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Tulsa's blocked PAT in OT Upends Navy, 24-23

Annapolis, MD - Tulsa DB Nick Graham sped in from outside to block PK Matt Harmon's PAT in OT to avoid a tie to go into a second OT and to win the game for the Golden Hurricanes in a game that finished 17-17 in regulation.  The offenses combined for a total of 800 yards rushing and passing with both coming up short on scoring opportunities in the red zone.  Both teams' records now stand at 3-1.  For Navy, it was their first OT game in history.  For Collegefootballfan.com, Tulsa became our 110th team toward The Goal!  As this game ended, CFF.com left full speed to make it in time to College Park, MD for the 6 pm "clash" between the University of Maryland and Florida International, whom we added as our 111th team toward The Goal!  That game Review follows below this one. 

     Tulsa's offense looked formidable on its first series driving all the way to the Navy thirteen yard line in very short time.  The porous Navy defense breathed a sigh of relief as PK Jarod Tracy missed a 30-yard FG attempt to end the drive.  Unable to move in its first possession, Navy P Greg Veteto put the 'Canes back on their own 16 with a 55-yard punt.  However, Tulsa drove deep again mostly on QB Paul Smith's 58-yard pass to WR Idris Moss ( 4 catches for 104 yards) to get to the Navy ten.  On fourth and goal at the one, Tulsa went for six, but Navy CB Jeremy McGowan submarined Smith's attempt to score with an armless tackle to halt the Hurricane's drive at the one and take over from there.  Navy drove into Tulsa territory until DB Roy Roberts intercepted QB Brian Hampton's pass to take back over from the TU 34.  This would be the only turnover of the entire game.  Despite two long drives in the first period by Tulsa, the teams were deadlocked at 0-0 as Q1 expired.

     Navy, with the leading rushing offense in the nation, could not be held back any longer.  On its first possession of the second frame, Navy drove 61 yards for a TD without getting into the red zone.  On an option play right, Hampton (30 carries for 118 yards and 1 TD) pitched to SB Shun White for a 26-yard run with the aid of a block by WR Tyree Barnes and a slipped tackle to take the lead.  Harmon's conversion made the score, 7-0, in favor of the team from Crabtown.  Coming up empty to this point gave the Tulsa offense a little incentive on its next possession starting from their own 20.  QB Smith and company shunned the red zone themselves as he connected on a short pass to WR Ryan Bugg ( 5 receptions - 97 yards) who wove his way through the Navy secondary to put the finishing touch on this drive with a 34-yard catch and run for a TD.  Tracy's PAT tied the score, 7-7. The teams exchanged punts on the next three possessions with Navy taking possession on its own 20.  Hampton failed to optimize this drive as he underthrew a wide-open receiver early which could have gone for big yards quickly had he connected.  However, he recovered, took control,  and Navy drove all the way to the Tulsa ten-yardline with :10 remaining.  Harmon came in for a chip shot, but the ball sailed wide left, and the score remained knotted as the teams went into the locker-rooms tied at 7-7.

     At the half, the Navy D&B Corps played some music from the movie "Top Gun".  On Friday, the Navy officially announced the "retirement" of  F14 Tomcat fighter jets, the aircraft on which this movie was based.  Of course, the Corps finished the show with their always stirring renditions of "Anchors Aweigh" and "The Marine Corps Hymn". Throughout the game, alumni athletic teams were introduced.  In the third period, the 9-3 Aloha Bowl championship team of 1996 was introduced as they were invited back to celebrate on their tenth anniversary.  Highlights were shown of their 42-38 victory over a Steve Marriucci-coached Cal team on the big screen.  Basking as one of the greatest teams of Navy football, among all the accolades that couldn't be bestowed upon this team, there was no mention of victory over Army.  We're sure that despite all their success, the absence of a win over Army offsets a lot of it.  We were at that cold, rainy game in 1996 at Veteran's Stadium also attended by then-President William J. Clinton.  Navy failed to score from the red zone on four consecutive plays at the end of the game as they fell, 28-24, against their arch-rival who finished the season a 10-2 record.  Because of the win, Army was invited to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport where it lost to Auburn, 32-29.  Going to Hawaii was not a bad "consolation prize" for Navy in retrospect.  That year, we saw both Navy and Army win games during these successful seasons.  We saw Navy open at Rutgers with a 10-6 win, and we saw Army in another rainy game defeat Tulane up at West Point, 34-10.

     Navy started the second half strong.  A 27-yard run by FB Adam Ballard (16 carries for 87 yards) and a 21-yard run by Hampton to the 6-yard line eventually set up a third and goal at the one.  Hampton fought for the final yard, which was reviewed, for Navy's second TD of the day. Harmon's conversion made it 14-7 early in Q3.  Again, Tulsa responded with an effective drive of its own.  A 25-yard run and a personal foul against Navy got the 'Canes quickly from their own ten out to the fifty. On third and goal at the seven, Smith (24 of 36 with 285 yards passing for 3 TDs) threw an incomplete pass.  Coach Steve Kragthorpe called for a pass on fourth and goal where Smith connected with TE Ted Curtis on a criss-cross pattern where Curtis hurdled CB Jeremy McGowan (who made no attempt to wrap his arms as he had on his previous hit to stop Smith a the one) into the end zone for a 7-yard scoring play.  The score was tied at 14-all.  The score remained the same at the end of the period. 

      In the final period, Navy got back on the board with a 39-yard FG by Harmon to take the 17-14 lead.  Once again, however, Tulsa responded to the Navy score.  On the ensuing drive, RB Brandon Diles (15 rushes for 90 yards) made a big run on a third and one as he rambled 31 yards to the Tulsa 43-yard line.  RB Courtney Tennial, who transferred from Oklahoma because of little play time behind Adrian Peterson, picked up 42 yards to the Navy 14-yard line.  On third and eight from the twelve, Smith's pass was knocked down by Navy LB Rob Caldwell.  With 6:13 remaining, Tulsa settled for a FG to tie the score once again at 17-17.  Neither team threatened for the balance of the game, and USNA entered its first OT period ever.  They were one of only two teams that have not yet played OT in D-1 football.

     At the Brigade's end of the Jack Stephens Field where CFF sat in the grassy General Admission section on the hill, Tulsa took first possession.  It didn't take long to score.  Smith connected with Bugg to the six.  On the next play WR Donnie Johnson gathered it in from Smith to put Tulsa on the board.  Tracy's kick made it 24-17 for Tulsa's first lead of the game.  Navy's offense was even quicker to score.  Hampton dropped back and threw his longest pass of the day to the back of the end zone where WR OJ Washington caught it with his foot close to the endline.  The play went under review.  The Tulsa fans cheered as the replay on the board seemed to indicate that his heel was on the endline.  CFF thought so, too, but it didn't matter!  The play, surprisingly, stood which made us ponder how late we would arrive in College Park to see FIU visit Maryland to become our 111th team.  Visions of a 51-48 final danced in my mind. Would I have to figure a different time and place to add FIU?  Much to my surprise, and chagrin, Nick Graham's surge put those thoughts to rest as we heard the ball thud twice before it bounced around in the end zone.   Tulsa maintained its only and last lead of the day for a 24-23 victory. Not waiting to hear "Navy Blue and Gold", we beat a substantial part of the crowd to the buses taking us to satellite parking to head out to College Park.  Having ties to Navy, there wasn't enough time to dwell on this one.  Navy ties Rutgers now as our loss-leading program with 24 losses over the many years we've seen them play.  We'll be rooting for them the rest of the season.

      Both teams with 3-1 records have lot of work to do to prepare for some of the more formidable foes coming up on their schedules.  Navy travels to 2-1 UConn next week before 2-1 Air Force for the C-I-C Trophy.  Then there's 4-0 Rutgers who has played four teams with one win over a D-1A school among them.  Of course, Navy's 3-1 slate is based on teams entering yesterday 4-7 overall with only two wins at that level.  After these three games, Navy meets Notre Dame in Baltimore.  Tulsa has next week off to gear up for its Conference-USA season starting with another C-USA contender, Southern Mississippi.  CFF wasted no time as we headed to College Park for another must-see team toward The Goal!  We hope to get back to Annapolis again soon not only to watch the Mids, but to re-visit the town of Annapolis.

Extra Points: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium was upgraded nicely since we were last there in 2002 when we saw Navy lose to Northwestern, 49-40, before we headed to College Park to see UMD host Eastern Michigan.  The stadium, now surrounding Jack Stephens Field, named for its majority contributor, has seating, luxury boxes, and eating pavilions in what used to be an open end.  Seats sit atop the hill on the north end where they maintained the general admission area on the grassy portion primarily for family use.  Memorials from classes and dedication plaques are on walls surrounding the stadium.  It's quite a tribute to the graduates of USNA as well as its football players of the past.  There are other stadiums we have targeted for future games to be attended based on history and tradition, but this is one every college football fan should take the time to see!

Here's a suggestion to the Athletic Department regarding off stadium parking - put up signs!  We received Navy game day information with our tickets.  This included a map which is hard to read and out of scale to Harry S. Truman Park-Ride .  "Riva Road" is not recognizable on the map.  We came off the exit expecting to see signs for Harry S. Truman parking. We even tuned into 1620 AM to listen to information about Stadium events - nothing but air!  We took a few wrong turns and finally found it, but there is no reference to our former President's name anywhere in the area.  Around a bend, you suddenly see a sign for Navy football parking before a quick right turn, but it's only referred to as MTA Express Park-Ride.  Why don't you put up some signs to guide visitors in from Route 50?

Trivia to guess a year is displayed and announced throughout the game with a question beginning, "In what year...?", a song from the year, and a picture of the corresponding American President is up on the scoreboard.  The answers are easy.  Just select the closest year in increments of five going back.  The answer is always followed by cheers for that class who is there for a re-union.

Each USNA class selected a historical theme for their dedication plaque on the walls surrounding the stadium.  I knew many from the class of 1978 who selected the Battle of Belleliu Woods fought in WWI as theirs.  The land battle in Europe included many Marines.  The class of '78 selected this one since they were in the first graduating class at Annapolis who filled all the open Marine Corps billets after graduation.

The wall above the seating on the hill has many plaques dedicated to the Navy and Marine Corps by Corporations and individuals.  We noted two from traditional football opponents.  Boston College dedicated one to their own graduates who served in the Navy and the Marine Corps.  BC Head Coach Tom O'Brien is a Navy graduate and former US Marine officer. Notre Dame also dedicated theirs to their "foes on the field", even though they haven't played at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in years!  The game is always played at neutral sites where more people can go to the game.  The Navy-ND rivalry is the longest intersectional ever played though its been won by the Irish every year since 1963 when a QB named Roger Staubach played as a Mid.  Notre Dame has had close ties to the Navy since WWII when many of its grads went into the Navy after ROTC service.  It's one of the prime reasons the lop-sided series continues.

The opening kick-off was preceded by the music "Danger Zone" from "Top Gun" as it blared from the stadium speakers.

We had our eye on the scoreboard watching Colorado ahead of UGA 10-0. We root for many of the new teams we add to have a good season the year we see them play.   Some other fans nearby also had interest.  We never expected anything like that.  Too bad the Buffs couldn't pull off the upset as they lost 14-13 on two late Bulldog TDs.

The 31,604 in attendance gave a standing ovation to a special group at the game this afternoon.  Wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center were on hand to watch the game.

With Navy up 17-14, the words were put up on the scoreboard and the crowd was invited to sing, "The Goat is Old and Gnarly", one of the traditional Navy fight songs.  Two Trainer planes were flown over before the game started.  The Trainer pilots were later introduced to the crowd.  Among other groups introduced were players from Navy's 1966 NCAA championship Lacrosse team.  Not many people knew much about Lacrosse in those days, but it's a growing sport today.  Alumni from the 1961NCAA crew championship team were also introduced.  Navy's #4 Rifle Team from last year was  introduced as well. Army was ranked #3.  We had to find out who else in our country can beat the Army and Navy (Marines?) in collegiate rifle contests.  OK, we can understand Alaska -Fairbanks.  Those students come from neighborhoods where you have to hunt for dinner and protect yourself from bears, but how is Nebraska at #2?  Picking off ground squirrels in the corn fields?  Their recruiting policies should probably be investigated!

Replay reviews are getting out of hand.  Scores we saw today that seemed pretty obvious went under review wasting too much time.  We want to see the last Navy TD, however, on a better screen.  Was Washington really in?

Navy lost six fumbles coming into this game - second in the nation.  Neither team fumbled in this one.

Just like our last OT game, this one was decided on the extra point.  In November 2002, when we attended the memorable OT game between UNLV and Wyoming at Sam Boyd Stadium, Wyoming's PK missed the extra point to end the game, 49-48, in favor of the Rebels. It just goes to show you to never take the value of those place kicker for granted, especially when the pressure is on!

Perusing future Navy schedules for dates, we see Paul Johnson booked his former team Georgia Southern in 2009.   They are not faring as well without him.  They haven't won a national championship since he left.  We note next year's away schedule is convenient for us as we've seen games at every opponents' stadium - Temple, Rutgers, Pitt, Notre Dame, and UConn.  Maybe we'll plan to see Air Force.  SMU comes out in 2008.  By that time, we'll have "seen 'em all!"

Now that Navy's winning football games, hopefully their competition will improve to gain them a little more respect.  Four teams on their schedule have still not won games this year.  One is 1-2 (ECU).  Army (2-2) and Air Force (1-1) have evened their records.  UMass (3-1) is 1-AA.   Rutgers is 4-0 but with a weak slate.  UConn is 2-1, and the same can be said about their weak slate.  ND is 3-1 as is Tulsa now. 

We had no Guest Game Analyst this week as Eric Koreivo's Pee Wee football team had a scheduling conflict.  Playing In his first year, his 11 year old team won its first game in two years.  He had a tackle in the backfield on his first play.  The plan is for him to join us next Saturday since his game is on Friday night.

On our return bus trip to the parking lot, a couple of fans recognized me from my brief interview during the Colorado-CSU game on CSTV. Nolan and his wife, Nebraska grads, talked about having a similar goal to ours to get to all the stadiums.  We had a nice talk comparing college football anecdotes.  Good luck to him in his quest.  It's not easy seeing all the teams no less a game at every 1-A venue.  Good luck to him.  Maybe we'll see him at a game in the future.

We saw Tulsa fans holding up the hurricane warning flags similar to what Miami Hurricane fans do.  However, it struck us - do they ever get hurricanes out in Oklahoma.  Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call them the Twisters or the Tornadoes?