talks about focus and always having your mind on what you are doing and he told us that again after practice yesterday as a team,” senior center Antron Harper said. “All your attention has to be on football when you step onto the field.”
The focus Niumatalolo has instilled in the Midshipmen has given the squad one of the country?s most potent rushing attacks. Navy leads the nation in rushing, averaging 351.5 yards per game to go along with 51 touchdowns entering the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. against Utah in San Diego.
“We play with a chip on our shoulder, and we take pride in those three rushing titles coach is always going to have us ready to go just like a cage match,” Harper said. “I?m just ready to hit the field and see what happens with Utah.”
Navy (8-4) will unleash it triple-option attack on Utah (8-4) at Qualcomm Stadium in front of a national television audience on ESPN. But the spotlight will be as much on Niumatalolo as his players after the 42-year-old replaced Johnson, who went 45-29 at Navy, where he led the team to the Commander-In-Chief?s Trophy and a bowl game in each of the past five years ? both Academy firsts.
But to Niumatalolo ? the first coach of Polynesian heritage in NCAA football history ? it was paramount to make a smooth transition during his promotion.
“I just wanted to keep things as normal as possible,” he said.
He succeeded.
“He?s a technician and he coaches the smallest detail from your first step through your blocking, and its helped me be successful,” said Harper, who is just 5-foot-11 and 272 pounds. “For not being the biggest guy, having great technique is something he?s harped on and you can tell the difference.”
POINSETTIA BOWL: MIDSHIPMEN (8-4) VS. UTAH UTES (8-4)
» Kickoff: Dec. 20 , 9 p.m.
» Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
» TV/Radio: ESPN, 1090 AM, 1430 AM
» Tickets: Available
