Black Knights and the NFL Draft - affecting our N*s

from the Annapolis Capitol:

Army policy drawing heavy service flak
By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published April 30, 2008

Caleb Campbell was a four-year football standout at the United States
Military Academy, a hard-hitting safety noted for his rare combination of
size, speed and strength. On Sunday, Campbell was selected by the Detroit
Lions in the seventh round of the National Football League Draft.
If Campbell makes the Detroit roster next fall, he will be allowed to play
in the NFL immediately due to a relatively new U.S. Army policy that allows
soldiers with "unique talents and abilities" to participate in professional
sports while serving as a recruiter.

"My duty right now is to play football, and that's what I plan on doing,"
Campbell said yesterday during a conference call with the media.

Two other current Army seniors - fullback Mike Viti and punter Owen Tolson -
signed free agent contracts with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants,
respectively. They also hope to take advantage of the program, which was
instituted in April, 2005 when Francis J. Harvey served as Secretary of the
Army.

Campbell, who will be commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation,
selected air defense artillery as a service assignment and said yesterday he
would likely be deployed as a platoon leader commanding approximately 32
soldiers in Iraq or Kuwait had the NFL opportunity not arisen.

"When I came to West Point, I wasn't saying, 'I hope they make a new policy
so I don't have to go to Iraq.' I knew what I was getting myself into. I
knew I was going to be a platoon leader one day leading soldiers into a
potential combat situation because I enrolled here during a time of war. I
knew exactly what I was getting myself into," Campbell said.

"Over the last four years, that's what I've been preparing myself for.
That's what I've been instructed to do. All of my summers here at the
academy have been military training. I'm just fortunate enough to have the
opportunity to play football because of my career here at the academy. I did
enough to get drafted and pursue this career as a football player."

Graduates of the Air Force Academy and Naval Academy are not being afforded
the same opportunity. Those two branches of the service are adhering to a
Department of Defense memorandum, issued last August, entitled "Alternative
Service Option." That directive, authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert
M. Gates and implemented on Jan. 1, 2008, states that "officers may apply
for excess leave, after serving a minimum of 24 months of the current
obligated active duty periodŠ for the purpose of pursuing a professional
sports activity with potential for recruiting or public affairs benefits."

That Department of Defense policy allows athletes that remain in
professional sports to serve six years in the Army, Air Force or Naval
reserves in exchange for being released from their remaining three years of
active duty.

Some officials with the Air Force and Navy think Army is violating the
spirit of the Department of Defense initiative by stating that a
professional athlete who serves part- time as a recruiter is fulfilling the
two-year active-duty commitment.

"Clearly, we believe soldiers who are serving under this policy are indeed
still serving, but in a different capacity," said Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb of
the Department of Army Public Affairs.

Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk has grave concerns about the
Army policy, which allows varsity coaches at West Point to tell prospective
recruits they could potentially avoid military service if they are good
enough to play professional sports.

"Army has redefined active duty to include playing professional sports. This
new policy gives Army an astronomical advantage from an athletic standpoint
and has already made an impact on recruiting," Gladchuk said. "Our coaches
are now operating under a significant handicap when recruiting head-to-head
with Army. It may not be reflected on the playing field today, but I can
guarantee you that it will result in a competitive disadvantage down the
road."

Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo agreed that Army's ability to
entice recruits with the NFL option could have severe repercussions on the
balance of power among the three service academies.

You can call me George (: Football Team at the White House

President honors Navy football

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published April 15, 2008

WASHINGTON - President Bush didn't even attempt to pronounce the name of the
Naval Academy's new head football coach.
Navy football was honored at the White House yesterday for capturing the
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the fifth consecutive year. During his
remarks, President Bush recognized various dignitaries in attendance - such
as Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-St. Mary's, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter
and Vice. Adm. Jeffrey F. Fowler, academy superintendent.

But when it came time to introduce head coach Ken Niumatalolo, the president
hesitated.

"Coach ... just coach," said President Bush, drawing a hearty laugh from the
audience in the Rose Garden. "You can call me George, and I'll call you
Ken."
Mr. Niumatalolo is the first Polynesian to serve as head coach in NCAA
Division I-A ranks, and the first Samoan head coach at any level of college
football. Naturally, the 42-year-old Hawaiian yesterday became the first
Polynesian and Samoan football coach to be welcomed at the White House.

"It's a humbling experience. I'm still in awe," Mr. Niumatalolo said.

One of the most touching moments of the ceremony came after the formal
presentation of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. President Bush thanked the
crowd for coming then turned around and began shaking hands with the Navy
football players and coaches. Mr. Niumatalolo motioned for his wife and
8-year-old son Ali'i to leave their front row seats and come meet the
president.

President Bush bent down to shake hands with Ali'i then casually put his arm
around the boy while talking with Barbara Niumatalolo. That brought tears to
the eyes of Ken Niumatalolo, who no doubt will treasure the picture that was
taken of the scene.

"Priceless. That's the kind of stuff that is priceless. I will never forget
it," he said.

Navy compiled an 8-5 record in 2007, beating Army and Air Force to retain
the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy and earning a berth to the Poinsettia Bowl
in San Diego. President Bush pointed out that Navy beat powerful Notre Dame
for the first time since 1963, snapping an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak
in the series.

"I'm not going to spend much time talking to the pope about it," dead-panned
the president, alluding to his upcoming visit with Roman Catholic pontiff
this week.

Navy's current run of winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy five
consecutive seasons is a school record. The midshipmen have won 11 straight
games against Army and Air Force in the process.

"This has become old habit for a lot of the players standing behind me.
Coming to the Rose Garden is as familiar as Bancroft Hall," President Bush
said.

All five of those trips to the White House have occurred during the two
terms of President Bush, who took great delight in highlighting some of the
Texas-born standouts on the team. For the second straight year, the
president made mention of fullback Adam Ballard, and for the second straight
year he referred to the 6-foot-1, 236-pounder as "Bullard."

Midshipman Ballard spoke briefly with President Bush and was impressed he
knew that athletic teams at Lewisville High School went by the nickname of
"Fighting Farmers." Midshipman Ballard, who was late in preparing his taxes,
pulled the W-2 form out of his pocket and asked the president for an
extension.

" 'W' and I get along pretty well," Midshipman Ballard joked afterward.
"Seriously, he strikes me as being real personable. He speaks off-the-cuff
and seems like a regular guy."

Curtis Bass, a 6-foot-1, 275-pound offensive lineman from Houston, sparked
laughter when he asked President Bush to grant members of the football team
a weekend of liberty. When the president approved the request, Midshipman
Bass pointed at Vice Adm. Fowler and asked the president to convey that
message to the academy superintendent.

Over the course of Navy's four previous visits to the White House, President
Bush had gotten to know former head coach Paul Johnson. Mr. Johnson left
Navy for Georgia Tech in December and did not attend yesterday's ceremony,
so the honor of speaking on behalf of the football team fell to Mr.
Niumatalolo.

"On behalf of the football team and the entire United States Naval Academy,
I want to say that we are happy to be here and it never gets old," he said.
"Even though the trip from Annapolis to the White House today was fast and
easy, it was a long journey for this team this season. Coming here means we
accomplished all of our goals."

Before filing into the Rose Garden, Mr. Niumatalolo told the team to savor
the moment and appreciate the honor of meeting the president of the United
States as a result of success on the football field.

"I want all of our younger guys to realize this is a special trip and that
it takes a ton of hard work and sacrifice to make this trip," Mr.
Niumatalolo said.

President Bush concluded his remarks by pointing out that Navy football
players soon will be commissioned officers participating in the current war
on terrorism.

"I want to thank every football player for agreeing to put on the uniform of
the finest military ever. You signed up after 9/11. You knew the stakes
involved in the war against extremists and radicals. You knew that your
country depended on you. And you didn't hesitate to wear the uniform," he
said. "I welcome you as stars on the football field, and I welcome you as
soon-to-be sailors and Marines who have a major responsibility to protect
the United States from harm and spread the great blessings of liberty so we
can have peace."

2008 Football Schedule - book 'em

Sent: April 4, 2008
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Naval Academy To Play All Five Home Football Games At 3:30 P.M.; Mids To
Appear On National Television 10 Times In 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Naval Academy Athletic Association and CBS College Sports
Network announced Friday that all five Navy football games at Navy-Marine
Corps Memorial Stadium will kick off at 3:30 p.m. All five games will be
televised live by CBS College Sports Network.

Navy's neutral site games against Notre Dame in Baltimore and Army in
Philadelphia will both kick off at 12 noon and will be televised by CBS.

Three of Navy's five road games have already been picked up by national
television as well. Navy's Sept. 5 contest at Ball State will be televised
by ESPN (7 p.m.), the Oct. 4 contest at Air Force will be televised by
VERSUS (2 p.m. MT, 4 p.m. ET) and the Nov. 25 contest at Northern Illinois
will be televised by ESPN2 (7 p.m.). Game times have not been announced for
the Sept. 13 game at Duke and the Sept. 27 contest at Wake Forest.

Season tickets for the 2008 season are on sale now at www.navysports.com or
by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY. Season tickets are $222, which includes all five
games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and the Notre Dame game at M&T
Bank Stadium. A season parking pass will cost $75.

2008 Navy Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time TV
Aug. 30 Towson Annapolis, Md. 3:30 p.m. CBS C
Sept. 5 at Ball State Muncie, Ind. 7 p.m. ESPN
Sept. 13 at Duke Durham, N.C. TBA TBA
Sept. 20 Rutgers Annapolis, Md. 3:30 p.m. CBS C
Sept. 27 at Wake Forest Winston Salem, N.C. TBA TBA
Oct. 4 at Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 4 p.m.
Oct. 18 Pittsburgh (HC)Annapolis, Md. 3:30 p.m. CBS C
Oct. 25 SMU Annapolis, Md. 3:30 p.m. CBS C
Nov. 1 Temple Annapolis, Md. 3:30 p.m. CBS C
Nov. 15 vs. Notre Dame Baltimore, Md. 12 noon CBS
Nov. 25 at N. Illinois DeKalb, Ill. 7 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 6 vs. Army Philadelphia, Pa. 12 noon CBS